SONG: Your Cheatin Heart
ARTIST: Ray Charles
YEAR: 1962
Listen to it here:
THE SONG:
“Your Cheatin’ Heart” was written and originally recorded by country music pioneer Hank Williams in 1952. The song became a huge hit when it was released in January of 1953, thanks to Hank dying earlier that month. The song came about when Hank was driving from Nashville to Shreveport with his fiancée and he described his ex wife as a ‘cheating heart’. This lit a fire in his brain and he instructed said fiancée to write down the lyrics that he was coming up with. Williams recorded the song on September 23rd, a session which would be his last, as on New Years Eve of 1952 he was found dead in the back of his car. The song became a huge hit, selling over a million records and reached number 1 on the Country and Western Billboard chart. It’s now considered a country music standard, Hank Williams’ signature song and one of the greatest country music songs of all time. Ray Charles’ version was released in 1962 and hit number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100.
THE ARTIST:
For more info on Ray Charles, check out our review of “What’d I Say”!
FACTOID CORNER:
Ray Charles was once hired for a car commercial and he actually drove a car without assistance – in the Death Valley desert. He said that it was one of the most exciting experiences of his life.
Ray Charles shares a birthday with Bruce Springsteen, John Coletrane and Kelly the blogger!
KELLY’S REVIEW:
When I first saw this song come up, my reaction was uuuuggghghhhgg nooooo a country song…but then I saw Ray Charles and was like maybe? But then I listened to the song and no. No this is not good. I’m sorry Ray, it is SO schlocky. Ray himself is fine – piano work is great, low key, interesting. Ray’s voice is good, crooner-y, pretty unmistakable. But then we have this whole ass orchestra complete with HARP and some super fromaggio backing vocalists. I know this is Ray’s attempt at country and western, but it just doesn’t work for me. It’s so boring. I had to restart the song several times because my mind would start to wander and then the song was over and I don’t really know what happened in the second half, not unlike my recent viewing of The Sound of Music. The song itself is pretty good. The melody and chord structure are very simple, as was a lot of country music at the time. The lyrics are good – who hasn’t done something they’re feeling guilty about and their own body tells on them? I just can’t get on board with this one. Apologies to everyone involved.
HOLLY’S REVIEW:
I definitely know this song, but I’m not sure I know this version. I like the beginning because it’s such a fake out. It makes it sound like this is going to be just as sappy as the other versions, but then Ray Charles comes in and settles things down into a more blues-laced ballad. Ray Charles’ voice sounds quite a bit more low key and warm in this one, but still super recognizable. His piano playing is very understated, and in the background, which is probably good because the harp, choir, and string section are a little heavy-handed. I feel like a smaller, more intimate group without all the strings would be more to my style, but this really shows Charles’ versatility and good musical instincts. Definitely my favourite part of this song is Ray Charles’ voice. The melody is very simple, and he keeps it interesting, and removes the twang that is found in lots of other versions of this song. This is definitely my favourite version of the song, but I feel it would be even better pared down so that Ray Charles could be more prominently featured.
Average mark out of 10:
Holly: 7.5/10
Kelly: 6/10
Other notable versions of this song:
The OG:
Leann Rimes doing her country thing:
Listen with us!
Link to 1,001 Songs to Hear Before You Die spotify playlist:
Holly & Kelly Music Review 