What’d I Say

Atlantic released a compilation of Ray Charles singles in September 1959 called What’d I Say (Atlantic 8029); it was the third such compilation after Ray Charles and Yes Indeed! (A fourth, The Genius Sings The Blues, would be released in September 1961.)

What’d I Say is, of course, named after one of Ray’s most famous songs, the irresistible and strange “What’d I Say” from June 1959. It was split up into two sides of a single and both are included on this LP. (Same with the instrumental “Rockhouse”.)

Otherwise, the short album (about 30 minutes) features the b-side of his first Atlantic single from September 1952 (“Roll With My Baby”) and a smattering of other songs that had not been released yet on any full-length LP, mostly from 1958-1959.

Recent reissues

What’d I Say has been re-released by cheap labels like Doxy and WaxTime, but despite the impression given by the promo stickers, these evidently were done without access to the original master tapes; they may in fact have been pressed directly from commercial CDs. Finding original Atlantic pressings is a much better idea — or you could skip this album altogether and work on collecting the original 45s (or even 78s) if you’re so inclined.

Record covers

Record labels

Track listing

Side A
1. “What’d I Say” — June 1959 single
2. “Jumpin’ In The Mornin'” — January 1953 single
3. “You Be My Baby” — August 1958 single
4. “Tell Me How Do You Feel” — April 1959 single
5. “What Kind Of Man Are You” — January 1958 single

Side B
1. “Rockhouse” (Parts 1 & 2) — October 1958 single
2. “Roll With My Baby” — September 1952 single
3. “Tell All The World About You” — November 1958 single
4. “My Bonnie” — August 1958 single
5. “That’s Enough” — April 1959 single

Listen to What’d I Say

Get your own What’d I Say on LP, CD or MP3 from Amazon. Or get the complete Atlantic recordings 7xCD box set.