“But On The Other Hand Baby”
Song by Ray Charles
Ray Charles goes back to his late 1940s McSon Trio roots on the appealing, glacially-paced blues-piano torch song “But On The Other Hand Baby”, released as a non-LP B-side to the hit “Unchain My Heart” in November 1961 (ABC 10266).
Percy Mayfield wrote “But On The Other Hand Baby” after Ray suggested the title and the subject matter; both get writer credits. The song was recorded in a last-minute studio session on July 4, 1961 along with “Hit The Road, Jack” and “The Danger Zone”, two other Mayfield songs.
As if he were a talented but largely unknown wunderkind playing in a small Seattle bar on a Wednesday night for a crowd of about 20, Ray opens “But On The Other Hand Baby” with some wondrous runs of high, tinkling notes from his keyboard, even squeezing extra emotion out of them by knowing which keys to hit louder and which to hit softer. This is a pure, human analog music; you can almost hear the wood creak and see lines of cigarette smoke hanging in the air when you hear this performance. Brushed drums and low bass notes provide a jazzy but wholly undecorated rhythm that diverts all attention to Ray’s delicate, close-miked vocals and that conspicuous piano.
Mayfield’s lyrics are an ambivalent love missive to a woman who gives him a lot of trouble, but whose “loving” is ultimately worth it. Hence the title: he lists the aggravating problems he has with her, but reckons that “on the other hand” the good parts are so good that he’s not looking to change anything. For now.
I always like when Ray Charles mentions himself by name in his singing, and he does so twice on “But On The Other Hand Baby” to comic effect:
I bring you home all my money
Except a little I keep for expense
And when I get home to you mama, you always tell me,
“Ray, you ain’t got no sense”
and
When you put your loving arms around me, honey
You make old Ray forget about everything
A muted trumpet joins Ray for the last part of the song, as if the listener weren’t transported into the goofily happy but strained late-night sentiments of the song enough already. That trumpet, and the simplicity of the trio sound, have helped make “But On The Other Hand Baby” a Ray classic and it’s often chosen for inclusion on the endless “Best Of”-type compilations that have been issued over the years.
Single releases
Listen to “But On The Other Hand Baby”
Get your own “But On The Other Hand Baby” on 45 or MP3 from Amazon. Or get the out-of-print complete ABC singles 5xCD box set.