“I Keep It Hid”
Song by Ray Charles
Gentle and rhythmically adventurous, “I Keep It Hid” is a song from Ray’s wonderful 1970 album Love Country Style. Listeners are dared to keep up with its changes in tempo.
To be more exact, the tempo doesn’t really change but the beat does, between the verses and chorus. The effect is intriguing, especially as the rest of the song has a traditional feel, deliberate and luxuriant thanks to a shrill orchestra and the delicate harp-like plucking of strings.
As a singer, Ray is extremely placid on “I Keep It Hid”. Only on the more exciting choruses does he really allow himself to get stirred up. In the verses his voice frequently evaporates into nothingness – but on close listen you can still hear that the soulful and wordless wail of his natural genius is intact – just whispered.
Ray and his various arrangers always labored over their work, and the shifting drum patterns and varied vocal styles make the otherwise slight “I Keep It Hid” an irresistible look into his restless drive to explore the musical back alleyways of his talent.
Listen to “I Keep It Hid”
Songs on Love Country Style