“Losing Hand”
Song by Ray Charles
Even Ray Charles has some moments better than others. His long career was a model of consistency as he truly earned the nickname The Genius with his astonishing output, but his 1954 single “Losing Hand” is awesome even for him.
It’s a simple blues, with I-IV-V chords and an AAB rhyme scheme. But “Losing Hand” is spine-tingling. Ray’s uneasy piano wanderings between each line give the listener literal chills. The vocals are even more unbelievable: youthful but wise, strong but aimless, strident but uncomfortable, Ray Charles’ voice is as remarkable as it ever was on this performance. Listen to the way he draws out certain syllables – “I gambled on your love baby, and gahhhhhhh-t a lew-sing hand”. Nobody has ever extracted more emotion from a set of lyrics than this.
Every scintillating second of “Losing Hand” is perfect, and heartbreaking. Anyone who hears it and doesn’t end up covered in goosebumps is no longer of this world. This is music; this is Ray Charles.
Single releases
“Losing Hand”
b/w
“Don’t You Know”
Listen to “Losing Hand”
Get your own “Losing Hand” on 45, LP, CD or MP3 from Amazon. Or get the complete Atlantic recordings 7xCD box set.
Songs on Ray Charles