“Ophelia”
Song by Ray Charles
Maybe Ray Charles’s most unexpected choice for material on his 1980 album Brother Ray Is At It Again was his decision to cover The Band’s peppy goof-rock hit “Ophelia”. And, lucky listener, this is a fantastic version of the song.
“Ophelia” has a built-in rhythm right up Ray’s alley, made more funky here and enlivened by a pedal steel guitar, mixed low to act as a kind of ocean current within the music, pulling it this way and that over the broad, heaving chord changes and pained, sputtered singing.
It’s a pity that this track is tucked away on Side 2 of an album that nobody ever talks about anymore; “Ophelia” wasn’t released as a single at the time and is always overlooked by Ray’s endless compilation album creators. Despite that, it’s a highlight of Brother Ray Is At It Again because it’s a welcome excuse for Ray to relax and indulge in some rhythmic vocalizing and down-home swagger. You can imagine him grinning in musical ecstasy during this one.
Listen to “Ophelia”
Songs on Brother Ray Is At It Again