“Stella By Starlight”

Ray Charles’ idiosyncratic vocal phrasing makes you sit up and take notice of the lush, other-worldly slice of sweetness that is “Stella By Starlight”, released as the final song on Side A of his 1961 LP Dedicated To You.

“Stella By Starlight” was from a 1944 movie called The Uninvited, starring Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey, where it featured as an instrumental. Lyrics were added in 1946, with the instrumental’s title shoehorned in, and became one of the standards of pop sung by everyone from Frank to Ella. Victor Young wrote the original song, and Ned Washington wrote the words.

Ray Charles chose “Stella By Starlight” to feature on his thematic Dedicated To You album because, like all songs on the LP, there is a woman’s name in the title and Ray thought he could sing it and do it justice.

And he does, with his heartbreakingly delicate touch. The thick, syrupy strings are so honeyed that they threaten to drip off the surface of the vinyl and clog the needle. But Ray liked it that way, and if it was good enough for him, it’s good enough for me.

The track is made Ray’s own by his addition of a syllable to the line “A great sym-a-phonic theme” each time. It breaks up the word and deflates the meaning somewhat, but the rhythm and spirit of the song needed the change, and Ray knew it. He always gave a song what it needed, as he does here with an urgency and grandiosity that other versions couldn’t attain.

Rather than straining to attain this higher level, though, Ray holds back and shows his legendary skill at vocal interpretation by letting the listener come to him. Confidence drips from his every word because he knows you’ll meet him where he is; he isn’t trying to impress you with his ability, he’s just doing what needs to be done.

Effortless, timeless, and jaw-droppingly human, “Stella By Starlight” is one of the standout tracks from the LP it appeared on and an enduring classic.

Listen to “Stella By Starlight”

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