“Sweet Memories”
Song by Ray Charles
One of the lush, romantic songs covered by Ray Charles on his 1970 LP Love Country Style is Mickey Newberry’s “Sweet Memories”, a #4 easy listening hit for Andy Williams in 1968. Ray’s version features singer Clydie King in a duet. “Sweet Memories” is a particularly opaque song, with a dense Sid Feller-arranged orchestra recalling Ray’s smooth 1969 music-for-seduction LP I’m All Yours Baby.
As a song, “Sweet Memories” has a decidedly country flavor, but even Andy Williams’ original was done in a sumptuous orchestral arrangement, like Ray’s version. This shows how profoundly Ray Charles’ earlier “country” hits – “I Can’t Stop Loving You”, “Born To Lose”, et cetera – had changed the music landscape. Now, it was almost de rigueur to do country tunes in this fashion. So Ray wasn’t copying Andy; he was just doing what he’d long been doing.
One wonders who the intended audience of “Sweet Memories” might have been in 1970 though; Ray’s other music from this time was either lean, funky R&B as on Doing His Thing, or instrumental jazz as on My Kind Of Jazz. His relationship with ABC Records was strained due to his falling popular appeal, but Ray soldiered on doing the music he wanted to hear and play regardless. He chose “Sweet Memories”, perhaps hoping it would be popular but ultimately just because he liked it.
Clydie King’s contribution to “Sweet Memories” is somewhat mysterious; she only comes in about halfway through, humming behind Ray Charles, before taking a whole verse all for herself. Her name appears nowhere on the LP jacket or on the record label. When “Sweet Memories” was used as the B-side to the “Don’t Change On Me” single, King wasn’t credited there either despite her significant contribution. I’m not sure why this would be the case, or how it would even be legal; Ray often kept his liner notes free of musician credits, but it seems pretty harsh to not credit someone who performed a full duet with him.
Whatever the case, “Sweet Memories” is indeed sweet, and comes highly recommended to fans of I’m All Yours Baby or to anyone wishing to create a make-out playlist. Beautiful and soaring and gentle, it can be heard on a copy of Love Country Style (June 1970) or a copy of the popular “Don’t Change On Me” single (ABC 11291; February 1971). Both are readily available from online vinyl vendors.
Single releases
Listen to “Sweet Memories”
Get your own “Sweet Memories” on 45, LP or MP3 from Amazon. Or get the out-of-print complete ABC singles 5xCD box set.
Songs on Love Country Style