“Together Again”
Song by Ray Charles
The sweet and optimistic tune “Together Again” leads off the 1965 Ray album Together Again with an orchestral but countrified twang. The song was originally the B-side of a Buck Owens single from 1964 which knocked its own A-side (“My Heart Skips A Beat”) out of the #1 position in the US country charts.
Because it’s the first track on the album, “Together Again” sets the tone for it. The Jack Halloran Singers join up with Ray and his clinky piano to navigate the song’s simple three-chord melody. The performance is further bolstered by a syrupy orchestra.
The theme of “Together Again”, unlike many woe-is-me weeping-into-the-bottle country songs, is buoyant and relieved: she has come back, and his lonely nights are over. They’re together again! And the stupendously nice thing about that subject matter is that the melody of this song is so warm and familiar. Each verse begins with an almost a cappella Ray belting out a searing word or two to grab your attention, and to demand the musicians start up again with him.
To-GE-ther!
(pause)
A-ginnnn…
The Structure of “Together Again” and its Solo
“Together Again” copies the winning formula that Ray pioneered on albums like Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music; namely, country-bumpkin tunes that utilize his soulful voice and adept keys, plus those ghostly singers and the thick orchestra. Here, though, the effect is kept more subtle. Brother Ray’s voice (and to a lesser degree, piano) are generally front and center. The Jack Halloran Singers are mixed much lower than you might expect, and the orchestra is only prominent during the brief mid-song solo section.
During that solo, rather than everything congealing into a mass of soaring, mushy goo, the three main components situate themselves at distinct spots in the mix:
- The orchestra dominates;
- Ray’s piano assists the orchestra underneath; and
- The background singers stay out of the way and subtly decorate the outer edges.
This dynamic is true for both the stereo version (as heard on stereo copies of either the Together Again LP or its alter ego Country And Western Meets Rhythm And Blues) as well as the single that was released in 1966 in mono. Both make for a gorgeous and highly listenable song. Spin “Together Again” next time you want to experience something truly lovely, something that will elevate your heart and stroke your eager little ears.
Ray Charles’ version of “Together Again” reached #19 in the US charts.
Single releases
Listen to “Together Again”
Get your own “Together Again” on 45, LP or MP3 from Amazon. Or get the out-of-print complete ABC singles 5xCD box set.
Songs on Together Again