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What'd I Say
Words & Music:
Ray CharlesHey mama, don't you treat me wrong
Come and love your daddy all night long
All right, hey, hey, all right now
See the girl with the diamond ring
She knows how to shake that thing
All right, hey, hey, Mmm, all right now
Ahhh, Ohh, Ahhh, Ohh, Ahhh, Ohh, Ohh
Make me feel so good, make me feel so good right now
Make me feel so good, make me feel so good right now
Make me feel so good, make me feel so good
Mmm, see the girl with the red dress on
She can do the dog all night long
All right, hmm what'd I say, tell me what'd I say
Tell me what'd I say, tell me what'd I say right now
Tell me what'd I say, tell me what'd I say right now
Tell me what'd I say, tell me what'd I say
Ahhh, Ohh, Ahhh, Ohh, Ahhh, Ohh, Ohh
It's all right, It's all right right now
Baby, it's all right, Baby, it's all right right now
Baby, it's all right, Oh yeah!
Baby shake that thing, baby shake that thing right now
Baby shake that thing, baby shake that thing right now
Baby shake that thing, well I feel all right Recorded:
1964/08/30, first released on
singleReactions
Yes the 1969 live version is something else, however although I slightly prefer the Jerry Lee Lewis version, I do enjoy the frantic output and excitement of the studio production.
I hope the FTD edition of 'In Person' includes all the great songs he covered during that awesome Vegas season: "What'd I Say", "Reconsider Baby", "Baby What You Want Me To Do", "Rubberneckin'". You could release a box set's worth of that stuff. As regards this song in particular, I love the single version. Yes it's busy, and outlandishly so! What a sax, what an organ, what a groove. Ah, August 1963, Hollywood, in the wee wee hours. You hear a roaring rock 'n' roll band having a whale of a time at Radio Recorders. I love the backing singers (The Jubilee Four and The Carol Lombard Quartet) just getting into it; one of them reminds me of Duffy (if she happened to find her way into an Elvis session). Such rich instrumentation and rhythm, not unlike Sam Cooke's "Shake"—both great dance songs. If Elvis' single version of "What'd I Say" is anything, it's value for money.
Another inconsequential song just meant to be kind of fun or something fun to dance to. I mean read the lyrics? Who could bother rating it or taking it seriously? Elvis, Ray, etc. all sound alike when it comes to this number. However, that doesn't mean it's not meant to enjoy.
Another song when I first saw the title I was very excited. When I heard it, very let down. Studio version is too busy, too much going on and Elvis sung it without much soul and in too high a key. The live version is way too fast and is shouted instead of sung. You cant beat Ray Charles on this. One of the staples of rock/R&B. Bobby Darin & Jerry Lee also had good studio versions.
The single version is alright. Nothing special. I don't care for the live versions at all.
yeah baby, it's allright ;-) 69 versions are beyond par.
The 1969 version is one of the best live versions Elvis ever made of any song! If the general public, and rock critics, really knew that version it would be easily placed among the 20 best guitars songs ever made. The guitar solo (some of them with over 4 minutes long), in a Zeppelin style, that we found in those versions are nothing but a pure moment of heaven on earth (James Burton, by then, was also a little God, like Clapton). And we have to ask: why this version was not released in the "In Person Album"? There is no later version of this song. Only sad parodies!
yes, the 1969 live version is by far the best version Elvis ever did of this song.
I like the frantic live version of '69, but the studio version a lot less. The later live versions stink.
Available Alternate Versions