Saturday, November 1, 2025

No One - Ray Charles

No One - Ray Charles
3:10
single, 1963
Written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, 1960

Originally recorded by Connie Francis, this song finds a compelling voice in Ray Charles.  It's a ballad of steadfast love for the one who broke the narrator's heart clean in two. "So I'll keep on caring / My whole life through," Charles sings, turning hurt into devotion. Backed by the Raelettes' smoky harmonies and a punchy horn section, Charles' phrasing is masterful, every syllable radiating warmth and ache. It's a tribute to the songwriting skills of Shuman and Pomus that this song could easily fit into pop and western sensibilities as written, but Charles delivers it as a perfect soul gem.

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