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I Got A Woman |
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Written by: Ray Charles Recorded: January 10, 1956, RCA Studios, New York City Released master is take 8. Unreleased recording also made earlier at Sun Studio, Memphis on February 1, 1955. Tape is considered lost. Single:w/ "I'm Counting On You", 47-6637, August 31, 1956 Also released on RCA, 78rpm, 20-6637, August 31, 1956 Also re-released as Gold Standard Series, 447-0610, September 30, 1958 Highest U.S. Charts Positions: Single didn't chart 1st LP release: Elvis Presley - March 23, 1956 |
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| Ray Charles had been singing and playing a rather straight-forward mainstream style until he joined Atlantic records and found his voice with the gospel-style singing he showcased in his first big hit, "I Got A Woman". The record made it to #2 on the R&B charts in 1955 and Ray was on his way, carving out a unique career that laid the foundations of '60s/'70s soul. |
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After leaving Sun Studios for RCA Victor, the first song Elvis recorded at his very first session was Ray Charles' hit "I Got A Woman". He had made an attempt at recording it at Sun Studios but it wasn't released at the time and the tape, although turned over to RCA, has apparently been lost. Elvis and the boys were regularly performing "I Got A Woman" in their live appearances at this point, so when they laid it down in the studio for RCA, it was already well-rehearsed. Elvis starts it off with a "Well", pauses a beat, then launches into the initial chorus, with Scotty and Bill jumping in, and they end up turning this R&B number into a rockabilly party. In the end, Elvis and the boys definitely put their own stamp on this one, but I wouldn't say they are in any danger of outshining Ray's original. Elvis added one element that wasn't in Ray's original. The slowed-down ending, the final line after "She's all right, she's all right", was the first instance of a particular Elvis gimmick that would become a standard, often referred to by fans as an "I Got A Woman ending" or an "Elvis ending". It's used in several songs throughout his career, including the movie-version of "Got A Lot O' Livin' To Do", as well as "Rock-A-Hula Baby", "I Don't Wanna Be Tied", "Baby If You'll Give Me All Your Love", "Winter Wonderland" and "I Can Help", among others. |
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| "I Got A Woman" became a staple of Elvis' concerts in the '70s, performed in a medley with the song "Amen". This was usually done toward the beginning of his shows, second or third in the song line-up. "Amen" was a traditional gospel song, but Elvis' performance became more and more of a novelty as time went on, eventually becoming little more than an odd excuse to show off J.D. Sumner's low bass singing at the very end. What a shame, since Elvis' early live performances of "I Got A Woman" after his initial comeback were pretty good, and even after the medley became a ritual, it remained the more entertaining half of the medley! |
Other Spins(What did the critics and fans say?)"I Got A Woman", a fast, bouncy number, also begins with Presley alone, with a slurred 'weell'; but soon the rhythm has him moving around the microphone: his voice comes and goes as he moves this way and that, turning his head to encourage the other musicians. This was the first song Presley recorded for RCA. It has simple but effective guitar breaks, and an infectious feeling of musicianship. The sudden slow ending is brilliantly judged. Robert Matthew-Walker, Elvis Presley: A Study in Music, 1979 Ray's classic was the first song ever recorded by Elvis for RCA, a powerful, pounding, rollicking rendition until the slowdown at the end. Elvis loved this one. Martin Torgoff  , The Complete Elvis, 1982 Check out other Elvis fans' opinions on the Elvis News page for "I Got A Woman" Check out other opinions at Rate Your Music "I Got A Woman" Links
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Well, I've got a woman Way cross town She's good to me oh, yeah Say. I've got a woman Way cross town She's good to me oh, yeah She's here in the morning, loving me Yeah, she's a kind of friend to me She says she love me early in the morning Just for me Oh, yeah you know she loves me Oh, naturally She's there to love me both day and night Never groans or fusses, just treats me right Never running the street Leaving me alone She knows a woman's place is right here in the home Don't ya know she's all right She's all right, she's all right I got a woman, way over town, good to me |
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