I Wish You Were Here Tonight

Album: Wish You Were Here Tonight, Columbia 38293, March 1983.
Single (B): Columbia 4297, November 1983, b/w We Didn't See A Thing.

Arranged by James Polk and Ray Charles, recorded with Nashville session musicians.

Columbia really believed in Ray Charles' 'second country career'. For the album Wish You Were Here Tonight (peaking at #29 on the Country Album Chart) they produced two of the earliest C&W video clips - an odd one for 3/4 Time, starring Ray as a saloon bar pianist, and a straight one for the (almost-)title song I Wish You Were Here Tonight, starring Ray as a night club pianist and singer.

Directed by Marc Ball, edited by Captain Video, and produced by Scene Three Video Nashville). Historic Films (file ID MV-13) is licensing the music clip.



Clip 1983:


Live:
'83 TV Dalton
'83 TV Grammys