A Woman Is A Sometime Thing

Album: Porgy & Bess, RCA 1831, November 1976.

Recorded between 20 and 23 April 1976 at the RCA Recording Studio in Hollywood.

For the session personnel, click on the album's link, above.

(Track #3):

Bess, You Is My Woman Now (With Cleo Laine)

Album: Porgy & Bess, RCA 1831, November 1976.

Cleo and Ray recorded together from 20 to 23 April 1976 at RCA Recording Studio in Hollywood.

Joe Pass on Guitar. For the further line-up, click on the album's link.

Album (track #8):

Buzzard Song

Album: Porgy & Bess, RCA 1831, November 1976.

No doubt the best piece of singing-acting Ray ever did.

The album was recorded from 20 to 23 April 1976; Ray's instrumentals were recorded on July 13th, at RCA Recording Studio in Hollywood.

For the line-up, click on the album's link, above.

(Track #7):

Crab Man

Album: Porgy & Bess, RCA 1831, November 1976.

Recorded between 20 and 23 April 1976 at the RCA Recording Studio in Hollywood.

For more details, click on the album's link, above.

Album (track #10):

Here Come De Honey Man (With Cleo Laine)

Album: Porgy & Bess, RCA 1831, November 1976.

Cleo and Ray recorded together from 20 to 23 April 1976, and Ray's instrumentals were recorded on 13 July, at RCA Recording Studio in Hollywood.

For the session personnel, click on the album's link, above.

Album (track #11):

I Got Plenty O' Nuttin' (With Cleo Laine)

Album: Porgy & Bess, RCA 1831, November 1976.

Cleo and Ray recorded together from 20 to 23 April 1976 at the RCA Recording Studio in Hollywood.

For the personnel, click on the album's link, above.

(Track #6):


Heart & Soul 1977 (starts at 1'00):


Live:
'77 TV Heart

It Ain't Necessarily So (With Cleo Laine)

Album: Porgy & Bess, RCA 1831, November 1976.

Cleo and Ray recorded together from 20 to 23 April 1976, and Ray's instrumentals were recorded on 13 July, at RCA Recording Studio in Hollywood.

For more details, click on the album's link, above.

(Track 13):

Oh Bess, Oh Where's My Bess

UK single.

Album: Porgy & Bess, RCA 1831, November 1976.
Single (B): RCA 10800, October 1976, b/w Oh Lord, I'm On My Way.

Recorded between 20 and 23 April 1976 at RCA Recording Studio in Hollywood. The piano parts were recorded on 13 July, at RCA Recording Studio in Hollywood.

For more details, click on the album's link, above.

Album (one-before-last tune):

Oh Lord, I'm On My Way

UK single.

Album: Porgy & Bess, RCA 1831, November 1976.
Single (A): RCA 10800 , October 1976, b/w Oh Bess, Oh Where's My Bess.

Recorded with the James Cleveland Singers between 20 and 23 April 1976; Ray's contributions on keyboards were recorded on 13 July, at the RCA Recording Studio in Hollywood. For the line-up, click on the album's link, above.

Album (last track):

Summertime (With Cleo Laine)

Album: Porgy & Bess, RCA 1831, November 1976.

Cleo and Ray recorded together from 20 to 23 April 1976, and Ray's instrumentals were recorded on 13 July, at RCA Recording Studio in Hollywood.

For the line-up, click on the album's link, above.

Album:


TV show 1977:


Live:
'77 TV Heart

There's A Boat That's Leavin' Soon For New York

Album: Ray Charles & Cleo Laine, Porgy & Bess, RCA 1831, November 1976.

For the personnel listing, follow the link to the album.

Porgy & Bess (1976)

1. Summertime (with Cleo Laine)
2. My Man's Gone Now (Cleo Laine)
3. A Woman Is A Sometime Thing
4. They Pass By Singing (Cleo Laine)
5. What You Want With Bess (Cleo Laine)
6. I Got Plenty O' Nuttin' (with Cleo Laine)
7. Buzzard Song
8. Bess, You Is My Woman Now (with Cleo Laine; Joe Pass - g)
9. Oh, Doctor Jesus (Cleo Laine)
10. Crab Man
11. Here Come De Honey Man (with Cleo Laine)
12. Strawberry Woman (Cleo Laine)
13. It Ain't Necessarily So (with Cleo Laine)
14. There's A Boat That's Leavin' Soon For New York
15. I Loves You, Porgy (Cleo Laine)
16. Oh Bess, Oh Where's My Bess
17. Oh Lord, I'm On My Way 

Jazz producer Norman Granz convinced Ray to record George Gershwin's Porgy & Bess. Ray's first choice for the role of Bess was Gladys Knight, but contractual difficulties made that impossible, and Cleo Laine was selected to sing the role. The album made it to #14 on the Billboard Jazz Album Charts.

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Personnel: Al Aarons, Bill Berry, Oscar Brashear, Buddy Childers, Harry Edison, Ray Triscari - trumpets; Garnett Brown Jr, Jimmy Cleveland, J.J. Johnson, Benny Powell, George Roberts, Britt Woodman - trombone; Gary Herbig, William Hood, Sam Most, Bill Perkins, Jerome Richardson, Wilbur Schwartz, Bud Shank, Ernie Watts - clarinet; William Green, Plas Johnsson - saxophone; Tommy Morgan - harmonica;  Chuck Berghofer, Charles Domanico, Jim Hughart, Max Bennett - bass; Joe Pass, John Morell - guitar; Vic Feldman, Ralph Grierson, Joe Sample, Paul Smith - piano; Joe Sample - organ; Larry Bunker, Alan Estes, Emil Radocchia, Jerry Williams - percussion; Washington Rucker - drummer; 20-piece violin section, 8-piece cello section, 3-piece harp section; The James Cleveland Singers - choir; Frank DeVol arranged the music and conducted the 78-piece orchestra.

Cleo and Ray recorded together from 20 to 23 April 1976, and Ray's instrumentals were recorded on 13 July, at RCA Recording Studio in Hollywood. RCA 1831, 1976-11.

Album (pickup clip):