Ruby (Ruby Gentry theme)
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| "Ruby" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Ray Charles | ||||
| from the album Dedicated to You | ||||
| B-side | "Hardhearted Hannah" | |||
| Released | November 1960 | |||
| Recorded | August 23, 1960 | |||
| Studio | Bell Sound (New York City) | |||
| Genre | Soul, traditional pop | |||
| Length | 3:51 | |||
| Label | ABC-Paramount | |||
| Composer(s) | Mitchell Parish, Heinz Roemheld | |||
| Producer(s) | Sid Feller | |||
| Ray Charles singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Ruby" is the 1952 theme song for the film Ruby Gentry starring Jennifer Jones, written by Mitchell Parish and Heinz Roemheld. There were six charted versions of the song in 1953.[1]
The theme enjoyed much popularity in orchestral recordings by Les Baxter, with harmonica solo by Danny Welton.,[2] Victor Young And His Singing Strings with George Fields on harmonica (Columbia DO-70040, Australia), Richard Hayman And His Orchestra with Richard Hayman on harmonica, and Jerry Murad and the Harmonicats.
Notable recordings
It has subsequently become a jazz and pop standard, both as an instrumental and with lyrics by Mitchell Parish:
- Richard Hayman and His Orchestra. This reached No. 3 in the Billboard charts in 1953.[3]
- Les Baxter and His Orchestra (harmonica solo by Danny Welton) had a hit with the song in 1953, peaking in the No. 7 position.[4]
- Harry James and his Orchestra. A No. 20 hit in 1953.[5]
- Victor Young and His Singing Strings. Reached number 20 in the charts in 1953.[6]
- Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra, reaching number 27 in the charts in 1953.[7]
- Les Brown and His Band of Renown - briefly charted in 1953 at number 29.[8]
- Ray Charles - reached No. 28 in the Billboard charts in 1960.[9]
- Adam Wade accompanied by George Paxton & His Orchestra with The Bel-Aire Singers. This directly competed against the Ray Charles version and reached No. 58 in the charts in 1960.[10][11] Wade's B-side was "Too Far" written by Pat Lambert and Bob Haymes.
References
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 573. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- ^ Lincoln, Ivan M. (11 July 1990). "PHILHARMONIC POPS CONCERT UNCORKS DAYS OF '47 CELEBRATIONS, ACTIVITIES". Deseret News. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 204. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 48. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 228. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 463. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 320. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 64. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits. New York: Billboard Books. p. 117. ISBN 0-8230-7499-4.
- ^ Wednesday's Child "New York's own Adam Wade was singing his million seller hit “Ruby”"
- ^ Potter, Joan (2013). African American Firsts (4th ed.). New York: Kensington Books. p. 73. ISBN 978-0-7582-9242-1.
His first ADAM WADE record, Ruby, was a hit, and a year