Recorded by Ray Charles in late 1954, this is the monumental record that established soul music. By fusing a church hymn melody with secular lyrics and a blues progression, and building a groove around the Wurlitzer electric piano and a compact rhythm section, he struck the young Black and white market head-on while church circles cried blasphemy.
Elvis Presley recorded his rock and roll version in 1956, transplanting Ray Charles’ gospel-born shout into the context of white rock and spreading it far and wide.