This Little Girl of Mine
Encyclopedia
"This Little Girl of Mine" is a rhythm and blues
single written and released as a single by Ray Charles
in 1956 on the Atlantic
label.
Much like the previous "I Got a Woman
" and the later "Hallelujah I Love Her So
", "This Little Girl of Mine" played off a classic gospel
-based hymn. And much like those songs, replaced sacred lyrics with secular blues lyrics with doo-wop
call and response harmonies.
The song was the B-side to Charles' number-one R&B single, "A Fool for You
", and was a charted hit on its own, peaking at number nine on the chart.
The tune was re-made to top 40 pop status in 1958 by the Everly Brothers. It should not be confused with the 1981 Gary U. S. Bonds hit This Little Girl.
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
single written and released as a single by Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
in 1956 on the Atlantic
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
label.
Much like the previous "I Got a Woman
I Got a Woman
"I Got a Woman" is a song co-written and recorded by American R&B/soul musician Ray Charles and released as a single in December 1954 on the Atlantic label as Atlantic 45-1050 b/w "Come Back Baby." Both sides later appeared on his 1957 album Ray Charles .-Origin:The song builds on...
" and the later "Hallelujah I Love Her So
Hallelujah I Love Her So
"Hallelujah I Love Her So" is a rhythm and blues single written by and released by American singer Ray Charles in 1956 on the Atlantic label.The song peaked at number five on the Billboard R&B chart and much like "I Got a Woman" and "This Little Girl of Mine" before it was a song based on a gospel...
", "This Little Girl of Mine" played off a classic gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
-based hymn. And much like those songs, replaced sacred lyrics with secular blues lyrics with doo-wop
Doo-wop
The name Doo-wop is given to a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music that developed in African American communities in the 1940s and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. It emerged from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and...
call and response harmonies.
The song was the B-side to Charles' number-one R&B single, "A Fool for You
A Fool for You
"A Fool for You" was a bluesy, proto-soul single recording written by Ray Charles and released by him in 1955 on the Atlantic label.-Personnel:*Lead vocal and piano by Ray Charles*Instrumentation by the Ray Charles band*Produced by Jerry Wexler-Covers:...
", and was a charted hit on its own, peaking at number nine on the chart.
The tune was re-made to top 40 pop status in 1958 by the Everly Brothers. It should not be confused with the 1981 Gary U. S. Bonds hit This Little Girl.
Personnel
- Lead vocal and piano by Ray Charles
- Background vocals by Mary Ann Fisher, David "Fathead" Newman and Donald Wilkerson
- Instrumentation by the Ray Charles Orchestra
- Produced by Jerry Wexler