In 1956, “Hallelujah, I Love Her So” was Ray Charles’s first single on Atlantic Records; in 1957, it appeared on his first Atlantic album (note to Doug T., “Sinner’s Prayer” is from this debut album).

The first time I remember hearing it was about 1972, and it was Steve Marriott’s voice backed by the glorious sounds of Humble Pie—now that was a band! In 1977, I was trying to learn it from Performance, Rockin’ the Fillmore and I picked up a couple licks that I still fall back on. This and Ray Charles’s versions are the only ones I ever really liked and listened to, I thought maybe I was going to have a two- or three-song post, short but spirited, but I was surprised by what I found when Googling. I remembered a couple as I found them, but they didn’t shake me up. The Eddie Cochran is a happy surprise though, and one I’ll listen to again.

Ray Charles, 1956, single on Atlantic

Eddie Cochran, November 1959

Stevie Wonder (as Little Stevie Wonder) from Tribute to Uncle Ray, 1962

The Beatles, Star Club, Hamburg, Germany, December 25, 1962
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHG7_SQOEd4

Ray Charles, 1963, Brazil

The Animals, from Animal Tracks, 1965

Jerry Reed (it’s the first song, followed by “Mountain Dew”) on The Porter Wagoner Show, 1969
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92jNtakMDZo

Humble Pie from Performance, Rockin’ the Fillmore, recorded May 29, 1971 at the Fillmore East. Steve Marriott (gittar, vocals, keyboards, harmonica), Peter Frampton (gittar, vocals), Greg Ridley (bass, vocals), Jerry Shirley (drums), released November 1971, A&M

A little more on Humble Pie, as they were one of the great underrated bands of that time and place. Here’s an acoustic version of the Yardbirds’ “For Your Love” by a young Pie on the Beat Club (German TV), January 1970.

Here’s the rest of Performance, Rockin’ the Fillmore.

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And for anyone who’s gotten this far, I’m offering what I consider the real reward, a few of my favorite recordings, unrelated to anything else above. The first three are Jimmy Dawkins. For more information on him and many others, search Stefan Wirz’s American Music discography or Discogs.

Jimmy Dawkins, “Me, My Gitar and the Blues” from Ichiban International album of the same name, 1997. Jimmy Dawkins (gittar and vocals), Mike Lorenz (rhythm gittar), Steve McRay (keyboards), Lebron Scott (bass), Brian Cole (drums)

Jimmy Dawkins, “I Wonder Why” from Fast Fingers, recorded November 28, 1968.
Jimmy Dawkins (gittar, vocals), Mighty Joe Young (gittar), Edddie Shaw (saxophone), Lafayette Leake (piano), Ernest Gatewood (bass), Lester Dorsie (drums)

Jimmy Dawkins, All for Business (1973, Delmark, full album, details at YouTube and more at discogs.com), Otis Rush plays gitttar on here

The Best of Little Walter (Chess, 1958, titles and starting times at YouTube)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29wMS9q4reE

Doc Terry Adail, “Running Blues,” recorded in Danville, IL, 1971

For more information on Doc Terry, click on this.

Bee Houston, “Break Away” from the self-titled Arhoolie album (Bee Houston played regularly with Big Mama Thornton)

Cousin Leroy, “Highway 41”

Although it’s hard to top Cousin Leroy for fun, this probably does, Elmore James, “Madison Blues,” recorded April 1960 in Chicago.

The last, and the deepest root, Robert Nighthawk, “Nighthawk Boogie.” You can trace a whole lot of contemporary blues gittar to Nighthawk.

Here’s Stefan Wirz’s Robert Nighthawk discography.

Here’s Robert Nighthawk interviewed by Michael Bloomfield (today would have been Bloomfield’s 76th birthday).

Here’s my Robert Nighthawk YouTube playlist (you can see him playing on the first video).