Ray Charles vs. Etta James - Who Did It Better (1959/1963) 

You can't beat the original. Two thumbs up for Ray Charles.

They both did a great job , because that's what real music was back then. However both still resonates still today. They both are legends and reign supreme.

UNCLE RAY ALL THE WAY! 😍😍😍😍😍

Both renditions are great! I refuse to choose between the two artists😎

Etta voice is like “ Bitch I’m here to shut it down” love the rawness and pain and her voice such a candid vocalist and a beautiful woman

Etta James I love both of them but her voice so powerful

Etta all the way! Most badass woman to ever walk the earth. 🧡

I love both!!! Both are legends. Here for it 🖤🖤

Shhhhiiittt Etta did that baby. I have never heard her version and it knocked the taste out of my mouth.

Oboy, Oboy, OH BOY! This one of my fav Ray Charles songs, so I for sure thought I was going with him hands down, but when I heard Ms. Etta, I had to throw in the towel...IT'S A BEAUTIFUL TIE!! ❤❤❤

Unfair, like watching your siblings fight. Both for the win.....I love my people✊🏿...real black always on point.

Ps did anybody else besides me remember Etta James' part in the movie "Catilac Records"? Etta has proved herself over and over that she had a place in the music world🥰 Aretha is the queen of soul and Etta is the queen of the blues🥰❤️🖤💚 rip both Etta and Ray and may their families and fans live in peace ❤️🖤💚🥰

Yeah Ray Charles won that one hands down Charles was a beast back in the day, no lie and that's all to that.

Liked them both,but this is Ray's ALL the way!!!

Ray Charles

Ray on this one. His playing really turns it up a notch.

Ray all the way! I love his version the best.

Ray’s felt like a concert, however Etta’s felt like you’re at a party. She just got up and sang. 😊

Most Definitely "RAY CHARLES"! Rocks it from every possible angle - vocally, & instrumentally so smoothly! Much props to ETTA as an outstanding vocalist, but RAY is 'The Man' on this!

Both great and Etta's album is unbelievable but I'm plumping for Ray.

Ray won this round.

There is no comparison. I love them both.

This is a fun concept! Please do more. I’d give this one to Ray! They both rocked it, but I got the feels for reals from Ray’s version.

2019' Ray Charles💕😇 to Yall-All!!!

Hats off and respect to both of these legends, true artists in every sense of the word... Nothing but respect! Now down to business. The question was asked, and I got to answer it whether I want to or not, whether y’all like it or not. “I always tell the truth, even when I lie!” But really, the difference between these two covers, to me, is simply this: one be a smooth, romantic, rhythmically, climatic heartbeat that’s released with no pressure, yet it still penetrates soul matter ... squeezing bumps of geese out your epidermis. The groove is so on, then off ever so slightly that anticipatory movements settle in your feet, head, and hands, causing involuntarily tapping, nodding, and snapping. Man ... until a voice breaks the molecules in the air, strong, long, and seasoned with grit, but not too rough, steadily bleeding over a melodic syncopation so consistent it puts souls in time out, and time in again. now, the other is raw pain, contained in a pressure cooker that explodes showers of uncouth roughness all over untimely rhythms. The soul of the song carries pain packaged and garbed in a salacious zeal. There is nothing tight about breath, rhapsody, and melodic measurement here; just a loose, steady pounding while head locking all sensibilities.The vibrations in the atmosphere are deranged, but strangely attractive. Why does one keep making love to the song so actively? ... because, I imagine, it reminds them of the first one, the best one, that they guess won. At least I do!

This is great! I would love to see more of these. I can't choose both are amazing

Thinking that Ray just thought of this joint in a jook joint, and made it a over night hit. Gotta go with Ray!

Ray Charles, hands down.

I gotta give it to Etta! And i'm shocked by this one too! She gave it that grit that set it over the edge. Ray is a classic no doubt.... but I'll give to her this round.

Marvelous ‼ They Never competed Why Now ❗.......Great Artists💕💕💕💕💕Learn 🎼🎶

CHOOSE! WHICH OF THE ICONICS, YOU WANT!! WHOM? IS THE BEST!! THEY BOTH ARE HOLY AND!! MORE THAN, ANY CHILDISH, THOUGHTS, OF WHO,S BETTER THAN THE OTHER!!! THEY BOTH ARE, BETTER THAN BETTER!! OUR SOULS!! CRY FOR THEM BOTH. YOU FOOL!!

Wow, dope concept for a video

Ray Charles hands down✌👊

Definitely Ray Charles...He shows more restraint in the way that he allows his voice to flow with the song.

Tie! Is it me or does it sound like Janice Joplin study tf outta Etta's live album to fashion her entire musical style? You can just see her somewhere in San Fran in May of 1963 when this drop in a drug inducted daze taking heavy notes after someone put her onto this record. "It was right then that Janice knew Etta had f'd up" *Morgan Freeman voice*

my vote is for Ray Charles, he always rocked the house wiith that song...

Etta James's version sounds like I'm listening and watching Shugg From the Color Purple.. love it... She brought me in..

Mr. Ray Ray Charles did it Best!!!! New Subbie!!!!

This is hard they're both phenomenal, but I gotta go with Etta!!!!

Ms.. Etta has my vote. No shade to Mr.. Charles at all!

This is awesome!!!!

I have to go with Ray..

Reelblack ... I read the brief bio regarding the early live recording circumstances. Very insightful briefing. Thanks!

Mr. Ray Charles.... All the way... 10/12/2019

No contest ... Ray " your the one 💕💕

#I got love for both as people and musicians 🥰❤️🖤💚

Definitely a tie!!! Etta came with it! Ray Charles put his spin on it for sure!

Etta got it....

I like both. I never l knew Ms. James sang it too.

⭐🏆 Cant choose. It's a draw 👑⭐

Both artists killed it. Cannot choose - it's a draw for me.

I love both versions

Love Ray Charles but Etta knocked it out the park!

Loving them both thanks for sharing

Love them both.

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 BOTH ARE DOING IT BIG 👍💯 THAT'S WHAT I SAY 😂 AND IT'S ALRIGHT 💖

oh man this would be a good duet damn Charles takes this one but Etta is fire... love em both!!!

LOVE BOTH VERSIONS👍👍👍 BUT THE REASON WHY THE RAY CHARLES VERSION STICKS OUT IN MY MIND, CAUSE MY GRANNY DIDN'T WANT MY MOM & AUNTS TO PLAY IT!! 😂😂😂

How dare you compare any other artist to ole Ray's ground breakingly unique style! Even Etta James(whom's influence in R&B music was also profund), can't compare.

Etta James ain’t no joke! That’s all I’m saying! Mr. Ray Charles is a in class by himself!

That's a close one . she rocked that just as good as Ray . tie.

Ray Charles for life.

RAY's is the BEST!!!!! all day long...that bad ass DRUMMER!!!!!

Nice Mike ...I say Etta!

Of course Ray was the greatest, but so was Etta, and she's on his ass with this one! Peace, Thanks baby.

Ray Charles😎

They both make you wanna shake a tail feather lol, but my fav cut is Etta's Sugar on the floor.

NO VS THEY BOTH DID GOOD

Ray did his thang!!!

Both are good in their own way!!!

Both are legends, however, I have to pick Ray Charles 💖💖💖.

Etta James is terrific as usual... But Ray Charles ownes this one!

First time hearing it by Etta James both good cause up.

Ray Charles is smooth but Etta is gritty. I love gritty.

Os dois são excelentes!!

Hello Brother. Would you be opposed to using the article "or" to "versus"? Our Black excellence is contingent on our seeing it as a collective and not a competition. Just my thoughts. Words mean things. I thoroughly enjoyed both performances by the way.

Mr ray Charles the one and only

Dang!! Etta girl dang you did it down and grimy.... But Ray ...Omg!

Usually the original wins but on this song, Etta James. She really throwing down on this.

Ray Charles! But Etta James did her thang!

"Ray, hands down."

I mean, I like Ray but Etta bringing that fire. This is one of those rare times that I'll say , no vote.

Etta James although you couldn't go wrong with Mr Ray Charles ,

Both tied!!!

First time I've heard Etta's version. Her vocal range is superior to Ray's, however, there is no difference in the arrangement. For me, this is a tie!

Etta! Although they both grab my heart!

Etta baby!

Nobody's better than brother Ray, sorry etta

Ray in the Original! I do Love Etta Though!

Ray did the thing

Etta got this one but I do love Ray version also

I enjoyed both performances!

There's no winner here. These are TWO ICONIC PERFORMERS AT THE TOP OF THEIR CRAFT. Ray gets a slight edge because the song is his composition. The recording quality is suspect. You can hear that Atlantic had the better recording engineers. Chess Records really didn't deserve Etta James!!! Ray by a nose...LOL!!!

Etta's great but Ray, he's beyond whomever you put him against.....however I DO LOVE ETTA. so it's my man Ray all the way...😊

Etta!

I like both.

Mr. Ray Charles did it better . Mr. Ray Charles version had an easy soulful vibe .

RAY RAY! WHAT I SAY!

ETTA!

ray did it best