Percy Mayfield wrote and released today’s song in 1955, featuring it as the B-side to his single, Baby You’re Rich.
His recording career spanned from the late 40’s right through to the late 1960’s and Mayfield is best known for his blues ballads and distinctive smooth vocal style.
In 1961 his song Hit the Road Jack brought him to the attention of Ray Charles who signed him as a songwriter to his Tangerine Records label. Here he wrote a succession of singles, all produced by Charles, all of which gained him billboard success.
The Voice Within showcases Mayfield’s rich vocal texture perfectly, it’s slow shuffling rhythm and sultry melody contrasting the gentle chinking of piano keys and blues guitar with striking effect. I found a really good article about Percy Mayfield on Paste Monthly titled, Percy Mayfield: The Poet of the Blues, it’s well worth a read and can be found here. Listen above.
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