Hallelujah I Love Her So

"Hallelujah I Love Her So" is a single by American musician Ray Charles. The rhythm and blues song was written and released by Charles in 1956 on the Atlantic label, and in 1957 it was included on his self-titled debut LP, also released on Atlantic. The song peaked at number five on the Billboard R&B chart. It is loosely based on 'Get It Over Baby' by Ike Turner (1953).

The song incorporates Gospel music. "Hallelujah I Love Her So" is a testament to the joyous release of love, featuring a sophisticated horn arrangement and memorable tenor sax solo by Don Wilkerson. Several artists, including Stevie Wonder, Peggy Lee, Eddie Cochran, and Humble Pie have covered the song.

Personnel

 * Ray Charles – lead vocal
 * Don Wilkerson – tenor saxophone solo
 * The Ray Charles Orchestra – instrumentation
 * Jerry Wexler – producer

Beatles cover versions
According to biographer Mark Lewisohn (in The Complete Beatles Chronicle, p. 362), the Beatles (first as the Quarrymen) regularly performed the song, from at least 1960 through 1962 with Paul McCartney on lead vocal. A very early home recording rehearsal (dated tentatively to May 1960) of it was included on Anthology 1 as well as on previous unauthorized releases. They continued playing it regularly including at The Star-Club in Hamburg through the end of 1962, an audience recording was made there which is included in the album Live! at the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany; 1962. Tony Sheridan recorded the song with his back-up group The Beat Brothers, long after his recording session with The Beatles in 1961. It was released on Sheridan's album My Bonnie (1962) which included a few of the songs he recorded previously with The Beatles in 1961. Additionally, according to author Doug Sulpy (in Drugs, Divorce And A Slipping Image, sec. 22.25) on January 22, 1969 during the Get Back sessions, they recorded a version with John Lennon doing a "loose" lead vocal; that version has never been officially released.

Personnel
The Quarrymen, Paul's home, 1960
 * Paul McCartney - vocals, guitar
 * John Lennon - guitar
 * George Harrison - guitar
 * Stuart Sutcliffe - bass

The Beatles, Star-Club recording, December 1962
 * Horst Fascher (Star-Club manager) - Guest lead vocal
 * John Lennon - guitar
 * George Harrison - guitar
 * Paul McCartney - bass
 * Ringo Starr - drums

Eddie Cochran version
"Hallelujah, I Love Her So" is an adaption of the Ray Charles song by Eddie Cochran. It was released as a single on Liberty Records in November 1959.'''

Personnel

 * Eddie Cochran: vocal, guitar
 * Jimmy Stivers: piano
 * Gene Riggio: drums
 * Don Myers: electric bass
 * Mike Henderson: tenor sax
 * Mike Deasy: baritone sax

George Jones and Brenda Lee version
George Jones covered the song on his 1984 album Ladies' Choice as a duet with Brenda Lee titled "Hallelujah, I Love You So". It was released as a single in 1984 and peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1985.

Other cover versions

 * Peggy Lee (single A-side in 1959 as "Hallelujah I Love Him So")
 * Ella Fitzgerald on her Verve release Rhythm Is My Business
 * Connie Francis (as "Hallelujah I Love Him So")
 * Timi Yuro (as "Halleluja I Love Him So")
 * Eddie Cochran (single A-side)
 * Eva Cassidy (as "Hallelujah I Love Him So")
 * Earl Grant
 * Jerry Lee Lewis
 * Little Stevie Wonder on the 1962 album Tribute to Uncle Ray
 * Davy Graham (acoustic instrumental version on 1963 album The Guitar Player)
 * Harry Belafonte on the 1958 album Belafonte Sings the Blues, a smart "jazzy" version
 * The Animals
 * Gerry and the Pacemakers
 * Frank Sinatra on My Way (1969)
 * Humble Pie
 * Brenda Lee (as "Hallelujah I Love Him So")
 * Jerry Reed
 * The Blues Band
 * The Holloways
 * Raymond van het Groenewoud translated the song on his 1988 album Intiem
 * Ben l'Oncle Soul in a French version called Demain j'arrête
 * Hugh Laurie on the special edition of his album Let Them Talk
 * Crystal Gayle
 * Maceo Parker on his 2008 album Roots & Grooves
 * Tony DeSare on his 2009 album Radio Show
 * David Sanborn on his 2010 album Only Everything
 * Guy Sebastian "Hallelujah I Love Her So" from The Memphis Album
 * James Hunter
 * Jamie Cullum
 * Blue Harlem
 * Reverend Chris and the High Rollers
 * Lone Ranger in a reggae version called Rose Marie
 * Ryan Montbleau
 * Neil Sedaka, on his 1966 Australian album Neil Sedaka at Chequers
 * Elvina Makarian (Armenian jazz singer)
 * The Harvard Krokodiloes, on their 2019 album Serenade in Green, arranged by Fraser Weist
 * Travis Wammack