September 5, 2025      —–     Chart #314

Howdy folks!

This week we’re taking a little stroll down the wistful side of memory lane with a song that’s as tender as a country breeze and as bittersweet as a secret crush. “You Don’t Know Me” is one of those classics that’ll have you nodding along and maybe shedding a nostalgic tear or two.

Originally co-written by country legend Eddy Arnold and the talented Cindy Walker in 1955, Eddy Arnold recorded it first. He laid it down at RCA Studio B in Nashville in December 1955, and it was released on April 21, 1956. Picture that classic Nashville setup—an orchestra and choir conducted by Charles Grean, all wrapped around Eddy’s smooth vocals. It’s as country as biscuits and gravy.

But hold on—fast forward a few years, and along comes Ray Charles in 1962 to give it a whole new spin. He recorded his version in February 1962 at Capitol Studios in New York City and United Western Recorders in Hollywood—coast-to-coast soul, if you will. Ray turned this quiet country lament into a soulful masterpiece that soared to number two on the Billboard Hot 100. And while we don’t have a roll call of every session player, you can bet his band was a who’s who of top-notch jazz and R&B talent.

So here we have a song that’s been crooned in honky-tonks and jazz clubs alike, reminding us all that sometimes love is a silent spectator sport. If you’ve ever had a secret crush that never quite saw the light of day, well, you’re in good company. Eddy, Cindy, and Ray have all been there, and they set it to music just for you.

So grab your guitar, strum a melancholy chord or two, and let “You Don’t Know Me” remind you that even unspoken love stories have their own kind of beauty. And who knows? Maybe it’ll inspire you to speak up the next time.

A few more excellent takes on this one:

Keep Rockin’,

Stan Bradshaw