"Since I Fell For You" has proven its durability in multiple formats. Lenny Welch had a big hit with his crooned-with-piano-and-strings rendition in late 1963 and early '64. I used to play his version on WEW. On KNJZ, the excellent, expanded Bob James/David Sanborn/Al Jarreau version made the playlist frequently.
There's another version of the tune, however, that deserves more recognition. On her self-titled debut album from 1971, Bonnie Raitt's take on "Since I Fell For You" makes it sound as though she's musing to herself in a bluesy mode while jazz musicians accompany her. There isn't the level of grit that her voice would later acquire, but her conviction is no less sincere than that of her later work.
Buddy Johnson composed an enduring tune in the '40s, and Raitt showed in the '70s that Johnson's lyrics hold up in any era.
