Ray Charles discography

This is a discography of American musician Ray Charles.

Ray Charles discography
Studio albums55
Live albums7
Singles127

Overview

Ray Charles first appeared on a Billboard chart in 1949, when — as part of the Maxin Trio with G.D. McKee and Milton Garred — he charted his first single with "Confession Blues." It reached No. 2 on the R&B chart, then called the Most-Played Juke Box Race Records. In 1952, Charles signed with Atlantic Records and went on to top Billboard's pop, country, R&B, jazz, and dance charts.[1][2]

In the early 1960s, after leaving Atlantic Records to sign with ABC–Paramount, he negotiated for ownership of his own master recordings. He also established his own labels. Tangerine came first, which later evolved into CrossOver Records. As a songwriter, Charles penned nearly 200 songs. He also operated his own publishing companies, Tangerine Music and Racer Music.

On the Billboard Hot 100, Charles had 80 hits between 1958 (the year the chart began) and 1990, when "I'll Be Good to You" became his last Hot 100 single, reaching No. 18. His biggest hit, "I Can't Stop Loving You", spent five weeks at No. 1 in 1962. He also topped the Hot 100 with the singles "Hit the Road Jack" and "Georgia on My Mind".[3] Among all acts, he charted the third-most singles on the Hot 100; only Elvis Presley (with 108) and James Brown (91) had more.[1]

On Billboard's R&B chart, Charles had 86 hits, including 11 chart-toppers such as "I've Got a Woman", "What'd I Say (Part 1)", "Hit the Road Jack", and "You Are My Sunshine."[1]

Charles also reached No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart in 1985 with "Seven Spanish Angels", a duet with Willie Nelson. The single appears on Charles' duets album, Friendship, which reached No. 1 on Top Country Albums. His 1962 album, Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, became his first album to top the Billboard 200.[1]

In 1990, Charles had a No. 1 on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart with "I'll Be Good to You", a collaboration with Quincy Jones and Chaka Khan.[1]

Albums

The Atlantic years

Year Album US[3] Label
1957 Ray Charles Atlantic
The Great Ray Charles
1958 Soul Brothers (with Milt Jackson)
Yes Indeed!
Ray Charles at Newport
1959 What'd I Say 20
The Genius of Ray Charles 17
1960 Ray Charles in Person 13
1961 The Genius Sings the Blues 52
Soul Meeting (with Milt Jackson)
The Genius After Hours 49

The ABC years

Year Album Peak positions Certification US Label
US[3] UK
1960 The Genius Hits the Road 9 ABC
1961 Dedicated to You 11
Genius + Soul = Jazz 4
Ray Charles and Betty Carter 52
1962 Ray Charles Greatest Hits 5 16
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music 1 6
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music Volume Two 2 15
1963 Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul 2
1964 Sweet & Sour Tears 9
Have a Smile with Me 36
1965 Live in Concert 80
Together Again 116
1966 Crying Time 15
Ray's Moods 52 ABC / Tangerine[5]
1967 Invites You to Listen 76
1968 A Portrait of Ray 51
1969 I'm All Yours Baby! 167
Doing His Thing 172
1970 My Kind of Jazz 155 Tangerine[6]
Love Country Style 155 ABC / Tangerine
1971 Volcanic Action of My Soul 52
1972 A Message From the People 52
Through the Eyes of Love 186
1973 Jazz Number II Tangerine

1973–2004

Year Album Peak chart positions Certifications Label
US[3] US Country[3] AUS[7][8] CAN UK
1974 Come Live with Me 206 Crossover[9]
1975 Renaissance 175
My Kind of Jazz Part 3
Live in Japan
1976 Porgy and Bess (with Cleo Laine) 138 63 RCA
1977 True to Life 78 Atlantic
1978 Love & Peace
1979 Ain't It So 204
1980 Brother Ray Is at It Again 203
1983 Wish You Were Here Tonight 29 Columbia
1984 Do I Ever Cross Your Mind 55
Friendship 75 1 87 81
1985 The Spirit of Christmas 42
1986 From the Pages of My Mind 16
1988 Just Between Us
1990 Would You Believe Warner
1993 My World 145
1996 Strong Love Affair
Berlin '62 Pablo
2002 Thanks for Bringing Love Around Again Vanguard
2004 Genius Loves Company 1 4 1 18
  • RIAA: 3× Platinum
  • ARIA: Platinum[8]
Concord
Ray Charles Celebrates a Gospel Christmas
With the Voices of Jubilation
144 Madacy
Live at the Olympia, 2000 XIII Bis

Posthumous albums

Year Album Peak chart positions Label
US[3] US

Jazz

[1]

CAN UK
2004 The Jazz Biography Series 32 United Audio
2005 Genius & Friends 36 72 142 Atlantic
2006 Ray Sings, Basie Swings 23 1 61 Concord
2010 Rare Genius: The Undiscovered Masters

Compilations

Hundreds of Ray Charles compilations and "Greatest Hits" albums have been released and continue to be produced and released by various labels around the world. Some of the more notable compilations include:

  • 1958: Ray Charles (Coronet)
  • 1959: The Original Ray Charles (Hollywood)
  • 1959: The Fabulous Ray Charles (Hollywood)
  • 1961: Do the Twist! with Ray Charles (Atlantic)
  • 1962: The Ray Charles Story, Volume One (Atlantic)
  • 1962: The Ray Charles Story, Volume Two (Atlantic)
  • 1963: The Ray Charles Story, Volume Three (Atlantic)
  • 1964: The Ray Charles Story, Volume Four (Atlantic)
  • 1967: A Man And His Soul (ABC)
  • 1970: The Best of Ray Charles (Atlantic)
  • 1971: A 25th Anniversary in Show Business Salute to Ray Charles (ABC / Atlantic)
  • 1973: Ray Charles Live (Atlantic)
  • 1978: The Tender Side Of Ray Charles (Suffolk Marketing, Inc.)
  • 1980: Heart to Heart (Endeavour) (AUS #46[7])
  • 1987: Ray Charles - His Greatest Hits, Volume 1/Volume 2 (DCC Compact Classics)
  • 1988: Ray Charles Anthology (Rhino (ABC))
  • 1989: Seven Spanish Angels and Other Hits (Columbia)
  • 1990: The Collection(Castle Communications) (AUS #34 [8])
  • 1991: The Classic Years(Castle Communications) (AUS #19 [8])
  • 1991: The Birth of Soul (Atlantic)
  • 1995: Jazz & Blues 3 (Editions Atlas)
  • 1997: Genius and Soul: The 50th Anniversary Collection (Rhino)
  • 1997: The Complete Swing Time & Down Beat Recordings 1949-1952 (Night Train Int'l)
  • 1998: The Complete Country & Western Recordings, 1959-1986 (Rhino)
  • 1999: Ultimate Hits Collection (Rhino (WEA))
  • 2000: The Very Best of Ray Charles (Rhino (WEA))
  • 2001: The Definitive Ray Charles (Rhino (WEA))
  • 2002: Ray Charles Sings For America (Rhino)
  • 2003: Ray Charles In Concert (Rhino Handmade)
  • 2004: Ray (soundtrack)" (Rhino (WEA)) (AUS #7 [8])
  • 2004: The Best of Ray Charles Live (Essentials)
  • 2005: Pure Genius: The Complete Atlantic Recordings (1952–1959) (Atlantic)
  • 2009: Genius! - The Ultimate Ray Charles Collection (Concord)
  • 2010: RAY Rare Genius: The Undiscovered Masters (Concord)
  • 2011: Singular Genius: The Complete ABC Singles (Concord)
  • 2011: The Complete Early Recordings 1949-1952 (JSP Records)
  • 2017: An Introduction To : Ray Charles (Atlantic)
  • 2020: One Two Three Songs

Singles

Down Beat, Swing Time releases

1949: The McSon Trio (a.k.a. Maxin Trio and Maxim Trio):[10]

"Confession Blues" reached #2 on the U.S. R&B charts.
  • "Blues Before Sunrise" / "How Long Blues"
  • "A Sentimental Blues" / "You'll Never Miss the Water (Until the Well Runs Dry)"
  • "Alone in the City" / "Can Anyone Ask for More?"
  • "Here Am I" (a.k.a. "Let's Have a Ball") / "Rockin' Chair Blues"
  • "Don't Put All Your Dreams in One Basket" / "Ain't That Fine"

1949–1953: Ray Charles, The Ray Charles Trio:

  • "Sitting on Top of the World (Now She's Gone)" / "I've Had My Fun (Going Down Slow)" (1949)
  • "See See Rider" / "What Have I Done?" (1950)
  • "She's on the Ball" / "Honey Honey" (1950)
  • "The Ego Song" ("Sweet As Can Be") / "Late in the Evening" (1950)
  • "Someday" (a.k.a. "Worried Life Blues/Someday Baby") / "I'll Do Anything but Work" (1950)
  • "Ain't That Fine" / "Don't Put All Your Dreams in One Basket" (1951)
  • "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now" / "All to Myself" (1951)
  • "Lonely Boy" / "Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand" (1951)
"Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand" reached #5 on the U.S. R&B charts.
  • "Kissa Me Baby" / "I'm Glad for Your Sake" (1952)
  • "Baby Won't You Please Come Home" / "Hey Now" (1952)
  • "Baby Let Me Hear You Call My Name" / "Guitar Blues" (by the Rufus Beacham Orchestra) (1952)
  • "I Can't Do No More" / "Roly Poly" (a.k.a. "Back Home") (by the Rufus Beacham Orchestra) (1952)
  • "Walkin' and Talkin' (to Myself)" / "I'm Wonderin' and Wonderin'" (1952)
  • "Misery Is in My Heart" / "The Snow Is Falling (Snowfall)" (1953)

Atlantic releases

The list of singles below are songs Ray Charles released while on the Atlantic label between 1952 and 1980

Year Single Chart positions Album
US [3] US R&B[3]
1952 "Roll with Me Baby"
b/w "The Midnight Hour" (from The Genius Sings the Blues)
What'd I Say
1953 "The Sun's Gonna Shine Again"
b/w "Jumpin' in the Mornin'" (non-album track)
Yes Indeed!
"Mess Around"
b/w "Funny (But I Still Love You)"
3 Ray Charles
"Feelin' Sad"
b/w "Heartbreaker" (from Yes Indeed!)
The Genius Sings the Blues
1954 "It Should've Been Me"
b/w "Sinner's Prayer" (from Ray Charles)
5 The Ray Charles Story (Volume One)
"Don't You Know"
b/w "Losing Hand"
10 Ray Charles
"I've Got a Woman" / 1
"Come Back" 4
1955 "This Little Girl of Mine" / 9
"A Fool for You" 1
"Blackjack" / 8 Yes Indeed!
"Greenbacks" 5 Ray Charles
1956 "Drown in My Own Tears" / 1
"Mary Ann" 1
"Hallelujah I Love Her So" / 5
"What Would I Do Without You" 5 Yes Indeed!
"Lonely Avenue"
b/w "Leave My Woman Alone"
6
1957 "Ain't That Love"
b/w "I Want to Know" (from Yes Indeed!)
9 Ray Charles
"It's All Right"
b/w "Get on the Right Track Baby"
Yes Indeed!
"Swanee River Rock"
b/w "I Want a Little Girl"
3414
1958 "Talkin' 'bout You"
b/w "What Kind of Man Are You" (from What'd I Say)
"Yes Indeed"
b/w "I Had a Dream"
"My Bonnie"
b/w "You Be My Baby"
What'd I Say
"Rockhouse (Part 2)"
b/w "Rockhouse (Part 1)"
7914
1959 "Night Time Is the Right Time"
b/w "Tell All the World About You" (from What'd I Say)
955 The Genius Sings the Blues
"That's Enough"
b/w "Tell Me How Do You Feel"
19 What'd I Say
"What'd I Say (Part 1)"
b/w "What'd I Say (Part 2)"
61
"I'm Movin' On"
b/w "I Believe to My Soul"
4011 The Genius Sings the Blues
1960 "Let the Good Times Roll" / 78 The Genius of Ray Charles
"Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin'" / 9517
"Just for a Thrill"
b/w "Heartbreaker" (from Yes Indeed!)
16
"Tell the Truth"
b/w "Sweet Sixteen Bars" (from The Ray Charles Story (Volume One))
13 Do the Twist with Ray Charles
"Come Rain or Come Shine"
b/w "Tell Me You'll Wait For Me"
83 The Genius of Ray Charles
"Doodlin' (Part 1)"
b/w "Doodlin (Part 2)"
The Great Ray Charles
1961 "Early in the Mornin'"
b/w "A Bit of Soul" (from The Ray Charles Story Volume 4)
The Genius Sings the Blues
"Am I Blue"
b/w "It Should've Been Me" (from The Ray Charles Story (Volume One)
The Genius of Ray Charles
"Hard Times (No One Knows Better Than I)"
b/w "I Wonder Who"
The Genius Sings the Blues
1963 "Feelin' Sad"
b/w "Carrying That Load" (from The Great Hits of Ray Charles)
113
1964 "Talkin' 'bout You""
b/w "In a Little Spanish Town" (from The Ray Charles Story Volume 4)
Yes Indeed!
1968 "Come Rain or Come Shine" (Reissue)
b/w "Tell Me You'll Wait For Me"
98 The Genius of Ray Charles
1977 "I Can See Clearly Now"
b/w "Anonymous Love"
35 True to Life
1978 "Game Number Nine"
b/w "A Peace That We Never Before Could Enjoy" (from Love & Peace)
"Ridin' Thumb"
b/w "You Forgot Your Memory" (Non-album track)
Love & Peace
1979 "Some Enchanted Evening"
b/w "You 20th Century Fox" (from Love & Peace)
Ain't It So
"Just Because"
b/w "Love Me or Set Me Free"
69
1980 "Compared to What"
b/w "Now That We've Found Each Other"
Brother Ray Is at It Again!

ABC releases

This list below is of songs Ray Charles released on the ABC-Paramount, ABC, and subsidiary Impulse and Tangerine/TRC labels from 1960 to 1973.

Year Single
Both sides from same album except where indicated
Chart positions Album
US[3] US R&B [3] US AC [3] CAN CAN AC UK
1960 "My Baby! (I Love Her, Yes I Do)"
b/w "Who You Gonna Love"
Non-album tracks
"Sticks and Stones"
b/w "Worried Life Blues" (Non-album track)
402 Ray Charles' Greatest Hits
"Georgia on My Mind"
b/w "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny"
1324 The Genius Hits the Road
"Ruby" / 2810 Dedicated to You
"Hardhearted Hannah" 55
"Them That Got"
b/w "I Wonder"
5810 Ray Charles' Greatest Hits
1961 "One Mint Julep"
b/w "Let's Go"
81 Genius + Soul = Jazz
"I've Got News for You" / 668
"I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town" 8425
"Hit the Road Jack"
b/w "The Danger Zone"
116 Ray Charles' Greatest Hits
"Unchain My Heart" / 91
"But on the Other Hand Baby" 7210
1962 "Baby, It's Cold Outside"
b/w "We'll Be Together Again"
(Both tracks with Betty Carter)
91 Ray Charles & Betty Carter
"Hide Nor Hair" / 207 Non-album tracks
"At the Club" 447
"I Can't Stop Loving You" / 11111 Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
"Born to Lose" 4113
"You Don't Know Me" / 2519
"Careless Love" 6019
"You Are My Sunshine" / 71 Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, Volume Two
"Your Cheatin' Heart" 2923713
1963 "Don't Set Me Free" / 20937 Non-album tracks
"The Brightest Smile in Town" 92
"Take These Chains from My Heart" / 8735 Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, Volume Two
"No Letter Today" 105
"No One" / 219635 Non-album tracks
"Without Love (There Is Nothing)" 2915
"Busted" / 4321 Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul
"Making Believe" 102 Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, Volume Two
1964 "That Lucky Old Sun"
b/w "Old Man Time"
2010 Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul
"My Heart Cries for You" / 38[A] 912 Non-album track
"Baby, Don't You Cry" 39[A] 7 Sweet and Sour Tears
"My Baby Don't Dig Me"
b/w "Something's Wrong"
51[A] 13 Non-album tracks
"A Tear Fell" / 50[A] 13639 Sweet and Sour Tears
"No One to Cry To" 55[A] 148
"Smack Dab in the Middle"
b/w "I Wake Up Crying" (Non-album track)
52[A] 1913 Have a Smile with Me
1965 "Makin' Whoopee"
b/w "Makin' Whoopee" (Instrumental)
46[A] 101142 Live In Concert
"Cry" / 5811 Sweet and Sour Tears
"Teardrops from My Eyes" 112
"I Gotta Woman" (Part One)
b/w "I Gotta Woman" (Part Two)
79 Live In Concert
"Without a Song" (Part 1)
b/w "Without a Song" (Part 2)
112 Non-album tracks
"I'm a Fool to Care"
b/w "Love's Gonna Live Here (Swingola)"
842226
"The Cincinnati Kid"
b/w "That's All I Am to You"
11519
1966 "Crying Time"
b/w "When My Dreamboat Comes Home" (Non-album track)
651438 Crying Time
"Together Again" / 191011748 Country and Western Meets Rhythm and Blues
"You're Just About to Lose Your Clown" 91 Crying Time
"Let's Go Get Stoned"
b/w "The Train" (Non-album track)
31157
"I Chose to Sing the Blues"
b/w "Hopelessly" (Non-album track)
322244 A Man and His Soul
"Please Say You're Fooling" / 643068 Ray's Moods
"I Don't Need No Doctor" 7245 A Man and His Soul
1967 "I Want to Talk About You" / 98 Non-album tracks
"Something Inside Me" 112
"Here We Go Again" / 15538 Ray Charles Invites You to Listen
"Somebody Ought to Write a Book About It" 105 Non-album tracks
"In the Heat of the Night"
b/w "Something's Got to Change"
3321
"Yesterday"
b/w "Never Had Enough Of Nothing Yet" (Non-album track)
25944 Ray Charles Invites You to Listen
1968 "That's a Lie"
b/w "Go On Home"
6411 Non-album tracks
"Eleanor Rigby" / 3530334536 A Portrait of Ray
"Understanding" 4613
"Sweet Young Thing Like You" / 57
"Listen, They're Playing My Song" 92 Non-album track
1969 "If It Wasn't for Bad Luck" /
(with Jimmy Lewis)
772166 Doing His Thing
"When I Stop Dreaming" 11225 A Portrait of Ray
"I Didn't Know What Time It Was"
b/w "I'll Be Your Servant" (Non-album track)
1057418 I'm All Yours Baby!
"Let Me Love You"
b/w "I'm Satisfied"
942864 Non-album tracks
"We Can Make It"
b/w ""I Can't Stop Loving You Baby" (Non-album track)
1013193 Doing His Thing
1970 "Claudie Mae"
b/w "Someone to Watch over Me"
111 Non-album tracks
"Laughin and Clownin"
b/w "That Thing Called Love" (from Doing His Thing)
9818
"If You Were Mine"
b/w "Till I Can't Take It Anymore"
41192665 Love Country Style
1971 "Don't Change on Me" / 361322
"Sweet Memories" 275
"Booty Butt"
b/w "Sidewinder"
(Both tracks as The Ray Charles Orchestra)
3113 My Kind of Jazz
"Feel So Bad"
b/w "Your Love Is So Doggone Good" (from Love Country Style)
6816 Volcanic Action of My Soul
1972 "What Am I Living For"
b/w "Tired of My Tears" (Non-album track)
5420
"Look What They've Done to My Song, Ma"
b/w "America the Beautiful"
6525 A Message from the People
"Hey Mister"
b/w "There'll Be No Peace Without All Men As One"
11547
1973 "I Can Make It Thru the Days (But Oh Those Lonely Nights)"
b/w "Ring of Fire" (From Love Country Style)
8121 Through the Eyes of Love
  • A^ Through a period between November 1963 and January 1965, Billboard Magazine did not publish an R&B singles chart. Positions shown are from the Cashbox RnB Charts during this period.

CrossOver releases

This list below is of songs Ray Charles released while on the CrossOver label from 1973 to 1976.

Year Single Chart positions Album
US [3] US R&B [3] US AC[3] CAN CAN AC UK
1973 "Come Live with Me"
b/w "Everybody Sing"
82302030 Come Live with Me
1974 "Louise"
b/w "Somebody"
77
1975 "Living for the City"
b/w "Then We'll Be Home"
9122 Renaissance
1976 "America the Beautiful"
b/w "Sunshine" (from Renaissance)
98 Non-album track

Country releases on Columbia Records

Listed below are songs Ray Charles released during his Columbia Records tenure which was spent on the country singles chart.

Year Single Chart positions Album
US Country[3] CAN Country
1983 "Born to Love Me" 20 25 Wish You Were Here Tonight
"Ain't Your Memory Got No Pride at All" 82
"3/4 Time" 37
1984 "We Didn't See a Thing"
(with George Jones & Chet Atkins)
6 7 Friendship
"Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" 50 Do I Ever Cross Your Mind
"Rock and Roll Shoes"
(with B.J. Thomas)
14 15 Friendship
1985 "Seven Spanish Angels"
(with Willie Nelson)
1 1
"It Ain't Gonna Worry My Mind"
(with Mickey Gilley)
12 31
"Two Old Cats Like Us"
(with Hank Williams, Jr.)
14 18
1986 "The Pages of My Mind" 34 54 From the Pages of My Mind
"Dixie Moon" 66
1987 "A Little Bit of Heaven" 76

Other releases

Listed below are songs Ray Charles issued on various labels where the pop and R&B charts are concerned.

Year Single Chart positions
US [3] US R&B[3] US AC [3] US Dance

[3]

CAN CAN AC UK Japan
1986 "Baby Grand"
(with Billy Joel)
753
1989 "Ellie My Love"
(Southern All Stars cover)
3
1990 "I'll Be Good to You"
(with Quincy Jones & Chaka Khan)
18130121
1993 "A Song for You" 1045793512
"Please (You Got That ...)"
(with INXS)
950
2002 "Mother" 72
2005 "You Don't Know Me"
(with Diana Krall)
21
2006 "Walkin' & Talkin'" 6

Video performances

  • O Genio - Live in Brazil 1963 (Rhino) 1963 São Paulo performance
  • The Dick Cavett Show - Ray Charles Collection (Shout Factory Theatre) 1972 and 1973 TV appearances
  • Soul of the Holy Land (Xenon) 1973 Israel tour
  • Ray Charles Live - In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony (Eagle Rock) 1981 performance
  • Ray Charles - 50 Years in Music (Image Entertainment) 1991 Pasadena, California performance
  • Live at Montreux, 1997 (Eagle Rock Ent., Sunset Home Visual Entertainment)
  • Ray Charles, Live at the Olympia, 2000 (XIII Bis) 2000 Paris performance
  • Ray Charles in Concert (with special guest Diane Schuur) (Image Entertainment) 1999 Miami Lighthouse for the Blind benefit
  • Ray Charles Celebrates a Gospel Christmas w/Voices of Jubilation (Urban Works, Medialink Ent Llc) 2002 Green Bay, WI performance
  • The Legend Lives On (Immortal) video compilation of various performances

References

  1. Caulfield, Keith (May 27, 2010). "Ray Charles On The Charts". Billboard.
  2. Mitchell, Gail (September 17, 2010). "Ray Charles innovated in business as well as music". Reuters.
  3. "Ray Charles Chart History". Billboard.
  4. "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  5. Tangerine album discography Accessed 2009 March 3.
  6. Accessed 2012 July 24
  7. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 60. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  8. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  9. history-of-rock.com Accessed 2009 March 1.
  10. Ray Charles, The Way I Feel liner notes (link)
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.