The Very Best of Ray Charles

~ Release by Ray Charles (see all versions of this release, 4 available)

Tracklist

1▼CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Georgia on My Mind
producer:
Sid Feller
bass guitar:
Edgar Willis (bass) (on 1960-03-25)
drums (drum set):
Milton Turner (on 1960-03-25)
piano:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1960-03-25)
vocals:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1960-03-25)
arranger:
Ralph Burns
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Ray Charles Ent. (in 1960)
recorded at:
Capitol Studios (Hollywood, CA, founded 1956) in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1960-03-25)
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1960 (number: 16), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 44) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 283)
cover recording of:
Georgia on My Mind (on 1960-03-25)
anthem of:
Georgia, United States (from 1979 to present)
lyricist:
Stuart Gorrell (in 1930)
composer:
Hoagy Carmichael (in 1930)
publisher:
Peer International Corporation (BMI), Peermusic III, Ltd. (BMI), Campbell Connelly & Co. Ltd. (from 1930 to present) and Southern Music Publishing Co., Inc. ((ASCAP) tradename Peermusic) (from 1930 to present)
sub-publisher:
ピアーミュージック (Peer Music Japan, Japan, subsidiary of Nichion)
arrangement of:
Georgia on My Mind (Solo piano arrangement)
Ray Charles43:38
2Unchain My Heart
producer:
Sid Feller
alto saxophone [alto sax]:
Bennie "Hank" Crawford (on 1961-07-05)
baritone saxophone [baritone sax]:
Leroy "Hog" Cooper (saxophonist) (on 1961-07-05)
bass:
Edgar Willis (bass) (on 1961-07-05)
drums (drum set):
Edward "Bruno" Carr (on 1961-07-05)
piano:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1961-07-05)
solo tenor saxophone [tenor sax]:
David “Fathead” Newman (American jazz saxophonist) (on 1961-07-05)
trumpet:
Phillip Guilbeau (on 1961-07-05) and John Hunt (trumpeter) (on 1961-07-05)
background vocals:
The Raelettes (on 1961-07-05)
vocals:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1961-07-05)
arranger:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
recorded at:
Bell Sound Studios in New York, New York, United States (on 1961-07-05)
cover recording of:
Unchain My Heart (on 1961-07-05)
lyricist and composer:
Bobby Sharp
writer:
Teddy Powell
publisher:
Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships) and B Sharp Music (owned by Bobby Sharp, for publisher and copyrights use) (in 1987)
part of:
The Real Book (compilation of jazz standards, volume I)
Ray Charles3.652:51
3What'd I Say, Parts I & II
producer:
Ahmet Ertegun (US songwriter/producer) and Jerry Wexler
baritone saxophone [baritone sax]:
Bennie "Hank" Crawford (on 1959-02-18)
bass:
Edgar Willis (bass) (on 1959-02-18)
drums (drum set):
Milt Turner (on 1959-02-18)
electric piano:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1959-02-18)
tenor saxophone [tenor sax]:
David “Fathead” Newman (American jazz saxophonist) (on 1959-02-18)
trumpet:
Marcus Belgrave (on 1959-02-18)
background vocals:
The Raelettes (on 1959-02-18)
vocals:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1959-02-18)
arranger:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
part of:
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 10) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 80)
recording of:
What’d I Say (on 1959-02-18)
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
publisher:
Carlin Music Corporation, Mijac Music, MUAC Music, Progressive Music (publisher), Unichappell Music, Inc. and Warner–Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
Ray Charles36:27
4Hallelujah I Love Her So
producer:
Ahmet Ertegun (US songwriter/producer) and Jerry Wexler
baritone saxophone [baritone sax]:
Cecil Payne (on 1955-11-30)
double bass [bass]:
Paul West (bass) (on 1955-11-30)
drums (drum set):
David "Panama" Francis (US swing jazz drummer) (on 1955-11-30)
piano:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1955-11-30)
solo tenor saxophone [tenor sax]:
Donald Wilkerson (US jazz/R&B saxophonist) (on 1955-11-30)
trumpet:
Joe Bridgewater (on 1955-11-30) and Joshua "Jack" Willis (trumpet) (on 1955-11-30)
vocals:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1955-11-30)
arranger:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
recorded at:
Capitol Studios (Hollywood, CA, founded 1956) in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1955-11-30)
part of:
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – 500 Songs That Shaped Rock
recording of:
Hallelujah, I Love Her So (on 1955-11-30)
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
publisher:
Carlin Music Corporation, Hill and Range Songs, Inc. (publisher), Progressive Music (publisher), Unichappell Music and Unichappell Music, Inc.
Ray Charles3.352:33
5Hit the Road Jack
producer:
Sid Feller
alto saxophone [alto sax]:
Bennie "Hank" Crawford (on 1961-07-05)
baritone saxophone [baritone sax]:
Leroy "Hog" Cooper (saxophonist) (on 1961-07-05)
bass:
Edgar Willis (bass) (on 1961-07-05)
drums (drum set):
Edward "Bruno" Carr (on 1961-07-05)
piano:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1961-07-05)
tenor saxophone [tenor sax]:
David “Fathead” Newman (American jazz saxophonist) (on 1961-07-05)
trumpet:
Phillip Guilbeau (on 1961-07-05) and John Hunt (trumpeter) (on 1961-07-05)
background vocals:
The Raelettes (on 1961-07-05)
vocals:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1961-07-05) and Margie Hendrix (on 1961-07-05)
arranger:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
recorded at:
Bell Sound Studios in New York, New York, United States (on 1961-07-05)
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1961 (number: 6) and Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 248)
recording of:
Hit the Road Jack (on 1961-07-05)
lyricist and composer:
Percy Mayfield
publisher:
Tangerine Music, Tangerine Music Corp. and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング A事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., A Division)
Ray Charles4.451:58
6I've Got a Woman
producer:
Ahmet Ertegun (US songwriter/producer) and Jerry Wexler
baritone saxophone:
David “Fathead” Newman (American jazz saxophonist) (on 1954-11-18)
bass:
Jimmy Bell (jazz bassist) (on 1954-11-18)
drums (drum set):
Glenn Brooks (on 1954-11-18)
guitar:
Wesley Jackson (US R&B guitarist) (on 1954-11-18)
piano:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1954-11-18)
solo tenor saxophone:
Donald Wilkerson (US jazz/R&B saxophonist) (on 1954-11-18)
trumpet:
Joe Bridgewater (on 1954-11-18) and Charles "Clanky" Whitley (on 1954-11-18)
vocals:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1954-11-18)
arranger:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
recorded at:
WGST Studio in Atlanta, Georgia, United States (on 1954-11-18)
part of:
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – 500 Songs That Shaped Rock, Blues Hall of Fame: Classic of Blues Recording Single (number: 2019) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 235)
recording of:
I Got a Woman (on 1954-11-18)
writer:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) and Renald Richard
publisher:
Campbell Connelly & Co. Ltd., Mijac Music, Progressive Music Pub. Co., Unichappell Music, Unichappell Music, Inc., Warner Chappell Music Ltd. (no slash; used 1988–1996), Warner–Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (publisher; do NOT use as release label) and Warner/Chappell (Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.)
sub-publisher:
ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング A事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., A Division), ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label) and ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部 (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division)
Ray Charles4.52:54
7A Fool for You
recorded in:
Miami, Florida, United States (on 1955-04-23)
producer:
Ahmet Ertegun (US songwriter/producer) and Jerry Wexler
alto saxophone [alto sax] and baritone saxophone [baritone sax]:
David “Fathead” Newman (American jazz saxophonist) (on 1955-04-23)
bass:
Roosevelt "Whiskey" Sheffield (on 1955-04-23)
drums (drum set):
William Peeples (on 1955-04-23)
piano:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1955-04-23)
tenor saxophone [tenor sax]:
Donald Wilkerson (US jazz/R&B saxophonist) (on 1955-04-23)
trumpet:
Joe Bridgewater (on 1955-04-23) and Riley Webb (on 1955-04-23)
vocals:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1955-04-23)
arranger:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
recording of:
A Fool for You (on 1955-04-23)
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
Ray Charles23:08
8Drown in My Own Tears
producer:
Ahmet Ertegun (US songwriter/producer) and Jerry Wexler
baritone saxophone [baritone sax]:
Cecil Payne (on 1955-11-30)
double bass [bass]:
Paul West (bass) (on 1955-11-30)
drums (drum set):
David "Panama" Francis (US swing jazz drummer) (on 1955-11-30)
piano:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1955-11-30)
tenor saxophone [tenor sax]:
Donald Wilkerson (US jazz/R&B saxophonist) (on 1955-11-30)
trumpet:
Joe Bridgewater (on 1955-11-30) and Joshua "Jack" Willis (trumpet) (on 1955-11-30)
vocals:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1955-11-30)
arranger:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
recorded at:
Capitol Studios (Hollywood, CA, founded 1956) in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1955-11-30)
cover recording of:
Drown in My Own Tears (on 1955-11-30)
lyricist and composer:
Henry Glover
publisher:
Fort Knox Music Inc., Jay & Cee, Jay and Cee Music Corp., Jaycee Music and Trio Music Co., Inc.
Ray Charles3.353:20
9(Night Time Is) The Right Time
producer:
Ahmet Ertegun (US songwriter/producer), Leiber and Stoller (songwriting team) and Jerry Wexler
baritone saxophone [baritone sax]:
Bennie "Hank" Crawford (on 1958-10-28)
bass:
Edgar Willis (bass) (on 1958-10-28)
drums (drum set):
Milt Turner (on 1958-10-28)
electric piano:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1958-10-28)
solo alto saxophone [alto sax]:
David “Fathead” Newman (American jazz saxophonist) (on 1958-10-28)
trumpet:
Marcus Belgrave (on 1958-10-28) and Lee "Ricky" Harper" (Lee Harper, trumpet player (Ray Charles)) (on 1958-10-28)
background vocals:
The Raelettes (on 1958-10-28)
vocals:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1958-10-28) and Margie Hendrix (on 1958-10-28)
arranger:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
recorded at:
Atlantic Studios (1841 Broadway, New York, 1957–1991) in Midtown Manhattan, New York, New York, United States (on 1958-10-28)
cover recording of:
Night Time Is the Right Time (on 1958-10-28)
composer:
Lew Herman
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), Planemar Music, Screen Gems–EMI Music Ltd. and Tro-Essex Music
Ray Charles3.53:23
10Sticks and Stones
producer:
Sid Feller
alto saxophone [alto sax]:
Bennie "Hank" Crawford (on 1960-04-27)
baritone saxophone [baritone sax]:
Leroy "Hog" Cooper (saxophonist) (on 1960-04-27)
bass:
Edgar Willis (bass) (on 1960-04-27)
drums (drum set):
Milton Turner (on 1960-04-27)
electric piano:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1960-04-27)
tenor saxophone [tenor sax]:
David “Fathead” Newman (American jazz saxophonist) (on 1960-04-27)
trumpet:
Martin Banks (on 1960-04-27) and John Hunt (trumpeter) (on 1960-04-27)
background vocals:
The Raelettes (on 1960-04-27)
vocals:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1960-04-27)
arranger:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
recorded at:
United Recorders (@ 6050 Sunset Blvd., part of United Western Recorders studio complex 1957–1985) in Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1960-04-27)
recording of:
Sticks and Stones (on 1960-04-27)
lyricist and composer:
Titus Turner
publisher:
Piccadilly Music Corporation, Tangerine Music Corp. and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング A事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., A Division)
Ray Charles2:14
11One Mint Julep
producer:
Creed Taylor
alto saxophone:
George Dorsey (on 1960-12-27) and Earle Warren (on 1960-12-27)
baritone saxophone:
Haywood Henry (US jazz saxophonist) (on 1960-12-27)
double bass:
Joe Benjamin (US jazz bassist) (on 1960-12-27)
drums (drum set):
Roy Haynes (American jazz drummer and bandleader) (on 1960-12-27)
guitar:
Sam Herman (guitar, jazz) (on 1960-12-27)
organ:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1960-12-27)
tenor saxophone:
Budd Johnson (on 1960-12-27) and Seldon Powell (on 1960-12-27)
trombone:
Jimmy Cleveland (US jazz trombonist) (on 1960-12-27), Urbie Green (on 1960-12-27), Keg Johnson (jazz trombonist) (on 1960-12-27) and George Matthews (trombone) (on 1960-12-27)
trumpet:
John Frosk (on 1960-12-27), Jimmy Nottingham (on 1960-12-27) and Joe Wilder (on 1960-12-27)
vocals:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1960-12-27)
arranger:
Quincy Jones
recorded at:
Van Gelder Studio (Englewood Cliffs, July 20, 1959 –) in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, United States (on 1960-12-27)
cover recording of:
One Mint Julep (on 1960-12-27)
lyricist and composer:
Rudolph Toombs
publisher:
Regent Music (BMI) and Unichappell Music
Ray Charles13:04
12I Can't Stop Loving You
engineer:
Bill Putnam
producer:
Sid Feller
piano:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1962-02-15)
vocals:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1962-02-15)
arranger:
Marty Paich
recorded at:
United Recorders (@ 6050 Sunset Blvd., part of United Western Recorders studio complex 1957–1985) in Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1962-02-15)
part of:
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 161)
cover recording of:
I Can’t Stop Lovin’ You (on 1962-02-15)
lyricist and composer:
Don Gibson (US songwriter and country musician)
publisher:
Acuff-Rose-Opryland Music Limited (UK), Sony/ATV Songs LLC and Acuff-Rose Publications, Inc. (BMI) (on 1958-02-07)
Ray Charles3.654:13
13You Are My Sunshine
producer:
Sid Feller
alto saxophone [alto sax]:
Bennie "Hank" Crawford (on 1962-09-05) and Rudy Powell (on 1962-09-05)
baritone saxophone [baritone sax]:
Leroy "Hog" Cooper (saxophonist) (on 1962-09-05)
bass:
Edgar Willis (bass) (on 1962-09-05)
drums (drum set):
Edward "Bruno" Carr (on 1962-09-05)
guitar:
Elbert "Sonny" Forriest (on 1962-09-05)
piano:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1962-09-05)
tenor saxophone [tenor sax]:
Donald Wilkerson (US jazz/R&B saxophonist) (on 1962-09-05) and David “Fathead” Newman (American jazz saxophonist) (on 1962-09-05)
trombone:
Henderson Chambers (on 1962-09-05), Frederic "Keg" Johnson (jazz trombonist) (on 1962-09-05), James Harbert (on 1962-09-05) and Leon Comegee (on 1962-09-05)
trumpet:
Marcus Belgrave (on 1962-09-05), Wallace Davenport (on 1962-09-05), Phillip Guilbeau (on 1962-09-05) and John Hunt (trumpeter) (on 1962-09-05)
background vocals:
The Raelettes (on 1962-09-05)
vocals:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1962-09-05) and Margie Hendrix (on 1962-09-05)
arranger:
Gerald Wilson (US jazz trumpeter/bandleader/composer/arranger)
recorded at:
Capitol Studios (New York City) in New York, New York, United States (on 1962-09-05)
cover recording of:
You Are My Sunshine (on 1962-09-05)
anthem of:
Louisiana, United States
writer:
Jimmie Davis (American politician, singer and songwriter) and Charles Mitchell (1940s songwriter and steel guitarist)
publisher:
Peer International (BMI) and Southern Music Publishing Co., Inc. ((ASCAP) tradename Peermusic) (on 1940-01-30)
Ray Charles23:00
14Busted
engineer:
Bob Arnold (engineer) and Bill Putnam
producer:
Sid Feller
alto saxophone [alto sax]:
Bennie "Hank" Crawford (on 1963-07-24) and Buddy Pearson (sax player) (on 1963-07-24)
baritone saxophone [baritone sax]:
Leroy "Hog" Cooper (saxophonist) (on 1963-07-24)
bass guitar:
Edgar Willis (bass) (on 1963-07-24)
drums (drum set):
Wilbert Hogan (jazz drummer) (on 1963-07-24)
guitar:
Elbert "Sonny" Forriest (on 1963-07-24)
piano:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1963-07-24)
tenor saxophone [tenor sax]:
James Clay (on 1963-07-24) and David “Fathead” Newman (American jazz saxophonist) (on 1963-07-24)
trombone:
Henderson Chambers (on 1963-07-24), Frederic "Keg" Johnson (jazz trombonist) (on 1963-07-24), James Harbert (on 1963-07-24) and Julian Priester (on 1963-07-24)
trumpet:
Oliver Beener (trumpeter) (on 1963-07-24), Wallace Davenport (on 1963-07-24) and Phillip Guilbeau (on 1963-07-24)
vocals:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1963-07-24)
performer:
The Ray Charles Big Band
arranger:
Benny Carter
recorded at:
Capitol Studios (Hollywood, CA, founded 1956) in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1963-07-24)
cover recording of:
Busted (on 1963-07-24)
lyricist and composer:
Harlan Howard
Ray Charles12:11
15Let's Go Get Stoned
organ:
Billy Preston (in 1965)
piano:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (in 1965)
background vocals:
The Raelettes (in 1965)
vocals:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (in 1965)
recorded at:
RPM International Studios in Los Angeles, California, United States (in 1965)
cover recording of:
Let’s Go Get Stoned (in 1965)
lyricist and composer:
Jo Armstead, Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson
Ray Charles13:04
16Seven Spanish Angels
producer:
Billy Sherrill (US songwriter/producer/arranger)
acoustic guitar:
Dale Sellers (Nashville session guitarist) (in 1984)
bass:
Robert Wray (in 1984)
classical guitar [gut string guitar]:
Pete Bordonali (in 1984) and Billy Sanford (guitar) (in 1984)
drums (drum set):
Kenneth Malone (session drummer/percussion) (in 1984)
harmonica:
Terry McMillan (in 1984)
keyboard:
Hargus "Pig" Robbins (in 1984)
steel guitar:
Pete Drake (steel guitar player) (in 1984)
strings:
The “A” Strings (in 1984)
trumpet:
Bill McElhiney (in 1984) and Jose McElhiney (in 1984)
background vocals:
Louis Nunley (in 1984), Lisa Silver (in 1984), Diane Tidwell (in 1984) and Hurshel Wiginton (in 1984)
lead vocals:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (in 1984) and Willie Nelson (in 1984)
conductor:
Bill McElhiney (in 1984)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (company owned by Sony Corporation of America from 1991–2004, operated worldwide except in JP; normally not a release label) (in 2003)
recorded at:
Eleven Eleven Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, United States (in 1984) and Pedernales Recording Studio in Spicewood, Texas, United States (in 1984)
part of:
Rolling Stone: 40 Saddest Country Songs of All Time (2019 re-issued) (number: 24)
recording of:
Seven Spanish Angels (in 1984)
writer:
Troy Seals (Troy Harold Seals, American singer, songwriter, and guitarist) and Eddie Setser (In Groups: James Brown And The Dapps, Jellyroll, The Dapps)
publisher:
WB Music Group
Ray Charles feat. Willie Nelson3.253:51