The Complete 1954-62 Singles

~ Release by Ray Charles (see all versions of this release, 1 available)

Annotation

This outstanding 3-CD 75-track set presents the complete 1954-62 singles recorded by the inimitable Ray Charles, which were originally produced for the Atlantic and ABCParamount labels. While on the earlier sessions nearly all of the tracks were first issued on singles, by the late 1950s, right into the LP era, the custom was to select the biggest hits from the LPs or even separate “non-LP” tunes for single release. The only five singles recorded for Atlantic in 1953 but released in 1954-61 have been added here as a bonus.

Included on this collection are such perennial classics as “Georgia on My Mind”, “Hard Times”, “What’d Say”, “Hit the Road, Jack”, and “Drown in My Own Tears”. 28 tracks on this set climbed to the top 20 singles in the Billboard R&B or Pop charts, 7 of which skyrocketed to #1.

Recorded in Atlanta, New Orleans, New York, Miami & Hollywood between 1954 -1962.

CD1 & CD2, 1-20: Atlantic singles.
CD2, 21-24 & CD3, 1-20: ABC-Paramount singles
BONUS TRACKS (CD3, 21-25):
Atlantic singles recorded in 1953 but issued in 1954-61.

Includes 20-page booklet with background information and more detailed song credits.

Annotation last modified on 2023-06-25 20:01 UTC.

Tracklist

1▼CD
#TitleRatingLength
1Blackjack
recorded in:
Atlanta, Georgia, United States (on 1954-11-18)
baritone saxophone:
David 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)
tenor saxophone:
Don Wilkerson (US jazz/R&B saxophonist) (on 1954-11-18)
trumpet:
Joe Bridgewater (on 1954-11-18) and Charles Whitley (on 1954-11-18)
vocals:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1954-11-18)
recording of:
Blackjack (on 1954-11-18)
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
publisher:
Progressive Music (publisher)
12:23
2I Got a Woman
recording of:
I Got a Woman
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)
2:56
3Greenbacks
recording of:
Greenbacks
lyricist and composer:
Renald Richard
2:54
4Come Back Baby
cover recording of:
Come Back Baby
writer:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) and Walter Davis (American blues singer and pianist)
publisher:
Progressive Music (publisher), Rightsong Music and Unichappell Music, Inc.
version of:
Come Back Baby
23:09
5A 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)
23:06
6This Little Girl of Mine
recording of:
This Little Girl of Mine
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
2:35
7Hard Times (No One Knows Better Than I)
recording of:
Hard Times (Nobody Knows Better Than I)
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
publisher:
Unichappell Music, Inc.
2:57
8Blues Hangover
2:22
9Mary Ann
recording of:
Mary Ann
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
publisher:
Progressive Music (publisher) and Unichappell Music, Inc.
2:50
10Drown 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.
3.353:24
11Hallelujah I Love Her So
recording of:
Hallelujah, I Love Her So
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.
2:38
12What Would I Do Without You
recording of:
What Would I Do Without You?
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
publisher:
Carlin Music Corporation, Progressive Music (publisher), Unichappell Music, Inc., Warner/Chappell Music Japan, Synch division (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division) and Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (holding company – do not use as release label)
2:37
13Lonely Avenue
recording of:
Lonely Avenue
lyricist and composer:
Doc Pomus
publisher:
Carlin Music Corporation, Great Moments in Music LLC, Pomus Songs Inc., Progressive Music (publisher), Spirit One Music, Unichappell Music, Inc., 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)
2:37
14I Want to Know
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1956-05-16)
baritone saxophone:
Emmett Dennis (on 1956-05-16)
bass:
Roosevelt Sheffield (on 1956-05-16)
drums (drum set):
William Peeples (on 1956-05-16)
piano:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1956-05-16)
saxophone:
David Newman (American jazz saxophonist) (on 1956-05-16)
trumpet:
Joe Bridgewater (on 1956-05-16) and John Hunt (trumpeter) (on 1956-05-16)
vocals:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1956-05-16)
performer:
The Cookies (50s girl group) (on 1956-05-16)
recording of:
I Want to Know (on 1956-05-16)
writer:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
12:13
15Leave My Woman Alone
recording of:
Leave My Woman Alone
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
2:43
16Sweet Sixteen Bars
recording of:
Sweet Sixteen Bars
composer:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
4:11
17Doodlin’
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1956-11-26)
recording engineer:
Earle Brown (American composer, engineer) and Tom Dowd
producer:
Nesuhi Ertegun and Jerry Wexler
alto saxophone and tenor saxophone:
David “Fathead” Newman (American jazz saxophonist) (on 1956-11-26)
baritone saxophone:
Emmott Dennis (on 1956-11-26)
double bass:
Roosevelt Sheffield (on 1956-11-26)
drums (drum set):
William Peeples (on 1956-11-26)
piano:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1956-11-26)
trumpet:
Joe Bridgewater (on 1956-11-26) and John Hunt (trumpeter) (on 1956-11-26)
arranger:
Quincy Jones
cover recording of:
Doodlin’ (original instrumental version) (on 1956-11-26)
composer:
Horace Silver
publisher:
Ecaroh Music, Inc.
5:55
18It’s All Right
recording of:
It’s All Right
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
2:20
19Ain’t That Love
producer:
Ahmet Ertegun (US songwriter/producer) and Jerry Wexler
baritone saxophone [baritone sax]:
Emmott Dennis (on 1956-11-26)
bass:
Roosevelt "Whiskey" Sheffield (on 1956-11-26)
drums (drum set):
William Peeples (on 1956-11-26)
piano:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1956-11-26)
tambourine:
Jerry Wexler (on 1956-11-26)
tenor saxophone [tenor sax]:
David “Fathead” Newman (American jazz saxophonist) (on 1956-11-26)
trumpet:
Joe Bridgewater (on 1956-11-26) and John Hunt (trumpeter) (on 1956-11-26)
background vocals:
The Raelettes (on 1956-11-26)
vocals:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1956-11-26)
arranger:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
recording of:
Ain’t That Love (on 1956-11-26)
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
publisher:
Progressive Music (publisher)
22:53
20Rockhouse Parts I & II
3:55
21Get on the Right Track Baby
cover recording of:
Get on the Right Track, Baby
lyricist and composer:
Titus Turner
2:22
22Swanee River Rock (Talkin’ ‘Bout That River)
cover recording of:
Swanee River Rock
writer:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) and Stephen Foster (composer)
composer:
[unknown] (Special Purpose Artist – Do not add releases here, if possible.)
publisher:
Unichappell Music, Inc.
2:20
23That’s Enough
recording of:
That’s Enough
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
2:49
24Talkin’ Bout You
recording of:
Talkin’ ’bout You
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
publisher:
Unichappell Music, Inc.
2:52
25What Kind of Man Are You
recording of:
What Kind of Man Are You
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
2:53
26I Want a Little Girl
cover recording of:
I Want a Little Girl
lyricist:
Billy Moll (songwriter)
composer:
Murray Mencher (pianist, lyricist and songwriter)
publisher:
Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., Inc.
2:56
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