Ray Charles discography explained

Artist:Ray Charles
Studio:62
Live:7
Compilation:39
Singles:127

This is a discography of American musician Ray Charles.

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 Billboards 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 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.

On Billboards 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."

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.

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.

Albums

The Atlantic years

YearAlbumPeak positionsLabel
US
1957Ray Charles35Atlantic
The Great Ray Charles68
1958Soul Brothers (with Milt Jackson)
Yes Indeed!32
Ray Charles at Newport (live)54
1959What'd I Say20
The Genius of Ray Charles17
1960Ray Charles in Person (live)13
1961Soul Meeting (with Milt Jackson)
The Genius After Hours49
The Genius Sings the Blues73
"—" denotes a releases that did not chart.

The ABC years

YearAlbumPeak positionsCertificationsUS Label
US
US
R&B

UK
[4]
1960The Genius Hits the Road9ABC
1961Dedicated to You11
Genius + Soul = Jazz4
Ray Charles and Betty Carter52
1962Ray Charles Greatest Hits516
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music16
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music Volume Two215
  • RIAA: Gold
1963Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul2
1964Sweet & Sour Tears9
Have a Smile with Me36
1965Live in Concert809
Together Again116
1966Crying Time151
Ray's Moods527ABC / Tangerine[6]
1967Ray Charles Invites You to Listen769
1968A Portrait of Ray515
1969I'm All Yours Baby!16725
Doing His Thing17234
1970My Kind of Jazz15537Tangerine[7]
Love Country Style15534ABC / Tangerine
1971Volcanic Action of My Soul5216
1972A Message from the People5222
Through the Eyes of Love18643
1973Jazz Number II19448Tangerine
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

1973–2004

YearAlbumPeak positionsCertificationsLabel
US
US
R&B

US Country
AUS
[8]
CANUK
1974Come Live with Me10634CrossOver[9]
1975Renaissance17534
My Kind of Jazz Part 355
1976Porgy and Bess (with Cleo Laine)1383063RCA
1977True to Life7823Atlantic
1978Love & Peace18135
1979Ain't It So59
1980Brother Ray Is at It Again19340
1983Wish You Were Here Tonight29Columbia
1984Do I Ever Cross Your Mind55
Friendship7518781
The Spirit of Christmas42
1986From the Pages of My Mind16
1988Just Between Us68
1990Would You Believe?61Qwest/Warner Bros.
1993My World14553
1996Strong Love Affair65
2002Thanks for Bringing Love Around Again17830E-Nate/Welk Music Group; XIII Bis
2004Genius Loves Company144118 Concord
Celebrates a Gospel Christmas
with The Voices of Jubilation
12143Madacy
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Posthumous albums

YearAlbumPeak positionsLabel
US
US
R&B

US Jazz
CANUK
2004The Jazz Biography Series7031United Audio
2005Genius & Friends3614272142Rhino
2010Rare Genius: The Undiscovered Masters19828Concord
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilations

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

Singles

Down Beat, Swing Beat, Swing Time releases

1949: The McSon Trio (Maxin Trio and Maxim Trio):[12]

"Confession Blues" reached No. 2 on the U.S. R&B charts.

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

"Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand" reached No. 5 on the U.S. R&B charts.

"Kissa Me Baby" reached No. 8 on the U.S. R&B charts.

Atlantic releases

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

YearSinglePeak positionsCertificationsAlbum
US
US
R&B

1952"Roll with My 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'" (from What'd I Say)
Yes Indeed
"Mess Around"
b/w "Funny (But I Still Love You)"
3Ray 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)
5The Ray Charles Story (Volume One)
"Don't You Know"
b/w "Losing Hand"
10Ray Charles
"I've Got a Woman" /1
  • BPI: Silver
"Come Back"4
1955"This Little Girl of Mine" /9
"A Fool for You"1
"Blackjack" /8Yes Indeed
"Greenbacks" 5Ray Charles
1956"Drown in My Own Tears" /1
"Mary Ann"1
"Hallelujah I Love Her So" /5
"What Would I Do Without You"5Yes Indeed
"Lonely Avenue"
b/w "Leave My Woman Alone"
6
1957"Ain't That Love"
b/w "I Want to Know" (from Yes Indeed
)9Ray 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"
34 14
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)"
79 14
1959"Night Time Is the Right Time"
b/w "Tell All the World About You" (from What'd I Say)
95 5The Genius Sings the Blues
"That's Enough"
b/w "Tell Me How Do You Feel"
19What'd I Say
"What'd I Say (Part 1)"
b/w "What'd I Say (Part 2)"
6 1
"I'm Movin' On"
b/w "I Believe to My Soul"
40 11The Genius Sings the Blues
1960"Let the Good Times Roll" /78 The Genius of Ray Charles
"Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin'" /95 17
"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 30The Genius of Ray Charles
1977"I Can See Clearly Now"
b/w "Anonymous Love"
25 True to Life
1978"Game Number Nine"
b/w "A Peace That We Never Before Could Enjoy" (from Love & Peace)
37
"Ridin' Thumb"
b/w "You Forgot Your Memory" (Non-album track)
32Love & Peace
1979"Some Enchanted Evening"
b/w "You 20th Century Fox" (from Love & Peace)
40 Ain't It So
"Just Because"
b/w "Love Me or Set Me Free"
78
1980"Compared to What"
b/w "Now That We've Found Each Other"
33 Brother Ray Is at It Again
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

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.

YearSingle
Both sides from same album except where indicated
Peak positionsSalesCertificationsAlbum
US
US R&B
US AC
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)
40 2 Ray Charles' Greatest Hits
"Georgia on My Mind"
b/w "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny"
1 3 24The Genius Hits the Road
"Ruby" /28 10 Dedicated to You
"Hardhearted Hannah"55
"Them That Got"
b/w "I Wonder"
58 10 Ray Charles' Greatest Hits
1961"One Mint Julep"
b/w "Let's Go"
8 1 Genius + Soul = Jazz
"I've Got News for You" /66 8 Genius + Soul = Jazz
"I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town"84 25 Genius + Soul = Jazz
"Hit the Road Jack"
b/w "The Danger Zone"
1 1 6
  • BPI: Silver
Ray Charles' Greatest Hits
"Unchain My Heart" /9 1
"But on the Other Hand Baby"72 10
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" /20 7 Non-album tracks
"At the Club"44 7
"I Can't Stop Loving You" /1 1 1 1 1Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
"Born to Lose"41 13
"You Don't Know Me" /2 5 1 9
"Careless Love"60 19
"You Are My Sunshine" /7 1 Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, Volume Two
"Your Cheatin' Heart"29 23 7 13
1963"Don't Set Me Free" /20 9 37Non-album tracks
"The Brightest Smile in Town"92
"Take These Chains from My Heart" /8 7 3 5Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, Volume Two
"No Letter Today"105
"No One" /21 9 6 35Non-album tracks
"Without Love (There Is Nothing)"29 15
"Busted" /4 3 21Ingredients 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"
20 10 Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul
"My Heart Cries for You" /38 9 12 Non-album track
"Baby, Don't You Cry"39 7 Sweet and Sour Tears
"My Baby Don't Dig Me"
b/w "Something's Wrong"
51 13Non-album tracks
"A Tear Fell" /50 13 6 39 Sweet and Sour Tears
"No One to Cry To"55 14 8
"Smack Dab in the Middle"
b/w "I Wake Up Crying" (Non-album track)
52 19 13 Have a Smile with Me
1965"Makin' Whoopee"
b/w "Makin' Whoopee" (Instrumental)
46 10 11 42Live In Concert
"Cry" /58 11 44 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)"
84 22 26
"The Cincinnati Kid"
b/w "That's All I Am to You"
115 19
1966"Crying Time"
b/w "When My Dreamboat Comes Home" (Non-album track)
6 5 1 4 50Crying Time
"Together Again" /19 10 1 17 48Country 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)
31 1 57
"I Chose to Sing the Blues"
b/w "Hopelessly" (Non-album track)
32 22 44
  • US: 200,000
A Man and His Soul
"Please Say You're Fooling" /64 30 68 Ray's Moods
"I Don't Need No Doctor"72 45 A Man and His Soul
1967"I Want to Talk About You" /98 Non-album tracks
"Something Inside Me"112
"Here We Go Again" /15 5 38 12 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"
33 21 36
"Yesterday"
b/w "Never Had Enough of Nothing Yet" (Non-album track)
25 9 24 44Ray Charles Invites You to Listen
1968"That's a Lie"
b/w "Go On Home"
64 11 Non-album tracks
"Eleanor Rigby" /35 30 33 45 36A Portrait of Ray
"Understanding"46 13
"Sweet Young Thing Like You" /83 57
"Listen, They're Playing My Song"92 Non-album track
1969"If It Wasn't for Bad Luck" /
(with Jimmy Lewis)
77 21 66 Doing His Thing
"When I Stop Dreaming"112 25 A Portrait of Ray
"I Didn't Know What Time It Was"
b/w "I'll Be Your Servant" (Non-album track)
105 74 18 I'm All Yours Baby
"Let Me Love You"
b/w "I'm Satisfied"
94 28 64 Non-album tracks
"We Can Make It"
b/w ""I Can't Stop Loving You Baby" (Non-album track)
101 31 93 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)
98 18
"If You Were Mine"
b/w "Till I Can't Take It Anymore"
41 19 26 65 Love Country Style
1971"Don't Change on Me" /36 13 22
"Sweet Memories"27 5
"Booty Butt"
b/w "Sidewinder"
(Both tracks as The Ray Charles Orchestra)
36 13 My Kind of Jazz
"Feel So Bad"
b/w "Your Love Is So Doggone Good" (from Love Country Style)
68 16 Volcanic Action of My Soul
1972"What Am I Living For"
b/w "Tired of My Tears" (Non-album track)
54 20
"Look What They've Done to My Song, Ma"
b/w "America the Beautiful"
65 25 A Message from the People
"Hey Mister"
b/w "There'll Be No Peace Without All Men as One"
115 47 A Message from the People
1973"I Can Make It Thru the Days (But Oh Those Lonely Nights)"
b/w "Ring of Fire" (From Love Country Style)
81 21 Through the Eyes of Love
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

CrossOver releases

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

YearSinglePeak positionsAlbum
US
US R&B
US AC
CAN CAN AC UK
1973"Come Live with Me"
b/w "Everybody Sing"
82 30 20 30 Come Live with Me
1974"Louise"
b/w "Somebody"
77
1975"Living for the City"
b/w "Then We'll Be Home"
91 22 Renaissance
1976"America the Beautiful"
b/w "Sunshine" (from Renaissance)
98 Non-album track
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Columbia releases (all country music)

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

YearSinglePeak positionsAlbum
US Country
CAN Country
1983"Born to Love Me"2025Wish 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)
67Friendship
"Do I Ever Cross Your Mind"50Do I Ever Cross Your Mind
"Rock and Roll Shoes"
(with B.J. Thomas)
1415Friendship
1985"Seven Spanish Angels"
(with Willie Nelson)
11
"It Ain't Gonna Worry My Mind"
(with Mickey Gilley)
1231
"Two Old Cats Like Us"
(with Hank Williams, Jr.)
1418
1986"The Pages of My Mind"3454From the Pages of My Mind
"Dixie Moon"66
1987"A Little Bit of Heaven"76
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Other releases

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

YearSinglePeak positions
US
US R&B
US AC
US Dance CAN CAN AC UK Japan
1986"Baby Grand"
(with Billy Joel)
75 3
1989"Ellie My Love"
(Southern All Stars cover)
40 3
1990"I'll Be Good to You"
(with Quincy Jones & Chaka Khan)
18 1 30 1 21
1993"A Song for You"104 57 9 35 12 23
"Please (You Got That ...)"
(with INXS)
9 50
2002"Mother"72
2005"You Don't Know Me"
(with Diana Krall)
38 21
2006"Walkin' & Talkin'"6
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Billboard Year-end performances

YearSongYear-end
position
1959"What'd I Say"50
1960"Georgia on My Mind"78
1961"Hit the Road Jack"19
"One Mint Julep"60
1962"I Can't Stop Loving You"2
"You Don't Know Me"54
1963"Busted"45
"Take These Chains from My Heart"81
1966"Crying Time"45
1967"Here We Go Again"80

Video performances

External links

Notes and References

  1. Ray Charles On The Charts. Caulfield. Keith. May 27, 2010. Billboard.
  2. News: Ray Charles innovated in business as well as music. Mitchell. Gail. September 17, 2010. Reuters. en.
  3. Ray Charles Chart History. Billboard.
  4. Web site: RAY CHARLES – full Official Chart History. Official Charts Company. 30 September 2022.
  5. Web site: Gold & Platinum. RIAA. en-US. 2020-05-24.
  6. Web site: Tangerine album discography. March 3, 2009.
  7. Web site: My Kind of Jazz – Ray Charles – Awards. https://web.archive.org/web/20160329025421/http://www.allmusic.com/album/my-kind-of-jazz-mw0000815784/awards. March 29, 2016. July 24, 2012. AllMusic.
  8. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. 60.
  9. Web site: Ray Charles. history-of-rock.com. March 1, 2009.
  10. Web site: Certified Awards Search . . To access, enter the keyword "Ray Charles". September 4, 2021.
  11. Book: Ryan, Gavin. Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. 2011. Moonlight Publishing. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia. pdf.
  12. Ray Charles, The Way I Feel liner notes (link)
  13. Magic of Artist Reaches Far And Wide in England. Billboard. RC-5. 0006-2510. October 15, 1966. Google Books. Don. Wedge. March 10, 2023.