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.

Tracklist

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1CD
#TitleLength
1Blackjack
recorded in:
Atlanta, Georgia, United States (on 1954-11-18)
baritone saxophone:
David Newman (on 1954-11-18)
bass:
Jimmy Bell (on 1954-11-18)
drums (drum set):
Glenn Brooks (on 1954-11-18)
guitar:
Wesley Jackson (on 1954-11-18)
piano:
Ray Charles (on 1954-11-18)
tenor saxophone:
Don Wilkerson (on 1954-11-18)
trumpet:
Joe Bridgewater (on 1954-11-18) and Charles Whitley (on 1954-11-18)
vocals:
Ray Charles (on 1954-11-18)
recording of:
Blackjack (on 1954-11-18)
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles
publisher:
Progressive Music
2:23
2I Got a Woman2:56
3Greenbacks
recording of:
Greenbacks
writer:
Renald Richard
2:54
4Come Back Baby3:09
5A Fool for You
recorded in:
Miami, Florida, United States (on 1955-04-23)
producer:
Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler
alto saxophone [alto sax] and baritone saxophone [baritone sax]:
David “Fathead” Newman (on 1955-04-23)
bass:
Roosevelt "Whiskey" Sheffield (on 1955-04-23)
drums (drum set):
William Peeples (on 1955-04-23)
piano:
Ray Charles (on 1955-04-23)
tenor saxophone [tenor sax]:
Donald Wilkerson (on 1955-04-23)
trumpet:
Joe Bridgewater (on 1955-04-23) and Riley Webb (on 1955-04-23)
vocals:
Ray Charles (on 1955-04-23)
arranger:
Ray Charles
recording of:
A Fool for You (on 1955-04-23)
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles
3:06
6This Little Girl of Mine
recording of:
This Little Girl of Mine
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles
2:35
7Hard Times (No One Knows Better Than I)2:57
8Blues Hangover
2:22
9Mary Ann
recording of:
Mary Ann
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles
publisher:
Progressive Music and Unichappell Music, Inc.
2:50
10Drown in My Own Tears
producer:
Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler
baritone saxophone [baritone sax]:
Cecil Payne (on 1955-11-30)
double bass [bass]:
Paul West (on 1955-11-30)
drums (drum set):
David "Panama" Francis (on 1955-11-30)
piano:
Ray Charles (on 1955-11-30)
tenor saxophone [tenor sax]:
Donald Wilkerson (on 1955-11-30)
trumpet:
Joe Bridgewater (on 1955-11-30) and Joshua "Jack" Willis (on 1955-11-30)
vocals:
Ray Charles (on 1955-11-30)
arranger:
Ray Charles
recorded at:
Capitol Studios 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.
3:24
11Hallelujah I Love Her So2:38
12What Would I Do Without You2:37
13Lonely Avenue2:37
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 (on 1956-05-16)
saxophone:
David Newman (on 1956-05-16)
trumpet:
Joe Bridgewater (on 1956-05-16) and John Hunt (on 1956-05-16)
vocals:
Ray Charles (on 1956-05-16)
performer:
The Cookies (on 1956-05-16)
recording of:
I Want to Know (on 1956-05-16)
writer:
Ray Charles
2:13
15Leave My Woman Alone
recording of:
Leave My Woman Alone
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles
2:43
16Sweet Sixteen Bars
recording of:
Sweet Sixteen Bars
composer:
Ray Charles
4:11
17Doodlin’
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1956-11-26)
recording engineer:
Earle Brown and Tom Dowd
producer:
Nesuhi Ertegun and Jerry Wexler
alto saxophone and tenor saxophone:
David “Fathead” Newman (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 (on 1956-11-26)
trumpet:
Joe Bridgewater (on 1956-11-26) and John Hunt (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
2:20
19Ain’t That Love
producer:
Ahmet Ertegun 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 (on 1956-11-26)
tambourine:
Jerry Wexler (on 1956-11-26)
tenor saxophone [tenor sax]:
David “Fathead” Newman (on 1956-11-26)
trumpet:
Joe Bridgewater (on 1956-11-26) and John Hunt (on 1956-11-26)
background vocals:
The Raelettes (on 1956-11-26)
vocals:
Ray Charles (on 1956-11-26)
arranger:
Ray Charles
recording of:
Ain’t That Love (on 1956-11-26)
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles
publisher:
Progressive Music
2:53
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 and Stephen Foster
composer:
[unknown]
publisher:
Unichappell Music, Inc.
2:20
23That’s Enough
recording of:
That’s Enough
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles
2:49
24Talkin’ Bout You
recording of:
Talkin’ ’bout You
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles
publisher:
Unichappell Music, Inc.
2:52
25What Kind of Man Are You2:53
26I Want a Little Girl2:56
2CD
#TitleLength
1Yes Indeed!
cover recording of:
Yes Indeed
lyricist and composer:
Sy Oliver
2:19
2I Had a Dream
2:57
3You Be My Baby
2:32
4Tell All the World About You
recording of:
Tell All the World About You
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles
2:05
5My Bonnie
cover recording of:
My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean
publisher:
Charles E. Pratt (in 1881)
lyricist and composer:
[traditional]
publisher:
Carlin Music Corporation and Unichappell Music, Inc.
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 1422)
2:52
6In a Little Spanish Town (live)
3:49
7Talkin’ ‘Bout You (live)
live recording of:
Talkin’ ’bout You
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles
publisher:
Unichappell Music, Inc.
4:24
8Early in the Mornin’
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1958-10-28)
producer:
Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler
baritone saxophone:
Bennie Crawford (on 1958-10-28)
bass:
Edgar Willis (on 1958-10-28)
drums (drum set):
Teagle Fleming (on 1958-10-28)
organ and piano:
Ray Charles (on 1958-10-28)
tenor saxophone:
David Newman (on 1958-10-28)
trumpet:
Marcus Belgrave (on 1958-10-28) and John Hunt (on 1958-10-28)
vocals:
Ray Charles (on 1958-10-28)
cover recording of:
Early in the Morning (on 1958-10-28)
writer:
Dallas Bartley, Leo Hickman and Louis Jordan
publisher:
Cherio Corp.
2:50
9Carrying That Load (single version)
2:19
10Tell Me How Do You Feel2:47
11What’d I Say Parts I & II5:06
12Tell Me You’ll Wait for Me3:27
13Come Rain or Come Shine3:45
14Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Cryin’
cover recording of:
Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Cryin’
lyricist and composer:
Joe Greene
publisher:
Northern Music and Universal Music Corp.
3:49
15Just for a Thrill
cover recording of:
Just for a Thrill
lyricist:
Don Raye
composer:
Lil Hardin Armstrong
arranger:
Vance Thompson
publisher:
MCA Music and Universal Music Corp.
3:28
16Am I Blue?3:43
17Tell the Truth (live)
live cover recording of:
Tell the Truth
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles
3:35
18Let the Good Times Roll2:55
19I’m Movin’ On
cover recording of:
I’m Moving On
lyricist and composer:
Hank Snow
publisher:
Hill and Range Songs, Inc. and Unichappell Music, Inc.
2:24
20I Believe to My Soul
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1959-06-26)
producer:
Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler
bass:
Edgar Willis (on 1959-06-26)
drums (drum set):
Teagle Fleming (on 1959-06-26)
piano:
Ray Charles (on 1959-06-26)
saxophone [alto, baritone sax]:
Bennie Crawford (on 1959-06-26)
tenor saxophone:
David Newman (on 1959-06-26)
trumpet:
Marcus Belgrave (on 1959-06-26) and John Hunt (on 1959-06-26)
vocals:
Ray Charles (on 1959-06-26)
recording of:
I Believe to My Soul (on 1959-06-26)
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles
publisher:
Carlin Music Corporation, Hill and Range Songs, Inc. and Unichappell Music, Inc.
3:01
21My Baby (I Love Her Yes I Do)
recording of:
My Baby! (I Love Her, Yes I Do)
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles
3:06
22Who You Gonna Love
2:06
23Sticks and Stones2:19
24Worried Life Blues
3:10
3CD
#TitleLength
1Georgia on My Mind
cover recording of:
Georgia on My Mind
anthem of:
Georgia, United States (from 1979 to present)
lyricist:
Stuart Gorrell (in 1930)
composer:
Hoagy Carmichael (in 1930)
publisher:
Peer International Corporation, Peermusic III, Ltd., Campbell Connelly & Co. Ltd. (from 1930 to present) and Southern Music Publishing Co., Inc. (from 1930 to present)
sub-publisher:
ピアーミュージック
arrangement of:
Georgia on My Mind (Solo piano arrangement)
recording of:
Georgia on My Mind
anthem of:
Georgia, United States (from 1979 to present)
lyricist:
Stuart Gorrell (in 1930)
composer:
Hoagy Carmichael (in 1930)
publisher:
Peer International Corporation, Peermusic III, Ltd., Campbell Connelly & Co. Ltd. (from 1930 to present) and Southern Music Publishing Co., Inc. (from 1930 to present)
sub-publisher:
ピアーミュージック
arrangement of:
Georgia on My Mind (Solo piano arrangement)
3:42
2Carry Me Back to Old Virginny
cover recording of:
Carry Me Back to Old Virginny
composer:
James A. Bland
2:05
3Them That Got
producer:
Sid Feller
alto saxophone [alto sax]:
Bennie "Hank" Crawford (on 1959-12-29)
baritone saxophone [baritone sax]:
Leroy "Hog" Cooper (on 1959-12-29)
bass:
Edgar Willis (on 1959-12-29)
drums (drum set):
Milton Turner (on 1959-12-29)
piano:
Ray Charles (on 1959-12-29)
solo tenor saxophone [tenor sax]:
David “Fathead” Newman (on 1959-12-29)
trumpet:
Marcus Belgrave (on 1959-12-29) and John Hunt (on 1959-12-29)
vocals:
Ray Charles (on 1959-12-29)
arranger:
Ray Charles
recorded at:
United Recorders in Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1959-12-29)
recording of:
Them That Got (on 1959-12-29)
composer:
Ray Charles
2:56
4I Wonder
cover recording of:
I Wonder
writer:
Cecil Gant and Raymond Leveen
publisher:
Universal Music Corp.
is based on:
I Wonder
2:38
5Ruby
cover recording of:
Ruby
orchestrator:
Marty Paich
lyricist:
Mitchell Parish
composer:
Heinz Roemheld
publisher:
Miller Music (in 1960)
2:56
6Hardhearted Hannah3:19
7Hit the Road, Jack2:05
8The Danger Zone
recording of:
Danger Zone
lyricist and composer:
Percy Mayfield
publisher:
Tangerine Music Corp.
2:27
9Unchain My Heart
cover recording of:
Unchain My Heart
lyricist and composer:
Bobby Sharp
writer:
Teddy Powell
publisher:
Copyright Control and B Sharp Music (in 1987)
part of:
The Real Book (compilation of jazz standards, Volume I)
2:54
10But on the Other Hand, Baby3:17
11Baby, It’s Cold Outside4:12
12We’ll Be Together Again
2:47
13At the Club
recording of:
At the Club
writer:
Percy Mayfield
3:02
14Hide nor Hair
recording of:
Hide nor Hair
lyricist and composer:
Percy Mayfield
publisher:
Tangerine Music Corp.
3:12
15I Can’t Stop Loving You2:41
16Born to Lose
cover recording of:
Born to Lose
lyricist and composer:
Frankie Brown
publisher:
Peer International Corporation (on 1943-05-29)
3:20
17You Don’t Know Me3:18
18Careless Love
cover recording of:
Careless Love
writer:
[traditional]
3:05
19Your Cheatin’ Heart
engineer:
Al Schmitt
vocals:
The Jack Halloran Singers
conductor:
Marty Paich
arranger:
Marty Paich
cover recording of:
Your Cheatin’ Heart (on 1962-09-08)
lyricist and composer:
Hank Williams
publisher:
Acuff Rose Music Ltd., Fred Rose Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK) Ltd., Acuff-Rose Publications, Inc. (on 1952-10-31), Sony/ATV Acuff Rose Music (from 2002 until 2021-01-06) and Sony Music Publishing (from 2021-01-06 to present)
3:36
20You Are My Sunshine3:02
21It Should’ve Been Me
recording of:
It Should Have Been Me
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles
2:46
22Losing Hand
recording of:
Losing Hand
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles
3:16
23Sinner’s Prayer3:26
24I Wonder Who
recording of:
I Wonder Who
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles
2:52
25Don’t You Know
recorded in:
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States (on 1953-12-04)
producer:
Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler
alto saxophone:
O'Neil Gerald (on 1953-12-04)
baritone saxophone:
Warren Bell (on 1953-12-04)
bass:
Lloyd Lambert (on 1953-12-04)
drums (drum set):
Oscar Moore (on 1953-12-04)
piano:
Ray Charles (on 1953-12-04)
tenor saxophone:
Joe Tillman (on 1953-12-04)
trumpet:
Wallace Davenport (on 1953-12-04) and Frank Mitchell (on 1953-12-04)
vocals:
Ray Charles (on 1953-12-04)
recording of:
Don’t You Know (on 1953-12-04)
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles
publisher:
Progressive Music
2:58