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This is a discography of American musician Ray Charles.
Ray Charles discography | |
---|---|
Studio albums | 62 |
Live albums | 7 |
Compilation albums | 39 |
Singles | 127 |
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 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]
Year | Album | Peak positions | Label |
---|---|---|---|
US [3] | |||
1957 | Ray Charles | 35 | Atlantic |
The Great Ray Charles | 68 | ||
1958 | Soul Brothers (with Milt Jackson) | — | |
Yes Indeed! | 32 | ||
Ray Charles at Newport (live) | 54 | ||
1959 | What'd I Say | 20 | |
The Genius of Ray Charles | 17 | ||
1960 | Ray Charles in Person (live) | 13 | |
1961 | Soul Meeting (with Milt Jackson) | — | |
The Genius After Hours | 49 | ||
The Genius Sings the Blues | 73 | ||
"—" denotes a releases that did not chart. |
Year | Album | Peak positions | Certifications | Label | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [3] |
US R&B [3] |
US Country [3] |
AUS [8][9] |
CAN | UK [4] | ||||
1974 | Come Live with Me | 106 | 34 | — | — | — | — | CrossOver[10] | |
1975 | Renaissance | 175 | 34 | — | — | — | — | ||
My Kind of Jazz Part 3 | — | 55 | — | — | — | — | |||
1976 | Porgy and Bess (with Cleo Laine) | 138 | 30 | — | 63 | — | — | RCA | |
1977 | True to Life | 78 | 23 | — | — | — | — | Atlantic | |
1978 | Love & Peace | 181 | 35 | — | — | — | — | ||
1979 | Ain't It So | — | 59 | — | — | — | — | ||
1980 | Brother Ray Is at It Again | 193 | 40 | — | — | — | — | ||
1983 | Wish You Were Here Tonight | — | — | 29 | — | — | — | Columbia | |
1984 | Do I Ever Cross Your Mind | — | — | 55 | — | — | — | ||
Friendship | 75 | — | 1 | 87 | 81 | — | |||
The Spirit of Christmas | — | — | 42 | — | — | — | |||
1986 | From the Pages of My Mind | — | — | 16 | — | — | — | ||
1988 | Just Between Us | — | 68 | — | — | — | — | ||
1990 | Would You Believe? | — | 61 | — | — | — | — | Qwest/Warner Bros. | |
1993 | My World | 145 | 53 | — | — | — | — | ||
1996 | Strong Love Affair | — | 65 | — | — | — | — | ||
2002 | Thanks for Bringing Love Around Again | 178 | 30 | — | — | — | — | E-Nate/Welk Music Group; XIII Bis | |
2004 | Genius Loves Company | 1 | 4 | — | 4 | 1 | 18 | Concord | |
Celebrates a Gospel Christmas with The Voices of Jubilation |
121 | 43 | — | — | — | — | Madacy | ||
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Year | Album | Peak positions | Label | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [3] |
US R&B [3] |
US Jazz [1] |
CAN | UK [4] | |||
2004 | The Jazz Biography Series | — | 70 | 31 | — | — | United Audio |
2005 | Genius & Friends | 36 | 14 | 2 | 72 | 142 | Rhino |
2006 | Ray Sings — Basie Swings (with the Count Basie Orchestra) | — | — | — | — | — | Hear Music/Concord |
2010 | Rare Genius: The Undiscovered Masters | 198 | 28 | — | — | — | Concord |
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
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:[citation needed]
1949: The McSon Trio (a.k.a. Maxin Trio and Maxim Trio):[13]
1949–1953: Ray Charles, The Ray Charles Trio:
The list of singles below are songs Ray Charles released while on the Atlantic label between 1952 and 1980.
Year | Single | Peak positions | Certifications | Album | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [3] |
US R&B [3] | ||||
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)" |
— | 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" |
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 | 5 | 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)" |
6 | 1 | |||
"I'm Movin' On" b/w "I Believe to My Soul" |
40 | 11 | 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'" / | 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 | 30 | The 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) |
— | 32 | Love & 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. |
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 |
Peak positions | Sales | Certifications | Album | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [3] |
US R&B [3] |
US AC [3] |
CAN | CAN AC | UK [4] | |||||
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 | — | — | — | 24 | The 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 |
|
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 | — | 1 | Modern 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 | — | — | — | 37 | Non-album tracks | ||
"The Brightest Smile in Town" | 92 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
"Take These Chains from My Heart" / | 8 | 7 | 3 | — | — | 5 | Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, Volume Two | |||
"No Letter Today" | 105 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
"No One" / | 21 | 9 | 6 | — | — | 35 | Non-album tracks | |||
"Without Love (There Is Nothing)" | 29 | 15 | — | — | — | — | ||||
"Busted" / | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | 21 | 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" |
20 | — | 10 | — | — | — | Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul | ||
"My Heart Cries for You" / | 38 | [A] 9 | 12 | — | — | — | 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] 13 | 6 | 39 | — | — | Sweet and Sour Tears | |||
"No One to Cry To" | 55 | [A] 14 | 8 | — | — | — | ||||
"Smack Dab in the Middle" b/w "I Wake Up Crying" (Non-album track) |
52 | [A] 19 | 13 | — | — | — | Have a Smile with Me | |||
1965 | "Makin' Whoopee" b/w "Makin' Whoopee" (Instrumental) |
46 | [A] 10 | 11 | — | — | 42 | Live 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 | — | 50 | Crying Time | ||
"Together Again" / | 19 | 10 | 1 | 17 | — | 48 | 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) |
31 | 1 | — | 57 | — | — |
|
|||
"I Chose to Sing the Blues" b/w "Hopelessly" (Non-album track) |
32 | 22 | — | 44 | — | — |
|
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 | — | 44 | Ray 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 | — | 36 | A 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. |
This list below is of songs Ray Charles released while on the CrossOver label from 1973 to 1976.
Year | Single | Peak positions | Album | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [3] |
US R&B [3] |
US AC [3] |
CAN | CAN AC | UK [4] | |||
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. |
Listed below are songs Ray Charles released during his Columbia Records tenure which was spent on the country singles chart.
Year | Single | Peak 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 | — | |
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Listed below are songs Ray Charles issued on various labels where the pop and R&B charts are concerned.
Year | Single | Peak positions | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [3] |
US R&B [3] |
US AC [3] |
US Dance [3] | 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. |
Year | Song | Year-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 |
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