Właśc. Ray Charles Robinson, ur. 23.09.1930 r. w Albany w stanie
Georgia, USA. Trudno określić go trafniej niż słowem "geniusz". Swą
płodną twórczością jako piosenkarz, kompozytor, aranżer i pianista
zasłużył w pełni na ten tytuł.Urodził się w skrajnej biedzie i tracił powoli wzrok z powodu jaskry, aż w wieku lat siedmiu zupełnie przestał widzieć. Nauczył się czytać i pisać braillem, a w chwili gdy kończył szkołę grał już biegle na kilku instrumentach. Osierocony w wieku 15 lat, krążył po Florydzie chwytając się różnych prac, a następnie przeniósł się na drugi koniec USA do Seattle. Tutaj kontynuował swą wędrowną karierę, grając na fortepianie w kilku nocnych klubach, w stylu nawiązującym do Nat "King" Cole'a.
Pierwszych nagrań dokonał w 1949 r., uwieczniając swój dość wtórny styl w ciągu kilku sesji nagraniowych. Występował wtedy jako R.C. Robinson na czele własnego McSon Trio, które oprócz niego tworzyli Gosady McGee (gitara), Milton Garred (bas). Trzy lata później podpisał kontrakt z wytwórnią Atlantic Records, początkowo kontynuując swój "chłodny" sposób interpretacji, tylko czasami zdradzając oznaki pasji, którą później eksplodował. Single "It Should've Been Me", "Mess Around" i "Losing Hand" chyba najlepiej reprezentują jego wczesne inklinacje rhythm'n' bluesowe, ale indywidualny styl Raya powstał w rezultacie jego współpracy z Guitar Slimem. Emocjonalne, niemal surowe i przepojone gospelowym żarem interpretacje tego bluesowego wykonawcy w wielkim stopniu wpłynęły na Charlesa.
Ray zaaranżował sprzedany w nakładzie miliona kopii singel Slima "Things That I Used To Do". Zawarte na nim głośne brzmienie sekcji dętej i nieposkromiony wokal wyznaczyły ton dalszych, własnych nagrań Charlesa. Efekt ten zrealizował w pełni na singlu "I Got A Woman" (z 1954 r.). Niezwykły sukces tej płytki, zarówno artystyczny jak i komercyjny, zainspirował podobnie gorące nagrania, w tym "This Little Girl Of Mine" (z 1955 r.), "Talkin- 'Bout You" (z 1957 r.) oraz soczyste i wzruszające "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying" (z 1959 r.).
Kulminacją tego stylu była porywająca kompozycja "What'd I Say" (z 1959 r). Ten uznany klasyk jest jedną z piosenek najczęściej wykonywanych na bis przez niezliczonych wykonawców i zespoły na stadionach, w klubach i barach na całym świecie. Charles jednak równie dobrze śpiewał spokojne ballady, co udowodnił chwytającą za serce interpretacją piosenek "Drown In My Own Tears" i "I Believe To My Soul" (obie z 1959 r.).
Biegły w różnych stylach, Charles doskonale czuł się w bluesie, jazzie, standardach, a nawet country, co udowodniła chociażby krzepka wersja piosenki "I'm Movin' On".
W listopadzie 1959 r. Charles przeniósł się z wytwórni Atlantic do ABC Records, gdzie zapewnił sobie muzyczną i finansową niezależność. Komentatorzy twierdzą nieraz, że był to moment, w którym Ray zgubił swój ogień, ale we wczesnych nagraniach dla tej firmy kontynuował swój nowatorski styl. Wzruszające nagranie "Georgia On My Mind" (z 1960 r.) i żywiołowe "Hit The Road Jack" przyniosły artyście międzynarodową sławę. Jego pozycja uległa dalszemu umocnieniu dzięki albumowi Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music, sprzedanemu w olbrzymiej ilości egzemplarzy. Powodzenie longplaya utorowało drogę singlowi "I Can't Stop Loving You", który rozszedł się w nakładzie miliona kopii.
Sukces ten wyznaczył charakter dalszej kariery Charlesa; ostrze uległo stępieniu, wibracje - spowolnieniu, a repertuar stawał się coraz bardziej wygładzony. Co jakiś czas wracały chwile natchnienia; nagrania "Let's Go Get Stoned" i "I Don't Need No Doctor" przyniosły przebłyski pasji, zbyt często teraz stłumionej, a Crying Time, pierwszy longplay nagrany po odrzuceniu przez artystę nałogu heroinowego wypadł lepiej niż jakiekolwiek nagrania dla Atlantic Records.
Nawrót wielkiej formy nie trwał jednak długo i wraz z upływem lat 60. twórczość artysty stawała się coraz mniej impulsywna, za to coraz bliższa "muzyce środka". Jak większość wykonawców, rejestrował własne wersje kilku piosenek Beatlesów, odnosząc sukces interpretacjami "Yesterday" i "Eleonor Rigby".
Dwa albumy z lat 70-tych Message From The People i Renaissance zawierały jego wersje aktualnych przebojów "Living In The City" Stevie Wondera i "Sail Away" Randy'ego Newmana. W późniejszym czasie wycofał się jednak z tej drogi.
Lata 80-tezaznaczył Charles większą ilością piosenek zbliżonych do country i błyskotliwą rólką w filmie "Blues Brothers". Najbardziej pamiętny z tego okresu jest jednak jego znaczący udział w nagraniu na rzecz Afryki "We Are The World" (z 1985 r.). Przypomniał w nim swój zbyt często drzemiący talent wykonawcy, który kojarząc muzykę gospel i rhythm'n' bluesa stanowił podstawy dla muzyki soul. W październiku 1984 r. Ray Charles wystąpił w Polsce w ramach festiwalu Jazz Jamboree. Jego znaczenie jest nieocenione, a talent powszechnie uznany i naśladowany przez wielkich białych wykonawców, takich jak Steve Winwood, Joe Cocker, Van Morrison i Eric Burdon. W trakcie kariery Charlesa wyróżniono niezliczonymi nagrodami, w tym Nagrodą za Osiągnięcia Całego Życia (Lifetime Achievement Award). Z wielką lekkością grał rocka, jazz, bluesa i country, ale przede wszystkim pozostaje "ojcem muzyki soul".
| Single | ||||||
| Tytuł | Wykonawca | Data wydania | UK | US | Wytwórnia [US] |
Komentarz |
| Confession Blues/I Love You, I Love You (I Will Never Let You Go) | The Maxin Trio | 04.1949 | - | - | Down Beat 171 | [written by R. C. Robinson][2[11].R&B Chart] |
| Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand/Lonely Boy | Ray Charles | 02.1951 | - | - | Swing Time 250 | [5[6].R&B Chart] |
| Kissa Me Baby/I'm Glad for Your Sake | Ray Charles | 03.1952 | - | - | Swing Time 274 | [8[1].R&B Chart] |
| It Should've Been Me/Sinner's Prayer | Ray Charles | 04.1954 | - | - | Atlantic 1021 | [written by Memphis Curtis][produced by Ahmet Ertegun][5[9].R&B Chart] |
| Don't You Know/ Losing Hand | Ray Charles | 08.1954 | - | - | Atlantic 1037 | [written by Calhoun][10[1].R&B Chart] |
| I've Got A Woman/Come Back | Ray Charles | 01.1955 | - | - | Atlantic 1050 | [A:written by Ray Charles, Renald Richard][B:written by Walter Davis][produced by Jerry Wexler][A:1[1][20].R&B Chart][B:4[15].R&B Chart] |
| A Fool For You/This Little Girl Of Mine | Ray Charles | 07.1955 | - | - | Atlantic 1063 | [A:written by Ray Charles][B:written by Ray Charles][produced by Jerry Wexler][A:1[1][12].R&B Chart][B:9[6].R&B Chart] |
| Greenbacks/Blackjack | Ray Charles | 10.1955 | - | - | Atlantic 1076 | [written by Ray Charles][A:5[4].R&B Chart][B:8[5].R&B Chart] |
| Drown In My Own Tears/Mary Ann | Ray Charles | 02.1956 | - | - | Atlantic 1085 | [written by Henry Glover][1[2][15].R&B Chart] |
| Hallelujah I Love Her So/What Would I Do Without You | Ray Charles | 06.1956 | - | - | Atlantic 1096 | [written by Ray Charles][produced by Jerry Wexler][5[8].R&B Chart] |
| Lonely Avenue/Leave My Woman Alone | Ray Charles | 10.1956 | - | - | Atlantic 1108 | [written by Doc Pomus][produced by Ahmet Ertegün, Jerry Wexler][6[5].R&B Chart] |
| Ain't That Love/I Want To Know | Ray Charles | 02.1957 | - | - | Atlantic 1124 | [written by Ray Charles][9[6].R&B Chart] |
| Swanee river rock/I Want A Little Girl | Ray Charles | 10.1957 | - | 34[15] | Atlantic 1154 | [written by Ray Charles][produced by Ahmet Ertegün, Jerry Wexler][14[3].R&B Chart] |
| Rockhouse II | Ray Charles | 12.1958 | - | 79[2] | Atlantic 2006 | [written by Ray Charles][produced by Ahmet Ertegün, Jerry Wexler][14[9].R&B Chart] |
| (Night Time Is) The Right Time/Tell All The World About You | Ray Charles | 02.1959 | - | 95[1] | Atlantic 2010 | [written by Lew Herman][produced by Ahmet Ertegün, Jerry Wexler][5[18].R&B Chart] |
| What' d i say | Ray Charles | 07.1959 | - | 6[15] | Atlantic 2037 | [written by Ray Charles][produced by Ahmet Ertegün, Jerry Wexler][1[1][17].R&B Chart] |
| I' m moving on/ I Believe To My Soul | Ray Charles | 11.1959 | - | 40[10] | Atlantic 2043 | [written by Hank Snow][produced by Ahmet Ertegün, Jerry Wexler][11[5].R&B Chart][#1 country hit for Hank Snow in 1950] |
| Let the good times roll/Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin' | Ray Charles | 01.1960 | - | 78[3] | Atlantic 2047 | [A:written by Sam Theard][B:written by Joe Greene][produced by Ahmet Ertegün, Jerry Wexler][B:17[7].R&B Chart][#2 hit for Louis Jordan in 1927][B:#3 hit r&b for Louis Jordan in 1946] |
| Just For A Thrill/Heartbreaker | Ray Charles | 05.1960 | - | - | Atlantic 2055 | [ written by Armstrong, Raye][16[3].R&B Chart] |
| Tell The Truth/Sweet Sixteen Bars | Ray Charles | 08.1960 | - | - | Atlantic 2068 | [ written by Ray Charles][13[8].R&B Chart] |
| Sticks and stones/Worried Life Blues | Ray Charles | 06.1960 | - | 40[8] | ABC-Paramount 10 118 | [written by Titus Turner][produced by Sid Feller][2[13].R&B Chart] |
| Georgia on my mind/Carry Me Back To Old Virginny | Ray Charles | 09.1960 | 24[8] | 1[1][13] | ABC-Paramount 10 135 | [written by Hoagy Carmichael / Stewart Gorrell][Producer : Sid Feller][3[16].R&B Chart][#10 hit for Frankie Trumbauer in 1931] |
| Ruby/Hardhearted Hannah | Ray Charles | 11.1960 | - | 28[10];B:55[4] | ABC-Paramount 10 164 | [A:written by Mitchell Paris/Heinz Roemheld][B:written by Milton Ager/Charles Bates/Jack Yellen][produced by Sid Feller][A:10[8].R&B Chart][piosenka z filmu "Ruby Gentry"][B:#3 hit for Dolly Kay in 1924] |
| Come rain or come shine/Tell Me You'll Wait For Me | Ray Charles | 11.1960 | - | 83[2] | Atlantic 2084 | [written by Harold Arlen/Johnny Mercer][produced by Ahmet Ertegün, Jerry Wexler][#17 hit for Margaret Whiting in 1946] |
| Them that got/ I Wonder | Ray Charles | 01.1961 | - | 58[6] | ABC-Paramount 10 141 | [written by Ricci Harper][produced by Sid Feller][10[7].R&B Chart] |
| One mint julep/Let's Go | Ray Charles | 03.1961 | - | 8[13] | Impulse! 200 | [written by Rudy Toombs][produced by Creed Taylor][1[1][12].R&B Chart][#2 hit for The Clovers in 1952]] |
| I' ve got news for you/I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town | Ray Charles | 06.1961 | - | A:66[5];B:84[2] | Impulse 202 | [A:written by Ray Alfred][B:written by Roy Jordan][produced by Creed Taylor][A:8[6].R&B Chart][B:25[2].R&B Chart][B:#17 hit for Jimmie Lunceford in 1942] |
| Hit the Road Jack/The Danger Zone | Ray Charles | 09.1961 | 6[12] | 1[2][13] | ABC-Paramount 10 244 | [written by Percy Mayfield][Producer : Sid Feller][1[5][15].R&B Chart] |
| Unchain my heart/But On The Other Hand Baby | Ray Charles | 11.1961 | - | A:9[12];B:72[4] | ABC-Paramount 10 266 | [A:written by Teddy Powell/Bobby Sharp][B:written by Ray Charles/Percy Mayfield][Producer : Sid Feller][A:1[2][10].R&B Chart][B:10[11].R&B Chart] |
| Baby,it' s cold outside | Ray Charles & Betty Carter | 03.1962 | - | 91[2] | ABC-Paramount 10 298 | [written by Frank Loesser][produced by Ray Charles][#3 hit for Margaret Whiting & Johnny Mercer in 1949][piosenka z filmu "Neptune's Daughter"] |
| Hide nor hair/At the club | Ray Charles | 03.1962 | - | A:20[7];B:44[7] | ABC-Paramount 10 314 | [A:written by Percy Mayfield][B:written by Percy Mayfield][Producer : Sid Feller][A:7[9].R&B Chart][B:7[8].R&B Chart] |
| I can' t stop loving you/ Born To Lose | Ray Charles | 05.1962 | 1[2][17] | A:1[5][18];B:41[9] | ABC-Paramount 10 330 | [gold-US][A:written by Don Gibson][B:written by Frank Brown][Producer : Sid Feller][58 US hit-Don Gibson][1[10][16].R&B Chart] |
| You don' t know me/ Careless Love | Ray Charles | 07.1962 | 9[13] | A:2[11];B:60[4] | ABC-Paramount 10 345 | [A:written by Eddy Arnold/Cindy Walker][B:written by Ray Charles][Producer : Sid Feller][56 US hit-Eddy Arnold][5[9].R&B Chart] |
| You are my sunshine/Your Cheating Heart | Ray Charles | 11.1962 | B:13[8] | A:7[12];B:[29[9] | ABC-Paramount 10 375 | [A:written by Jimmie Davis/Charles Mitchell][B:written by Hank Williams][Producer : Sid Feller][#20 hit for Bing Crosby in 1941]][B:#1 country hit for Hank Williams in 1953][A:1[3][11].R&B Chart][B:23[2].R&B Chart] |
| Don' t set me free/Brighest smile in town | Ray Charles | 02.1963 | 37[3] | A:20[8];B:92[2] | ABC-Paramount 10 405 | [A:written by Teddy Powell][B:written by Ray Charles/Barry DeVorzon/Robert Sherman][Producer : Sid Feller][9[8].R&B Chart] |
| Feelin' Sad/Carrying That Load | Ray Charles | 02.1963 | - | 113[3] | Atlantic 2174 | [written by Jones] |
| Take these chains from my heart/No Letter Today | Ray Charles | 04.1963 | 5[20] | A:8[11];B:105[5] | ABC-Paramount 10 435 | [A:written by Hy Heath/Fred Rose][B:written by F. Brown][Producer : Sid Feller][#1 country hit for Hank Williams in 1953]][7[8].R&B Chart][B:#2 country hit for Ted Daffan's Texans in 1944] |
| No one/Without Love (There Is Nothing) | Ray Charles | 06.1963 | 35[7] | A:21[8];B:29[7] | ABC-Paramount 10 453 | [A:written by Doc Pomus/Mort Shuman][B:written by Danny Small][Producer : Sid Feller][A:9[8].R&B Chart][A:15[6].R&B Chart] |
| Busted/Making Believe | Ray Charles | 09.1963 | 21[10] | A:4[12];B:102[3] | ABC-Paramount 10 481 | [A:Writer : Harlan Howard][B:Writer : Jimmy Work][Producer : Sid Feller][3[15].R&B Chart][#13 country hit for Johnny Cash in 1963][B:#2 country hit for Kitty Wells in 1955] |
| That lucky old sun/Born To Be Blue | Ray Charles | 12.1963 | - | 20[9] | ABC-Paramount 10 509 | [written by Haven Gillespie/Harry Beasley Smith][Producer : Sid Feller][5[13].R&B Chart][#1 hit for Frankie Laine in 1949] |
| My heart cries for you/Baby ,don' t you cry | Ray Charles | 02.1964 | - | A:38[7];B:39[7] | ABC-Paramount 10 530 | [A:written by Percy Faith/Carl Sigman][B:written by Buddy Johnson][Producer : Sid Feller][A:9[9].R&B Chart][B:7[8].R&B Chart] |
| My baby don' t dig me/Something's Wrong | Ray Charles | 05.1964 | - | 51[6] | ABC-Paramount 10 557 | [written by Percy Mayfield][Producer : Sid Feller][13[7].R&B Chart] |
| A tear fell/No one to cry to | Ray Charles | 07.1964 | 38[3] | A:55[5];B:55[6] | ABC-Paramount 10 571 | [A:written by Dorian Burton/Eugene Randolph][B:written by Sydney Robin/Foy Willing][Producer : Sid Feller][A:13[10].R&B Chart][B:14[7].R&B Chart][#15 hit for Ivory Joe Hunter in 1956] |
| Smack dab in the middle | Ray Charles | 09.1964 | - | 52[7] | ABC-Paramount 10 588 | [written by Chuck Calhoun][Producer : Sid Feller][19[6].R&B Chart] |
| Makin' whoopee | Ray Charles | 12.1964 | 42[4] | 46[8] | ABC-Paramount 10 609 | [written by Walter Donaldson/Gus Kahn][Producer : Sid Feller][10[9].R&B Chart][#2 hit for Eddie Cantor in 1929] |
| Cry/Teardrops From My Eyes | Ray Charles | 02.1965 | - | A:58[7];B:112[1] | ABC-Paramount 10 615 | [A:written by Churchill Kohlman][B:written by Rudolph Toombs][Producer : Sid Feller][A:#1 hit for Johnnie Ray in 1951][B:#1 r&b hit for Ruth Brown in 1950] |
| I gotta woman | Ray Charles | 04.1965 | - | 79[3] | ABC-Paramount 10 649 | [written by Ray Charles/Renald Richard][Producer : Sid Feller] |
| Without A Song (Part 1)/ Without A Song (Part 2) | Ray Charles | 05.1965 | - | 112[2] | ABC-Paramount 10 663 | [written by W. Rose, R. Eliscu, V. Youmans][Producer : Sid Feller][#6 hit for Paul Whiteman with Bing Crosby in 1930] |
| I' m a fool to care/Love's Gonna Live Here (Swingova) | Ray Charles | 07.1965 | - | 84[4] | ABC-Paramount 10 700 | [written by Ted Daffan][Producer : Sid Feller][#6 hit for Les Paul & Mary Ford in 1954] |
| The Cincinnati Kid/That's All I Am To You | Ray Charles | 09.1965 | - | 115[5] | ABC-Paramount 10 720 | [written by Dorcas Cochran, Lalo Schifrin][tytułowa piosenka z filmu] |
| Crying time/When My Dreamboat Comes Home | Ray Charles | 12.1965 | 50[1] | 6[15] | ABC-Paramount 10 739 | [written by Buck Owens][produced by Joe Adams/Ray Charles][5[14].R&B Chart] |
| Together again/You're Just About To Lose Your Clown | Ray Charles | 03.1966 | 48[1] | A:19[8];B:91[2] | ABC-Paramount 10 785 | [A:written by Buck Owens][B:written by Johnny MacRae][A:produced by Sid Feller][B:produced by Joe Adams][10[8].R&B Chart] |
| Let' s go get stoned/The Train | Ray Charles | 05.1966 | - | 31[9] | ABC-Paramount 10 808 | [written by Josephine Armstead/Nicholas Ashford/Valerie Simpson][produced by Joe Adams/Ray Charles][1[1][13].R&B Chart] |
| I chose to sing the blues/Hopelessly | Ray Charles | 09.1966 | - | 32[7] | ABC 10 840 | [written by Ray Charles/Jimmy Holiday][produced by Joe Adams/Ray Charles][22[7].R&B Chart] |
| Please say you' re fooling/ I Don't Need No Doctor | Ray Charles | 11.1966 | - | A:64[6];B:72[4] | ABC 10 865 | [A:written by Bobby Stevenson][B:written by Nicholas Ashford/Valerie Simpson][produced by Joe Adams/Ray Charles][B:45[2].R&B Chart] |
| I want to talk about you/Something Inside Me | Ray Charles | 03.1967 | - | A:98[1];B:112[2] | ABC/TRC 10901 | [A:written by Billy Eckstine][B:written by Jimmy Holiday][produced by Joe Adams/Ray Charles] |
| Here we go again/Somebody Ought To Write A Book About It | Ray Charles | 05.1967 | A:38[3];B:105[2] | 15[12] | ABC/TRC 10938 | [A:written by Don Lanier/Red Steagall][B:written by J.Holliday, J.Lewis][produced by Joe Adams/Ray Charles][5[4].R&B Chart] |
| In the heat of the night | Ray Charles | 08.1967 | - | 33[7] | ABC/TRC 10970 | [written by Alan Bergman/Marilyn Bergman/Quincy Jones][produced by Quincy Jones][21[9].R&B Chart][tytułowa piosenka z filmu] |
| Yesterday/Never Had Enough Of Nothing Yet | Ray Charles | 11.1967 | 44[4] | 25[7] | ABC/TRC 10 109 | [written by John Lennon/Paul McCartney][produced by Quincy Jones][9[10].R&B Chart][utwór The Beatles] |
| That' s a lie/Go On Home | Ray Charles | 02.1968 | - | 64[8] | ABC/TRC 11 045 | [written by Ray Charles/Jimmy Holiday][produced by Ray Charles][11[9].R&B Chart] |
| Eleanor rigby/Understanding (Is The Best Thing) | Ray Charles | 06.1968 | 36[9] | 35[10] | ABC/TRC 11 090 | [A:written by John Lennon/Paul McCartney][B:written by Ray Charles/Jimmy Holiday][A:produced by Sid Feller][B:produced by Joe Adams][A:30[7].R&B Chart][B:13[13].R&B Chart][utwór The Beatles] |
| Sweet young thing like you/Listen, They're Playing My Song | Ray Charles | 09.1968 | - | 83[2] | ABC/TRC 11 133 | [A:written by Dee Ervin][B:written by Glenn Garrison/Charlie Williams][produced by Joe Adams] |
| If it wasn' t for bad luck/When I Stop Dreaming | Ray Charles & Jimmy Lewis | 01.1969 | - | 77[6] | ABC/TRC 11 170 | [written by Ray Charles/Jimmy Lewis][produced by Tangerine][21[7].R&B Chart] |
| I Didn't Know What Time It Was/I'll Be Your Servant | Ray Charles | 03.1969 | - | 105[4] | ABC/TRC 11 193 | [written by R. Rodgers, L. Hart][#6 hit for Benny Goodman in 1939;#92 hit for The Crampton Sisters in 1964]] |
| Let me love you/I'm Satisfied | Ray Charles | 05.1969 | - | 94[2] | ABC/TRC 11 213 | [written by Jimmy Holiday][produced by Joe Adams][28[5].R&B Chart] |
| We Can Make It/I Can't Stop Loving You Baby | Ray Charles | 09.1969 | - | 101[4] | ABC/TRC 11 239 | [written by Jimmy Lewis][31[5].R&B Chart] |
| Claudie Mae/Someone To Watch Over Me | Ray Charles | 12.1969 | - | 111[4] | ABC/TRC 11 251 | [written by Jimmy Holiday] |
| Laughin' and clownin'/That Thing Called Love | Ray Charles | 03.1970 | - | 98[2] | ABC/TRC 11 259 | [written by Sam Cooke][produced by Ray Charles][18[6].R&B Chart] |
| If you were mine/Till I Can't Take It Anymore | Ray Charles | 10.1970 | - | 41[18] | ABC/TRC 11 271 | [written by Jimmy Lewis][produced by Joe Adams][19[9].R&B Chart] |
| Don' t change on me/Sweet Memories | Ray Charles | 03.1971 | - | 36[11] | ABC/TRC 11 291 | [written by Jimmy Holiday/Eddie Reeves][produced by Joe Adams][13[10].R&B Chart] |
| Booty Butt/Sidewinder | The Ray Charles Orchestra | 03.1971 | - | 36[11] | Tangerine 1015 | [written by Ray Charles][produced by Joe Adams][13[12].R&B Chart] |
| Feel so bad/Your Love Is So Doggone Good | Ray Charles | 08.1971 | - | 68[8] | ABC/TRC 11 308 | [written by James Johnson/Leslie Temple][produced by Joe Adams][16[9].R&B Chart] |
| What am i living for/Tired Of My Tears | Ray Charles | 12.1971 | - | 54[7] | ABC/TRC 11 317 | [written by Art Harris/Fred Jay][produced by Tom Nixon] |
| Look what they' ve done to my song,ma/America The Beautiful | Ray Charles | 07.1972 | - | 65[6] | ABC/TRC 11 329 | [written by Melanie Safka][produced by Ray Charles][25[6].R&B Chart] |
| Hey Mister/There'll Be No Peace Without All Men As One | Ray Charles | 12.1972 | - | 115[1] | ABC/TRC 11 337 | [written by Betty Lapcevic][produced by Ray Charles][47[3].R&B Chart] |
| I can make it through the day/Ring Of Fire | Ray Charles | 06.1973 | - | 81[4] | ABC/TRC 11 351 | [written by Ray Charles/Dee Ervin/Ruth Robinson][produced by Ray Charles][21[9].R&B Chart] |
| Come live with me/Everybody Sing | Ray Charles | 11.1973 | - | 82[6] | Crossover 973 | [written by Boudleaux Bryant/Felice Bryant][produced by Ray Charles][30[10].R&B Chart] |
| Louise/Somebody | Ray Charles | 05.1974 | - | - | Crossover 974 | [written by Leo Robin][produced by Ray Charles][77[5].R&B Chart] |
| Living for the city/Then We'll Be Home | Ray Charles | 09.1975 | - | 91[3] | Crossover 981 | [written by Stevie Wonder][produced by Ray Charles][22[10].R&B Chart] |
| America The Beautiful/Sunshine | Ray Charles | 04.1976 | - | - | Crossover 985 | [Adapted By Ray Charles][produced by Ray Charles][98[2].R&B Chart] |
| I Can See Clearly Now | Ray Charles | 12.1977 | - | - | Atlantic 3443 | [written by Johnny Nash][produced by Ray Charles][35[12].R&B Chart] |
| Just Because/Love Me Or Set Me Free | Ray Charles | 11.1979 | - | - | Atlantic 3634 | [written by Sitoussi, Tobaly, Wedroff][produced by Ray Charles][69[6].R&B Chart] |
| Baby grand/Big Man On Mulberry Street [Billy Joel] | Billy Joel Featuring Ray Charles | 04.1987 | - | 75[7] | Columbia 06994 | [written by Billy Joel][produced by Phil Ramone] |
| I' ll be good to you | Quincy Jones,Ray Charles & Chaka Khan | 11.1989 | 21[5] | 18[16] | Qwest 22697 | [written by George Johnson/Louis Johnson/Senora Sam][produced by Quincy Jones][1[2][17].R&B Chart] |
| A Song For You/I Can't Get Enough | Ray Charles | 04.1993 | - | 104[6] | Warner Bros. 18611 | [written by Leon Russell][produced by Richard Perry, Benny Medina ][57[9].R&B Chart] |
| Mother | Ray Charles | 07.2002 | - | - | Crossover 0026 | [72[8].R&B Chart] |
| Here we go again | Ray Charles & Norah Jones | 04.2005 | 190[1] | 113[1] | EMI 8709920/- | |
| EP's | ||||||
| I can't stop loving you | Ray Charles | 01.1963 | 10[36] | - | HMV | |
| Take these chains from my heart | Ray Charles | 09.1963 | 16[5] | - | HMV | |
|
Albumy | ||||||
| Tytuł | Wykonawca | Data wydania | UK | US | Wytwórnia [US] |
Komentarz |
| The genius of Ray Charles | Ray Charles | 02.1960 | - | 17[82] | Atlantic 1312 | [produced by Nesuhi Ertegun/Jerry Wexler] |
| In person | Ray Charles | 07.1960 | - | 13[37] | Atlantic 8039 | [produced by Harris Zenas] |
| The genius hits the road | Ray Charles | 10.1960 | - | 9[50] | ABC Paramount 335 | [produced by Sid Feller] |
| Dedicated to you | Ray Charles | 03.1961 | - | 11[31] | ABC Paramount 355 | [produced by Ray Charles] |
| Genius + soul=Jazz | Ray Charles | 03.1961 | - | 4[48] | Impulse! 2 | [produced by Creed Taylor/Sid Feller] |
| What' d i say | Ray Charles | 08.1961 | - | 20[73] | Atlantic 8029 | [produced by Ahmet Ertegun/Jerry Wexler] |
| Genius after hours | Ray Charles | 08.1961 | - | 49[17] | Atlantic 1369 | [produced by Quincy Jones] |
| Ray Charles & Betty Carter | Ray Charles and Betty Carter | 09.1961 | - | 52[15] | ABC Paramount 385 | [produced by Sid Feller] |
| Genius sings the blues | Ray Charles | 11.1961 | - | 73[12] | Atlantic 8052 | [produced by Ahmet Ertegun/Jerry Wexler] |
| The greatest [Do the twist!] | Ray Charles | 12.1961 | - | 11[52] | Atlantic 8054 | [produced by Ahmet Ertegun/Jerry Wexler/Nesuhi Ertegun] |
| Modern sounds in country and western music | Ray Charles | 07.1962 | 6[16] | 1[14][101] | ABC-Paramount 410 | [gold-US][produced by Joe Adams/Sid Feller] |
| Ray Charles story Vol.1 | Ray Charles | 08.1962 | - | 14[38] | Atlantic 9000 | |
| Greatest hits | Ray Charles | 08.1962 | 16[5] | 5[47] | ABC-Paramount 415 | [gold-US][produced by Sid Feller] |
| Modern sounds in country and western music. Vol.2 | Ray Charles | 11.1962 | 15[5] | 2[67] | ABC-Paramount 435 | [gold-US][produced by Sid Feller] |
| Ingradients in a recipe for soul | Ray Charles | 08.1963 | - | 2[36] | ABC Paramounts 465 | [produced by Sid Feller/Steve Hoffman] |
| Sweet and sour tears | Ray Charles | 03.1964 | - | 9[23] | Abc Paramount 480 | [produced by Sid Feller] |
| Have a smile with me | Ray Charles | 08.1964 | - | 36[16] | ABC Paramount 495 | [produced by Sid Feller] |
| Ray Charles live in concert | Ray Charles | 02.1965 | - | 80[18] | ABC Paramount 500 | [produced by Sid Feller] |
| Country & western meets rhythm' n' blues | Ray Charles | 09.1965 | - | 116[7] | ABC Paramount 520 | - |
| Crying time | Ray Charles | 03.1966 | - | 15[36] | ABC Paramount 544 | [produced by Joe Adams] |
| Ray's moods | Ray Charles | 09.1966 | - | 52[17] | ABC 550 | - |
| A man and his soul | Ray Charles | 03.1967 | - | 77[62] | ABC 590 | [gold-US][produced by Joe Adams/Sid Feller/Ray Charles] |
| Ray Charles invites you to listen | Ray Charles | 07.1967 | - | 76[34] | ABC/TRC 595 | [produced by Joe Adams] |
| A portrait of Ray | Ray Charles | 04.1968 | - | 51[24] | ABC/TRC 625 | [produced by Joe Adams] |
| Greatest hits Vol.2 | Ray Charles | 10.1968 | 24[8] | - | Stateside SSL 10 241 [UK] | [produced by Creed Taylor/Joe Adams/Quincy Jones/Ray Charles/Sid Feller] |
| I' m all yours-baby! | Ray Charles | 04.1969 | - | 167[11] | ABC/TRC 675 | [produced by Joe Adams] |
| Doing his thing | Ray Charles | 07.1969 | - | 172[3] | ABC/TRC 695 | [produced by Joe Adams] |
| My kind of jazz | Ray Charles | 07.1970 | - | 155[2] | Tangerine 1512 | [produced by Quincy Jones] |
| Love country style | Ray Charles | 08.1970 | - | 192[4] | ABC/TRC 707 | [produced by Joe Adams] |
| Volcanic action of my soul | Ray Charles | 05.1971 | - | 52[16] | ABC/TRC 726 | [produced by Joe Adams] |
| A 25th Anniversary in show business salute to Ray Charles | Ray Charles | 11.1971 | - | 152[10] | ABC 731 | - |
| A message from the people | Ray Charles | 04.1972 | - | 52[22] | ABC/TRC 755 | [produced by John Burk] |
| Through the eyes of eyes | Ray Charles | 11.1972 | - | 186[8] | ABC/TRC 765 | - |
| Live | Ray Charles | 05.1973 | - | 182[5] | Atlantic 503 [US] | |
| Renaissance | Ray Charles | 06.1975 | - | 173[5] | Crossover 9005 | - |
| Porgy and Bess | Ray Charles & Cleo Laine | 12.1976 | - | 138[11] | RCA Victor 1831 | - |
| True of life | Ray Charles | 11.1977 | - | 78[20] | Atlantic 19 142 | [produced by Ray Charles] |
| Heart to heart-20 hot hits | Ray Charles | 07.1980 | 29[5] | - | London RAY TV 1 [UK] | |
| Friendship | Ray Charles | 02.1985 | - | 75[20] | Columbia 39 415 | [produced by Ettore Stratta/Danny Bennett/Phil Ramone/Billy Sherrill] |
| The collection | Ray Charles | 03.1990 | 36[3] | - | Arcade RCLP 101 [UK] | |
| My world | Ray Charles | 05.1993 | - | 145[8] | Warner 26 735 | - |
| The definitive | Ray Charles | 08.2001 | 13[5] | - | WSM 8122735562 | |
| The very best of Ray Charles | Ray Charles | 07.2004 | 171[4] | 54[53] | Rhino 79 822 | [gold-US] |
| Anthology | Ray Charles | 07.2004 | - | 123[12] | Rhino 75 759 | [gold-US] |
| Genius loves company | Ray Charles | 09.2004 | 18[30] | 1[1][49] | Concord 2248 | [3x-platinum-US][produced by John Burk/Terry Howard/Herbert Waltl/Phil Ramone] |
| Ray [soundtrack] | Ray Charles | 11.2004 | 36[13] | 9[36] | Atlantic 76540 | [platinum-US][produced by Ahmet Ertegun/Herb Abramson/Jerry Wexler/Sid Feller/Ray Charles] |
| Ray Charles Celebrates a Gospel Christmas With the Voices of Jubilation | Ray Charles | 12.2004 | - | 144[1] | Urban Works 50 827 | - |
| Ray- More Music From Ray (Soundtrack) | Ray Charles | 02.2005 | - | 46[8] | Atlantic 78 703 | [produced by Ray Charles/Joe Adams/James Austin/Ahmet Ertegun/Sid Feller/Jerry Wexler/Curt Sobel/Taylor Hackford/TRC/Stuart Benjamin/Peter Funsten] |
| Genius And Friends | Ray Charles | 10.2005 | 142[1] | 36[7] | Atlantic 73 185 | [produced by Phil Ramone] |
| The Definitive - Ray Charles | Ray Charles | 11.2005 | 197[1] | - | Warner 8122735562 [UK] | - |
| The Very Best Of Ray Charles | Ray Charles | 04.2006 | 171[4] | - | - | - |
| Ray Sings Basie Swings (Ray Charles And Count Basie Orchestra) | Ray Charles | 10.2006 | 63[3] | 23[7] | Concord 7230026 [UK] | [produced by Gregg Field] |
