40 Greatest Hits: The Very Best of Ray Charles

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

Tracklist

1▶CD
2▼CD
#TitleRatingLength
1(Night Time Is) The Right Time
producer:
Ahmet Ertegun (US songwriter/producer), Leiber and Stoller (songwriting team) and Jerry Wexler
baritone saxophone [baritone sax]:
Bennie "Hank" Crawford (on 1958-10-28)
bass:
Edgar Willis (bass) (on 1958-10-28)
drums (drum set):
Milt Turner (on 1958-10-28)
electric piano:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1958-10-28)
solo alto saxophone [alto sax]:
David “Fathead” Newman (American jazz saxophonist) (on 1958-10-28)
trumpet:
Marcus Belgrave (on 1958-10-28) and Lee "Ricky" Harper" (Lee Harper, trumpet player (Ray Charles)) (on 1958-10-28)
background vocals:
The Raelettes (on 1958-10-28)
vocals:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1958-10-28) and Margie Hendrix (on 1958-10-28)
arranger:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
recorded at:
Atlantic Studios (1841 Broadway, New York, 1957–1991) in Midtown Manhattan, New York, New York, United States (on 1958-10-28)
cover recording of:
Night Time Is the Right Time (on 1958-10-28)
composer:
Lew Herman
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), Planemar Music, Screen Gems–EMI Music Ltd. and Tro-Essex Music
3.53:25
2Swanee River Rock
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.
22:21
3My Bonnie
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1958-02-20)
baritone saxophone:
Emmott Dennis (on 1958-02-20)
bass:
Edgar Willis (bass) (on 1958-02-20)
drums (drum set):
Richie Goldberg (on 1958-02-20)
keyboard:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1958-02-20)
saxophone:
David “Fathead” Newman (American jazz saxophonist) (on 1958-02-20)
trumpet:
Marcus Belgrave (on 1958-02-20) and Lee Harper (trumpet player (Ray Charles)) (on 1958-02-20)
vocals:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1958-02-20) and The Raelettes (on 1958-02-20)
cover recording of:
My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean (on 1958-02-20)
publisher:
Charles E. Pratt (in 1881)
lyricist and composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
publisher:
Carlin Music Corporation and Unichappell Music, Inc.
part of:
Roud Folk Song Index (number: 1422)
2.52:48
4Rockhouse, Parts 1 & 2
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1957-11-27)
baritone saxophone:
Emmott Dennis (on 1957-11-27)
bass:
Roosevelt Sheffield (on 1957-11-27)
drums (drum set):
William Peeples (on 1957-11-27)
keyboard:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1957-11-27)
trumpet:
Joe Bridgewater (on 1957-11-27) and John Hunt (trumpeter) (on 1957-11-27)
vocals:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1957-11-27)
recording of:
Ray’s Rockhouse (on 1957-11-27)
lyricist:
Jon Hendricks
composer:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
13:56
5What’d I Say, Parts 1 & 2
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1959-02-18)
producer:
Ahmet Ertegun (US songwriter/producer) and Jerry Wexler
baritone saxophone:
Bennie Crawford (on 1959-02-18)
double bass [bass]:
Edgar Willis (bass) (on 1959-02-18)
drums (drum set):
Milt Turner (on 1959-02-18)
keyboard:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1959-02-18)
saxophone:
David “Fathead” Newman (American jazz saxophonist) (on 1959-02-18)
vocals:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1959-02-18)
part of:
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – 500 Songs That Shaped Rock
recording of:
What’d I Say
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
publisher:
Carlin Music Corporation, Mijac Music, MUAC Music, Progressive Music (publisher), Unichappell Music, Inc. and Warner–Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
45:07
6I Believe to My Soul
recorded in:
New York, New York, United States (on 1959-06-26)
producer:
Ahmet Ertegun (US songwriter/producer) and Jerry Wexler
bass:
Edgar Willis (bass) (on 1959-06-26)
drums (drum set):
Teagle Fleming (on 1959-06-26)
piano:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1959-06-26)
saxophone [alto, baritone sax]:
Bennie Crawford (on 1959-06-26)
tenor saxophone:
David Newman (American jazz saxophonist) (on 1959-06-26)
trumpet:
Marcus Belgrave (on 1959-06-26) and John Hunt (trumpeter) (on 1959-06-26)
vocals:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1959-06-26)
recording of:
I Believe to My Soul (on 1959-06-26)
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
publisher:
Carlin Music Corporation, Hill and Range Songs, Inc. (publisher) and Unichappell Music, Inc.
13:02
7Come Rain or Come Shine
producer:
Nesuhi Ertegun and Jerry Wexler
bass:
Wendell Marshall (from 1959-05-06 until 1959-06-23)
piano:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (from 1959-05-06 until 1959-06-23)
valve trombone:
Bob Brookmeyer (from 1959-05-06 until 1959-06-23)
vocals:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (from 1959-05-06 until 1959-06-23)
arranger:
Ralph Burns
recorded at:
6 West Recording in New York, New York, United States (from 1959-05-06 until 1959-06-23)
cover recording of:
Come Rain or Come Shine (from 1959-05-06 until 1959-06-23)
lyricist:
Johnny Mercer (in 1946)
composer:
Harold Arlen (in 1946)
publisher:
Chappell & Co., Chappell & Co., Inc. (USA), S.A. Music Co. and Warner/Chappell Music Scandinavia AB
33:43
8I’m Moving On
cover recording of:
I’m Moving On
lyricist and composer:
Hank Snow
publisher:
Hill and Range Songs, Inc. (publisher) and Unichappell Music, Inc.
12:24
9Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Cryin’
cover recording of:
Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Cryin’
lyricist and composer:
Joe Greene (US songwriter Joseph Perkins Greene, 1915-1986)
publisher:
Northern Music (song publisher) and Universal Music Corp. (USA, affiliated with ASCAP)
5:17
10Let the Good Times Roll
producer:
Ahmet Ertegun (US songwriter/producer), Nesuhi Ertegun and Jerry Wexler
alto saxophone:
Marshall Royal (from 1959-05-06 until 1959-06-23)
flute and saxophone:
Frank Wess (from 1959-05-06 until 1959-06-23)
piano:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (from 1959-05-06 until 1959-06-23)
tenor saxophone:
Paul Gonsalves (from 1959-05-06 until 1959-06-23), David “Fathead” Newman (American jazz saxophonist) (from 1959-05-06 until 1959-06-23) and Zoot Sims (US jazz saxophonist) (from 1959-05-06 until 1959-06-23)
trombone:
Quentin Jackson (from 1959-05-06 until 1959-06-23) and Melba Liston (US jazz trombonist) (from 1959-05-06 until 1959-06-23)
trumpet:
Marcus Belgrave (from 1959-05-06 until 1959-06-23), Joe Newman (US jazz trumpeter) (from 1959-05-06 until 1959-06-23), Ernie Royal (from 1959-05-06 until 1959-06-23), Clark Terry (American swing trumpeter) (from 1959-05-06 until 1959-06-23) and Snookie Young (from 1959-05-06 until 1959-06-23)
vocals:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (from 1959-05-06 until 1959-06-23)
arranger:
Quincy Jones
recorded at:
6 West Recording in New York, New York, United States (from 1959-05-06 until 1959-06-23)
cover recording of:
Let the Good Times Roll (from 1959-05-06 until 1959-06-23)
writer:
Fleecie Moore (in 1946) and Sam Theard (in 1946)
publisher:
Rytvoc, Inc. (ASCAP), Theard Swanson Publishing and Warock Corp.
sub-publisher:
Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc. (song publisher, never a release label) and ヤマハミュージックEH(CM) (Yamaha Music EH(CM))
22:54
11My Baby! (I Love Her, Yes I Do)
3:00
12Just for a Thrill
producer:
Ahmet Ertegun (US songwriter/producer), Nesuhi Ertegun and Jerry Wexler
bass:
Wendell Marshall (from 1959-05-06 until 1959-06-23)
piano:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (from 1959-05-06 until 1959-06-23)
valve trombone:
Bob Brookmeyer (from 1959-05-06 until 1959-06-23)
vocals:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (from 1959-05-06 until 1959-06-23)
arranger:
Ralph Burns
recorded at:
6 West Recording in New York, New York, United States (from 1959-05-06 until 1959-06-23)
cover recording of:
Just for a Thrill (from 1959-05-06 until 1959-06-23)
lyricist:
Don Raye
composer:
Lil Hardin Armstrong
arranger:
Vance Thompson
publisher:
MCA Music (not for release label use! this is a music publisher, ASCAP-affiliated) and Universal Music Corp. (USA, affiliated with ASCAP)
13:25
13Tell the Truth
cover recording of:
Tell the Truth
lyricist and composer:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
3:05
14Sticks and Stones
producer:
Sid Feller
alto saxophone [alto sax]:
Bennie "Hank" Crawford (on 1960-04-27)
baritone saxophone [baritone sax]:
Leroy "Hog" Cooper (saxophonist) (on 1960-04-27)
bass:
Edgar Willis (bass) (on 1960-04-27)
drums (drum set):
Milton Turner (on 1960-04-27)
electric piano:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1960-04-27)
tenor saxophone [tenor sax]:
David “Fathead” Newman (American jazz saxophonist) (on 1960-04-27)
trumpet:
Martin Banks (on 1960-04-27) and John Hunt (trumpeter) (on 1960-04-27)
background vocals:
The Raelettes (on 1960-04-27)
vocals:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1960-04-27)
arranger:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
recorded at:
United Recorders (@ 6050 Sunset Blvd., part of United Western Recorders studio complex 1957–1985) in Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1960-04-27)
recording of:
Sticks and Stones (on 1960-04-27)
lyricist and composer:
Titus Turner
publisher:
Piccadilly Music Corporation, Tangerine Music Corp. and 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)
2:15
15Georgia on My Mind
producer:
Sid Feller
bass guitar:
Edgar Willis (bass) (on 1960-03-25)
drums (drum set):
Milton Turner (on 1960-03-25)
piano:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1960-03-25)
vocals:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1960-03-25)
arranger:
Ralph Burns
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Ray Charles Ent. (in 1960)
recorded at:
Capitol Studios (Hollywood, CA, founded 1956) in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1960-03-25)
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1960 (number: 16), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 44) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 283)
cover recording of:
Georgia on My Mind (on 1960-03-25)
anthem of:
Georgia, United States (from 1979 to present)
lyricist:
Stuart Gorrell (in 1930)
composer:
Hoagy Carmichael (in 1930)
publisher:
Peer International Corporation (BMI), Peermusic III, Ltd. (BMI), Campbell Connelly & Co. Ltd. (from 1930 to present) and Southern Music Publishing Co., Inc. ((ASCAP) tradename Peermusic) (from 1930 to present)
sub-publisher:
ピアーミュージック (Peer Music Japan, Japan, subsidiary of Nichion)
arrangement of:
Georgia on My Mind (Solo piano arrangement)
43:40
16Them That Got
producer:
Sid Feller
alto saxophone [alto sax]:
Bennie "Hank" Crawford (on 1959-12-29)
baritone saxophone [baritone sax]:
Leroy "Hog" Cooper (saxophonist) (on 1959-12-29)
bass:
Edgar Willis (bass) (on 1959-12-29)
drums (drum set):
Milton Turner (on 1959-12-29)
piano:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1959-12-29)
solo tenor saxophone [tenor sax]:
David “Fathead” Newman (American jazz saxophonist) (on 1959-12-29)
trumpet:
Marcus Belgrave (on 1959-12-29) and John Hunt (trumpeter) (on 1959-12-29)
vocals:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1959-12-29)
arranger:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
recorded at:
United Recorders (@ 6050 Sunset Blvd., part of United Western Recorders studio complex 1957–1985) in Los Angeles, California, United States (on 1959-12-29)
recording of:
Them That Got (on 1959-12-29)
composer:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
22:48
17Hardhearted Hannah
cover recording of:
Hard Hearted Hannah (on 1960-08-23)
writer:
Milton Ager, Charles Bates, Bob Bigelow and Jack Yellen
composer:
Milton Ager, Charles Bates and Jack Yellen
3:18
18Hit the Road Jack
producer:
Sid Feller
alto saxophone [alto sax]:
Bennie "Hank" Crawford (on 1961-07-05)
baritone saxophone [baritone sax]:
Leroy "Hog" Cooper (saxophonist) (on 1961-07-05)
bass:
Edgar Willis (bass) (on 1961-07-05)
drums (drum set):
Edward "Bruno" Carr (on 1961-07-05)
piano:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1961-07-05)
tenor saxophone [tenor sax]:
David “Fathead” Newman (American jazz saxophonist) (on 1961-07-05)
trumpet:
Phillip Guilbeau (on 1961-07-05) and John Hunt (trumpeter) (on 1961-07-05)
background vocals:
The Raelettes (on 1961-07-05)
vocals:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1961-07-05) and Margie Hendrix (on 1961-07-05)
arranger:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
recorded at:
Bell Sound Studios in New York, New York, United States (on 1961-07-05)
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1961 (number: 6) and Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 248)
recording of:
Hit the Road Jack (on 1961-07-05)
lyricist and composer:
Percy Mayfield
publisher:
Tangerine Music, Tangerine Music Corp. and 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)
4.451:56
19Hard 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.
2:55
20Unchain My Heart
producer:
Sid Feller
alto saxophone [alto sax]:
Bennie "Hank" Crawford (on 1961-07-05)
baritone saxophone [baritone sax]:
Leroy "Hog" Cooper (saxophonist) (on 1961-07-05)
bass:
Edgar Willis (bass) (on 1961-07-05)
drums (drum set):
Edward "Bruno" Carr (on 1961-07-05)
piano:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1961-07-05)
solo tenor saxophone [tenor sax]:
David “Fathead” Newman (American jazz saxophonist) (on 1961-07-05)
trumpet:
Phillip Guilbeau (on 1961-07-05) and John Hunt (trumpeter) (on 1961-07-05)
background vocals:
The Raelettes (on 1961-07-05)
vocals:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter) (on 1961-07-05)
arranger:
Ray Charles (soul musician, singer and songwriter)
recorded at:
Bell Sound Studios in New York, New York, United States (on 1961-07-05)
cover recording of:
Unchain My Heart (on 1961-07-05)
lyricist and composer:
Bobby Sharp
writer:
Teddy Powell
publisher:
Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships) and B Sharp Music (owned by Bobby Sharp, for publisher and copyrights use) (in 1987)
part of:
The Real Book (compilation of jazz standards, volume I)
3.652:50