Best Ray Charles Songs - RESULTS

Hymie
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Best Ray Charles Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Best Ray Charles Songs!

Okay, new project.

Submit to me at least 10 and up to 50 of your favorite Ray Charles songs ranked in order. I'll tally up the numbers and present a countdown of the results. Ballots will be scored like this:

1. 75 points
2. 71
3. 68
4. 65
5. 62
6. 60
7. 58
8. 56
9. 54
10. 52
11. 50
12. 49
13. 48
14. 47
15. 46
16. 45
17. 44
18. 43
19. 42
20. 41
21. 40
22. 39
23. 38
24. 37
25. 36
26. 35
27. 34
28. 33
29. 32
30. 31
31. 30
32. 29
33. 28
34. 27
35. 26
36. 25
37. 24
38. 23
39. 22
40. 21
41. 20
42. 19
43. 18
44. 17
45. 16
46. 15
47. 14
48. 13
49. 12
50. 11

Ballots must contain at least 10 songs and must be ranked, or they will not be counted. Post your ballot in this thread.
Last edited by Hymie on Fri Feb 01, 2019 7:26 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs

Post by Hymie »

MY BALLOT

1. Don't You Know
2. What'd I Say
3. Let The Good Times Roll
4. (Night Time Is) The Right Time
5. It Should've Been Me
6. I've Got A Woman
7. Hit The Road Jack
8. Mess Around
9. I Can't Stop Loving You
10. Georgia On My Mind
11. Greenbacks
12. Hallejuah, I Love Her So
13. A Fool For You
14. At The Club
15. But On The Other Hand Baby
16. The Sun's Gonna Shine Again
17. You Be My Baby
18. Swanee River Rock
19. Busted
20. Heartbreaker
21. My Baby
22. Unchain My Heart
23. Drown In My Own Tears
24. Roll With My Baby
25. What Kind of Man Are You (Mary Ann Fisher)
26. Mr. Charles Blues
27. Mary Ann
28. Blackjack
29. Rockhouse
30. Crying Time
31. I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts of Town
32. One Mint Julep
33. Hide Nor Hair
34. Ain't That Love
35. You Don't Know Me
36. I Believe To My Soul
37. Get On The Right Track Baby
38. This Little Girl of Mine
39. Lonely Avenue
40. Hard Times
41. Funny
42. Come Back
43. What Would I Do Without You
44. You Are My Sunshine
45. Leave My Woman Alone
46. Teardrops From My Eyes
47. Kissa Me Baby
48. Bye Bye Love
49. Them That Got
50. Feelin' Sad
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs

Post by StevieFan13 »

1. Georgia on My Mind
2. Hit the Road, Jack
3. I Can't Stop Loving You
4. Bein' Green
5. I Believe to My Soul
6. What'd I Say (Parts 1 and 2)
7. Sinner's Prayer
8. Bye Bye Love
9. Feelin' Sad
10. Lonely Avenue
11. I Got a Woman
12. Hallelujah I Love Her So
13. Mess Around
14. Come Rain or Come Shine
15. Let the Good Times Roll
16. The Ray
17. Tell the World All About You
18. You Don't Know Me
19. Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying
20. Roll with My Baby
Last edited by StevieFan13 on Mon Jan 21, 2019 9:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Hymie
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs

Post by Hymie »

Thanks, Stevie!

BTW, is "Don't You Know" better by Ray or Stevie?
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs

Post by StevieFan13 »

Hymie wrote:Thanks, Stevie!

BTW, is "Don't You Know" better by Ray or Stevie?
They’re both good
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs

Post by Hymie »

Deadline for submitting ballots is Jan 31 at midnight ET.
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs

Post by Hymie »

Only one ballot from this forum so far. Maybe we don't have all that many Ray Charles fans here?
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs

Post by Live in Phoenix »

That would probably be a fair assessment, certainly compared to the Beach Boys. I assume that worst case, Digital Dream Door is still pitching in. I can manage something by January 31st...
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs

Post by Hymie »

Live in Phoenix wrote:That would probably be a fair assessment, certainly compared to the Beach Boys.
Well my old timers from other forums are way more interested in Ray than the Beach Boys, so it should even out. Still, some here should at least be able to come up with a top 10.
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs

Post by Honorio »

Hymie wrote:Still, some here should at least be able to come up with a top 10.
Sure…


1. Ray Charles and His Band | Drown in My Own Tears | 1956
2. Ray Charles and His Band | I've Got a Woman | 1954
3. Ray Charles | Hallelujah I Love Her So | 1956
4. Ray Charles His Orchestra and Chorus | Lonely Avenue | 1956
5. Ray Charles and His Band | Mary Ann | 1956
6. Ray Charles and His Orchestra | What'd I Say (Parts 1 and 2) | 1959
7. Ray Charles with the Raylettes | (Night Time Is) The Right Time | 1958
8. Ray Charles and His Orchestra | Hit the Road Jack | 1961
9. Ray Charles and His Orchestra | Mess Around | 1953
10. Ray Charles, Orchestra & Chorus Conducted by Ralph Burns | Georgia on My Mind | 1960
Mostly songs from the 1950s Atlantic period…
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs

Post by Miguel »

1. Georgia on My Mind
2. Hit the Road Jack
3. I Believe to My Soul
4. Mess Around
5. I've Got a Woman
6. Don’t You Know
7. Hallelujah I Love Her So
8. Lonely Avenue
9. I Can't Stop Loving You
10. Baby It's Cold Outside
11. Let the Good Times Roll
12. Nothing Like A Hundred Miles
13. Unchain My Heart
14. See See Rider
15. What'd I Say (Parts 1 and 2)
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs

Post by Hymie »

Miguel, Honorio, thanks. Your ballots have been tabulated.
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs

Post by bonnielaurel »

  1. Georgia on My Mind (1960)
  2. Hallelujah I Love Her So (1956)
  3. Come Rain or Come Shine (1959)
  4. Hit the Road Jack (1960)
  5. I Can’t Stop Loving You (1960)
  6. Drown in My Own Tears (1956)
  7. That Lucky Old Sun (1963)
  8. What’d I Say (1959)
  9. I Got a Woman (1954)
  10. Let the Good Times Roll (1959)
  11. Moonlight in Vermont (1960)
  12. Unchain My Heart (1960)
  13. Hardhearted Hannah (1960)
  14. It Had to Be You (1959)
  15. My Bonnie (1959)
  16. Lonely Avenue (1956)
  17. Roll with My Baby (1952)
  18. You Are My Sunshine (1960)
  19. Just a Little Lovin’ (Will Go a Long Way) (1962)
  20. You Don’t Know Me (1962)
  21. Yes, Indeed (1958)
  22. Makin’ Whoopee (1964)
  23. Deep in the Heart of Texas (1960)
  24. Mess Around (1953)
  25. Let’s Go Get Stoned (1966)
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs

Post by Hymie »

Thanks Bonnie, excellent list!
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs

Post by The_Claw »

1. What'd I Say
2. I've Got a Woman
3. Lonely Avenue
4. Sinner's Prayer
5. Georgia On My Mind
6. Hit the Road Jack
7. Hallelujah I Love Her So
8. I Believe to My Soul
9. Busted
10. Unchain My Heart
11. Here We Go Again
12. I Can't Stop Loving You
13. One Mint Julep
14. You Don't Know Me
15. Mess Around
16. Losing Hand
17. Eleanor Rigby
18. (Night Time is) The Right Time
19. Sticks and Stones
20. Leave My Woman Alone
21. Let the Good Times Roll
22. Let's Go Get Stoned
23. Drown In My Own Tears
24. Born to Lose
25. Crying Time
26. I'm Movin' On
27. I Don't Need No Doctor
28. In the Heat of the Night
29. You Are My Sunshine
30. This Little Girl of Mine
31. Come Back Baby
32. A Fool for You
33. Don't Change On Me
34. It Should've Been Me
35. Take These Chains From My Heart
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs

Post by Hymie »

Thanks, Claw!

Image
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs

Post by Live in Phoenix »

1. Hit the Road, Jack
2. What'd I Say
3. Georgia on My Mind
4. I Can't Stop Loving You
5. I Got a Woman
6. You Don't Know Me
7. One Mint Julep
8. Busted
9. If You Were Mine
10. Night Time Is The Right Time
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs

Post by StevieFan13 »

Edited my list
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs

Post by andyd1010 »

1 | What'd I Say
2 | Georgia on My Mind
3 | I Got a Woman
4 | Hallelujah I Love Her So
5 | (Night Time Is) The Right Time
6 | Lonely Avenue
7 | Drown in My Own Tears
8 | Hit the Road Jack
9 | I Can't Stop Loving You
10 | You Don't Know Me
11 | Worried Mind
12 | It Makes No Difference Now
13 | Crying Time
14 | America the Beautiful
15 | Half as Much
16 | You Win Again
17 | Careless Love
18 | Let's Go Get Stoned
19 | I Believe to My Soul
20 | Born to Lose
21 | I Don't Need No Doctor
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs

Post by Bruno »

1. What'd I Say
2. Georgia On My Mind
3. I've Got a Woman
4. Hit The Road Jack
5. I Can't Stop Loving You
6. Unchain My Heart
7. Hallelujah, I Love Her So
8. Lonely Avenue
9. Mess Around
10. Let's Go Get Stoned
11. Ruby
12. (Night Time Is) The Right Time
13. You Don't Know Me
14. Drown in My Own Tears
15. I Don't Need No Doctor
16. I Believe to My Soul
17. Let's Go Get Stoned
18. Crying Time
19. Born to Lose
20. Busted
21. Come Rain or Come Shine
22. America the Beautiful
23. Losing Hand
24. Leave My Woman Alone
25. Sinner’s Prayer
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs

Post by Hymie »

StevieFan13 wrote:Edited my list
I had already tabulated your list, can you tell me what changed?
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs

Post by StevieFan13 »

Hymie wrote:
StevieFan13 wrote:Edited my list
I had already tabulated your list, can you tell me what changed?
Replaced the Willie Nelson duet with Come Rain or Come Shine.
Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand - Sir Duke (1976)
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs

Post by Hymie »

Andy, Bruno, you're in!
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs

Post by Live in Phoenix »

Hymie wrote:Andy, Bruno, you're in!
Me as well?
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs

Post by Hymie »

Live in Phoenix wrote:
Hymie wrote:Andy, Bruno, you're in!
Me as well?
Sorry, I missed your post, it's in now.
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs

Post by Hymie »

LAST CALL !!!

This poll ends Thursday at midnight ET.
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Best Ray Charles Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Time to present the results of the Best Ray Charles Songs survey. We had 30 different people submit ballots of their favorite Ray Charles Songs. There were 140 different tracks that got mentioned. Only songs that were on at least 2 ballots are listed in the results. Ties were broken first by how many ballots the song was on, and second by the highest individual ranking.

There were 92 songs that were mentioned on at least 2 ballots, so we are counting down a top 92.

First up at #92 is Ray's 1964 version of a song from 1950 that was number one on the Billboard R&B chart for 11 weeks in a version by one of Ray's Atlantic labelmates.

This is #92:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX6iXvpBB0o
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #92 is "Teardrops From My Eyes" from 1964. It was on Ray's "Sweet & Sour Tears" album and a few months later it was released as a single.

Image

The song was written by Rudy Toombs and Ruth Brown's 1950 version was a humongous R&B hit in 1950 and into 1951.


RANK - SONG TITLE -------- TOTAL BALLOTS - POINTS
92 - Teardrops From My Eyes ----------------2----------31


Next up is song #91. This one was first released in March of 1959:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1FlNKj8TZQ
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #91 is "Tell Me How Do You Feel." It was released first as a single in March 1959 backed with "That's Enough" and later that year it was included on the "What'd I Say" album. The song was recorded in October 1958 and features Mongo Santamaria on the conga drums.


RANK - SONG TITLE -------- TOTAL BALLOTS - POINTS
91. Tell Me How Do You Feel ----------------2----------46
92 - Teardrops From My Eyes ----------------2----------31
=====================================================


Next up is song #90 and it takes us back to 1952 just before Ray started to record for Atlantic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3hDHHw9ut4
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #90 is "Kissa Me Baby" from 1952, on the Swingtime label.

Image

The record made the Billboard National R&B chart, getting to #10 on the sales chart and #8 on the jukebox chart.


RANK - SONG TITLE -------- TOTAL BALLOTS - POINTS
90. Kissa Me Baby -------------------------------3----------47
91. Tell Me How Do You Feel -----------------2----------46
92 - Teardrops From My Eyes -----------------2----------31
=====================================================


Song #89 is next, and it's the oldest record in the countdown:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9FW46RWY2E
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song # 89 is "Confession Blues" from 1949. Ray was the vocalist on this record by the Maxin Trio. This was Ray's first hit record, and it was very big. It reached #2 on the Billboard R&B jukebox chart and #5 on the sales chart. It was his biggest hit until "I've Got A Woman" went to #1 in 1955. The song was written by Ray as R.C. Robinson.

Image

Jack Lauderdale of Down Beat Records heard Charles play at the Seattle jazz club, The Rocking Chair. The next day, Lauderdale took Charles and his trio to a Seattle recording studio where they recorded "Confession Blues" and "I Love You, I Love You". In February 1949, the two songs were released as Down Beat record number 171 with "Confession Blues" as the B-side. The group's name—The McSon Trio—was inadvertently listed as The Maxin Trio on the record. The song, as well as much of Charles' early work, was grounded in the styles of Nat King Cole and Charles Brown.


RANK - SONG TITLE -------- TOTAL BALLOTS - POINTS
89. Confession Blues ---------------------------2----------52
90. Kissa Me Baby -------------------------------3----------47
91. Tell Me How Do You Feel -----------------2----------46
92 - Teardrops From My Eyes -----------------2----------31
=====================================================

Next up at #88 is the first song on the countdown from Ray's first LP release. In late 1956 and into 1957 Atlantic released a series of "Rock And Roll" albums by all of their major acts. They were not albums of new material but rather collections of 14 of each artist's biggest and best known tracks from their time on the label up until that time. Ray's album was Atlantic 8006, shown below:

Image

This is song #88:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3aEGL4Kjy0
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #88 is "Funny (But I Still Love You)" from 1953. It's a good slow piano blues in the style of Charles Brown. The flip side is "Mess Around." Mickey "Guitar" Baker plays on the track.


RANK - SONG TITLE -------- TOTAL BALLOTS - POINTS
88. Funny (But I Still Love You) -------------3----------54
89. Confession Blues ---------------------------2----------52
90. Kissa Me Baby -------------------------------3----------47
91. Tell Me How Do You Feel -----------------2----------46
92 - Teardrops From My Eyes -----------------2----------31
=====================================================

Next up at #87 is a hit record from 1963 that was not an any album until some hits packages many years later.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulsNEqcw9EY
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #87 is "No One" from 1963. The song reached #21 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was written by Pomus and Shuman, that famous writing team that wrote things like "This Magic Moment" and "Save The Last Dance For Me" for the Drifters.


RANK - SONG TITLE -------- TOTAL BALLOTS - POINTS
87. No One ---------------------------------------2----------61
88. Funny (But I Still Love You) -------------3----------54
89. Confession Blues ---------------------------2----------52
90. Kissa Me Baby -------------------------------3----------47
91. Tell Me How Do You Feel -----------------2----------46
92. Teardrops From My Eyes ------------------2----------31
=================================================

Song #86 is up now, and it comes from the "Love Country Style" album in 1970:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_WRx3SKlzM
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #86 is "Don't Change On Me" from 1970. There's still another song to come from the "Love Country Style" album.

Image

This song was written by Jimmy Holiday and Eddie Reeves for the ABC-Tangerine label, although Reeves at the time was still working for United Artists Music. It was Reeves' first success as a songwriter. Eddie Reeves wrote the melody and the lyrics for the chorus, then had Jimmy Holiday have a go at writing the verses. Disappointed with the first result, he handed it back to Holiday again, telling him this time to think of church. Eddie Reeves told us: "A radio promotion man who worked for Ray's company called to tell me there was a possibility that our song could be released as Ray's next single but that the decision would be heavily influenced by what this promotion man reported to Ray. The promotion man then hinted that I should consider doing something 'nice' for him to increase the chance of our song being selected as the next single. I asked what he meant and he told me that recently someone had bought him a pair of alligator shoes, and that it would be good if I bought him another pair. He told me the store where I could buy them, his size, and how much they cost. I couldn't believe it. It was Hollyweird. I ignored his request and it had no effect on our song 'Don't Change On Me' being released as Ray's next single."


RANK - SONG TITLE -------- TOTAL BALLOTS - POINTS
86. Don't Change On Me -----------------------2----------63
87. No One ---------------------------------------2----------61
88. Funny (But I Still Love You) -------------3----------54
89. Confession Blues ---------------------------2----------52
90. Kissa Me Baby -------------------------------3----------47
91. Tell Me How Do You Feel -----------------2----------46
92. Teardrops From My Eyes ------------------2----------31
=================================================

Time for song #85, and it's the opening track on Ray's most famous album:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmrEWyN3QMA
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #85 is "Bye Bye Love" from Ray's monumental "Modern Sounds In Country And Western" album in 1962. It was one of the biggest albums of the pre-Beatles era, before albums started to become as popular as singles.

Image

Charles produced the album with Sid Feller, who helped the singer select songs to record, and performed alongside saxophonist Hank Crawford, a string section conducted by Marty Paich, and a big band arranged by Gil Fuller and Gerald Wilson.

Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music was an immediate critical and commercial success. The album and its four hit singles brought Charles greater mainstream notice and recognition in the pop market, as well as airplay on both R&B and country radio stations. The album's integration of soul and country challenged racial barriers in popular music at the height of the Civil Rights Movement. In the process of recording the album, Charles became one of the first African-American musicians to exercise complete artistic control over his own recording career. In retrospect, it has been considered by critics as his best studio record and a landmark recording in American music. According to Robert Christgau, the album "transfigured pop, prefigured soul, and defined modern country & western music." It has been called one of the greatest albums of all time by publications such as Rolling Stone and Time.


RANK - SONG TITLE -------- TOTAL BALLOTS - POINTS
85. Bye Bye Love -------------------------------2----------69
86. Don't Change On Me -----------------------2----------63
87. No One ---------------------------------------2----------61
88. Funny (But I Still Love You) -------------3----------54
89. Confession Blues ---------------------------2----------52
90. Kissa Me Baby -------------------------------3----------47
91. Tell Me How Do You Feel -----------------2----------46
92. Teardrops From My Eyes ------------------2----------31
=================================================


Next up at #84 we go way back to 1952 for one side of Ray's first release for Atlantic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MA7ZmVbYogY
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs - RESULTS

Post by Bruno »

Great post, Bruce.
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #84 is "The Midnight Hour," from late 1952. It was Ray's first release on Atlantic, the flip side being "Roll With My Baby." It was recorded on September 11, 1952. Sam "The Man" Taylor is believed to have been on the session.


RANK - SONG TITLE -------- TOTAL BALLOTS - POINTS
84. The Midnight Hour ------------------------3----------78
85. Bye Bye Love -------------------------------2----------69
86. Don't Change On Me -----------------------2----------63
87. No One ---------------------------------------2----------61
88. Funny (But I Still Love You) -------------3----------54
89. Confession Blues ---------------------------2----------52
90. Kissa Me Baby -------------------------------3----------47
91. Tell Me How Do You Feel -----------------2----------46
92. Teardrops From My Eyes ------------------2----------31
=================================================


Song #83 is next, and it's the most recent song on the list, from 1993:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtUQImH26Bw
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #83 was "A Song For You" from the "My World" album in 1993. It's a Leon Russell song that was recently added to the Grammy Hall of Fame, and Ray's version won him a Grammy for the Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.

Image


RANK - SONG TITLE -------- TOTAL BALLOTS - POINTS
83. A Song For You -----------------------------2----------79
84. The Midnight Hour ------------------------3----------78
85. Bye Bye Love -------------------------------2----------69
86. Don't Change On Me -----------------------2----------63
87. No One ---------------------------------------2----------61
88. Funny (But I Still Love You) -------------3----------54
89. Confession Blues ---------------------------2----------52
90. Kissa Me Baby -------------------------------3----------47
91. Tell Me How Do You Feel -----------------2----------46
92. Teardrops From My Eyes ------------------2----------31
=================================================

Next up is song #82, from 1959:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZqSJH9I59Q
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #82 is "That's Enough" from 1959. It was a single and also was included on the "What'd I Say" album that same year. Written by Ray. It was recorded back in 1957.

Image


RANK - SONG TITLE -------- TOTAL BALLOTS - POINTS
82. That's Enough ------------------------------2----------80
83. A Song For You -----------------------------2----------79
84. The Midnight Hour ------------------------3----------78
85. Bye Bye Love -------------------------------2----------69
86. Don't Change On Me -----------------------2----------63
87. No One ---------------------------------------2----------61
88. Funny (But I Still Love You) -------------3----------54
89. Confession Blues ---------------------------2----------52
90. Kissa Me Baby -------------------------------3----------47
91. Tell Me How Do You Feel -----------------2----------46
92. Teardrops From My Eyes ------------------2----------31
=================================================

Up next at #81 is the second track from the "Love Country Style" album in 1970:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sJ3hihBOqg
Hymie
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #81 was "If You Were Mine" from 1970. It was written by Jimmy Lewis and it reached #41 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Image


RANK - SONG TITLE -------- TOTAL BALLOTS - POINTS
81. If You Were Mine --------------------------2----------82
82. That's Enough ------------------------------2----------80
83. A Song For You -----------------------------2----------79
84. The Midnight Hour ------------------------3----------78
85. Bye Bye Love -------------------------------2----------69
86. Don't Change On Me -----------------------2----------63
87. No One ---------------------------------------2----------61
88. Funny (But I Still Love You) -------------3----------54
89. Confession Blues ---------------------------2----------52
90. Kissa Me Baby -------------------------------3----------47
91. Tell Me How Do You Feel -----------------2----------46
92. Teardrops From My Eyes ------------------2----------31
=================================================

Coming up now at #80 is a track from "The Genius Sings The Blues" in 1961:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPVixS5jSWs
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #80 was "Early In The Mornin'" from 1961. It was recorded in 1958 and went unissued until Ray left Atlantic and the label continued to issue product by him from left over masters. It was included on the album "The Genius Sings The Blues."

Image


RANK - SONG TITLE -------- TOTAL BALLOTS - POINTS
80. Early In The Mornin' ----------------------2----------83
81. If You Were Mine --------------------------2----------82
82. That's Enough ------------------------------2----------80
83. A Song For You -----------------------------2----------79
84. The Midnight Hour ------------------------3----------78
85. Bye Bye Love -------------------------------2----------69
86. Don't Change On Me -----------------------2----------63
87. No One ---------------------------------------2----------61
88. Funny (But I Still Love You) -------------3----------54
89. Confession Blues ---------------------------2----------52
90. Kissa Me Baby -------------------------------3----------47
91. Tell Me How Do You Feel -----------------2----------46
92. Teardrops From My Eyes ------------------2----------31
=================================================

Me move now to song #79, and it comes from 1979:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtmVkcyIqR8
Hymie
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #79 is "Some Enchanted Evening" from the "Ain't It So" album in 1979. It is of course and Rodgers and Hammerstein song from "South Pacific."


RANK - SONG TITLE -------- TOTAL BALLOTS - POINTS
79. Some Enchanted Evening ---------------2----------85
80. Early In The Mornin' ----------------------2----------83
81. If You Were Mine --------------------------2----------82
82. That's Enough ------------------------------2----------80
83. A Song For You -----------------------------2----------79
84. The Midnight Hour ------------------------3----------78
85. Bye Bye Love -------------------------------2----------69
86. Don't Change On Me -----------------------2----------63
87. No One ---------------------------------------2----------61
88. Funny (But I Still Love You) -------------3----------54
89. Confession Blues ---------------------------2----------52
90. Kissa Me Baby -------------------------------3----------47
91. Tell Me How Do You Feel -----------------2----------46
92. Teardrops From My Eyes ------------------2----------31
=================================================

Song #78 is next. It's Ray's 1964 version of a song from 1955:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OJEMbuh3YQ
Hymie
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #78 is "Smack Dab In The Middle" from 1964. It was on the "Have A Smile With Me" album.

Image

The song was written and originally done by Charles Calhoun aka Jesse Stone.

RANK - SONG TITLE -------- TOTAL BALLOTS - POINTS
78. Smack Dab In The Middle ---------------2----------85
79. Some Enchanted Evening ---------------2----------85
80. Early In The Mornin' ----------------------2----------83
81. If You Were Mine --------------------------2----------82
82. That's Enough ------------------------------2----------80
83. A Song For You -----------------------------2----------79
84. The Midnight Hour ------------------------3----------78
85. Bye Bye Love -------------------------------2----------69
86. Don't Change On Me -----------------------2----------63
87. No One ---------------------------------------2----------61
88. Funny (But I Still Love You) -------------3----------54
89. Confession Blues ---------------------------2----------52
90. Kissa Me Baby -------------------------------3----------47
91. Tell Me How Do You Feel -----------------2----------46
92. Teardrops From My Eyes ------------------2----------31
=================================================

Next up at #77 is another one of Ray's pre-Atlantic records. From 1951:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5HLEMSUg0c
Hymie
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #77 was "Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand" from 1951. IT was a good sized R&B Chart hit in Billboard, getting to #5 on the jukebox chart and #7 on the sales chart. It is the first song to come up that was mentioned on 4 or more ballots.

Image


RANK - SONG TITLE -------- TOTAL BALLOTS - POINTS
77. Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand -----------4----------85
78. Smack Dab In The Middle ---------------2----------85
79. Some Enchanted Evening ---------------2----------85
80. Early In The Mornin' ----------------------2----------83
81. If You Were Mine --------------------------2----------82
82. That's Enough ------------------------------2----------80
83. A Song For You -----------------------------2----------79
84. The Midnight Hour ------------------------3----------78
85. Bye Bye Love -------------------------------2----------69
86. Don't Change On Me -----------------------2----------63
87. No One ---------------------------------------2----------61
88. Funny (But I Still Love You) -------------3----------54
89. Confession Blues ---------------------------2----------52
90. Kissa Me Baby -------------------------------3----------47
91. Tell Me How Do You Feel -----------------2----------46
92. Teardrops From My Eyes ------------------2----------31
=================================================


Moving down now to song #76, and it's another one from 1949:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1J8QtRI1Rlk
Hymie
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #76 is Ray's 1949 version of the traditional song "See See Rider." The first hit version came from Ma Rainey in 1925. It's song #1825 here on AM.

RANK - SONG TITLE -------- TOTAL BALLOTS - POINTS
76. See See Rider ------------------------------2----------92
77. Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand -----------4----------85
78. Smack Dab In The Middle ---------------2----------85
79. Some Enchanted Evening ---------------2----------85
80. Early In The Mornin' ----------------------2----------83
81. If You Were Mine --------------------------2----------82
82. That's Enough ------------------------------2----------80
83. A Song For You -----------------------------2----------79
84. The Midnight Hour ------------------------3----------78
85. Bye Bye Love -------------------------------2----------69
86. Don't Change On Me -----------------------2----------63
87. No One ---------------------------------------2----------61
88. Funny (But I Still Love You) -------------3----------54
89. Confession Blues ---------------------------2----------52
90. Kissa Me Baby -------------------------------3----------47
91. Tell Me How Do You Feel -----------------2----------46
92. Teardrops From My Eyes ------------------2----------31
=================================================

Up next is song #75. It was an Atlantic single back in 1958:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3nUNaKI87Q
Hymie
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #75 is "Tell All The World About You" from 1958. It was included on the 1959 album "What'd I Say." The single is the flip side of "(Night Time Is) The Right Time."

Image


RANK - SONG TITLE -------- TOTAL BALLOTS - POINTS
75. Tell All The World About You -----------2----------92
76. See See Rider ------------------------------2----------92
77. Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand -----------4----------85
78. Smack Dab In The Middle ---------------2----------85
79. Some Enchanted Evening ---------------2----------85
80. Early In The Mornin' ----------------------2----------83
81. If You Were Mine --------------------------2----------82
82. That's Enough ------------------------------2----------80
83. A Song For You -----------------------------2----------79
84. The Midnight Hour ------------------------3----------78
85. Bye Bye Love -------------------------------2----------69
86. Don't Change On Me -----------------------2----------63
87. No One ---------------------------------------2----------61
88. Funny (But I Still Love You) -------------3----------54
89. Confession Blues ---------------------------2----------52
90. Kissa Me Baby -------------------------------3----------47
91. Tell Me How Do You Feel -----------------2----------46
92. Teardrops From My Eyes ------------------2----------31
=================================================


Next up at #74 is the first track to appear on the countdown from the album "The Genius Of Ray Charles."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3bVsOW8tsA
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #74 was "Just For A Thrill" from 1959. It's the first of 4 songs to make the list from "The Genius Of Ray Charles" It was released as a single in 1960.

Here's a review from http://www.itsallaboutray.com/song-revi ... r-a-thrill

The song was written by female jazz singer Lil Hardin Armstrong and vaudevillian Don Raye, and Armstrong (who had been married to Louis Armstrong until 1931) first recorded it in 1936. Hardin’s version of “Just For A Thrill” is, despite its heartbroken lyrics, much more cheerful, if necessarily wistful, than Ray’s famous version. Hardin sings only for part of the recording, which is half intended as an instrumental showcase.


When Ray Charles chose it for the orchestral side of The Genius Of Ray Charles (Side 2; Side 1 was with a brass band) he slowed down the tempo and plumbed the song’s lyrics to mine the honest, naked emotion lurking within them. The tale may be one told a thousand times – bitterly, the singer admonishes his former lover for merely toying with him, and not falling in love as deeply as he had; amusingly, even the LP’s liner notes admit the album’s lyrics are sometimes “banal” – but the arrangement, plus Ray’s busy piano solo and his sighing, wounded vocals, raise “Just For A Thrill” to its place in the pantheon of recorded music.

“Just For A Thrill” was arranged by Ralph Burns, and is a model of apropos restraint and supportive gentleness. The strings don’t try to tell the story of the song’s emotions, they are there merely to give Ray the setting he needs to do so. Mr. C is on piano throughout, and although this LP is the first time he had recorded with an orchestra (his R&B fans must have been mildly shocked when they heard it) it sounds as if he’d been doing it for years. And in fact, he probably had been hearing it for years in his head.

It’s when Ray Charles begins singing that the song flowers fully. He loads such a complex mix of sentiments in the very first line, which is the song’s title, and sets the pace for the performance from the outset. A cappella, and with perfect, precise timing, he intones, “Just, for a thrilllll” before the band comes in, and like a Pablo Picasso work, you can detect what you want in his voice.

I hear bitterness at her capriciousness; indignation at her callousness; paranoia at the prospect of never finding happiness; anger at her thoughtlessness; dejected loneliness; and most of all, tying all these together, a sighing resignation. Ray uses a palette of these emotions, and others, applying them to the words he sings with masterful strokes, changing and melding them often, often in each word of a line. He manages to wrest a thrilling and complicated narrative out of the short set of lyrics just with his remarkable vocal shifts and genius timing. It’s not “you changed the sunshine to rain,” it’s “you changed, the SUNshine to rainnnnn”. Important details, each opening up his world to the listener.

Most striking of all, perhaps the single most important change he made to the 1936 original and that made this version legendary, is his sudden, dramatically high melody on the line “to me you’re still the only one”. Where Lil Hardin Armstrong sang this phrase laconically, like the rest of the song, Ray lets his voice break free on it, like his mix of emotions uncontrollably bursting out for a split second before he manages to get them under wraps again.

It’s not just his voice that gives “Just For A Thrill” its idiosyncratic dynamism, but Ray’s piano. Most important are the octave-hopping fills he plays on individual keys after certain lines of each verse, a demonstration of his playful and fearless virtuosity at the keyboard. His solo, too, is notable, as it violates the gentleness that otherwise informs the performance and arrangement. A jazzy flurry of notes spill from his fingers like a spigot; it’s an unusual solo, at times almost atonal, and emphasizes the angular discomfort and disarray in the life of the song’s protagonist.

When I purchased a single lot of over 50 Ray Charles records on eBay a couple years ago, which led to the establishment of ItsAllAboutRay.com, the very first song I played from this embarrassment of vinyl riches wasn’t “What’d I Say” or “I Can’t Stop Loving You” or any of his other classics. It was the first song on Side 2 of The Genius Of Ray Charles – “Just For A Thrill”. It’s truly one of the best, however you define “best”.


RANK - SONG TITLE -------- TOTAL BALLOTS - POINTS
74. Just For A Thrill ---------------------------2----------93
75. Tell All The World About You -----------2----------92
76. See See Rider ------------------------------2----------92
77. Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand -----------4----------85
78. Smack Dab In The Middle ---------------2----------85
79. Some Enchanted Evening ---------------2----------85
80. Early In The Mornin' ----------------------2----------83
81. If You Were Mine --------------------------2----------82
82. That's Enough ------------------------------2----------80
83. A Song For You -----------------------------2----------79
84. The Midnight Hour ------------------------3----------78
85. Bye Bye Love -------------------------------2----------69
86. Don't Change On Me -----------------------2----------63
87. No One ---------------------------------------2----------61
88. Funny (But I Still Love You) -------------3----------54
89. Confession Blues ---------------------------2----------52
90. Kissa Me Baby -------------------------------3----------47
91. Tell Me How Do You Feel -----------------2----------46
92. Teardrops From My Eyes ------------------2----------31
=================================================

Song #73 is next. It's one of Ray first few records for ABC-Paramount, in 1960:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2r_l_-2bI18
Hymie
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #73 is "Hardhearted Hannah" from 1960. On a single is was the flip side of "Ruby" and it reached #55 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was included on the "Dedicated To You" album.

Image

The song was written with words by Jack Yellen, Bob Bigelow, and Charles Bates, and music by Milton Ager. The song was published in June 1924 by Ager, Yellen & Bornstein, Inc., New York. Hard Hearted Hannah tells in humorous fashion the story of a "vamp" or femme fatale from Savannah, Georgia "the meanest gal in town." Hannah is "a gal who loves to see men suffer." Dolly Kay had the biggest hit version in 1924:


RANK - SONG TITLE -------- TOTAL BALLOTS - POINTS
73. Hardhearted Hannah ---------------------2----------95
74. Just For A Thrill ---------------------------2----------93
75. Tell All The World About You -----------2----------92
76. See See Rider ------------------------------2----------92
77. Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand -----------4----------85
78. Smack Dab In The Middle ---------------2----------85
79. Some Enchanted Evening ---------------2----------85
80. Early In The Mornin' ----------------------2----------83
81. If You Were Mine --------------------------2----------82
82. That's Enough ------------------------------2----------80
83. A Song For You -----------------------------2----------79
84. The Midnight Hour ------------------------3----------78
85. Bye Bye Love -------------------------------2----------69
86. Don't Change On Me -----------------------2----------63
87. No One ---------------------------------------2----------61
88. Funny (But I Still Love You) -------------3----------54
89. Confession Blues ---------------------------2----------52
90. Kissa Me Baby -------------------------------3----------47
91. Tell Me How Do You Feel -----------------2----------46
92. Teardrops From My Eyes ------------------2----------31
=================================================

Song #72 is next. It's from 1958:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHLyl1UyJjk
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #72 is "I had A Dream" from 1958. It's the first track from the "Yes Indeed" album to come up on the countdown. Somebody named Richard Goldberg is the drummer on this one. The "Yes Indeed" album, from 1958, contains mainly older tracks that did not appear on Ray's first album. All 14 songs on this album are on our list.


Image


RANK - SONG TITLE -------- TOTAL BALLOTS - POINTS
72. I Had A Dream -----------------------------2---------101
73. Hardhearted Hannah ---------------------2----------95
74. Just For A Thrill ---------------------------2----------93
75. Tell All The World About You -----------2----------92
76. See See Rider ------------------------------2----------92
77. Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand -----------4----------85
78. Smack Dab In The Middle ---------------2----------85
79. Some Enchanted Evening ---------------2----------85
80. Early In The Mornin' ----------------------2----------83
81. If You Were Mine --------------------------2----------82
82. That's Enough ------------------------------2----------80
83. A Song For You -----------------------------2----------79
84. The Midnight Hour ------------------------3----------78
85. Bye Bye Love -------------------------------2----------69
86. Don't Change On Me -----------------------2----------63
87. No One ---------------------------------------2----------61
88. Funny (But I Still Love You) -------------3----------54
89. Confession Blues ---------------------------2----------52
90. Kissa Me Baby -------------------------------3----------47
91. Tell Me How Do You Feel -----------------2----------46
92. Teardrops From My Eyes ------------------2----------31
=================================================


Time for song #71 now. This one also was on the "Yes Indeed" album:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yTkuoGepmc
Hymie
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Re: Best Ray Charles Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #71 is "Get On The Right Track Baby" from 1957. The song was written and first recorded by Titus Turner on the Wing label in 1956.

RANK - SONG TITLE -------- TOTAL BALLOTS - POINTS
71. Get On The Right Track Baby ----------5---------103
72. I Had A Dream -----------------------------2---------101
73. Hardhearted Hannah ---------------------2----------95
74. Just For A Thrill ---------------------------2----------93
75. Tell All The World About You -----------2----------92
76. See See Rider ------------------------------2----------92
77. Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand -----------4----------85
78. Smack Dab In The Middle ---------------2----------85
79. Some Enchanted Evening ---------------2----------85
80. Early In The Mornin' ----------------------2----------83
81. If You Were Mine --------------------------2----------82
82. That's Enough ------------------------------2----------80
83. A Song For You -----------------------------2----------79
84. The Midnight Hour ------------------------3----------78
85. Bye Bye Love -------------------------------2----------69
86. Don't Change On Me -----------------------2----------63
87. No One ---------------------------------------2----------61
88. Funny (But I Still Love You) -------------3----------54
89. Confession Blues ---------------------------2----------52
90. Kissa Me Baby -------------------------------3----------47
91. Tell Me How Do You Feel -----------------2----------46
92. Teardrops From My Eyes ------------------2----------31
=================================================


Song # 70 now, it's from 1961 and was the flip side of "Hit The Road Jack."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KMSb4phfL8
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