Ray Charles - The Singles Collection 1949-62 (2022)

Ray Charles was one of the most iconic and influential artists in the annals of pop as a singer, songwriter and pianist, and while he is considered one of the godfathers and great innovators of soul music, his work transcended the worlds of jazz, blues, gospel, R&B, rock ‘n’ roll and country and western as well. Afflicted by blindness, he turned to music in his early life, and began recording for the Swing Time label in 1949 as a member of The Maxim Trio. In a career spanning half a century, he racked up over 100 chart entries, with well over 40 coming in this seminal first quarter-century or so of his career. This excellent-value 125-track 5-CD collection comprises just about all his A & B sides released on the Swing Time, Atlantic, ABC-Paramount and Impulse labels during these years. It features all his 46 Pop, R&B and UK chart entries from this era, including the pop No. 1s “Georgia On My Mind”, “Hit The Road Jack” & “I Can’t Stop Loving You” and the R&B No. 1s “I’ve Got A Woman”, “A Fool For You”, “What’d I Say”, “Unchain My Heart”, “One Mint Julep” & “You Are My Sunshine”, encompassing his time as the pillar of the Atlantic roster and the hits from his landmark albums for ABC-Paramount “Modern Sounds In Country & Western Music”. It’s a substantial and comprehensive overview of his chart-focused output during these years as part of a dynamic and exciting pop and R&B landscape, and a thoroughly entertaining showcase for his unique talents as singer, composer, pianist and arranger.

Tracklist
01. Maxin Trio - Confession Blues
02. Maxin Trio - I Love You, I Love You
03. Maxim Trio - Blues Before Sunrise
04. Maxim Trio - How Long Blues
05. Maxim Trio - A Sentimental Blues
06. Maxim Trio - You'll Never Miss The Water
07. Maxin Trio - Alone In This City
08. Maxin Trio - Can Anyone Ask For More
09. Maxim Trio - Let's Have A Ball (Here Am I)
10. Maxim Trio - Rockin' Chair Blues
11. Maxim Trio - If I Gave You My Love
12. Maxim Trio - The Honey Bee
13. Ray Charles Trio - I've Had My Fun
14. Ray Charles Trio - Sittin' On Top Of The World
15. Maxim Trio - Ain't That Fine
16. Maxim Trio - Don't Put All Your Dreams In One Basket
17. Ray Charles - See See Rider
18. Ray Charles - What Have I Done (Tell Me Baby)
19. Ray Charles Trio - She's On The Ball
20. Ray Charles Trio - Honey Honey
21. Ray Charles - Late In The Evening Blues
22. Ray Charles - The Ego Song
23. Ray Charles - I'll Do Anything But Work
24. Ray Charles - Someday (Blues Is My Middle Name)
25. Ray Charles Trio - All To Myself
26. Ray Charles Trio - I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now
27. Ray Charles Trio - Lonely Boy
28. Ray Charles - I'm Glad For Your Sake
29. Ray Charles Trio - Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand
30. Ray Charles with Orchestra - Kiss Me Baby
31. Ray Charles with Orchestra - Hey Now
32. Ray Charles with Orchestra - Baby Won't You Please Come Home
33. Ray Charles with Orchestra - Guitar Blues
34. Ray Charles with Orchestra - Baby Let Me Hear You Call My Name
35. Ray Charles with Orchestra - Misery In My Heart
36. Ray Charles with Orchestra - The Snow Is Falling
37. Ray Charles - Why Did You Go
38. Ray Charles - Back Home
39. Ray Charles - Walkin' And Talkin' To Myself
40. Ray Charles - I'm Wonderin' And Wonderin'
41. Ray Charles & His Orchestra - Roll With Me Baby
42. Ray Charles & His Orchestra - The Midnight Hour
43. Ray Charles & His Orchestra - The Sun's Gonna Shine Again
44. Ray Charles & His Orchestra - Jumpin' In The Morning
45. Ray Charles & His Orchestra - Mess Around
46. Ray Charles & His Orchestra - Funny (But I Still Love You)
47. Ray Charles & His Orchestra - Feelin' Sad
48. Ray Charles & His Orchestra - Heartbreaker
49. Ray Charles & His Orchestra - It Should've Been Me
50. Ray Charles & His Orchestra - Sinner's Prayer
51. Ray Charles & His Orchestra - Don't You Know
52. Ray Charles & His Orchestra - Losing Hand
53. Ray Charles and his Band - I've Got A Woman
54. Ray Charles and his Band - Come Back
55. Ray Charles and his Band - This Little Girl Of Mine
56. Ray Charles and his Band - A Fool For You
57. Ray Charles and his Band - Blackjack
58. Ray Charles and his Band - Greenbacks
59. Ray Charles and his Band - Drown In My Own Tears
60. Ray Charles and his Band - Mary Ann
61. Ray Charles - Hallelujah, I Love Her So
62. Ray Charles - What Would I Do Without You
63. Ray Charles his Orchestra and Chorus - Lonely Avenue
64. Ray Charles his Orchestra and Chorus - Leave My Woman Alone
65. Ray Charles his Orchestra and Chorus - I Want To Know
66. Ray Charles his Orchestra and Chorus - Ain't That Love
67. Ray Charles - It's All Right
68. Ray Charles - Get On The Right Track Baby
69. Ray Charles - Swanee River Rock (Talkin' 'Bout That River)
70. Ray Charles - I Want A Little Girl
71. Ray Charles - Talkin' 'Bout You
72. Ray Charles - What Kind Of A Man Are You
73. Ray Charles - Yes Indeed
74. Ray Charles - I Had A Dream
75. Ray Charles - My Bonnie
76. Ray Charles - You Be My Baby
77. Ray Charles & His Orchestra - Rockhouse Pts 1 & 2
78. Ray Charles With The Raelettes - Tell All The World About You
79. Ray Charles & His Orchestra - What'd I Say - Part 1
80. Ray Charles With The Raelettes - (Night Time Is) The Right Time
81. Ray Charles With The Raelettes - Tell Me How You Feel
82. Ray Charles With The Raelettes - That's Enough
83. Ray Charles & His Orchestra - I'm Movin' On
84. Ray Charles & His Orchestra - I Believe To My Soul
85. Ray Charles - Let The Good Times Roll
86. Ray Charles - Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin'
87. Ray Charles & His Orchestra - Just For A Thrill
88. Ray Charles & His Orchestra - Tell The Truth
89. Ray Charles & His Orchestra - Sweet Sixteen Bars
90. Ray Charles - Come Rain Or Come Shine
91. Ray Charles - Tell Me You'll Wait For Me
92. Ray Charles - Early In The Morning
93. Ray Charles & His Orchestra - A Bit of Soul
94. Ray Charles - Am I Blue
95. Ray Charles - I Wonder Who
96. Ray Charles - Hard Times (No One Knows Better Than I)
97. Ray Charles & His Orchestra - My Baby (I Love Her, Yes I Do)
98. Ray Charles & His Orchestra - Who You Gonna Love
99. Ray Charles & His Orchestra - Sticks And Stones
100. Ray Charles & His Orchestra - Worried Life Blues
101. Ray Charles - Georgia On My Mind
102. Ray Charles - Carry Me Back To Old Virginny
103. Ray Charles & His Orchestra - Them That Got
104. Ray Charles & His Orchestra - I Wonder
105. Ray Charles - Hard Hearted Hannah
106. Ray Charles - Ruby
107. Ray Charles & His Orchestra - Hit The Road Jack
108. Ray Charles & His Orchestra - The Danger Zone
109. Ray Charles & His Orchestra - Unchain My Heart
110. Ray Charles & His Orchestra - But On The Other Hand, Baby
111. Ray Charles - One Mint Julep
112. Ray Charles - Let's Go
113. Ray Charles - I've Got News For You
114. Ray Charles - I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town
115. Ray Charles - Baby It's Cold Outside
116. Ray Charles - We'll Be Together Again
117. Ray Charles & His Orchestra - Hide 'Nor Hair
118. Ray Charles & His Orchestra - At The Club
119. Ray Charles - I Can't Stop Loving You
120. Ray Charles - Born To Lose
121. Ray Charles - You Don't Know Me
122. Ray Charles - Careless Love
123. Ray Charles - You Are My Sunshine
124. Ray Charles - Your Cheating Heart
125. Ray Charles - Take These Chains From My Heart