Ok, so I'm not exactly a diehard fan of ray charles. In fact I've only recently been getting into him. I really enjoy just about everything from the Birth Of Soul compilation, but I don't have much more. My question is, what other of his stuff is A. essential B. if not essential, recommended? My other question is, what recordings best showcase Ray's original compositions? Because it seems to me that a lot of his compilations, and a lot of his regular albums even, contain a lot of material that he didn't write, yet I looked him up on ASCAP once and he has more than 800 registered works. Where are all of Ray's songs? So many of his "signature" songs weren't written by him, like Georgia on My Mind, Drown in My Tears, Hit the Road jack, Sinner's Prayer, and even Mess Around (which was disappointing to find out wasn't his). Last but not least, I would just like to mention that I really really really liked the movie Ray and think Jamie Foxx should get best actor hands down (as much of a sham and "meat parade" the oscars are, in the words of George C. Scott).

Get the 3cd box The birth of soul with his stuff
from the 50's including these songs:

Composer
Time

1 The Sun's Gonna Shine Again Charles 2:36
2 Roll With My Baby Sweet 2:35
3 The Midnight Hour Sweet 2:59
4 Jumpin' in the Morning Charles 2:44
5 It Should've Been Me Curtis 2:42
6 Losing Hand Calhoun 3:11
7 Heartbreaker Nugetre 2:51
8 Sinner's Prayer Fulson, Glenn 3:21
9 Mess Around Ertegun, Stone 2:38
10 Funny (But I Still Love You) Charles 3:12
11 Feelin' Sad Jones 2:47
12 I Wonder Who Charles 2:47
13 Don't You Know Charles 2:55
14 Nobody Cares Charles 2:37
15 Ray's Blues Charles 2:52
16 Mr. Charles' Blues Charles 2:45
17 Blackjack Charles 2:18
18 I Got a Woman Charles, Richard 2:50
19 Greenbacks Charles, Richard 2:48
20 Come Back Baby Charles 3:04
21 A Fool for You Charles 3:00
22 This Little Girl of Mine Charles 2:30
23 Hard Times (No One Knows Better Than I) Charles 2:53
24 A Bit of Soul Charles 2:17
25 Mary Ann Charles 2:45
26 Drown in My Own Tears Glover 3:19
27 Hallelujah, I Love Her So Charles 2:34
28 What Would I Do Without You? Charles 2:34
29 Lonely Avenue Pomus 2:33
30 I Want to Know Charles 2:09
31 Leave My Woman Alone Charles 2:38
32 It's Alright Charles 2:15
33 Ain't That Love Charles 2:51
34 Get on the Right Track Baby Turner 2:17
35 Rock House, Pts. 1-2 Charles 3:51
36 Swanee River Rock (Talkin' 'Bout That River) Charles 2:18
37 That's Enough Charles 2:43
38 Talkin' 'Bout You Charles 2:49
39 What Kind of Man Are You Charles 2:47
40 I Want a Little Girl Mencher, Moll 2:53
41 Yes, Indeed! Oliver 2:14
42 I Had a Dream Charles, Harper 2:52
43 You Be My Baby Charles, Pomus, Shuman 2:28
44 Tell All the World About You Charles 2:01
45 My Bonnie Traditional 2:44
46 Early in the Morning Bartley, Hickman, Jordan 2:43
47 Night Time Is the Right Time Cadena, Herman 3:26
48 Carryin' the Load Pomus, Shuman 2:22
49 Tell Me How Do You Feel Charles, Mayfield 2:42
50 What'd I Say, Pts. 1 & 2 Charles 6:26
51 Tell the Truth Pauling 3:03
52 I'm Movin' On Snow 2:20
53 I Believe to My Soul Charles 2:59

/peace Manki

Oh yeah, and don't forget "U Got the Right One, Baby!"

Ray made great music all throughout his life. I took my ma to the movie -- she loved him! I wish they would've had even more music, including the whole 2nd half of his life. His last release, the duets album is pretty cool as well. I can't get enough of his voice! Has he ever had a bad album?

Modern Sounds In Country & Western Music- One of the greatest of all time.
[Edited 11/23/04 16:07pm]

silverchild said:

Hey, that's my fav as well. My mother used to play this all the time... Worried Mind, You Don't Know Me, I Can't Stop Loving You, Here We Go Again, Born To Lose, etc.!!