Early In The Morning

Single (B): Atlantic 2094, February 1961 b/w A Bit Of Soul.
Compilation: The Genius Sings the Blues, Atlantic 8052, September 1961 (1952 - 1959).

Recorded on 28 October 1958 in New York with Marcus Belgrave, John Hunt - tp; David Newman - ts; Hank Crawford  - bs; Teagle Fleming - ds; Edgar Willis - b, and The Raelettes.

Who was that talking voice? "Dooky Chase" explained: here.



Live:
'73 TV Midnight

Feelin' Sad

Single (A): Atlantic 1008, September 1953, b/w Carryin' That Load.
Compilation: The Genius Sings The Blues,  Atlantic 8052, September 1961 (1952 - 1959).

Taped in New Orleans on August 18, 1953, with Edgar Blanchard's Band: Auguste "Bimes" Dupont - as; Warren Hebrew - ts; Elandro Smart - d; Edgar Blanchard - g; Frank Fields - b.

Hard Times (No One Knows Better Than I)

Single (A): Atlantic 2118, September 1961 b/w I Wonder Who.
Compilation: The Genius Sings The Blues, Atlantic 8052, September 1961 (1952 - 1959).

Recorded in Miami on 23 April 1955 with Joe Bridgewater, Riley Webb - tp; David Newman - as, bs; Don Wilkerson - ts; William Peebles - ds; Roosevelt Sheffield - b.



Live:
Just as a handful of other tunes from the Genius Sings The Blues album, compiling canned Atlantic tunes from the '50s, this number was longlisted in concert souvenir brochures in 1962 as being part of the live repertoire of the (big) band (though, of course, this could also refer to the instrumental arrangement, as known from the Fathead album). However, unfortunately no live recordings have surfaced.

I Believe To My Soul

Single (B): Atlantic 2043, October 1959 b/w I'm Movin' On.
Compilation: The Genius Sings The Blues, Atlantic 8052, September 1961 (1952 - 1959).

Recorded in New York on 26 June 1959.

Ray Charles - piano, vocals, backing vocals; Marcus Belgrave, John Hunt - tp; Hank Crawford - as, bs; David Newman - ts; Teagle Fleming - ds; Edgar Willis - b.

Ray dubbed in The Raelettes' part on the original studio recording.



Newport 1960:


Paris 1961 (Hammond!):

Live:
'60 LC Newport - Released
'61 LC Antibes - Released
'61 LC Zurich
'61 LC Paris - 3x - Released
'62 LC Berlin - Released
'62 LC Paris - 2x - Released
'77 TV Saturday
'90 LC Lloret
'93 LC Newport
'95 LC Greenville
'95 LC Tramps - 3x - Streamed
'95 LC Marciac
'96 LC London
'99 LC NewOrleans NM
'99 LC Rheingau
'99 LC Glasgow

I Got A Break Baby (aka Mr. Charles' Blues)

Compilation album: The Genius Sings The Blues,  Atlantic 8052, September 1961 (1952 - 1959).

Taped in New Orleans on 4 December 1953 with Wallace Davenport, Frank Mitchell - tp; O'Neil Gerald - as; Joe Tillman - ts; Warren Bell- bs; Oscar Moore - ds; Lloyd Lambert - b.

I Wonder Who

Single (B): Atlantic 2118, September 1961 b/w Hard Times.
Compilation: The Genius Sings The Blues, Atlantic 8052, September 1961 (1952 - 1959).

Taped in New Orleans on August 18, 1953, with Edgar Blanchard's Band: Auguste "Bimes" Dupont - as; Warren Hebrew - ts; Elandro Smart - d; Edgar Blanchard - g; Frank Fields - b.



Live:
Surprisingly, but obviously in response to Atlantic's 1961 release of the single and the album, the 1953 tune was listed as being part of the band's repertoire in a 1962 tour souvenir brochure. Unfortunately, no live performance has ever surfaced.

I'm Movin' On

Single (A): Atlantic 2043, 1959-10, b/w I Believe To My Soul.
Compilation: The Genius Sings The Blues, Atlantic 8052, September 1961 (1952 - 1959).

Recorded in New York on 26 June 1959 with Marcus Belgrave, John Hunt - tp; Hank Crawford - as, bs; David Newman - ts; Teagle Fleming - d Edgar Willis - b.

Atlantic, for some unfathomable reason, used a variant mix* (without the intro fx and reducing the choo choo sounds at the end) for the 1961 compilation album.

* There were 3 mixes: the one for the single, the one for the 1961 compilation, and the stereo mix first used for The Great Hits Of Ray Charles Recorded On 8-Track Stereo (information kindly confirmed by Steve Hoffman).

The - correct - single version:


The - wrong - compilation version:


Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, 1969:


Live:
'69 TV Glen - With Glen Campbell
'69 TV Andy
'02 LC Travis - With Travis Tritt

It Should've Been Me (With Jesse Stone)

Atlantic 1021.

Single (A): Atlantic 1021, March 1954, b/w Sinner's Prayer.
EP: Atlantic 567, 1956, It Should've Been Me, Don't You Know/I've Got A Woman, Come Back.
Single (B) alternate take: Atlantic 2106, May 1961, b/w Am I Blue .
Compilation album: The Genius Sings The Blues, Atlantic 8052, September 1961 (1952 - 1959).

Recorded on 17 May 1953 in New York.

Atlantic EP 567.

With Jesse Drakes - tp; Sam Taylor - ts; Dave McRae - bs; Mickey Baker - g; Lloyd Trotman - b; Connie Kay - ds.

Written by Memphis Curtis. Original release in March 1954, alternative take released in May 1961. Response vocal by Atlantic arranger/writer Jesse Stone.

Atlantic 1021:

Atlantic 2106.

Atlantic 2106:


Live:
'88 LC Ballet - 2x
'89 LC Ballet

Mr. Charles Blues

Compilation album: Genius Sings The Blues, Atlantic 8052, September 1961 (1952 - 1959).

Recorded on December 4, 1953 in New Orleans.

With Wallace Davenport, Frank Mitchell (trumpets); Gerald O'Neil (alto saxophone), Joe Tillman (tenor saxophone), Warren Bell (baritone saxophone); Lloyd Lambert (bass); Oscar Moore (drums).



Live:
Atlantic's compilation obviously made Ray aware of the tune again; in 1962 it was listed in a concert souvenir brochure as being part of the band's repertoire, but no live recording has been made.

Nobody Cares

Compilation album: The Genius Sings The Blues, Atlantic 8052, September 1961 (1952 - 1959).

Taped in New Orleans on 4 December 1953 with Wallace Davenport, Frank Mitchell - tp; O'Neil Gerald - as; Joe Tillman - ts; Warren Bell- bs; Oscar Moore - d; Lloyd Lambert - b.

Ray's Blues

Compilation album: The Genius Sings The Blues. Atlantic 8052, September 1961 (1952 - 1959).

Taped in New Orleans on 4 December 1953 with Wallace Davenport, Frank Mitchell - tp; O'Neil Gerald - as; Joe Tillman - ts; Warren Bell- bs; Oscar Moore - d; Lloyd Lambert - b.



Live:
According to a concert souvenir booklet from 1962, a number with this title (not necessarily the same!) was part of the live repertoire then, but no recordings with the band have surfaced.

The Midnight Hour

Clipping from Baltimore Afro American,
11 October 1952.

French EP, 1961.

Single (A): Atlantic 976, September 1952, b/w Roll With Me Baby.
Compilation album: The Genius Sings The Blues, Atlantic 8052, September 1961 (1952 - 1959).

Ad from Cashbox, Nov. 1, 1952.

Taped in New York on 11 September 1952.
Trumpet, saxes, drums, bass by unidentified musicians.

The Right Time (Night Time Is --) (With Margie Hendricks)

Single (B): Atlantic 2010, November 1958 b/w Tell All The World About You.
Compilation album: The Genius Sings The Blues, Atlantic 8052, September 1961 (1952 - 1959).

Recorded on 28 October 1958 in New York with Marcus Belgrave, John Hunt - tp; David Newman - ts; Hank Crawford - bs; Teagle Fleming - d; Edgar Willis - b; and The Raelettes ft. Margie Hendricks.

As engineer Tom Dowd later said: "This was the first duet by Ray, the first one".

Cash Box, Dec. 6, 1958.

Alternate takes:


Live:
'58 LC Newport - Released
'60 LC Atlanta - Released
'61 LC Antibes - Released
'62 LC Berlin - Released
'62 LC Paris - Released

The Genius Sings The Blues (1961)

1. Early In The Mornin'
2. Hard Times (No One Knows Better Than I)
3. The Midnight Hour
4. (Night Time Is) The Right Time
5. Feelin' Sad
6. Ray's Blues
7. I'm Movin' On
8. I Believe To My Soul
9. Nobody Cares
10. Mr. Charles' Blues
11. Some Day Baby (Worried Life Blues)
12. I Wonder Who (Ray's Blues)

This elpee was released by Atlantic as one of its cash-in albums after Ray split to ABC, but it ended up as one of Charles' best known compilations. From his first session with Atlantic to his last, this compilation showcased Ray Charles stylistic development as an artist, with a combination of piano blues, jazz, R&B, and (on I'm Movin' On) a first touch of C&W.

Atlantic 8052, September 1961 (1952 - 1959).