The Complete Early Recordings 1949-1952

Ray Charles

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The Complete Early Recordings 1949-1952 Review

by Steve Leggett

Ray Charles was really closer to Nat King Cole than he was to being an innovative R&B and soul singer (and pianist) when he first began recording with his trio in 1949, although the spark of something unique and special was already visible and audible. This two-disc, 51-track set collects the early sides Charles recorded between 1949 and 1952, and rounds things out with ten tracks cut by Bill Samuels, an artist who was also working in the same Nat King Cole template at the time.

Track Listing - Disc 1

	Title/Composer	Performer	Time	Stream
1	I Love You, I Love You	Ray Charles	02:43	Spotify Amazon
2	Confession Blues	Ray Charles	02:30	Spotify Amazon
3	Alone in the City	Ray Charles	02:57	Spotify Amazon
4	Can Anyone Ask for More	Ray Charles	02:49	Spotify Amazon
5	Rockin' Chair Blues	Ray Charles	02:46	Spotify Amazon
6	Here I Am	Ray Charles	02:32	Spotify Amazon
7	If I Give You My Love	Ray Charles	02:37	Spotify Amazon
8	Can't You See Darling	Ray Charles	02:38	Spotify Amazon
9	This Love of Mine	Ray Charles	03:03	Spotify Amazon
10	Blues Before Sunrise	Ray Charles	02:49	Spotify Amazon
11	How Long Blues	Ray Charles	02:36	Spotify Amazon
12	A Sentimental Blues	Ray Charles	02:26	Spotify Amazon
13	You'll Always Miss the Water	Ray Charles	02:49	Spotify Amazon
14	Ain't That Fine	Ray Charles	02:17	Spotify Amazon
15	Don't Put All Your Dreams in One Basket	Ray Charles	02:51	Spotify Amazon
16	Sittin' On Top of the World	Ray Charles	02:17	Spotify Amazon
17	I've Had My Fun	Ray Charles	02:42	Spotify Amazon
18	See See Rider	Ray Charles	02:35	Spotify Amazon
19	What Have I Done	Ray Charles	02:33	Spotify Amazon
20	Honey Honey	Ray Charles	02:43	Spotify Amazon
21	She's On the Ball	Ray Charles	02:31	Spotify Amazon
22	Th' Ego Song	Ray Charles	02:22	Spotify Amazon
23	Late in the Evening Blues	Ray Charles	03:05	Spotify Amazon
24	Someday	Ray Charles	03:09	Spotify Amazon
25	I'll Do Anything but Work	Ray Charles	02:27	Spotify Amazon

Track Listing - Disc 2

	Title/Composer	Performer	Time	Stream
1	I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now	Ray Charles	02:20	Spotify Amazon
2	All to Myself	Ray Charles	02:00	Spotify Amazon
3	Lonely Boy	Ray Charles	02:50	Spotify Amazon
4	Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand	Ray Charles	03:01	Spotify Amazon
5	I'm Glad for Your Sake	Ray Charles	02:46	Spotify Amazon
6	Baby Won't you Please Come Home	Ray Charles	02:55	Spotify Amazon
7	Hey Now	Ray Charles	02:19	Spotify Amazon
8	Kissa Me Baby	Ray Charles	03:07	Spotify Amazon
9	The Snow Is Falling	Ray Charles	02:50	Spotify Amazon
10	Misery in My Heart	Ray Charles	03:04	Spotify Amazon
11	Baby Let Me Hear You Call My Name	Ray Charles	03:34	Spotify Amazon
12	Walkin' and Talkin'	Ray Charles	03:09	Spotify Amazon
13	I'm Wonderin' and Wonderin'	Ray Charles	03:20	Spotify Amazon
14	I Can't Do No More (Why Did You Go)	Ray Charles	02:49	Spotify Amazon
15	Guitar Blues	Ray Charles	02:34	Spotify Amazon
16	I Cover the Waterfront	Ray Charles feat: Bill Samuels	03:06	Spotify Amazon
17	Jockey Blues	Ray Charles feat: Bill Samuels	02:57	Spotify Amazon
18	I'm Coming Home to Stay	Ray Charles feat: Bill Samuels	02:28	Spotify Amazon
19	My Bicycle Tillie	Ray Charles feat: Bill Samuels	02:57	Spotify Amazon
20	One Hundred Years from Today	Ray Charles feat: Bill Samuels	03:00	Spotify Amazon
21	Candy Store Jump	Ray Charles feat: Bill Samuels	02:26	Spotify Amazon
22	That Chick's Too Young To Fry	Ray Charles feat: Bill Samuels	02:37	Spotify Amazon
23	I Cover the Waterfront	Ray Charles feat: Bill Samuels	03:05	Spotify Amazon
24	Jockey Blues	Ray Charles feat: Bill Samuels	02:37	Spotify Amazon
25	Port Wine	Ray Charles feat: Bill Samuels	02:50	Spotify Amazon

blue highlight denotes track pick