1979

  • January 15, 2017

    Ray Charles’ 1979 Austin City Limits Concert Released (Audio Only)

    Complete digital audio bootlegs of Ray Charles’ Austin City Limits TV concert, originally taped on October 23, 1979, have been circulating on the web since the late 1990s. For free, in a very decent quality. It’s still easily and freely available through torrent websites.Nevertheless, Hi Hat, an obscure British-Cypriot record label, found a reason to […]

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  • November 17, 2014

    Blues In The Night

    Album: Ain’t It So, Crossover/Atlantic 19251, September 1979. The Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer blues tune, raycharlesified at RPM International in Los Angeles with uncredited members of the Ray Charles Orchestra and session musicians.

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  • November 13, 2014

    Drift Away

    Album: Ain’t It So, Crossover/Atlantic 19251, September 1979. The album was recorded at RPM International in Los Angeles with uncredited members of the Ray Charles Orchestra, session musicians, and backing vocals. Update 01.02.2021: the video of this performance is no longer available on YouTube, please let me know in the comments below if you have any […]

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  • November 2, 2014

    Just Because

    Album: Ain’t It So, Crossover/Atlantic 19251, September 1979.Single (A): Crossover/Atlantic 3634, November 1979, b/w Love Me Or Set Me Free. Recorded at RPM International in Los Angeles with uncredited members of the Ray Charles Orchestra and session musicians. Live:’80 LC Northsea’82 LC Capital’82 LC Antibes’82 LC Beacon’82 LC Washington’82 LC Japan

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  • October 29, 2014

    Love Me Or Set Me Free

    Album: Ain’t It So, Crossover/Atlantic 19251, September 1979.Single (B): Crossover/Atlantic 3634, November 1979, b/w Just Because. Recorded at RPM International in Los Angeles with uncredited members of the Ray Charles Orchestra, The Raelettes (probably) and session musicians. Update 14.02.2021: the video of this performance is no longer available, please let me know in the comments below […]

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  • October 29, 2014

    Love Me Tonight (Turn Out The Lights And —)

    Album: Ain’t It So, Crossover/Atlantic 19251, September 1979. Recorded at RPM International in Los Angeles with members of the Ray Charles Orchestra and session musicians. Update 14.02.2021: the video of this performance is no longer available on YouTube, please let me know in the comments below if you have any footage, thanks — Cyd

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  • October 29, 2014

    Luvbug (With Susaye Greene & Scherrie Paine)

    Album3: Susaye Greene & Scherrie Paine, Partners, Motown M7-920R1, 1979. Susaye and Ray were lovers when she was a Raelette, from 1968 to 1975. After that she became part of The Supremes.After The Supremes disbanded in 1977, Scherrie Payne and Susaye Greene released their debut album, Partners. Guest vocals: “The Great Ray Charles As The Luvbug”. Susaye […]

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  • October 22, 2014

    One Of These Days

    Album: Ain’t It So, Crossover/Atlantic 19251, September 1979. The song was written by Barry Manilow. One of the few instances where the live performance came before the studio recording. The album was taped at RPM International in Los Angeles with uncredited members of the Ray Charles Orchestra and session musicians. Barry Manilow Show 1978: Live: ’78 […]

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  • October 17, 2014

    Some Enchanted Evening

    Album: Ain’t It So, Crossover/Atlantic 19251, September 1979. Recorded at RPM International in Los Angeles. Arranged by James Polk. With uncredited members of the Ray Charles Orchestra and session musicians. Tenor solo by Clifford Solomon. 1979 Austin: Live: ’79 LC Antibes ’79 LC Viareggio ’79 LC Austin ’80 TV TS ’80 LC Northsea ’81 LC Edmonton […]

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  • October 8, 2014

    What’ll I Do

    Album: Ain’t It So, Crossover/Atlantic 19251, September 1979. Recorded at RPM International in Los Angeles with uncredited members of the Ray Charles Orchestra and session musicians. Tenor solo by Clifford Solomon. In 1988 Ray performed a perfect version during Irving Berlin’s 100th Birthday Salute (below). Live: ’88 TV Irving

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