The Best Ray Charles Albums of All Time

Updated August 19, 2019 1.0k votes 198 voters 10.1k views

List RulesThis list includes studio albums only, so if you add an album make sure it's a proper studio release.

Ray Charles is one of the most important musicians in music history and known as one of the best male vocalists and one of the greatest soul musicians. List of the best Ray Charles albums, including pictures of the album covers when available. This Ray Charles discography is ranked from best to worst, so the top Ray Charles albums can be found at the top of the list. To make it easy for you, we haven't included Ray Charles singles, EPs, or compilations, so everything you see here should only be studio albums. If you think the greatest Ray Charles album isn't high enough on the list, then be sure to vote for it so it receives the credit it deserves. Make sure you don't just vote for critically acclaimed albums; if you have a favorite Ray Charles album, then vote it up, even if it's not necessarily the most popular.

If you want to know, "What is the Best Ray Charles album of all time?" or "What are the top Ray Charles albums?" then this list will answer your questions. Genius Loves Company and Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music are a great starting point for your to rank your favorites on this list.

This list of popular Ray Charles CDs has been voted on by music fans around the world, so the order of this list isn't just one person's opinion. You're able to copy this list to build your own just like it, re-rank it to fit your views, then publish it to share it on Facebook, Twitter or any other social networks you use on a regular basis.

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1
73
15
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
Ray Charles
Release Date: 1962
Producer: Sid Feller
Tracks: Half as Much, Hey, Good Lookin'
Genres (Music): Rhythm and blues, Country, Pop music, Jazz, Nashville sound
2
43
5
Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Release Date: 1957
Tracks: Ain't That Love, Losing Hand, Greenbacks
Label: Atlantic Records
Genres (Music): Rhythm and blues
3
47
12
Genius Loves Company
Ray Charles
Release Date: 2004
Tracks: Heaven Help Us All, Here We Go Again, Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word
Genres (Music): Rhythm and blues, Pop music, Jazz, Soul music, Urban contemporary
4
42
10
The Genius of Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Release Date: 1959
Tracks: Am I Blue, Tell Me You'll Wait for Me, Let the Good Times Roll
Length (mins): 00:38:42
Label: Atlantic Records
Genres (Music): Rhythm and blues, Vocal jazz, Traditional pop music
5
26
4
Ray Charles and Betty Carter
Betty Carter, Ray Charles
Release Date: 1961
Tracks: What Would I Do Without You, For All We Know, Together
Genres (Music): Jazz
6
21
5
The Genius After Hours
Ray Charles
Release Date: 1961
Tracks: The Genius After Hours, Hornful Soul, Music
Label: Atlantic Records
Genres (Music): Rhythm and blues, Jazz, Soul music, Hard bop
7
20
4
The Genius Sings the Blues

8
21
5
Ain't It So
9
17
5
Yes Indeed!
Ray Charles
Release Date: 1958
Tracks: Blackjack, I Want a Little Girl, Lonely Avenue
Genres (Music): Rhythm and blues
10
14
4
Through the Eyes of Love
11
15
5
The Great Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Release Date: 1957
Tracks: Doodlin', I Surrender Dear, Sweet Sixteen Bars
Label: Atlantic Records
Genres (Music): Rhythm and blues
12
14
3
Ray Charles Greatest Hits
13
11
1
Genius + Soul = Jazz
Ray Charles
Release Date: 1961
Tracks: Mister C., I've Got News for You, Moanin'
Genres (Music): Jazz, Soul music
14
14
5
Dedicated to You
Ray Charles
Release Date: 1961
Tracks: Marie, Hardhearted Hannah, Margie
Genres (Music): Soul music
15
13
4
Soul Meeting
Ray Charles, Milt Jackson
Release Date: 1961
Tracks: X-Ray Blues, Hallelujah, I Love Her So
Genres (Music): Rhythm and blues, Jazz
16
12
4
A Message From the People
Ray Charles
Release Date: 1972
Tracks: Every Saturday Night, Abraham, Martin And John
17
11
5
The Genius Hits the Road
Ray Charles
Release Date: 1960
Tracks: Carry Me Back to Old Virginny, Moonlight in Vermont, Blue Hawaii
Genres (Music): Rhythm and blues, Jazz, Concept album
18
9
2
Yes Indeed!!
19
10
4
True to Life
Ray Charles
Release Date: 1977
Tracks: How Long Has This Been Going On, Be My Love, Anonymous Love
Label: Crossover Records
Genres (Music): Rhythm and blues, Soul music
20
12
7
Genius & Friends
Ray Charles, Angie Stone
Release Date: 2005
Producer: Phil Ramone
Tracks: You Are My Sunshine, Surrender to Love, Blame It on the Sun
Genres (Music): Soul music
21
11
6
Crying Time
Ray Charles
Release Date: 1966
Tracks: Cryin' Time, Don't You Think I Ought to Know, Let's Go Get Stoned
Genres (Music): Rhythm and blues, Country, Soul music
22
9
4
Thanks for Bringing Love Around Again
Ray Charles
Release Date: 2002
Tracks: How Did You Feel the Morning After, Can You Love Me Like That, Thanks for Bringing Love Around Again
Length (mins): 00:56:14
23
9
4
Love Country Style
24
9
4
My Kind of Jazz
25
7
2
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music Volume Two
Ray Charles
Release Date: 1962
Tracks: Hang Your Head in Shame, I'll Never Stand in Your Way, Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You)
Genres (Music): Rhythm and blues, Southern soul, Country soul

A Message From the People