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Ray Charles — Night Time is the Right Time
Album: Blues & Jazz
Avg rating:
7.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1053









Released: 1958
Length: 3:22
Plays (last 30 days): 1
You know the night time, darling
(Night and day)
Is the right time
(Night and day)
To be
(Night and day)
With the one you love, now
(Night and day)

Say now, oh baby
(Night and day)
When I come home baby, now
(Night and day)
I wanna be with the one I love, now
(Night and day)
You know what I'm thinking of
(Night and day)

I know the night time
(Night and day, oh)
Whoa, is the right time
(Night and day, oh)
To be with the one you love, now
(Night and day)
I said, to be with the one you love
(Night and day)

You know my mother, now
(Night and day)
Had to die, now
(Night and day)
And my father
(Night and day)
Well, he broke down and cry
(Night and day)

Whoa! whoa baby
(Night and day)
When I come home baby, now
(Night and day)
I want you to hold my hand
(Night and day)
Yeah, tight as you can
(Night and day)

I know the night time
(Night and day, oh)
Whoa is the right time
(Night and day, oh)
To be with the one you love, now
(Night and day)
You know what I'm thinking of
(Night and day)

Whoa! Sing your song, Margie
Baby
(Night and day)
Baby
(Night and day)
Baby
(Night and day)
Oh, baby
(Night and day)

Do I love you?
(Night and day)
No one above you
(Night and day)
Hold me tight
(Night and day)
And make everything alright
(Night and day)

Because the night time
(Night and day)
Oh, is the right time
(Night and day)
To be with the one you love, now
(Night and day)
Oh, yeah
(Night and day)

Tease me
(Night and day)
Squeeze me
(Night and day)
Leave me
(Night and day)
Ah, don't leave me
(Night and day)

Oh baby
(Night and day)
Take my hand, now
(Night and day)
I don't need
(Night and day)
No other man
(Night and day)

Because the night time
(Night and day)
Ow, is the right time
(Night and day)
To be with the one you love
(Night and day)
Oh, yeah
(Night and day)

I said baby
(Night and day)
Baby
(Night and day)
Baby
(Night and day)
Whoa! baby now, now
(Night and day)

Oh, come on, baby
(Night and day)
You know I want you by my side
(Night and day)
I want you to keep
(Night and day)
Oh, keep me satisfied, now
(Night and day)

I know the night time, now
(Night and day)
Every day is the right time
(Night and day)
Yeah, to be with the one you love, now
(Night and day)
Well, you know it's all right
(Night and day, oh)
Yeah, yeah now
Comments (114)add comment
 joejennings wrote:



I Agree!! I was 3yrs old when this was released.  GREAT TUNE!!  Thanx RP!


I wsnt born til '62...totally a classic 
i wish more musicians would try stuff like this

it really, really swings
Gave it a 10 because it is ray charles
 zedstation wrote:

1 9 5 8

The sway. The swagger. 




Yes! I Agree!  Thanx RP!   
 ziggytrix wrote:

I'm sure they're saying "Night and day" but I hear (and often sing along) "Marvin Gaye" too.
BillG just made this a permanent mondegreen in our ears. 

 Jamus wrote:

Simply put, one of the classics.




I Agree!! I was 3yrs old when this was released.  GREAT TUNE!!  Thanx RP!
Simply put, one of the classics.
I just know, deep down in my rocking soul -- and I love that RP is jamming this -- that Ray would LOVE the Golden Goat we got here...
 ziggytrix wrote:

I'm sure they're saying "Night and day" but I hear (and often sing along) "Marvin Gaye" too.


Now I do too 
 jmsmy wrote:

I still remember when the Huxtable's lip sync to this song.



"Movin' On Up!"
 ziggytrix wrote:

I'm sure they're saying "Night and day" but I hear (and often sing along) "Marvin Gaye" too.



It may be the herb speaking, but I just keep hearing "Party Dave".
 sfyi2001 wrote:
Yeah, it's Ray Charles. His performance here is fine, as ever, - but the rest of it - that 'Yawdy day' bullshit or whatever it is they're saying, just pissed me off. Shrugs {#Eek}
 
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Lyrics  

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 sfyi2001 wrote:
Yeah, it's Ray Charles. His performance here is fine, as ever, - but the rest of it - that 'Yawdy day' bullshit or whatever it is they're saying, just pissed me off. Shrugs {#Eek}
 

I dunno, it's my hips a'swingin' 
Yeah, it's Ray Charles. His performance here is fine, as ever, - but the rest of it - that 'Yawdy day' bullshit or whatever it is they're saying, just pissed me off. Shrugs {#Eek}
 TanteJensen wrote:
davedog wrote:
Can anyone tell me what the backup singers are repeating? Every time I hear this song I wonder but I've never figured it out.

Jacksonstat wrote
I believe they are saying "Night and day".

 
I keep hearing "Marvin Gaye", though admittedly that doesn't make any sense.
 
I'm sure they're saying "Night and day" but I hear (and often sing along) "Marvin Gaye" too.
I still remember when the Huxtable's lip sync to this song.
1 9 5 8

The sway. The swagger. 
Not a ray fan!
 TerryS wrote:
You sing it Margie.

 
Is that the background singer? What is her full name? WOW!
Sure wish I could have seen Ray perform.

Wow. 
Fantastic!
If you don't like this, something is wrong.
I know, everyone is different, has their own tastes, preferences.
But seriously, if you don't like this you might want to mention that to a professional.
I'm just saying...
 
Not for me!
 treatment_bound wrote:


Nope.  I don't think I was exposed to the "wonderment" of an 8-track until approx. 1972-73.  My friend had just got this bitchin' new stereo, and he had a few cartridges to play.  I somehow recall him inserting this Three Dog Night GH collection,


 

and we were off and running.  After a few cuts, the song playing was literally stopped in the middle (it may have been during "Celebrate"), and then started up again on another track on the playmode.  What a stupid music format, and I was "shocked" when they were gone within a few years...




 

And yet 8-track lives on and on in our collective memory. I think 3-D movies and TV are the modern equivalent...
I was jamming along on my keyboard with this song (e flat major). Such a pleasure, just imaging what it might have been like to play alongside Ray.
You sing it Margie.
Gitarzan
The background singer just belts it OUT !!!!

 Mandible wrote:
 
This is exactly what I think of too! Priceless!
 sbegf wrote:

As soon as I hear this song, that is exactly what I picture...ha

 
Ditto
 Mandible wrote:
 
Yup, I just saw this episode the other day. Can't believe how little they were. {#Cool}

sbegf, Mandible - I rushed to comment as soon as I heard this song, only to see that we are totally on the same page!  the image is priceless.


The exchange between Ray and Margie Hendricks here is one of the most passionate vocals in recorded history.
 

Now we know where Ray Stevens got Jane's wail in Gitarzan.




 Mandible wrote:

 
As soon as I hear this song, that is exactly what I picture...ha

 Jelani wrote:
Did it have an 8-track tape player?
 

Nope.  I don't think I was exposed to the "wonderment" of an 8-track until approx. 1972-73.  My friend had just got this bitchin' new stereo, and he had a few cartridges to play.  I somehow recall him inserting this Three Dog Night GH collection,


 

and we were off and running.  After a few cuts, the song playing was literally stopped in the middle (it may have been during "Celebrate"), and then started up again on another track on the playmode.  What a stupid music format, and I was "shocked" when they were gone within a few years...



I can't hear this without thinking of the Bill Cosby Show episode where the family lip synched this for Bill's birthday. Makes me laugh thinking of Rudy singing this.
Ooooh so good.
 treatment_bound wrote:
Sorry Cosby kids (and Ray C.)—being a "semi-privileged" middle-class white boy from the plains, this is where I first heard this cut, and it was on my older brother's crappy late-60's Zenith "Hi-Fi"...

J. Fogerty's yelps still work for me.

 
Did it have an 8-track tape player?
What's going on RP? This is Yello, not Ray Charles!

Sorry Cosby kids (and Ray C.)—being a "semi-privileged" middle-class white boy from the plains, this is where I first heard this cut, and it was on my older brother's crappy late-60's Zenith "Hi-Fi"...

J. Fogerty's yelps still work for me.



I love the woman's vocal.
 Pyro wrote:
This is a good version of a classic.  First time I heard it (ever), Big Joe Turner was singing it at the New Orleans Jazz Festival.  I fell in love with the song AND Big Joe that day....
 
Huh, huh, huh, huh.....you're old.....huh, huh, huh, huh.{#Wink}


 crockydile wrote:
Historical importance aside, I find this pretty annoying.
 
yeah.

Nice, just happened to pick up this very disc from the rack a half an hour ago.

{#Whisper}  It was released in 1994.
I am going to go with... "Fun"
i feel sorry for anyone who cant get this__ no hope __
love this so sweeeet! night and day!
This is a good version of a classic.  First time I heard it (ever), Big Joe Turner was singing it at the New Orleans Jazz Festival.  I fell in love with the song AND Big Joe that day....
I think the Cosby Show has forever tainted my appreciation for this song.

By far my favorite Ray Charles tune!{#Clap}
Who Is that woman doing the belting!?

/Ed
Figured it out myself from wikipedia.
"Charles was helped in the song by lead Raelette Margie Hendricks, who sang a raspy and demanding vocal to Charles' own raspy baritone and wails"

 peter_james_bond wrote:

That's like saying, historical importance aside, I find the Mona Lisa quite irritating.
Very few people care that you're a philistine. (I took the time to respond to your post, and that means that I care {#Wink} )

 

 
crockydile wrote:

It's also like saying that although I recognize the significance of Pol Pot, I don't care for his politics. There is a lot of art that has been influential, groundbreaking, etc that I don't particularly care for...Andy Warhol comes to mind. Peace.

 
Oh, dear lord. There is so much wrong with this, I almost don't know where to begin. To compare artists like Ray Charles and Andy Warhol to a genocidal tyrant is mind boggling. Son, I know you miss Excelsior, but you've surpassed him for mindless bad taste. No, really, I mean this as a compliment. You're in your own league. Congratulations. Peace.

 peter_james_bond wrote:

That's like saying, historical importance aside, I find the Mona Lisa quite irritating.
Very few people care that you're a philistine. (I took the time to respond to your post, and that means that I care {#Wink} )

 
It's also like saying that although I recognize the significance of Pol Pot, I don't care for his politics. There is a lot of art that has been influential, groundbreaking, etc that I don't particularly care for...Andy Warhol comes to mind. Peace.


 crockydile wrote:
Historical importance aside, I find this pretty annoying.
 
That's like saying, historical importance aside, I find the Mona Lisa quite irritating.
Very few people care that you're a philistine. (I took the time to respond to your post, and that means that I care {#Wink} )

Why Ray Charles is essential.
 crockydile wrote:
Historical importance aside, I find this pretty annoying.
 
Oh, come on.  If you took away the background vocals, it would be okay.  If you took the lead vocal out too, maybe.  And prolly the instruments.  Okay, it's annoying. 

Historical importance aside, I find this pretty annoying.
Not that it was of any importance. But I wonder who sang first the verse that makes this song's title: him, or John Lee, or who else....?
I can't hear this without thinking of Rudy Huxtable now! LOL!
Yeah, 10.
It was the Cosby Show and it was hilarious.
What about Sharon Jones (and the Dap-Kings) when we're lookin' for soul?
davedog wrote:
Can anyone tell me what the backup singers are repeating? Every time I hear this song I wonder but I've never figured it out.

Jacksonstat wrote
I believe they are saying "Night and day".

 
I keep hearing "Marvin Gaye", though admittedly that doesn't make any sense.

 RockinBlueVoodoo wrote:
That's what you get for watching the Cosby show! Serves you right. Now you're scarred for life and can never enjoy the awesomeness of this tune again...
 
Why not? Everyone has an irrelevant, non sequitur-like personal association with any given piece of art, generally what they were doing the first time they experienced it, or at least the first time it made an impression on them. I will always associate ELO's Telephone Lines with sleeping in the back seat of my dad's Mercury Montego (with my sister!) as we drove (probably straight through) from Vancouver to Los Angelos for a family vacation. The song was a hit, and we must have heard it a dozen times on various local stations as my dad pointed our car down the I5.

So this guy thinks of the Cosby show when he hears this song. So do I. Doesn't mean we can't enjoy it.


sooooooooooo cooooooool
Came here to say that I can't hear this song without thinking of the Cosby Show, but it looks like everyone beat me to it already!  Love it!
Is that little Rudy Huxtable belting out those vocals? Guess you all thought so, too. Sorry you didn't like it; I thought it was a riot.

 rickhoran wrote:


thats all i think of everytime i hear this song.
 

Me too.
RockinBlueVoodoo wrote:
That's what you get for watching the Cosby show! Serves you right. Now you're scarred for life and can never enjoy the awesomeness of this tune again...

I was a kid!  I didn't have a choice!  I also cannot hear this song without seeing those sweater-clad Cosbys dancing in their living room.

All I can think of is The Muppets singing this!
Oh goodness! They be Significating! Shout it Out Sistahs! Yes, Indeed, Oh Praise His Name! Do thet Lining, sweat that sweet Funk'o'love! Oh yas, yas yas ... here it comes now ... wait for it to come around! Wow! Oh Yes!
Zep wrote:
I didn't want to live it the first time....
That's what you get for watching the Cosby show! Serves you right. Now you're scarred for life and can never enjoy the awesomeness of this tune again...
davedog wrote:
Can anyone tell me what the backup singers are repeating? Every time I hear this song I wonder but I've never figured it out.
I believe they are saying "Night and day".
God is Love. Love is Blind. Therefore God must be Ray Charles!
superflyLD wrote:
remember when they Cosby Show did a lip sync to this song with the whole family? Classic TV! little Rudy did the female vocal- it was hilarious! (oops! just read the comments- looks like you guys DO remember! GO RUDY!)
I was thinking it was The Muppets!
Can anyone tell me what the backup singers are repeating? Every time I hear this song I wonder but I've never figured it out.
Smoove_D wrote:
For those of you who want to re-live seeing the Cosby kids lip synch...
I didn't want to live it the first time....
Smoove_D wrote:
For those of you who want to re-live seeing the Cosby kids lip synch: https://youtube.com/watch?v=XSvGdfOfLFw
thats all i think of everytime i hear this song.
Hell yes.
For those of you who want to re-live seeing the Cosby kids lip synch: https://youtube.com/watch?v=XSvGdfOfLFw
Rock the Heartland! Love this!
superflyLD wrote:
remember when they Cosby Show did a lip sync to this song with the whole family? Classic TV! little Rudy did the female vocal- it was hilarious! (oops! just read the comments- looks like you guys DO remember! GO RUDY!)
Yep. I was just thinking of that.
remember when they Cosby Show did a lip sync to this song with the whole family? Classic TV! little Rudy did the female vocal- it was hilarious! (oops! just read the comments- looks like you guys DO remember! GO RUDY!)
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The female vocal is outstanding. She gives Ray a real run for his money!
meydele wrote:
But Ray is dead. Does that mean God is dead?
If he isn't, he should be.
dixiedeb wrote:
Me too! Vivid mental picture!!
Yeah, all I can picture is little, little Rudy squeezing her fists and miming "BAY-BAYYY" while still missing a tooth, haha
celadonstone wrote:
"The song was originally released by blues singer Nappy Brown in 1954 and was revised by Charles, who is helped in the song by lead Raelette Margie Hendricks, who sings a raspy and demanding vocal to Charles' own raspy baritone and wails...."
Thank you very much!
ScottFromWyoming wrote:
This is where the rating system fails. 10 – Godlike No "-like" about it. Ray Charles is God.
But Ray is dead. Does that mean God is dead?
curtkare wrote:
Go little Rudy!!
Me too! Vivid mental picture!!
I have this on vinyl: Ray Charles Live at the Newport Folk Festival. The LP says STEREO DISC on it--it was a time when stereo recordings were nascent (1950s).
Antigone wrote:
Yeah, she's amazing ... does anyone know who it is?
"The song was originally released by blues singer Nappy Brown in 1954 and was revised by Charles, who is helped in the song by lead Raelette Margie Hendricks, who sings a raspy and demanding vocal to Charles' own raspy baritone and wails...."
Hard to find anything that compares to Ray Charles. Truely a fantastic song.
i love the collective 80s pop culture memory. The Huxtables' performance was my first thought too and it was SOOO much fun. "BAY BAAAAAYY"
killer. love the horns too.
ruthless wrote:
THAT IS WHAT FIRST CAME TO MIND HERE AS WELL!!
Go little Rudy!!
Yeah, Sing it Ray!
Jacksonstat wrote:
I loved that episode! Thanks for the flashback :)
THAT IS WHAT FIRST CAME TO MIND HERE AS WELL!!
Pyro wrote:
I love the way the background vocalist belts it out in her "solo" parts!
Yeah, she's amazing ... does anyone know who it is?
IH574 wrote:
Was this one of the Huxtable family sings?
I loved that episode! Thanks for the flashback :)
This is where the rating system fails. 10 – Godlike No "-like" about it. Ray Charles is God.
hippie wrote:
Damn Right.
I love the way the background vocalist belts it out in her "solo" parts!
RockinBlueVoodoo wrote:
Any time is the right time for Ray...
Damn Right.
IH574 wrote:
Was this one of the Huxtable family sings?
Yes. I'll never forget the first time I heard this song. I was at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and Big Joe Turner was onstage belting this song out! I'm embarrassed to say I'd never heard Ray's version, but Big Joe knocked my socks off!! I've loved every version of this song since then.
Brilliant and groundbreaking. I miss you, Ray Charles.
IH574 wrote:
Was this one of the Huxtable family sings?
yup https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Night_Time_(Is_the_Right_Time)
perfect ray-full of passion, despair, faith and longing.
Was this one of the Huxtable family sings?
Thanks RP for playing Ray! Another Tom Dowd-recorded classic.
Any time is the right time for Ray...