Crying Time cover

Released 60 years ago

Crying Time

Ray Charles · 1966

5 min · 2 tracks · blues

A soulful blend of blues and gospel, layered with heartfelt emotion and Ray Charles's signature vocal prowess.

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Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Crying Time — The title track encapsulates the album's emotional depth, blending poignant lyrics with an arrangement that highlights Charles's unique vocal delivery and expressive piano work.
  • →
    When My Dreamboat Comes Home — This track showcases a more upbeat rhythm while still carrying the essence of longing, illustrating Charles's ability to bridge different emotions within his music.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

64 /100
Treeline
Higher than 79% of albums we've rated

Crying Time showcases Ray Charles' strong songwriting and emotional delivery within a cohesive blues framework.

What we noticed

  • The first track features a slow, soulful piano introduction that sets a reflective mood, followed by Charles' emotive vocal delivery.
  • Several tracks incorporate call-and-response elements between the lead vocals and background singers, enhancing the bluesy feel.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
8/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
7/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Where this album fits

In the catalog
Breakthrough — Crying Time marked Ray Charles's return to prominence in popular music.
Themes
southern heartache· post-peak nostalgia
Career context
Released in 1966, Crying Time marked Ray Charles's return to the forefront of popular music following his commercial peak in the early 1960s. This album came after a series of successful records, establishing him as a key figure in shaping soul music while navigating personal challenges and changing musical landscapes.
Stylistic neighbors
Sam Cooke· Otis Redding· Aretha Franklin
New to Ray Charles? Find your way in →

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Crying Time 2:54
  • 2 When My Dreamboat Comes Home 2:55

What to play next

Ray's Moods
Listen next

Ray's Moods

1966

Continues the emotional depth with a blend of blues and soul, matching the vibe of Crying Time.
Together Again
Go back to

Together Again

1965

Sets up the soulful exploration leading into Crying Time's themes.
Full Ray Charles discography Where to start with Ray Charles Artists like Ray Charles
jazz

If this landed

Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.

The Dock of the Bay

The Dock of the Bay

Otis Redding

Shares a soulful blend of blues and heartfelt emotion, with reflective themes of longing and nostalgia.

Let's Stay Together

Let's Stay Together

Al Green

Combines gospel-infused soul with themes of love and heartache, echoing Ray's emotional vocal delivery.

You Got My Mind Messed Up

You Got My Mind Messed Up

James Carr

Explores deep southern heartbreak with raw emotion and a rich blend of soul and blues influences.

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata