Ray Charles – Night Time Is The Right Time

I’ve seen this song listed as (Night Time is) The Right Time, Night Time Is The Right Time, and The Right Time.

I first heard this song from the Creedence Clearwater Revival cover version of it. I loved it and then I heard the Ray Charles version…I was lost. Night Time Is the Right Time was first performed by Roosevelt Sykes in 1937. His version, which he wrote with fellow bluesman Jimmy Oden was different than the version we know.

In 1938 Big Bill Broonzy recorded this song. Napoleon Brown Goodson Culp (Nappy Brown) recorded it in 1957 as The Right Time. Brown’s version had the Night and Day backing vocals. His version was on a small label and didn’t make much impact. Brown got credited as the songwriter after he changed it around.

When Ray Charles released this in 1958 it was a hit…it’s become the definitive version of the song. It’s been covered many times…some who covered it are Creedence Clearwater Revival, Tina Turner, The Rolling Stones, Lulu, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Rufus & Carla Thomas, and The Animals.

The song peaked at #5 on the Billboard R&B charts in 1958. Margie Hendrix with Charles’ backup singers the Raelettes provided the accompaniment to Charles’ vocals.

Nappy Brown: , “The difference between me and Ray Charles’s ‘Night Time Is the Right Time’ … is he had it up-tempo with Mary Ann and them behind him—the ladies [Charles’ female backup singers, the Raelettes]. I had mine in a slow tempo with a gospel group behind me. That was my gospel group. But he got everything just like mine, note for note”.

Night Time Is The Right Time

You know the nighttime, 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 nighttime (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)
Mm, 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 nighttime (night and day, oh)
Whoa, is the right time (night and day, oh)
To be with the one you love (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)

Girl, I love you (night and day)
No one above you (night and day)
Hold me tight (night and day)
And make everything all right (night and day)

Because the nighttime (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)

Lawdy, 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 nighttime (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 (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 (night and day)

I know the nighttime (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