Ray Charles "Sail On, Sailor"

[@blazehok]

Ray Charles doing a Brian Wilson song with the Beach Boys. Wow just perfect.

[@yetanotherjohn]

This mystical power of this song makes even more sense now.

[@jadenwaz9585]

this is an absolute gem of the internet. wow.

[@stephenbell-booth2648]

Ray Charles is so back on this song, he nearly falls off the edge of the beat. He is absolutely masterfully in control as lead vocalist. Incredible version of this beautiful song. Hats off to the Beach Boys, who wrote and perform the song so well, to let Ray interpret it as he saw fit. So glad I found this video. Bliss

[@larrywright885]

+Stephen Bell-Booth INDEED!

[@Aggromerchant]

+Stephen Bell-Booth Absolutely agreed.

[@roellassche1403]

+Stephen Bell-Booth That's right,he still leaps a bit behind:but that's Ray

[@mozdickson]

So agree Stephen. And you sir are one of the finest singer songwriters (and on keys too!) That New Zealand has produced. God bless bro.

[@robinh.rogowski9660]

Well said! 👏👏👏

[@brucebarnes9638]

Brian Wilson wrote the song and Ray Charles takes it to a new level. I grew up in the 60's listening to the Beach Boys. Ray Charles was my Dad's favorite musician. Hearing this song made me smile.

[@domdom9496]

Did I just see the epic Ray Charles do a Beach Boys song with the epic Boys themselves? Holy shit!!!

[@TJamesBell]

Right???

[@floatsting20]

No it was your imagination

[@michaelbooher4460]

Just incomparable. It's also interesting that this was performed on the lawn of the Waikiki Hilton. I stayed there 3 months ago.

[@Awesoman]

Getting Ray Charles to sing one of the Beach Boys' lesser known but certainly most soulful songs is just sublime.

[@fbayer72]

My Grandson just graduated from the US Navy Boot Camp today, I was searching Navy songs & came across Mr. Ray Charles version. Have always loved this song but never heard this before. Thank you Maestro Ray Charles for this & for all that you left us to live on forever⚓💙

[@billparrish4385]

Mister Ray Charles! Yes sir! The man with the Midas throat, because _everything_ he sings turns to gold!

[@moboutmen]

Oh man, this is pure gold.

[@stevebritt9332]

100 years from now, people we say, how my God, how did they do that. Appreciate it now, music will always evolve, but somehow, someway. We were blessed to listen to these geniuses.

[@loriholloway5866]

When you take the masters of harmony then put the master of soul on lead vocal, add a masterfully written song/tune, you get a MASTERPIECE! Thank you Mr Wilson and Mr Charles!!! ❤

[@WhenHerbSpeaks]

What he said. 😉

[@waynejones205]

Go, Brian!! :)

[@howardcrown5482]

Where the hell as this been....my fav beach boys tune performed by one of the most soulful voices on the planet....man o' man....sail on.

[@tomthomson9354]

Howard Crown I heard this song for the first time a few years back. I love The Beach Boys music and this quickly became my favorite Beach Boys song

[@normgillespie4201]

Totally agree

[@cigarmanIII]

THIS WAS FILMED IN WAIKIKI HAWAII AROUND 1985 OR 1986... I WAS STATIONED IN HAWAII IN THE MARINES AND WAS WALKING ALONG THE BEACH WHEN I HEARD RAY SINGING THIS SONG AND IT HAS BEEN A FAVORITE SINCE... THANKS FOR POSTING... BTW I LIKE THE ORIGINAL TOO

[@susanhotz8691]

What a great memory

[@timothybrown2054]

Thats great man !

[@charliefreemansingsandspeaks]

Incredible!

[@usmc-veteran73-77]

Ray could sing any type of music. There will only be one Mr. Ray Charles.

[@tomthomson9354]

My Gentle Pitt Bull there are very few singers who can do that and do it well. Ray was without a doubt, one of them

[@WildBillCox13]

Semper fi from the navy

[@krystallovern6752]

Amen

[@cobrajetter]

Fabulous lead vocal, and the backup vocals are amazing. No one harmonizes like the Beach Boys. Nobody writes songs like Brian Wilson, and no one sang like Ray Charles. What a combination!

[@ClearOutSamskaras]

It's hard to listen to. Ray's phrasing is awkward and is lagging way too much.. He's out of synch with the band. This version is not what it could have been.

[@chriswarwin7117]

No one writes songs like Brian -- except for Van Dyke Parks, who wrote much of this song, and of the ill-fated Smile album..

[@jasfan8247]

@@ClearOutSamskaras timing is what makes Ray special. He carries it to the next level. Unchain my heart🥜

[@Onio_]

@@chriswarwin7117 Van Dyke Parks was only a lyricist.

[@ricardovandervegt9834]

Well don't forget the Bee Gees if you are talking about harmony and songwriters

[@JohnWatson-ey4bh]

This should have been released as a single. Top notch.

[@tagreene06]

That man can take any song and make it his own. Not everybody can do that no matter how talented they are RIP Sir Ray Charles

[@melodymakermark]

You are so right! Have you ever heard/seen Ray singing Leon Russell’s A Song For You? It’s on here somewhere, with Leon and Willie Nelson. Freaking awesome.

[@adrianveseli3379]

2003 or 2004 it was. Ray near death and still out competing those two with just his voice. Absolutely wondering ​@@melodymakermark

[@dougpeters1625]

Beach boys are in fine form here and Rays laid-back soulful phrasing is incomparable

[@hippojuice23]

I'm reminded of the Billy Preston/Beatles formula! This is awesome! Brother Ray breathes such life into these tired old rockers!

[@braziliantexatlantis7485]

Yeah, you can always rely on black musicians to rescue white musicians from writing songs and stuff

[@KevinSmith-pp8ee]

Fantastic Ray Charles rendition and best Beach Boy harmonizing I've ever heard.

[@edhalfen7380]

This song was just made for Ray. The lyrics come alive. I've heard this Beach Boys song hundreds of times and NEVER have the words been so impactful.

[@brookeperk93]

only 32,000 people have tuned in to this masterpiece of music........there really is something wrong in our world......thank you ray stevens and the beach boys for this incomparable piece arrangement

[@vampyros1]

And one of the things “wrong in our world” is that you just called him Ray Stevens.

[@charliefreemansingsandspeaks]

In a world where having a guest singer performing a classic song live is a perpetual game of hit and miss, The Beach Boys and Ray went above and beyond expectations. Ray's interpretation perfectly walks the line of making the song his own while remaining faithful to the spirit of the original. I'd go so far as to say this version exceeds the studio recording; no easy feat.

[@susancalles5389]

What a beautiful backdrop. At the Sheraton Waikiki in Honolulu, Hawaii

[@FuriousMess]

what a gem of a video!

[@peterzang]

I so agree. And Ray didn't sing songs he didn't love. He kills it!

[@williamdavison6072]

Beautiful version of this awesome classic with Ray Charles! Incredible!

[@blazehok]

We are all fortunate to have walked the Earth with these great talents. I have heard the angels sing.

[@waynejones205]

I only just yesterday saw a reference to Ray Charles and the Beach Boys doing this cover while listening to Jimmy Buffet's on this dreary weekend that he died, and pray he's me The Dolphin and Jolly Mon by now. I know plenty of the R.C. songbook, but this blows it All away!! I can't claim a favorite cover of Sail On Sailor, and this makes it even harder!! 😄🥰🥰 THEY ALL ARE!! But this one has even more!!

[@cslaughter1204]

WOW!!!!!!! I GOT GOOSEBUMPS!!!!! AWESOME! !!!!!!! JUST AWESOME! !!!!!!! WHEN RAY STOODUP... I GOT TEARS IN MY EYES!!!!!!! I SO LOVE RAY AND THE BEACH BOYS!!!!!! BEAUTIFUL! !!!!!!!

[@glenncanale9225]

+cslaughter1204 When he stood up he knew he had nailed it. Reminder you don't have to shout, but you are correct it is a great version.

[@barhawley123]

I'm in heaven..this is just fantastic..never knew Ray Charles sang with the beach boys..wow..what he does to this song!

[@magneto7930]

There's no keeping a great song down! Ray nails it on stage with those fabulous Beach Boy harmonies!

[@pinksparkle1965love]

Beautiful x❤❤

[@AtticusFinch907]

Ray Charles makes it sound somewhat like a blues song. Yes, his lyrics are really clear. 😊

[@Rupert14]

And he obviously isn't lazy enough to need a teleprompter.

[@caz8512]

This is amazing!! I've never heard Ray sing this before. My favorite Beach Boys song, but now I hear it with fresh ears sung by the great Ray Charles. Absolutely fantastic. Thank you so much for sharing this ❤️

[@lovintonal]

was nothing Ray couldn't add a touch of his greatness to

[@rvisual]

Beyond cool. Thanks for posting !

[@davidstoltz1]

Wow! Ray was just the best! He killed it!!!!!!

[@loriholloway5866]

When your soul NEEDS one special performance of a brilliant composition. Thank you Mr Charles. Thank you Mr Wilson. Thank you for every individual involved in recording this for perpetuity. ❤❤❤

[@mitchgawlik1175]

To me, this would be one of those musical moments I'd never forget. To put it mildly, Ray Charles had a way with a song.

[@BoxGuy1951]

One of my favorite songs being sung by THE Beach Boys and THE INCOMPARABLE Ray Charles. Could it possibly be any better than this ? NOPE !!! :- )

[@TJamesBell]

Nope.

[@alanbrunt3919]

This is a fabulous song and Ray Charles delivers it beautifully. So professional, just brilliant!

[@ydderynnad]

For some reason, I only discovered this existed last night. I think I've played it 12-15 times already.

[@basswars7060]

Every song that Ray Charles sings is the best version of that song.

[@Troubleshooter125]

Ray Charles taking the lead with Beach Boys lyrics and harmonies? THAT is what you call INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH! SAIL ON, SAILOR!!!

[@debrakeilleavitt5504]

It doesn't get any better than this!

[@amjrpain919]

The reaction (and participation) to this song is phenomenal every time I play it on a jukebox!

[@socrates1818]

Look what he does- turns the vocal completely around- he doesthis w every song- he and Nat Cole just bent melodies like Jeff Beck- the one remaining genius

[@DeHuwite]

WOW! Everything's better with Ray! Plus look at Diamond Head in the background! I love Hawaii!

[@DateTwoRelate]

God is this wonderful. One of the later BB recordings (1975) that got to only #49 on Billboard but one of my favorites. And with Ray in the driver's seat? Holy shit!!!!!

[@hshh2453]

Incredible!!! This is amazing

[@majorwatt8146]

Fantastic! That IS the voice for this tune..

[@happymv5350]

This is the epitome of musical magic. Beautiful.....

[@johncopeland3826]

In the category of greatest male singers in popular music, Mr Ray Charles has to be right up there vwith the very finest of them ..got to be !

[@KevinSmith-pp8ee]

Best background melody I've ever heard. Those boys could bring it.

[@donearl6675]

100% flawless perfection.by all of them.singing and the harmony

[@cattycorner8]

what a dream performance!! Brian looks great! So happy he came back to us to continue to write and tour. He is a genius.

[@lonniehigginbotham829]

Awesome. Simply awesome performance on one of the Beach Boys greatest songs. Ray absolutely made it even better.

[@colindominy]

A fabulous interpretation of Brain's wonderful song here by the great Ray Charles ...

[@sharonchaney8577]

An absolutely wonderful performance. What else needs to be said.❤

[@MsSchnauzie]

Incredible! My favorite Beach Boys song and Ray Charles singing it is just the bomb. It just does not get better than this!!! Love it and listen to it everyday. Wish I could get it on CD.

[@SalixNigra2]

My favorite, too.

[@Penny123ghost]

I never, ever get tired of this! Fantastic - what a soulful voice!

[@nowitsabadtime]

I was there, on Hollywood Blvd, when Uncle Ray passed. Still gives me "shivers" thinking about when we told people about his passing, and how freaked-out some people got. A True American Icon. RIP.

[@leh3827]

yea Ray

[@lakshmiluvsvishnu]

OMG! I heard Ray Charles play live in Houston TX, 1976. Love love love love love!!!!!!!!

[@deborahcooper9085]

❤️ it!!

[@RMoribayashi]

I second, third and forth that motion! O....M....G...! If only they had done a studio version.

[@maxxz7]

"Sail On, Sailor" is a poem and the lyrics are difficult to remember but Ray Charles the master of all soul made it look easy. The genius Brian Wilson wrote it and the genius Ray Charles just knocked it out of the park............................

[@chriswarwin7117]

Brian was pretty much a basket case when this song was written. Much of the heavy lifting came from Van Dyke Parks, with later contributions by Ray Kennedy, Tandyn Almer, and Jack Rieley.

[@conga205]

God DAMN!!!! I've always liked this tune, but Sweet Jaysus....today I heard it done right......!

[@ivycompton]

omigod what a world! ray charles doing sail on, sailor!!! i'm speechless!

[@hellrella.k.a.durielhall4907]

Ray Charles is the greatest!!

[@colinspeakman3313]

Doesn’t get much better than this.....!

[@hukujones6877]

Absolutely beautiful!

[@chebachaka]

Love the fact Brian waves to him...lmao

[@gigid9606]

I think he probably would have hugged him if he could.

[@leeannhelvenston5435]

Brian is so lovely. Another genius, just like Ray.

[@Armentitron]

Shame Ray never knew about it lmao

[@yodservant]

My niece is named Sailor ....when my brother and sister in law were expecting her back in 2014 they knew of the song, but not that the Beach Boys had recorded it on their Holland album...I set the record straight. Spent much time here where this is filmed on Diamond Head at the Old Moana hotel....bless you Brian and Ray😎🦁⚡🌧️

[@Psycomantis1]

He killled it at the end

[@benm8503]

two incredible forces absolutely enhancing each other. I can't help but feel god in this music

[@donnafrost12strings]

he owns it

[@blokbitz8743]

Amazing! Love this so much.

[@UBZUKki]

Beautiful

[@DrNSalmon]

Outstanding performance. If it hadn't been for KZbin, I would never have known of its existence. Thanks for posting.

[@Dreamsareforreal]

A RARE GENIUS = RAY CHARLES!!! we miss your enthusiasm for music you brought to the world!! WE ALL MISS YOU DOWN HERE

[@sunnygrl]

Absolutely awesome version of one of my all time favorite songs. Love Brian and the Boys, and love Ray. What's really impressive is how Ray learned all those complex lyrics and sang it word for word....it's not as if he was reading them! Thanks so much for posting this amazing performance.

[@VictorBurgund]

any song he plays is awesome, it something his touch does.. the one and only genius

[@lonedrone]

Fantastic! Goosebumps! So good this happened - Brian had a lot of of soul in him which was not obviously apparent - advanced harmonies and chord progressions were his signum but he could always swing.

[@funkdragon23]

I love this song, and ray charles made me love it more

[@bertvanstaveren3178]

This one is so great, Ray and Brian at their best....

[@GereDJ2]

Would have been nice to be there then. Put the Soul to it, Ray.

[@milesey01]

What a find.....One my favourite singers and my favorite Beach song ....

[@JustaJuboi]

This is what God sounds like when he has the blues

[@nowitsabadtime]

Wow.

[@Azav312]

Now that is a great comment!

[@morbidmanmusic]

so he is a ray charles clone?|

[@MrOldgummer]

i've never seen this,it is quite awesome.love Ray's piano playing and the way he has the vocal behind the beat,as if it's a Ray Charles song.i do agree with another comment i saw here-would love to hear Stevie sing it.

[@christinejohnson1280]

My all time favorite version! Ray tears it up on this song!

[@BrendaLewisJazz]

Wow! Had not heard Ray's version before. Perfect. In the pocket! Thank you, ZigZag :)

[@tonyr.5673]

I just discovered this song from The Beach Boys, and even though I love their version, Ray Charles just took it over and made it his own.

[@lizajean8]

THIS IS SO FREAKING AWESOME!!!

[@peterprinz695]

I was there in Hawaii for the concert and it was an outstanding rendition. I have a nice photo I took during of Ray during his performance.

[@xlr8tedzoom]

I found the best cover of this favorite. The impressive Ray Charles.

[@tamre58]

This is a gem!! Didn't know so many artists had covered it!!!!

[@robmorrison1043]

Phenomenal. The genius of Ray Charles!!!!