Night Time Is the Right Time

"Night Time Is the Right Time" or "The Right Time" is a rhythm and blues song recorded by Nappy Brown in 1957. It draws on earlier blues songs and has inspired many subsequent versions, including a record chart hit versions by Ray Charles, Rufus and Carla, and James Brown.

Earlier songs

Blues pianist Roosevelt Sykes (listed as "The Honey Dripper") recorded "Night Time Is the Right Time" in 1937 (Decca 7324). Called "one of his 'hits' of the day",^[1] it is a moderate-tempo twelve-bar blues that features Sykes on vocal and piano. It has been suggested that it was "drawn from the old vaudeville tradition":^[2]

Now I want you to tell me, mama after I sing this song

Can I take you with me tonight darlin', and hold you in my arms

Because night time is the right time, to be with the one you love, with the one you love

In 1938, Big Bill Broonzy recorded the song with slightly different (and more suggestive) lyrics (Vocalion 4149). The same year, Roosevelt Sykes recorded a second version titled "Night Time Is the Right Time #2" (Decca 7438), also with slightly different lyrics. These earliest recordings of "Night Time Is the Right Time" are credited to Roosevelt Sykes and Leroy Carr, although Carr had already died in 1935 without any known recordings of the song.^[3]

Nappy Brown song

In 1957, Nappy Brown recorded the song as "The Right Time" (Savoy 1525). Called "a highlight of Brown's early career",^[4] his version features additional lyrics with background singers answering his vocal lines. Instrumental accompaniment is provided by Buster Cooper (trombone), Hilton Jefferson (alto sax), Budd Johnson (tenor sax), Kelly Owens (piano), Skeeter Best (guitar), Leonard Gaskin (bass), and Bobby Donaldson (drums). Brown's song opens with:

You know the night time (ba-do-day), is the right time (ba-do-day)

To be (ba-do-day), with the one you love (ba-do-day)...

Brown's version did not reach the national record charts,^[5] but was "borrowed by Ray Charles in short order".^[4] During his career, Brown recorded several versions of the song (sometimes varying the title). His original single lists the songwriter as "N. Brown".

Ray Charles version

Ray Charles recorded his version, titled "(Night Time Is) The Right Time" in October 1958. According to 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".^[6] Margie Hendricks with Charles' backup singers the Raelettes provided the accompaniment to Charles vocals. The song became a hit in 1959, when it reached number five in the Billboard R&B chart and number 95 in the pop chart.^[7] The song is included on the albums Ray Charles at Newport and The Genius Sings the Blues.

Other recorded versions

Numerous artists have recorded "Night Time Is the Right Time", including Alex Korner's Blues Incorporated from the expanded album R&B from the Marquee (1962); Rufus and Carla #94 pop chart single (1964); The Animals from The Animals (1964); The Sonics on their album Here Are The Sonics (1965); Lulu from Something to Shout About (1965); Aretha Franklin from her album Aretha Now (1968); Creedence Clearwater Revival on their studio album Green River (1969) and on their live album The Concert (1980); Tina Turner from Rough (1978); James Brown recorded an up-tempo funk version which reached R&B chart #73 (1983); and John Scofield from That's What I Say: John Scofield Plays the Music of Ray Charles (2005).

Other appearances

"Night Time Is the Right Time" was referred to in Bob Dylan's "To Be Alone with You" (1969); Bill Cosby (Cliff), Malcolm-Jamal Warner (Theo), and Keshia Knight Pulliam (Rudy) lip synced it in The Cosby Show Season 2 Episode 3 (1985); Joss Stone recorded a version for a Gap commercial directed by Peter Lindbergh (2005); The Rolling Stones played it frequently on their A Bigger Bang Tour (2005–07).

References