Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

The Best And Most Memorable Ray Price Songs Within His Vast Catalog

Ray Price songs
by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

The world surely lost one of the greatest singers when Country Hall of Famer Ray Price passed away in 2013 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Luckily, we’re left with a myriad of Ray Price songs where his golden voice lives on.

So, here’s a quick recap of some of Ray Price‘s most memorable recordings within his wagonload of hit singles.

1. “Crazy Arms”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNnO00JoqIY
From: Ray Price’s Greatest Hits (1956)

This honky-tonk classic was Price’s biggest hit. “Crazy Arms” did not only bring Price to stardom but also made history for staying on top of the charts for 20 weeks. It held the record for the longest standing song at No.1 until Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise” took over in 2013.

2. “City Lights”

From: Ray Price’s Greatest Hits (1958)

Written by country music mainstay Bill Anderson, “City Lights” is another hit of Price that made history. In 1958, Price brought the song to the top of the newly introduced all-encompassing chart for country music, called Billboard’s Hot C&W Sides, making it the chart’s first No. 1 track.

3. “Release Me”

Released as a single (1954)

Price may have had a number of major hits beforehand, but “Release Me” is often considered as his breakthrough hit. It has the elements of country shuffle Price is famous for, which were more evident in his future successes. 

4. “For the Good Times”

From: For the Good Times (1970)

After nearly eleven years of absence of No. 1 hits, Price came back stronger with “For the Good Times,” penned by none other than Kris Kristofferson. In addition to returning Price to the top of the country charts, it also helped him earn his first Grammy Award for Male Country Vocal Performance.

5. “I’ll Be There (If You Ever Want Me)”

Released as a single (1954)

Co-written by Price and recorded during the early years of his career, the song became another hit for the country legend, reaching No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart. Since then, it has been cut by several various artists, including Wille Nelson, George Jones, and Tammy Wynette.

6. “Heartaches by the Number”

From: Ray Price’s Greatest Hits (1959)

Written by Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer Harlan Howard, the song finds Price singing about three heartaches. Firstly, when his lover left him. Then she returned but didn’t mean to stay, leading to the second round of anguish. Lastly, when she called him saying she’d come back, only to leave him waiting in vain. 

But even though he has “heartaches by the number,” he stresses that the day he stops counting is the “day my world would end.”

7. “Night Life”

From: Night Life (1963)

Country legend Willie Nelson wrote “Night Life” in 1960. Three years later, Price cut the tune for the album of the same name and started using it as the introduction in his shows, saying that it was “especially” penned for him by “a boy down Texas way.”

8. “Make the World Go Away”

From: Burning Memories (1963)

This country-pop ballad written by Hank Cochran was one of Price’s first songs to feature an orchestra and female chorus, a trend that would go on with his other hits.

9. “You’re the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me”

From: You’re the Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me (1973)

This was Price’s final No. 1 hit, but that didn’t mean his commercial success ended there. The country legend would go on releasing singles for another two decades.

10. “Invitation to the Blues”

Released as a single (1958)

Before becoming a superstar in the 1960s with hits like “Dang Me,” “King of the Road,” and “Engine Engine #9,” Roger Miller was first a member of Price’s band, Cherokee Cowboys. He wrote this song in 1958, which Price released as the flip side of “City Lights.” It then ranked No. 4 on Billboard’s 1958 year-end country and western chart.

11. “I Won’t Mention It Again”

From: I Won’t Mention It Again (1971)

Cameron “Cam” Mullins wrote “I Won’t Mention It Again” using the pattern of Price’s chart-topper “For The Good Times.” And as expected, the song shot to the top of the charts, making it the first time in Price’s long career to have achieved back-to-back No. 1 singles.

12. “She’s Got to Be a Saint”

From: She’s Got to Be a Saint (1972)

Letting go is an intense, confusing process – and Price found himself in a similar situation in “She’s Got to Be a Saint,” where he wonders if he should stay with such a great woman, or would it be best to leave her as he has done nothing but make her cry.

13. “A Mansion on the Hill”

From: Hank’ n Me (1976)

Written and originally recorded by Hank Williams in 1949, Price cut the song nearly three decades later for his album, Hank’ n Me. Williams and Price were good friends and were once Nashville roommates.

14. “Beauty Lies in the Eyes of the Beholder”

From: Beauty Is… The Final Sessions (2014)

One of the songs he recorded before passing away, Price’s ability to reach his higher registers still shines in this love song – in which he was joined by fellow country star Vince Gill.

15. “The Twenty-Fourth Hour”

From: Night Life (1963)

This is definitely one of the best songs ever written in Price’s catalog, which sings about a man who has nowhere to go whenever the night comes. Pretty sure it would be a big hit if it’s re-recorded today.

Some More Ray Price Songs That Created an Era in Country Music History

We have here ten more out of the hundred songs Ray Price placed on the country charts for nearly four decades. Check them out below.

  • “The Lonesomest Lonesome”
  • “My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You”
  • “The Same Old Me”
  • “Burning Memories”
  • “The Other Woman (In My Life)”
  • “I’d Rather Be Sorry”
  • “I’ve Got a New Heartache”
  • “Don’t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes”
  • “Like Old Times Again”
  • “Run Boy”

Undeniably, the impact of Ray Price songs is hard to beat.

Latest Stories

George Strait and Chris Stapleton announce their 2025 stadium tour, bringing country music fans an unforgettable live experience with special guests Parker McCollum and Little Big Town.

George Strait and Chris Stapleton Announce 2025 Stadium Tour

Country music fans, get ready—George Strait and Chris Stapleton are hitting the road again for another epic stadium tour. After a wildly successful run in 2023, the two country powerhouses ...

Chris Stapleton announces his retirement from singing the national anthem after his iconic 2023 Super Bowl performance, a moment destined to stand the test of time.

Chris Stapleton Is Officially Retired From Singing the National Anthem

Chris Stapleton’s unforgettable 2023 Super Bowl performance of The Star-Spangled Banner remains one of the greatest renditions in history. But if you hope to hear him take on the anthem ...

Chris Stapleton delivering a soulful national anthem at Super Bowl LVII, moving players and coaches to tears in a performance hailed as one of the best ever.

Remember When Chris Stapleton’s Super Bowl National Anthem Brought Everyone to Tears?

Few performances in Super Bowl history have left as lasting an impression as Chris Stapleton’s rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner at Super Bowl LVII in 2023. The country and blues ...

Jon Batiste performs a jazz-infused rendition of the national anthem at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, honoring his Louisiana roots.

Jon Batiste Delivers Unique Super Bowl National Anthem Performance

Jon Batiste delivered a uniquely soulful rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Super Bowl LIX, infusing the national anthem with the unmistakable spirit of his Louisiana roots. The seven-time Grammy ...

2025 CMT Music Awards Cancelled

Why Were the 2025 CMT Music Awards Canceled? The Truth Revealed

Country music fans will have to mark a different night on their calendars this year. The 2025 CMT Music Awards have been officially canceled, leaving many wondering what led to ...

Darius Rucker announces he's now living in London, sparking curiosity among fans about whether the move is permanent and the reasons behind his life change.

Darius Rucker Reveals He’s No Longer Living in the U.S.

Darius Rucker and the American South go hand in hand. Whether it’s Hootie & The Blowfish’s “Cracked Rear View” playing at a summer cookout or “Wagon Wheel” blasting from the ...

Country singer Andrew Millsaps shares how his fiancée ended their engagement via text before a show, inspiring him to channel the heartbreak into new music.

Country Singer Andrew Millsaps Got Dumped in the Worst Way Possible—Right Before a Show

Breakups are never easy, but some are downright brutal. For country singer Andrew Millsaps, the heartbreak hit at the worst possible time—while he was on stage. The Neon Union vocalist ...

Rascal Flatts and the Jonas Brothers collaborate on 'I Dare You,' a powerful heartbreak anthem, ahead of Rascal Flatts' 25th Anniversary Life Is a Highway Tour.

Rascal Flatts and Jonas Brothers Collaborate on New Song “I Dare You”

Rascal Flatts may have built their legacy on heartfelt country anthems. Still, their latest collaboration proves they’re not afraid to shake things up. The iconic trio has teamed up with ...

Cody Johnson opens up about learning to be romantic with his wife, Brandi, after 15 years of marriage, emphasizing the importance of simple gestures.

Cody Johnson Shares How He Learned to Be Romantic With His Wife Brandi

Cody Johnson might be a country music powerhouse, but he’s just a husband trying to get it right at home. Married to his wife, Brandi, since 2008, Johnson has spent ...

Luke Bryan Says Beyonce Is The Greatest Singer Of All Time

Luke Bryan Just Called Beyoncé “The Greatest Singer of Our Lifetime”

Luke Bryan poured gasoline on an already blazing fire by calling Beyoncé “the greatest singer in our lifetime.” As Cowboy Carter continues to divide country music fans, Bryan’s comments feel ...