"Night Time Is the Right Time" or "The Right Time" is a rhythm and blues song. American musician Nappy Brown recorded it in 1957. The song is based on earlier blues songs. It inspired popular versions by Ray Charles, Rufus and Carla, and James Brown. These versions became popular on the record charts. Creedence Clearwater Revival included a version of the song on their 1969 album, Green River. The Animals also included a version of the song on their first album, The Animals, which came out in 1964.

Earlier songs

Blues pianist Roosevelt Sykes, also known as "the Honey Dripper," recorded the song "Night Time Is the Right Time" in 1937. It was called "one of his 'hits' of the day" and is a medium-speed twelve-bar blues. Sykes played both the piano and sang on the recording. Some people believe the song was influenced by the old vaudeville tradition.

In 1938, Big Bill Broonzy recorded the song as "Night Time Is the Right Time No. 2," with slightly different and more suggestive lyrics. That same year, Roosevelt Sykes also recorded a new version titled "Night Time Is the Right Time #2," with similar changes to the lyrics. The earliest recordings of "Night Time Is the Right Time" are credited to Roosevelt Sykes and Leroy Carr. Carr died in 1935, and no known recordings of the song by him exist. "Night Time Is the Right Time" is similar to Carr's earlier song "When the Sun Goes Down."

Nappy Brown song

In 1957, Nappy Brown recorded the song titled "The Right Time." This version was described as an important part of Brown's early career. It includes extra lyrics and background singers who respond to his singing. The musical support is provided by Buster Cooper on trombone, Hilton Jefferson on alto saxophone, Budd Johnson on tenor saxophone, Kelly Owens on piano, Skeeter Best on guitar, Leonard Gaskin on bass, and Bobby Donaldson on drums. Brown's recording begins with

Although Brown's version did not appear on national music charts, Ray Charles used it shortly after. Throughout his career, Brown recorded multiple versions of the song, sometimes changing the title. The original recording lists N. Brown as the songwriter.

Ray Charles version

Ray Charles recorded his version of the song, titled "(Night Time Is) The Right Time," on October 28, 1958, at the Atlantic Records studio in New York City. According to Brown, "The difference between my version and Ray Charles's ‘Night Time Is the Right Time’ is that he performed it with a faster tempo and female backing singers. I performed mine with a slower tempo and a gospel group. However, he matched my version exactly, note for note." Margie Hendrix, along with Charles' backup singers the Raelettes, provided the musical support for his vocals.

The song was released as a single and reached number five on the Billboard R&B chart and number 95 on the Hot 100 chart in 1959. The songwriters were listed as "Brown – Cadena – Herman" on the single and on the albums Ray Charles in Person (1960) and The Genius Sings the Blues (1961). Later collections sometimes only credit Lew Herman, also known as Herman Lubinsky, who owned Nappy Brown's record label. The song also appears on Ray Charles at Newport (1958) and the film soundtrack of Ray (2004).

In the second season episode of The Cosby Show titled "Happy Anniversary," the Huxtable family performed a lip-sync to Ray Charles' version. CNN's Lisa Respers France said, "No ‘Cosby Show’ list is complete without this family performance…" Vulture called it the show's best musical moment. In 1997, TV Guide ranked this episode number 54 on its "100 Greatest Episodes of All Time" list.

James Brown version

James Brown recorded the song for the small Churchill/Augusta record label. The song was released in 1983 as the B-side of his single "Bring It On…Bring It On." Brown's version, which included the subtitle "To Be With the One That You Love," reached number 73 on the Billboard R&B chart. Robert Christgau reviewed Brown's version positively, highlighting the performance of an unidentified female guest vocalist, described as "a Brownette who approaches any kind of note as if she owns it."