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

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

this is an absolute gem of the internet. wow.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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⚓💙

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!

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!!! ❤

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.

Love the fact Brian waves to him...lmao

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.

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

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 !!! :- )

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.

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😎🦁⚡🌧️

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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! !!!!!!!

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

This is what God sounds like when he has the blues

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 ❤️

It doesn't get any better than this!

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

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

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. ❤❤❤

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

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

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!!

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

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!!!!!

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

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

Fantastic! That IS the voice for this tune..

Having disabilities can be a 🎁 RAY showed us that..God blessed all of us with 🎁. Thanks be to Jesus and the spirit within us.

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

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

Oh man, this is pure gold.

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

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

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

I like Ray. He definitely took this song to a new level… maybe 3 or 4 notches down from its original perfection.

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

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

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.

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

he owns it

He sounds better then most artist today. Yet he off time. His version is so personal.

Best rendition of this song ever...Ray is the man!

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

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

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

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

This right here. Why I never thought this was a Beach Boys song. ~ The Departed brought me here ✌🏼

Ray Charles is the greatest!!

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

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

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.

When I saw the BB last Summer this was the highlight. Brian had a bad voice mostly but he really nailed this song!!!! Just love the songs from the early 70's

Love it!

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

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

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

"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............................

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

THIS IS SO FREAKING AWESOME!!!

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

The soundtrack in Heaven

what a gem of a video!

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

He killled it at the end

Mind blown.

What a gem of a video.

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

Oh my God. Ray Charles ❤️❤️

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

Beautiful

Nothing like some some soul as the cherry on to of this great song.

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.

Beautiful x❤❤

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.

One helluva awesome version.

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.

I love this, and that's all I gotta say about that- forrest

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.