Shaped Rock and Roll". During his career, Brown re-recorded the song and variations on it several times. In 1969, an updated version "came off as new, thanks to Earl Hooker's inspired slide work", according to biographer Sebastian Danchin. It is included on the album Legend! (Bluesway Records). The song became a blues standard, and renditions have been performed and recorded by numerous artists. Some follow the original arrangement, while others interpret it differently. As early as 1946, a young Ray Charles played it regularly. He recalled, "Charles Brown was a powerful influence on me in the early part of my career, especially when I was struggling down in Florida. I made many a dollar doing my imitation of his 'Drifting Blues'. That was a hell of a number". "Driftin' Blues" entered the charts again in 1968, when Bobby "Blue" Bland recorded it. His version reached number 23 during a stay of eleven weeks on the Billboard R&B chart and also entered the broader Billboard Hot 100 at number 96. See also Billboard Most-Played Race Records of 1946 Notes References 1945 songs 1945 singles Charles Brown (musician) songs 1968 singles Bobby Bland songs Ray Charles songs Blues songs