"
The Things That I Used to Do" is a
12-bar blues song written by
Guitar Slim (aka Eddie Jones). His recording of it, made in
New Orleans, was arranged and produced by a young
Ray Charles. It was released on
Specialty Records in 1953, and became a
bestseller the following year. It was one of the biggest hits in the label's history and stayed on the
rhythm and blues charts for 42 weeks. The song was at #1 for six weeks, and was the best-selling R&B record of the year, selling more than a million copies.