Complete List Of Rickie Lee Jones Albums And Discography

I was a high school senior when I first heard “Chuck E.’s in Love” on the radio in 1979. It was a voice I had never heard before. There was something so cool about her voice. I purchased the album and felt cooler myself by listening to her music. I was in Coolsville. Over her career, Jones has released a total of fifteen studio albums, two live albums, two compilation albums, and one EP. Her work has received critical acclaim, and she has garnered various awards, including two Grammy Awards. Notably, her debut album was certified platinum and Pirates reached gold status. She has continued to evolve her musical style, incorporating electronic and experimental sounds in her later works. She is one of my favorites, and I’m sure she is one of yours.

RICKIE LEE JONES STUDIO ALBUMS

Rickie Lee Jones (1979)

Released: 1979

Rickie Lee Jones, her debut album, catapulted her into the musical spotlight with its eclectic mix of jazz, R&B, folk, and pop influences. The album is best known for the hit song “Chuck E.’s in Love,” which reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Her style was distinctive and fresh, offering a poetic and soulful approach to songwriting that resonated with audiences. The album earned Jones a Grammy Award for Best New Artist.

The musicians featured on the album included Rickie Lee Jones on vocals, guitar, and keyboards, with contributions from Dr. John on keyboards, Victor Feldman on percussion, Tom Scott on woodwinds, and Randy Newman on synthesizer. It was produced by Lenny Waronker and Russ Titelman.

CD Track Listings:

1. “Chuck E.’s in Love”
2. “On Saturday Afternoons in 1963”
3. “Night Train”
4. “Young Blood”
5. “Easy Money”
6. “The Last Chance Texaco”
7. “Danny’s All-Star Joint”
8. “Coolsville”
9. “Weasel and the White Boys Cool”
10. “Company”
11. “After Hours (Twelve Bars Past Goodnight)”

Pirates (1981)

Released: 1981

Rickie Lee Jones’ second album, Pirates, was released in 1981. It is often regarded as her most ambitious and complex album, weaving together a variety of musical styles including jazz, rock, and soul, in a cinematic sweep of richly layered songs. The album received widespread critical acclaim and peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart, solidifying Jones’ position in the music world.

Notable musicians on the album included Donald Fagen of Steely Dan on synthesizer, Steve Gadd on drums, and Chuck Rainey on bass. The album was produced by Russ Titelman and Lenny Waronker.

CD Track Listings:

1. “We Belong Together”
2. “Living It Up”
3. “Skeletons”
4. “Woody and Dutch on the Slow Train to Peking”
5. “Pirates (So Long Lonely Avenue)”
6. “A Lucky Guy”
7. “Traces of the Western Slopes”
8. “The Returns”

The Magazine (1984)

Released: 1984

Rickie Lee Jones’ third studio album, The Magazine, continued to explore diverse musical landscapes with its eclectic fusion of rock, jazz, and pop. Although it did not achieve the commercial success of her previous albums, it reached No. 44 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album featured complex song structures and showcased Jones’ evolving artistry.

The album was co-produced by Rickie Lee Jones and James Newton Howard. Key contributors included James Newton Howard on synthesizer and string arrangements, Michael Boddicker on synthesizer and programming, Steve Lukather on guitar, and drummers Steve Gadd and Jeff Porcaro.

CD Track Listings:

1. “Prelude to Gravity”
2. “Gravity”
3. “Juke Box Fury”
4. “It Must Be Love”
5. “Magazine”
6. “The Real End”
7. “Deep Space”
8. “Runaround”
9. “Rorschachs (Theme for the Pope)”
10. “The Unsigned Painting”
11. “The Weird Beast”

Flying Cowboys (1989)

Released: 1989

Rickie Lee Jones’ album Flying Cowboys, released in 1989, marked a return to form with its graceful blend of pop, jazz, and soul elements. The album, produced by Walter Becker of Steely Dan fame, received positive reviews and peaked at No. 39 on the Billboard 200 chart. The title track and “Satellites” were notable songs, capturing her unique poetic and melodic style.

Jones collaborated with an array of musicians, including Sal Bernardi, Walter Becker, Peter Erskine, Rob Wasserman, and many others.

CD Track Listings:

1. “The Horses”
2. “Just My Baby”
3. “Ghetto of My Mind”
4. “Rodeo Girl”
5. “Satellites”
6. “Ghost Train”
7. “Flying Cowboys”
8. “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying”
9. “Love Is Gonna Bring Us Back Alive”
10. “Away from the Sky”
11. “Atlas’ Marker”

Pop Pop (1991)

Released: 1991

Pop Pop, released in 1991, is an album by Rickie Lee Jones that veers into jazz and pop standards. This collection includes covers ranging from jazz classics to contemporary songs, all interpreted with Jones’ unique style. The album was critically acclaimed for its artistic approach.

The recording featured contributions from notable musicians such as Charlie Haden on bass and Joe Henderson on saxophone. It was produced by Rickie Lee Jones and David Was.

CD Track Listings:

1. “My One and Only Love”
2. “Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most”
3. “Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo”
4. “Up from the Skies”
5. “Second Time Around”
6. “Dat Dere”
7. “I’ll Be Seeing You”
8. “Bye Bye Blackbird”
9. “The Ballad of the Sad Young Men”
10. “I Won’t Grow Up”
11. “Love Junkyard”
12. “Comin’ Back to Me”

Traffic from Paradise (1993)

Released: 1993

1993’s Traffic from Paradise offered a more introspective and serene sound, contrasting with much of Jones’ earlier work. The album’s reflective lyrics and minimalistic arrangements drew praise and the album reached No. 111 on the Billboard 200.

Rickie Lee Jones produced the album and performed vocals as well as acoustic guitar, mandolin, keyboards, and bowed dulcimer. Contributors included John Leftwich, Jim Keltner, Leo Kottke, David Hidalgo, Brian Setzer, Lyle Lovett, and others.

CD Track Listings:

1. “Pink Flamingos”
2. “Altar Boy”
3. “Stewart’s Coat”
4. “Beat Angels”
5. “Tigers”
6. “Rebel Rebel”
7. “Jolie Jolie”
8. “Running from Mercy”
9. “A Stranger’s Car”
10. “The Albatross”

Ghostyhead (1997)

Released: 1997

Ghostyhead, released in 1997, marked a significant departure for Rickie Lee Jones, exploring elements of trip-hop and electronica. This experimental album was a bold move, receiving mixed reviews and reaching No. 159 on the Billboard 200. The electronic textures and beat-driven arrangements showcased a radical shift in her musical direction.

Jones co-produced the album with Rick Boston, who also contributed on a wide range of instruments, loops, and programming.

CD Track Listings:

1. “Little Yellow Town”
2. “Road Kill”
3. “Matters”
4. “Firewalker”
5. “Howard”
6. “Ghostyhead”
7. “Sunny Afternoon”
8. “Scary Chinese Movie”
9. “Cloud of Unknowing”
10. “Vessel of Light”

It’s Like This (2000)

Released: 2000

In 2000, Rickie Lee Jones released It’s Like This, a collection of covers that spanned a broad range of musical genres, from jazz to pop to show tunes. This album was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album category, and it showcased Jones’ ability to interpret and breathe new life into classic songs. The album reached No. 148 on the Billboard 200.

Musicians on this album included Randy Newman on piano and Joe Jackson on vocals. It was produced by Rickie Lee Jones and Bruce Brody.

CD Track Listings:

1. “Show Biz Kids”
2. “Trouble Man”
3. “For No One”
4. “Smile”
5. “The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys”
6. “On the Street Where You Live”
7. “I Can’t Get Started”
8. “Up a Lazy River”
9. “Someone to Watch Over Me”
10. “Cycles”
11. “One Hand, One Heart”

The Evening of My Best Day (2003)

Released: 2003

The Evening of My Best Day, released in 2003, saw Rickie Lee Jones return to her roots with a mix of jazz, blues, and folk influences. The album, which was praised for its lyrical depth and diverse musical arrangements, reached No. 189 on the Billboard 200. It featured politically charged songs as well as personal reflections.

The album included contributions from Bill Frisell on guitar and Grant-Lee Phillips on vocals. It was produced by Rickie Lee Jones, David Kalish, Steve Berlin, and Jason Wormer.

CD Track Listings:

1. “Ugly Man”
2. “Second Chance”
3. “Bitchenostrophy”
4. “Little Mysteries”
5. “Lap Dog”
6. “Tell Somebody (Repeal the Patriot Act)”
7. “Sailor Song”
8. “A Tree on Allenford”
9. “It Takes You There”
10. “Mink Coat at the Bus Stop”
11. “The Evening of My Best Day”
12. “A Face in the Crowd”

The Sermon on Exposition Boulevard (2007)

Released: 2007

In 2007, Rickie Lee Jones released The Sermon on Exposition Boulevard, an innovative and spiritually themed album inspired by Lee Cantelon’s book The Words, a modern rendering of the words of Christ. This album received critical acclaim for its raw production and earnest exploration of faith and humanity. It reached No. 158 on the Billboard 200.

The album was produced by Lee Cantelon, Peter Atanasoff, and Rob Schnapf, with Jones contributing vocals and a wide range of instruments.

CD Track Listings:

1. “Nobody Knows My Name”
2. “Gethsemane”
3. “Falling Up”
4. “Lamp of the Body”
5. “It Hurts”
6. “Where I Like It Best”
7. “Tried to Be a Man”
8. “Circle in the Sand”
9. “Donkey Ride”
10. “7th Day”
11. “Elvis Cadillac”
12. “Road to Emmaus”
13. “I Was There”

Balm in Gilead (2009)

Released: 2009

Balm in Gilead in 2009 marked a return to a more traditional songwriting approach for Rickie Lee Jones. The album features contributions from Vic Chesnutt, Alison Krauss, Ben Harper, Bill Frisell, and other musicians, enhancing its emotional depth.

The album was produced by Rickie Lee Jones, with David Kalish and Sheldon Gomberg co-producing selected tracks.

CD Track Listings:

1. “Wild Girl”
2. “Old Enough”
3. “Remember Me”
4. “The Moon Is Made of Gold”
5. “His Jeweled Floor”
6. “Eucalyptus Trail”
7. “The Blue Ghazel”
8. “The Gospel of Carlos, Norman and Smith”
9. “Bonfires”
10. “Bayless St.”

The Devil You Know (2012)

Released: 2012

The Devil You Know, released in 2012, is an album where Rickie Lee Jones covers classic rock and folk songs by artists and writers associated with the Rolling Stones, Neil Young, The Band, Van Morrison, Tim Hardin, Donovan, and others. This project was praised for its minimalist arrangements and Jones’ raw vocal delivery. The album was produced by Ben Harper and featured Jones primarily on vocals and guitar.

CD Track Listings:

1. “Sympathy for the Devil”
2. “Only Love Can Break Your Heart”
3. “Masterpiece”
4. “The Weight”
5. “St. James Infirmary”
6. “Comfort You”
7. “Reason to Believe”
8. “Play with Fire”
9. “Seems Like a Long Time”
10. “Catch the Wind”

The Other Side of Desire (2015)

Released: 2015

In 2015, Rickie Lee Jones released The Other Side of Desire, an album that blends New Orleans jazz, pop, and folk influences. Recorded in New Orleans, this album reflects the city’s rich musical landscape and features local musicians.

Jones worked with producer John Porter, with Mark Howard producing selected tracks.

CD Track Listings:

1. “Jimmy Choos”
2. “Valtz de Mon Pere (Lovers’ Oath)”
3. “J’ai Connais Pas”
4. “Blinded by the Hunt”
5. “Infinity”
6. “I Wasn’t Here”
7. “Christmas in New Orleans”
8. “Haunted”
9. “Feet on the Ground”
10. “Juliette”
11. “Finale; (A Spider in the Circus of the Falling Star)”

Kicks (2019)

Released: 2019

Kicks, released in 2019, features Rickie Lee Jones’ interpretations of rock, pop, country, and jazz songs from the 1950s through the 1970s. The album was recorded in New Orleans and produced by Rickie Lee Jones and Mike Dillon, with Louis Michot co-producing “My Father’s Gun.”

CD Track Listings:

1. “Bad Company”
2. “My Father’s Gun”
3. “Lonely People”
4. “Houston”
5. “You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody Loves You”
6. “Nagasaki”
7. “Mack the Knife”
8. “Quicksilver Girl”
9. “The End of the World”
10. “Cry”

Pieces of Treasure (2023)

Released: April 28, 2023

Pieces of Treasure, Rickie Lee Jones’ fifteenth studio album, sees her exploring the Great American Songbook in a full-length jazz setting. The album reunited Jones with producer Russ Titelman, who co-produced her first two albums, and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

The album was recorded over five days at Sear Sound in New York City with Rob Mounsey on piano, Russell Malone on guitar, David Wong on bass, and Mark McLean on drums.

CD Track Listings:

1. “Just in Time”
2. “There Will Never Be Another You”
3. “Nature Boy”
4. “One for My Baby”
5. “They Can’t Take That Away from Me”
6. “All the Way”
7. “Here’s That Rainy Day”
8. “September Song”
9. “On the Sunny Side of the Street”
10. “It’s All in the Game”

RICKIE LEE JONES EP

Girl at Her Volcano (1983)

Released: 1983

Girl at Her Volcano is an EP by Rickie Lee Jones released in 1983. It consists of live recordings, studio recordings, and outtakes, focusing primarily on standards and cover songs alongside Jones originals. I love her version of “Autumn Leaves.” Her tender but cool vocals breathe new life into a song that has been covered thousands of times. The original vinyl program contained seven tracks; “Something Cool” appeared on the cassette and later CD editions.

CD Track Listings:

1. “Lush Life”
2. “Letters from the 9th Ward/Walk Away Renee”
3. “Hey, Bub”
4. “My Funny Valentine”
5. “Under the Boardwalk”
6. “Rainbow Sleeves”
7. “So Long”
8. “Something Cool”

RICKIE LEE JONES LIVE ALBUMS

Naked Songs: Live and Acoustic (1995)

Released: September 1995

Naked Songs: Live and Acoustic is a live album by Rickie Lee Jones released in 1995. The album captures stripped-down live and acoustic versions of songs from throughout her career, with Jones on vocals, acoustic guitar, and piano and Rob Wasserman on bass.

CD Track Listings:

1. “The Horses”
2. “Weasel and the White Boys Cool”
3. “Altar Boy”
4. “It Must Be Love”
5. “Young Blood”
6. “The Last Chance Texaco”
7. “Skeletons”
8. “Magazine”
9. “Living It Up”
10. “We Belong Together”
11. “Coolsville”
12. “Flying Cowboys”
13. “Stewart’s Coat”
14. “Chuck E.’s in Love”
15. “Autumn Leaves”

Live at Red Rocks (2001)

Released: 2001

Live at Red Rocks captures Rickie Lee Jones performing at Red Rocks in Colorado. The live collection features a broad selection of songs from her catalog and includes Lyle Lovett on “Love Is Gonna Bring Us Back Alive.”

CD Track Listings:

1. “Rodeo Girl”
2. “Satellites”
3. “We Belong Together”
4. “Coolsville”
5. “Weasel and the White Boys Cool”
6. “Chuck E.’s in Love”
7. “Just My Baby”
8. “Flying Cowboys”
9. “Young Blood”
10. “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying”
11. “Love Is Gonna Bring Us Back Alive”
12. “Gloria”

RICKIE LEE JONES COMPILATION ALBUMS

Duchess of Coolsville: An Anthology (2005)

Released: June 28, 2005

Duchess of Coolsville: An Anthology is a comprehensive three-disc compilation released in 2005. Spanning more than three hours, the anthology brings together songs from across Jones’ career along with rare, live, demo, and previously unreleased material.

Disc 1:

1. “A Tree on Allenford”
2. “Altar Boy”
3. “Beat Angels”
4. “Bitchenostrophy”
5. “Bye Bye Blackbird”
6. “Chuck E’s in Love”
7. “Company”
8. “Coolsville”
9. “Cycles”
10. “Firewalker”
11. “Flying Cowboys”
12. “Ghost Train”
13. “Hey, Bub”
14. “It Must Be Love”
15. “Living It Up”
16. “Magazine”
17. “On Saturday Afternoons in 1963”
18. “Pirates (So Long Lonely Avenue)”
19. “Sailor Song”

Disc 2:

1. “Satellites”
2. “Scary Chinese Movie”
3. “Skeletons”
4. “Stewart’s Coat”
5. “The Horses”
6. “The Last Chance Texaco”
7. “Tigers”
8. “Traces of the Western Slopes”
9. “Ugly Man”
10. “Up from the Skies”
11. “Vessel of Light”
12. “We Belong Together”
13. “Weasel and the White Boys Cool”
14. “Woody and Dutch on the Slow Train to Peking”

Disc 3:

1. “Sunshine Superman”
2. “Makin’ Whoopee!”
3. “Autumn Leaves”
4. “Atlas’ Marker (The Aviator) [Live]”
5. “Easter Parade”
6. “My Funny Valentine [Live]”
7. “Something Cool [Live]”
8. “The Evening of My Best Day [Live]”
9. “Young Blood [Demo Version]”
10. “After Hours (Twelve Bars Past Goodnight) [Demo Version]”
11. “Easy Money [Demo Version]”
12. “Rodeo Girl [Demo Version]”
13. “Satellites [Demo Version]”
14. “Rondo for the 3 Apartments on 34th Street [Demo Version]”
15. “Atlas’ Marker [Bruce Mix] [Demo Version]”

Original Album Series (2010)

Released: 2010

Original Album Series is a five-disc Warner Bros./Rhino collection that gathers five previously released Rickie Lee Jones albums in one package. Because each disc reproduces an album already listed above, the individual song listings are not repeated here.

Albums Included:

1. Rickie Lee Jones (1979)
2. Pirates (1981)
3. Girl at Her Volcano (1983)
4. The Magazine (1984)
5. Naked Songs: Live and Acoustic (1995)

Read More: Top 10 Rickie Lee Jones Songs

Updated August 17, 2026.

Complete List Of Rickie Lee Jones Albums And Discography article published on ClassicRockHistory.com © 2026