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List Price: $3.98 | | Label: Atlantic / Wea
Salesrank: 160394
Released: October 17, 1990 |
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| Used Price: $29.50 |
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| Media: Audio Cassette |
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The Genius of Ray Charles Track Listing:
1. Let the Good Times Roll
2. It Had to Be You
3. Alexander's Ragtime Band
4. Two Years of Torture
5. When Your Lover Has Gone
6. Deed I Do
7. Just for a Thrill
8. You Won't Let Me Go
9. Tell Me You'll Wait for Me
10. Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin'
11. Am I Blue
12. Come Rain or Come Shine
Editorial Review:
Remastered reissue in a digipak. Originally released in 1959. Contains the songs 'Am I Blue', 'Tell Me You'll Wait For Me', 'Indeed I Do' & 'Come Rain Or Come Shine'. Warner. 2005.
Description of The Genius of Ray Charles:
Why you'd want to limit yourself to owning just one Ray Charles album is a question only you can answer, but if that's the case, The Genius is a strong contender for the slot. Half big-band settings of tunes as diverse as "Let the Good Times Roll," "When Your Lover Has Gone," and "Alexander's Ragtime Band" and half string-drenched ballads like "Just for a Thrill" and "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin'," this 1959 disc lives up to its title in more ways than there's room here to count. Suffice it to say that the album finds Charles at a peak of musical and emotional energy, working in thoroughly sympathetic settings with perfectly matched soloists like tenor men Paul Gonsalves and David "Fathead" Newman and arrangers on the order of Quincy Jones and Ralph Burns. And the closing cut, "Come Rain or Come Shine," may be Charles's single greatest performance. --Rickey Wright
The Genius of Ray Charles Reviews:
strong album of songs by the immortal Ray Charles 
2009-06-17 - The Genius of Ray Charles is an excellent album that thankfully made its way to CD form. Ray Charles was one of the greatest entertainers ever; and the songs on this CD prove it. He was a masterful piano player, a saxophonist and he sang very well. There wasn't any specific Ray Charles style of music, either--like a true entertainer, he could turn out very high quality control country music, jazz, big band tunes or blues. He could read and write music in Braille; his lack of sight didn't slow him down one bit. The quality of the sound on this CD is excellent and I love that artwork.
The album starts with "Let the Good Times Roll." Ray bats this straight out of the ballpark and that music fits in perfectly with Ray's vocalizing. Indeed, that music was really, really fine--it features Ray's band teaming up with the bands of Count Basie and Duke Ellington. Quincy Jones made some terrific arrangements, too. "It Had to be You" has a big band arrangement that works wonders for this tune; Ray sings with so much genuine emotion it stuns me with its beauty. I simply have never heard a better rendition of "It Had to be You;" Ray corners the market on this tune. Similarly, "Alexander's Ragtime Band" shines brighter than silver and gold combined when these fine artists handle it like the pros they were and always will be! I really like the music on "Alexander's Ragtime Band."
"When Your Lover Has Gone" gets a most sensitive treatment from Ray Charles, who sings and plays piano on this without a superfluous note! The brass sounds great in the musical arrangement and "When Your Lover Has Gone" lacks nothing--this music is all THAT good. "Deed I Do" is another superb tune that gets the royal treatment from Ray and the gang; and we enjoy the benefits!
The remaining six songs are arranged by Ralph Burns who certainly knows his territory. "Just for a Thrill" uses the strings well and Ray's piano playing is quite good. Ray's voice is clear and strong; and that's all right by me! Ray is squarely in the spotlight and I have no complaints about that. "You Won't Let Me Go" features Ray's singing and piano playing although the strings could have been somewhat more muted--but make no mistake about it, this is still Ray's song and he delivers it with panache.
"Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" charms me with its beauty; this gets a wonderful treatment and the backup vocalists harmonize flawlessly. Ray sings this to perfection--and beyond! His piano playing, of course, leaves nothing to be desired. "Am I Blue" is an old standard which I first heard sung by Ethel Waters; but I think Ethel would be proud of Ray's rendition here! "Am I Blue" is a huge highlight of this album; it's classic blues done right. The CD ends strong with Ray and the musicians performing "Come Rain or Come Shine." I've heard many renditions of this tune and I think this one is terrific. They play just a little bit with the keys and the tempos to put their own stamp on this ballad and it all holds its own very well.
The Genius of Ray Charles certainly is a must-have for his fans; it's truly one of his best albums. I'm glad this made it to CD! This is equally good as a starter CD for people just discovering the magical talent of the immortal Ray Charles.
"...High As A Mountain...Deep As A River..."
2009-05-26 - At the age of 27, Ray Charles had already put out a half-dozen albums of superlative Fifties R 'n' B - but it was time for him and Atlantic Records to make a change - and the February 1960 release of "The Genius Of..." was the result.
An LP full of covers, the 6 tracks on Side 1 made up the blasters and dancers from Louis Jordan's "Let The Good Times Roll" through to "Deed I Do", while the 6 tracks of Side 2 were the romantic ballads and standards. The famed BILL SHWARTAU and TOM DOWD filled in as engineers, while the strings were beautifully arranged by RALPH BURNS - QUINCY JONES doing much of the brass parts.
Personally I find some of the brass on Side 1 a bit too harsh to listen to now - but the lush music of Side 2 is a whole different ballgame. Side 2 contains three genuine masterpieces "Just For A Thrill", "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin'" and the stunning album finisher "Come Rain Or Come Shine" (lyrics above). The remaster brings out all the instruments involved and is just `so' sweet - a really great job done.
The CD comes in a card digipak with a foldout 10-page inlay, which contains a new essay on the album by noted soul writer CHARLES WARING followed by the album's original liner notes by NAT HENTOFF. Detailed production credits are on the rear of the digipak and this 2005 remaster is part of the massively extensive "Atlantic Masters" series - there are other Charles titles in that series (see comprehensive list below).
"The Genius Of Ray Charles" was recognized as a gem then and still is now. Recommended - big time.
Other remastered albums in the 'Atlantic Masters' CD Series are:
1. Your Mind Is On Vacation - MOSE ALLISON (1976)
2. Daddy Bug (& Friends) - ROY AYERS (1967)
3. Stoned Soul Picnic - ROY AYERS (1968)
4. Virgo Vibes - ROY AYERS (1967)
5. Experience And Judgment - ANDY BEY (1970)
6. Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers with Thelonious Monk - ART BLAKEY and THELONIOUS MONK (1958)
7. Bad For Me - DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER (1979)
8. Just Family - DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER (1977)
9. Fresh - OSCAR BROWN, JR. (1975)
10. Movin' On - OSCAR BROWN, JR. (1972)
11. Thank You For F.U.M.L (Funking Up My Life) - DONALD BYRD (1978)
12. Fire On Ice - TERRY CALLIER (1978)
13. Turn You To Love - TERRY CALLIER (1979)
14. The Great American Songbook - CARMEN McRAE (1972 Live Set)
15. Hallelujah I Love Her So - RAY CHARLES (1962)
16. The Genius After Hours - RAY CHARLES (1961)
17. The Genius Of Ray Charles - RAY CHARLES (1960)
18. The Genius Sings The Blues - RAY CHARLES (1961)
19. Crosswinds - BILLY COBHAM (1974)
20. Spectrum - BILLY COBHAM (1973)
21. Total Eclipse - BILLY COBHAM (1974)
22. Change Of The Century - ORNETTE COLEMAN (1959)
23. The Shape Of Jazz To Come - ORNETTE COLEMAN (1959)
24. This Is Our Music - THE ORNETTE COLEMAN QUARTET (1960)
25. Twins - ORNETTE COLEMAN (1959)
26. Free Jazz - A Collective Improvisation - ORNETTE COLEMAN DOUBLE QUARTET (1960)
27. Eternity - ALICE COLTRANE (1975)
28. Radha Krsna Nama Sankirtana - ALICE COLTRANE (1976)
29. Transcendence - ALICE COLTRANE (1977)
30. Transfiguration - ALICE COLTRANE (1978 Live Set)
31. Giant Steps - JOHN COLTRANE (1959)
32. Olé Coltrane - JOHN COLTRANE (1961)
33. Chris Craft - CHRIS CONNOR (1958)
34. Amandla - MILES DAVIS (1989)
35. Doo Bop - MILES DAVIS (1991)
36. Live Around The World - MILES DAVIS (1988 Live Set)
37. Tutu - MILES DAVIS (1986)
38. The Sounds Of '66 - SAMMY DAVIS JR., and BUDDY RICH (1966)
39. Love Island - EUMIR DEODATO (1978)
40. New Orleans Suite - DUKE ELLINGTON (1970)
41. The Paris Concert, Edition 1 - BILL EVANS (1979 Live Set)
42. The Paris Concert, Edition 2 - BILL EVANS (1979 Live Set)
43. You Must Believe In Spring - BILL EVANS (1981)
44. People Get Ready - THE FREEDOM SOUNDS [featuring Wayne Henderson of The Crusaders] (1967)
45. Nightingale - GILBERTO GIL (1979)
46. Nomad - CHICO HAMILTON (1979)
47. Crossings - HERBIE HANCOCK (1972)
48. Fat Albert Rotunda - HERBIE HANCOCK (1970)
49. Mwandishi - HERBIE HANCOCK (1971)
50. Instant Death - EDDIE HARRIS (1971)
51. !Salud! Joao Gilberto - JON HENDRICKS (1963)
52. A Soul Experiment - FREDDIE HUBBARD (1969)
53. Backlash - FREDDIE HUBBARD (1966)
54. Sing Me A Song Of Songmy - FREDDIE HUBBARD (1971)
55. Bags & Trane - MILT JACKSON and JOHN COLTRANE (1959)
56. Birth - KEITH JARRETT (1971)
57. A Certain Mr. Jobim - ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM (1967)
58. Love Strings & Jobim - ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM (1966)
59. Terra Brasilis - ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM (1980)
60. The Wonderful World Of - ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM (1965)
61. Urubu - ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM (1976)
62. A Meeting Of The Times - RAHSAAN ROLAND KIRK/AL HIBBLER (1972)
63. The Case Of The 3-Sided Dream In Audio Colour - RAHSAAN ROLAND KIRK (1975)
64. The Inflated Tear - RAHSAAN ROLAND KIRK (1967)
65. Inside Hi-Fi - LEE KONITZ (1956)
66. The Blue Yusef Lateef - YUSEF LATEEF (1968)
67. The Diverse Yusef Lateef - YUSEF LATEEF (1970)
68. At The Village Gate - HERBIE MANN (1961 Live Set)
69. Memphis Underground - HERBIE MANN (1969)
70. The Common Ground - HERBIE MANN (1960)
71. Daktari - SHELLY MANNE (1967)
72. Hustle To Survive - LES McCANN (1975)
73. A Change Is Gonna Come - BROTHER JACK McDUFF (1966)
74. Tobacco Road - BROTHER JACK McDUFF (1966)
75. Double-Barrelled Soul - BROTHER JACK McDUFF /DAVID NEWMAN (1967)
76. Suddenly - MARCUS MILLER (1983)
77. Blues And Roots - CHARLES MINGUS (1959)
78. Me Myself An Eye - CHARLES MINGUS (1978)
79. Pithecanthropus Erectus - CHARLES MINGUS (1956)
80. Tonight At Noon - CHARLES MINGUS (1957)
81. Blues On Bach - THE MODERN JAZZ QUARTET (1973)
82. Fontessa - THE MODERN JAZZ QUARTET (1956)
83. Pyramid - THE MODERN JAZZ QUARTET (1959)
84. The Sheriff - THE MODERN JAZZ QUARTET (1963)
85. I'm Fine, How Are You? - AIRTO MOREIRA (1977)
86. Latin Bugalu - CHARLIE PALMIERI (1968)
87. Invitation - JACO PASTORIOUS (1983)
88. The Birthday Concert - JACO PASTORIOUS (1981)
89. Word Of Mouth - JACO PASTORIOUS (1981)
90. Jazz For The Jet Set - DAVE PIKE (1965)
91. Carry On - FLORA PURIM (1979)
92. Members, Don't Git Weary - MAX ROACH (1968)
93. Mongo '70 - MONGO SANTAMARIA (1970)
94. The Source - JIMMY SCOTT (1970)
95. Flight Path - SPHERE (1983)
96. Four In One - SPHERE (1982)
97. Come Morning - GROVER WASHINGTON, JR. (1981)
98. Paradise - GROVER WASHINGTON, JR. (1979)
99. Winelight - GROVER WASHINGTON, JR. (1980)
The best days of our lives
2009-05-21 - Oh yeah, yes, Of course, splendid, wonderful, who gave you this number?, and razzle dazzle flip side Bermuda septuplets. These are all common expressions you have probably heard said in reference to Cole Porter and his infamous play writing, but what about that Ray Charles chap and his genius? Yes, what of that? Well, to be honest, there is no one on record having ever made comments about one Ray Charles, his numerous outstanding audio masterpiece recordings, his genius, or his cheeks. For this very reason, I and I alone have chosen to take a stand. To right wrongs of times past, exorcise the demons haunting our public transportation units, and clean the urine stains out of our favorite rugs. That's right, I am the one who will talk about Ray Charles, or more accurately, I am going to type a series of words in this box that speak of his Russian doll collection, his elaborate fantasies of one day saving the world from bad tempered ocelots (yes ocelots), and his most peculiar habit of owning a thin, long piece of plastic with many fine, densely gathered bristles at one end, like a brush and using it to scrub in back and forward motion his pearly whites. Apparently it was quite a spectacle to observe if you ever got the chance, and I was sure to whenever I could. Let's move on. I am tired of teeth. Did you know that Ray Charles' genius loves to sing and watch and play baseball. I didn't know that. It is not true. Be sure to not tell your friends that. It is a lie and is best stopped at the source; here.
The Fourth Best Record Released in 1959
2009-03-23 - I didn't know what to think when I first heard this record. Pero Como it wasn't. Not Frank Sinatra either. That's the kind of stuff my mother listen too, the kind of 78s she had in the house. My dad, he and my mother were divorced, had different stuff at his house and he'd bring by stuff he thought I might like and this is one of the things he thought I should hear. He knew then Ray Charles was going to be a star.
The band playing on "Let the Good Times Roll," I didn't like. It seemed like it was trying to crush this incredible voice. But they let Ray shine on "It Had to Be You." I thought the band was torturous on Two Years of Torture, but not Ray's voice.
"Just for a Thrill," is so damned good, it's hard to describe. "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin'" is better and after a couple dozen listens all those years ago, I stopped hearing the band, hearing only the pure sound of Ray Charles. I'm older now and I can appreciated the big band and now I know what I didn't know then, that band goes great with his voice. This is Ray Charles when he was young. He was great. He got better.
This Record is Number 4 on my list of the Best Thirteen Records of 1959.
excellent, really enjoying listening
2009-01-20 - I am really enjoying my selections by Ray Charles, it really brings back memories for me. When I was a child, my parents played each one of these selections and it really got me in the Christmas mode. My mother was really surprised that I was able to find this recording. She is really enjoying the music. Thanks for bringing back fond memories for my mom and for me.
