Ray Charles – The Genius Sings The Blues (1961) [MFSL 2010]
PS3 Rip | ISO | SACD DSD64 2.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 33:53 minutes | Scans included | 1.38 GB
or FLAC(converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Scans included | 391 MB
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab # UDSACD 2049
Down-home, anguished laments and moody ballads were turned into triumphs by Ray Charles. He sang these songs with the same conviction, passion, and energy that made his country and soul vocals so majestic. This has not turned up in the reissue bins.
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Ray Charles – The Genius Of Ray Charles (1959) [MFSL 2012]
PS3 Rip | ISO | SACD DSD64 2.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 38:29 minutes | Scans included | 1,54 GB
or FLAC(converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Scans included | 629 MB
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab # UDSACD 2055
The Genius of Ray Charles is a 1959 album by Ray Charles. In 2003, the album was ranked number 263 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. Some players from Ray Charles’ big band are joined by many ringers from the Count Basie and Duke Ellington bands for the first half of this program, featuring Charles belting out six songs arranged by Quincy Jones. “Let the Good Times Roll” and “Deed I Do” are highlights, and there are solos by tenorman David “Fathead” Newman, trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, and (on “Two Years of Torture”) tenor Paul Gonsalves. The remaining six numbers are ballads, with Charles backed by a string orchestra arranged by Ralph Burns.
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Ray Charles – The Genius After Hours (1961) [MFSL 2014]
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DSD64 2.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 38:48 minutes | Scans included | 1,56 GB
or FLAC(converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Scans included | 391 MB
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab # UDSACD 2073
Taken from the same three sessions as The Great Ray Charles but not duplicating any of the performances, this set casts Charles as a jazz-oriented pianist in an instrumental setting. Brother Charles has five numbers with a trio (three songs have Oscar Pettiford on bass) and jams on three other tunes (“Hornful Soul,” “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” and “Joy Ride”) with a septet arranged by Quincy Jones; solo space is given to David “Fathead” Newman on tenor and alto and trumpeter Joseph Bridgewater. Fine music — definitely a change of pace for Ray Charles.
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Ray Charles – Genius + Soul = Jazz (1961) [Analogue Productions Remaster 2012]
PS3 Rip | ISO | SACD DSD64 Stereo > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 36:50 minutes | Scans included | 1,49 GB
or FLAC 2.0 Stereo (converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Scans included | 772 MB
One of the best early-’60s examples of soul/jazz crossover, this record, like several of his dates from the period, featured big-band arrangements (played by the Count Basie band). This fared better than some of Charles’ similar outings, however, if only because it muted some of his straight pop aspirations in favor of some pretty mean and lean, cut-to-the-heart-of-the-matter B-3 Hammond organ licks. Most of the album is instrumental and swings pretty vivaciously, although Charles does take a couple of vocals with “I’m Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town” and “I’ve Got News for You.” Yet one of those instrumentals, a cover of the Clovers’ “One Mint Julep,” would give Charles one of his most unpredictable (and best) early-’60s hits.
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Ray Charles and Count Basie Orchestra – Ray Sings Basie Swings (2006) [Reissue 2007]
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 & 5.1 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 48:25 minutes | Scans included | 2,95 GB
or FLAC 2.0 Stereo (converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Scans included | 979 MB
Features 2.0 Stereo and 5.1 multichannel surround sound | Telarc # SACD-63679
Ray Sings, Basie Swings, huh? Hmm, well, yes and no. You see, the story goes something like this. In 2005, Concord Records exec John Burk, who produced Ray Charles’ superb late-career, Grammy-winning Genius Loves Company, found a reel of tape simply labeled “Ray/Basie.” Upon further analysis, it was determined that the 1973 recording featured Ray Charles backed by his own band — Count Basie and his band had actually recorded earlier that day. Charles’ vocal was exceptionally prominent in the mix and at first it was thought that this potentially momentous discovery would prove unable to bear fruit. But then Burk brainstormed and decided to bring the current Count Basie Orchestra — whose leader died in 1984 — into the studio to lay tracks behind Charles’ vocals. So there’s no Basie on Ray Sings, Basie Swings, but that’s merely a technicality, because there is some great music. Charles was in fine form vocally on this mix of remakes of his early ABC-Paramount-era hits and then-recent material. The consecutive reworkings of “Busted,” “Cryin’ Time,” and “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” three of his defining Top Ten hits of the early ’60s, are given brassy, bluesy treatments here, and standards ranging from Oscar Hammerstein II’s “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning” to the Beatles’ “The Long and Winding Road” are transformed in Charles’ hands. The set-closing “Georgia on My Mind,” as close to a signature song as Charles had, is given a tender, minimalist reading, but the track preceding it, “Look What They’ve Done to My Song, Ma,” picked up from the folk-pop singer Melanie, is quite possibly the album’s highlight. It’s appeared on other Ray Charles compilations before, but the gospelized, testifyin’ version featured here has got to be the liveliest take on that song anyone’s ever devised. So, yeah, there’s no Count Basie to be found here, but his namesake orchestra does him proud. For one of those postmortem studio patch jobs that owes as much to technology as talent, it’s a fine addition to the Ray Charles oeuvre, as long as one can get past the semi-false advertising of its title.
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Ray Charles & Betty Carter – Ray Charles And Betty Carter (1961) [Analogue Productions Remaster 2012]
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DSD64 Stereo & DST64 3.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 42:34 minutes | Scans included | 2,72 GB
or FLAC 2.0 Stereo (converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Scans included | 854 MB
This pairing of two totally idiosyncratic vocalists acquired legendary status over the decades in which it had been out of print. But the proof is in the listening, and frankly it doesn’t represent either artist’s best work. There is certainly a powerful, often sexy rapport between the two — Charles in his sweet balladeering mode, Carter with her uniquely keening, drifting high register — and they definitely create sparks in the justly famous rendition of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” The main problem is in Marty Paich’s string/choir arrangements, which too often cross the line into treacle, whereas his charts for big band are far more listenable. Moreover, Charles’ sweetness can get a bit cloying, too, although some of the old grit emerges on “Takes Two to Tango”.
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Ray Charles – The Ray Charles Story, Volume 4 (1964/2012)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 41:04 minutes | 1,59 GB | Genre: R&B
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Rhino Atlantic
The Ray Charles Story, Volume 4 is the fourth installment in a definitive collection showcasing Charles’ undeniable artistry and musicianship. One of Rolling Stones’s “100 Greatest Artists,” the album displays all of Charles’ biggest hits. The album includes standouts “Blackjack,” “A Bit Of Soul,” “Tell Me How Do You Feel” and “I Believe To My Soul.”
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Ray Charles – The Ray Charles Story, Volume 3 (1963/2012)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 39:09 minutes | 828 MB | Genre: R&B
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Rhino Atlantic
The Ray Charles Story, Volume 3 is the third installment in a definitive collection highlighting Charles’ remarkable genius and unparalleled musicianship. The multi-GRAMMY® winner has been dubbed one of music’s greatest artists by Rolling Stone. Included on the set were his hits, “That’s Enough,” “Tell The Truth,” and “It’s Alright.”
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Ray Charles – Ray Charles Story, Volume 2 (1962/2012)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 46:21 minutes | 990 MB | Genre: R&B
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Rhino Atlantic
The Ray Charles Story, Volume 2 is the second installment in a pivotal collection showcasing the legend’s undeniable genius. Ranked among Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Artists of All Time,” Ray Charles was one of soul’s first pioneers. Included on this set were his breakthrough hits, “Swanee River Rock” “Night Time Is The Right Time,” “I’m Movin’ On” and “Let The Good Times Roll.”
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Ray Charles – The Ray Charles Story, Volume 1 (1962/2012)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 46:45 minutes | 1,05 GB | Genre: R&B
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Rhino Atlantic
The Ray Charles Story, Volume 1 is the first installment in a definitive collection highlighting Charles’ undeniable genius. The multi-GRAMMY® Award winner and one of Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Artists of All Time,” has had an luxurious career highlighted with countless chart-topping singles including “Mary Ann” and “A Fool for You,” both included on this breathtaking collection. A must have for any audiophile collection.
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Ray Charles and Count Basie Orchestra – Ray Sings, Basie Swings (2006/2012)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/88,2 kHz | Time – 48:28 minutes | 947 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Concord Records
Ray Sings, Basie Swings combines archival, never-before-heard Ray Charles vocal recordings with brand-new performances by the Count Basie Orchestra. This ground breaking album gives listeners the unprecedented experience of hearing Ray Charles at the dazzling peak of his vocal prowess. Ray Sings, Basie Swings was created with the most up-to-date recording and mixing technology, offering sound quality that is state-of-the art.
The producers discovered archival reels of Ray Charles and the Count Basie Orchestra performing live together in 1973. Although the vocals were superior, the remaining elements were of extremely poor quality. They decided to bring the current Basie Orchestra into the studio and, using the latest technology, they carefully and painstakingly laid down a new instrumental backdrop for Charles’ towering vocals.
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Ray Charles – Genius Loves Company (2006)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/88,2 kHz | Time – 51:44 minutes | 1,01 GB | Genre: Jazz, Soul
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Tangerine
Winner of 2004 Grammy® Awards for:
· Record of the Year
· Album of the Year
· Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s
· Best Gospel Performance
· Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals:
· Best Pop Vocal Album
· Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
· Best Surround Sound Album
GENIUS LOVES COMPANY stands as a remarkable hallmark in a remarkable career. A twelve-time Grammy® Award-winner and an original inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Ray Charles, who has appeared on more than 250 recordings, is a true titan of 20th century music. On the multiple Grammy®-winning Genius Loves Company, Ray sings a dozen duets with a dazzling array of guest artists from virtually every genre, who have won a combined 79 Grammy® Awards, including Elton John, Van Morrison, Gladys Knight, B.B. King, Diana Krall, Willie Nelson, James Taylor, and more. In addition to the remarkable music, the album is an audiophile’s dream, featuring production credits by some of the industry’s greatest (John Burk, Terry Howard, Phil Ramone, and Ed Thacker to name a few) and truly astonishing sonic engineering by Al Schmitt, Robert Hadley, Doug Sax, and more.
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Ray Charles – True Genius (Remastered) (2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 05:48:09 minutes | 3,99 GB | Genre: R&B
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Tangerine Records
In honor of what would have been Ray Charles’ 90th birthday year, Tangerine Records is releasing the limited edition box set, True Genius, on September 10th. The record label, which the late legend founded in 1962, has remastered 90 of Charles’ most important works for the six-CD box set.
The collection also includes a bonus disc comprising eight previously unreleased songs, which were recorded live in Stockholm in 1972. It includes his hits “What’d I Say,” “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” and “I’ve Got a Woman.”
The digital release will also be widely available on streaming platforms for the first time. “Hit the Road Jack,” “Crying Time,” “Busted, “America the Beautiful, A Song for You,” and “Unchain My Heart” are among Charles’ classics that will return to streaming after more than a decade. “Hit the Road Jack,” one of Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, has also received a new animated lyric video.
“We’re extremely proud to present this collection, which maps the breadth and depth of Ray Charles’ music, presented in chronological order so the listener can join Ray on his journey through the most expansive and creative period of his legendary career,” Valeri Ervin, President of Ray Charles Foundation, said in a statement. “I’m also thrilled that this music will be widely available on all streaming services for the very first time, so that new and future audiences will continue to discover the True Genius of Ray Charles.”
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Ray Charles – The Original Ray Charles (1961/2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 31:19 minutes | 490 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Hollywood Records
Originally a 1961 “Limited Edition For Collectors” vinyl-only release, The Original Ray Charles documents 12 of the earliest singles from Charles’ discography on the Hollywood Records label.
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Ray Charles – The Great Ray Charles (Édition Studio Masters) (1957/2012)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 37:33 minutes | 786 MB | Genre: Soul, Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Rhino Atlantic
The Great Ray Charles is Ray Charles’ second studio album for Atlantic Records, released in 1957. It is an instrumental jazz album. Later CD re-issues often include as a bonus, six of eight tracks from The Genius After Hours. The original cover was by Marvin Israel.
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