The Genius Of Ray Charles

It's good and I'm sure for it's time this shit was like Chief Keef but a bit dated for me

arrancó para un 10 y fue decayendo hasta el 7

made me feel like Christmas or a Disney movie, felt really good and happy

I knew Ray was all that, but forgot he was ALL THAT. This is a great album. Only con on the list is that it is too short.

Lovely sounding but boring as shit. There's not too much inventive here. A whole lot of love ballads. All the same tone and quality.

Very nice

It just hits right

Really nice listen

Talented musicians making music I don't enjoy.

If you call your album "The Genius of (your name)", I am going to think you are a knob who is full of yourself and if you provide anything other than some of the best music I have ever heard, I am going to judge you harshly. So, how is this record? It's boring. A couple of the opening big band songs were fine, but a few tracks in the rest of the record became just a string of some truly insipid and schmaltzy ballads. It is saved from one star because the opening isn't terrible, but writing an album like this and calling it genius is embarrassing.

I could probably listen to this all day long.

Wonderful stuff from a man who had a joyous voice.

Classic. Love it!

interesting to hear the connection between big band and r&b. album feels very ahead of its time

Great singing. Mostly sad songs songs though.

Still not really my thing but I like it better than most entries in that category. Definitely a "this is a classic".

A solid album and I enjoyed listening to it but I do think I prefer his more RnB and soul oriented stuff.

As stated in my recent review of Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, I appreciate Ray Charles influence and importance to music, but it’s just not something I can see myself returning to. That said, I did enjoy this album a bit more than Modern Sounds.

Perfect music for a romantic dinner while drinking wine.

y media

Very luscious instrumentation. Rich vocals. Enjoyed it.

Nada mal…

Much better than I remembered

chiquérrimo, ouvi ontem enquanto dirigia a noite pela cidade vendo as luzes difusas refletindo na chuva e pensando como esse foi o único momento aprazível do meu dia

não consegui focar muito mas curti

This guy has a nice voice. It's very old-school, but the music has a warm and bright sound I really like. I think I admire it more than I actually enjoy it. The first and last tracks stood out the most to me.

not bad at all but it kind of slid by me, maybe cause we've had some sinatra-type stuff on the list already. baseline of perfectly enjoyable but like, barely notable. i had to skim through it again because no song stuck out as a favorite on the first listen. maybe Come Rain or Come Shine? strong 2

this is quite jazzy and soothing to listen to

The other reviews promised an upbeat first half. Three songs is not half! Wasn't that thrilled by those first three songs anyways. 2/5

More of a jazz feel then I expected. 4

Flink mann. Ikke min sjanger. Har sine bruksområder.

The 1st track is a 3/5, I enjoyed the track, but it's not something I plan on adding to my main playlist. The 2nd track is a 3/5, I enjoyed the track, but it's not something I plan on adding to my main playlist. The 3rd track is a 3/5, I enjoyed the track, but it's not something I plan on adding to my main playlist. The 4th track is a 3/5, I enjoyed the track, it was a nice romance song, just not something I plan on adding to my main playlist. The 5th track is a 3/5, I enjoyed the track, it felt like a nice follow up to the 4th trace, but I just don't plan on adding it to my main playlist. The 6th track is a 3/5, I enjoyed the last 2 tracks more than this one, but it wasn't bad, just not something I would add to my main playlist. The 7th track is a 3/5, I enjoyed the track, but it's not something I plan on adding to my main playlist. The 8th track is a 3/5, I enjoyed the track, but it's not something I plan on adding to my main playlist. The 9th track is a 3/5, I enjoyed the track, but it's not something I plan on adding to my main playlist. The 10th track is a 3/5, I enjoyed the track, but it's not something I plan on adding to my main playlist. The 11th track is a 3/5, I enjoyed the track, but it's not something I plan on adding to my main playlist. The 12th track is a 3/5, I enjoyed the track, but it's not something I plan on adding to my main playlist. I would give this album a 3/5, it's a good album just something I won't go out of my way to listen to.

One of my favorite jazz albums

Que gran género de música este... Nunca falla. Me re gustó. Además no había escuchado nada de Ray Charles antes.

Not genius

Soulful soul Fave track: Come Rain or Shine

Always appreciative of some Ray Charles. Genius indeed. 3.5/5

Enjoyed it. He's got a great voice and I like the big band sound on this. Don't let the sun see you crying is probably my favourite.

Probably the most chilled out I’ve ever been listening to a random album

Ok

Not the best one, it felt so good at the beginning but the slow balads although not bad didn't capture us much.

The moment the first track came on I could tell this would be good. My preference leans towards the high-octane, big band songs on the first side of the album. But the slower, more orchestral tracks were also very enjoyable. Despite the tonal shifts, they fit well together to create a cohesive piece. Fav Tracks: "Let the Good Times Roll", "Just for a Thrill" and "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin'".

The Genius of Ray Charles was a great start for me because it introduced me to an artist that I never really knew of instead of a couple songs. Jazz has always been my top three favorite genres, so i was really excited to listen. Most of his songs were slow, jazzy songs which was good because i preferred that over his more upbeat songs like “let the good times roll” and “Alexander’s ragtime band”. My favorite song from the album was either “just for a thrill” or “you won’t let me go”. All in all it was a great listen

Ray Charles made great strides breaking boundaries, practically (literally?) inventing soul music and normalising a gritty, passionate and gospel toned vocal in pop. He wasn’t the first black artist to achieve the crossover, but those before him had done so by fitting in. Outside of that momentous context, this step on that musical journey “The Genius of...” is a little hard to swallow. His early success included self-penned songs like “What’d I Say”, “A Fool for You” and “I’ve Got a Woman” which present his innovative blending of styles as an uncompromising leap into the unknown. By the end of the 50s he felt the right move was to beat the big stars at their own game, an admirable decision, but one that makes me wonder where he could’ve gone instead. These big band performances of songbook classics may have brought more success and even the acclaim of Sinatra (whose style they often mimic in different ways across the two sides of the album) but musically I hear a backwards step.

slow love songs front to back.

Love this big band music sound and there are for sure some bangers on here (had to be you among the greatest)

One of the very best vocalists ever, with a smooth, rounded voice that's instantly recognizable. Ultimately, though, not to deny Ray Charles as a vocalist, this style of music has never been my biggest cup of tea. Soul music in general would go on to become far more interesting in the mid-'60s on the songwriting and instrumental fronts. But still, I found a lot to enjoy here despite this album's more boilerplate nature. I definitely preferred the second half to the first, with these massive string-backed ballads. It's always been a preference of mine for '50s music. Though I'll admit that Charles' ferocity and bite as a vocalist shine through on the jazzier Big Band orchestrations of the first half, especially 'Deed I Do'. But his more soulful and calming edge comes through on the second half, especially on the very delicate and homely 'Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin', I just love the string arrangement on this one - so gorgeous. I feel similarly about the closer, 'Come Rain or Come Shine'; this one has a more ominous tone to it, with this chilling backing choir that offers a much-needed countermelody to the more uplifting strings. These two songs are actually super sonically dense; I just wish more of the album sounded like them. They felt ever-changing and layered, without ever overpowering Charles' voice. Good stuff, I will admit a bunch of the album went right through me; again, it's just the samey nature of the songwriting and instrumentation that doesn't do all that much for me. But again, I'll never be one to deny Ray Charles as a vocalist.

A fun listen and some enjoyable covers. A lovely Friday afternoon record.

Old like my grandparents’ wore out socks

Ray Charles is great nothing to compare get out of hear doesn't need recommending because he is RAY.

TL;DR: A nice, well-executed collection of standards but not his best album. BEFORE: OK cool. I like Ray Charles, although I mostly got by on dicey greatest hits collections. Amazing voice, especially in these earlier years. I was surprised to see Quincy Jones in the credits - shows just how long his career was. AFTER: Great arrangements and performances, although I don't think this has any of his truly great songs with the possible exception of Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying. It's nicely paced, with a largely upbeat side 1 giving way to a more mellow side 2. However, it lacks the bite of his harder-hitting R&B tracks and the pathos and experimentation of his country work. HIGHLIGHTS: Let The Good Times Roll is upbeat and fun, if not exactly revolutionary. Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying is far and away the best track here. LOWLIGHTS: The intro to Alexander's Ragtime Band is a bit much. The rest of the album is most fine but not spectacular. VERDICT: 3 stars. It's nice enough but not one of his best albums (although I know some people have it second only to Modern Sounds in Country & Western Music, which is absolutely a classic), so it's a little hard to see why it's on here.

1959 - 7th studio release - swingin pop / traditional pop / rhythm & blues - known to be poorly recorded/engineered & definitely plays that way; "hopelessly banal and inadequate, saved only" by the piano playing of Charles, who "comes through beautifully" - "Am I Blue?" the album's highlight and "almost unbearably poignant..." - "introduces the musical approach he would follow for much of the '70s"; very big band-y, Dean Martin and Sinatra et al; it was okay, not my favorite thing to listen to but his voice is lovely.

Thus, unfortunately, reminds me of cruise commercials emphasizing the elderly living it up in classy cruisin' comfort. Now, I know this happens to the best of us and that it's not really Ray Charles' fault his music fits so well with Comfy Cruiselines ads. But also, it kind of is? Like, I was born in 1983. I know it's only a matter of time before Queens of the Stone Age's "Go with the Flow" shows up in some luxury car commercial. But when that song came out nobody was considering this. Such a commercial would be an ad-hoc borrowing of cool youthfulness for a generation whose idea of cool youthfulness is encased in the amber of their own youth. By contrast, when this came out I can imagine the CEO of Comfy Cruises (that ancient, stygian being) bouncing up and down with glee the moment he heard it. Comfy Cruises had found its soundtrack. All was as had been foretold. The Chandelier would be displayed. The Buffet would be set. The Dreadnoughts would launch, and the endless Comfy voyage would commence.

It's Ray Charles

This is not what I typically think of from Ray but I am aware he spanned various genres. Anyway I like big band so particularly enjoyed the first half though I don’t know how innovative it is from the artist.

Обычный джаз, ничего выдающегося, в отличие от персоны исполнителя

This was such a cozy listen. Ray can sing his heart out and has a warmth to his voice. His band is bombastic when they need to be. The production is fantastic for such an old record. Small touches like strings not being overbearing or the subtle backing vocals on "Am I Blue" and "Come Rain Or Come Shine" go a long way. If I'm ever in the mood for some oldies (which is admittedly rare), I'll definitely be going back to Ray. I definitely prefer this over Sinatra, that's for sure!

Very big band

не змогла нотатку сохранити з попереднього альбому тому Thank you for sending me an angel - гарне інтро, подобається що у цих пісень наївний текст але музика багатошарова, я не можу описувати... бо цей екзамен мене вбиває With our love - оооо файно, початок і середина має сенс, факт того що я кажу собі в голові о цей гарний фрагмент і тут щось ліпше виходить, і зміна темпів With our love - оооо файно, початок і середина має сенс, факт того що я кажу собі в голові о цей гарний фрагмент і тут щось ліпше виходить, і зміна темпів The good thing - пенетрація струн, і хор з гарних речей Warning sign - поки що перше місце, щось авангардне, і з стурбованим значенням, як ці звуки робляться? The Girl Wants to Be with the Girls - правда, наскільки правда що вокаліст агресивно про це заявляє Found a Job - ох який класний перехід з дівчат, я не відчула, так а де ж робота? про Джуді в кімнаті і про Боба поговорили і їхні проблеми і те як їхні проблеми на телевізоре але РОБота? не дуже мені зайшла пісня але чесно якщо брати разом з цим бомбічним переходом то краще Artists Only - футуристичний початок, космічний, синтезатор і швидкість змінна I'm Not in Love - ритм подобається, сповільнення і знов пришвидшення ну база Stay hungry - геловінська пісня, немає багато коментарів, дуже лінива як я, бас гітара подобається Take me to the river - я прочитала що то не вокаліст співає, така лірична, він співає щоб його любили і викинули в річку зроз, агресивний мазохізм, так возбудився ідеєю що пропав голос, о кінець цікавий The big country - шо за кантрі ахахаах ох же цей психаделічний фанк/рок з 78 років відчувається електрика через цей альбом ну що казати будь яка пісня буде на аисокому рівні бо я обожнюю цей жанр і Рея Чарльза Let the good times roll - ось він золотий вік джазу і блюзу але пише шо це RnB, ох цей інструментаж It had to be you - під це можна танцювати повільно в розкішному золотому сукні під епатажною люстрою в круглому холі або ж пити вино в своїй квартирі з видом на Манхетен Alexander's ragtime band - сашин бойзбенд, це як співати перед виступом їхнім Two years of torture - ці труби такі бах ооооо я обожнюю блюз цього дядька, двері ліфта відчинились When your lover has gone - о ця пісня, пробуджує це відчуття але без існування lover загалом Deed i Do - така ж як і інші Just for a thrill - ось ось таке зіграйте я буду ваша, а яке піаніно ох You won't let me go - любити тебе серцем і душею, ох, яка серенада, звісно це золоті роки 59 рік опублікований цей альбом звісно воно було на піку в 50х Tell me you'll wait for me - як початок фільму, нуар, ох який нуар, для фільмів таких де вечір, бар і дощ, вона з папіроскою і він з зонтом для неї, він питає чи вона буде на нього чекати, вона не відповідає, дивиться вдаль Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin' - добре, постараюсь; о згадала Cry me a River, ось то був поп а не ось ваші Тейлор Свіфти Am I blue - така магічнааа тут в нас весь дісней, але був гей до сьогодні :( Come rain or come shine - слоняча трубаа вааа ох що ближче до кінця то краще

Absolutely rips. One point off for the casual misogyny!

Gorgeous voice and interpretation, I just think the two halfs are a very old school of doing an album and they sounds a bit samy to me.

I love blues, and I love soul, and I love a lot of 50s and 60s jazz, but for whatever reason Ray Charles has never clicked with me. I think he took the things I like least about those genres and emphasized them in his work - like big band jazz, “jump” blues, etc. I do know that Ray dabbled in a lot of styles, and maybe there’s an album if his that I would like, but this ain’t it.

as músicas são bem parecidas, um blues bem forte, voz boa, mas nenhuma letra ou algum em particular realmente me encantou ou me prendeu, não ouviria novamente

Great easy listening, my only issue is it doesn't have any teeth. The strings often soften the arrangements too much for my liking. To me Ray Charles seems confined by these arrangements, as pleasant as they are.

I really enjoyed the big band tunes of the first half and for the piano ballads for the second half of the album, I just wanted to slow dance to them. I honestly hope I’m listening to this in 50 years time, in a garden room, with all the windows and doors open. I really enjoyed Charles’ album and the future memory I hope it’ll bring.

Along with Frank Sinatra, this is the person who I think of when I hear the word "entertainer." Just such raw presence and charisma. The musical style doesn't necessarily do it for me but his persona makes it impossible to give it less than a 4.

If he's so smart how come I'm only rating this a 3, huh?

Crazy that this can still hold up after 70, beautiful sounding and very chill

Good, but not his best album. 3.5

BENE DAI CI VEDIAMO ALLA PROSSIMA SALUTAMI LA FAMIGLIA. COME AL SOLITO PER QUESTO GENERE L’ASCOLTO È SEMPLICE E IMMEDIATO, PUR NON LASCIANDO UN SEGNO PROFONDO. 3/5

A very lovely thing to listen to.

nice but i hate jazz so i can’t rlly listen to this 😭 not for me i lasted 2 songs

Really enjoyed this! 4.5

6.0/10

The album lives up to the name. For me the first few tracks are perfection. Ray is holding court, high energy, superlative instrumental accompaniment, brilliant. I suppose maybe a whole album at that tempo could wear the enjoyment thin but I’d like to try. It’s the mid section and second half where everything slows down where I switch from being fully dialled in to merely appreciating it. It’s still very good but I don’t think there’s as much conviction behind the slower stuff. Overall superb but not quite a 5.

One of those albums I find near impossible to rate. Its the classic conflict of thinking its musically great while having an aversion to its style. I dont even find it annoying as such just find it jolts me along which is a problem. Like a radio that just wont quite come into tune. I mush through a ballard and smash through the bright overly excited Jazz sections. I dont know what to say or how to explain it. Sorry will cop out on this one. I suspect its a band / sound of times past and that time is not now (least to me).

This album was a breath of fresh air in a bit of a dodgy run. Totally unexpectedly, I was immediately hooked by the bold brass (why do we not hear horns like this at all in modern music??). It's got jazz, its got blues, its got a big band. The vocals are delivered in that OG entertainer way, obviously used to commanding and entertaining live audiences. I was a little less fond of the more intimate tracks towards the end of the album, just vocals and piano. I was just taken with the POW of those horns. Extra marks because it reminded me of my Grandad.

Some good old crooning

Jazz will never be my thing. Not bad, but not what I want to listen to.

Perfectly fine album. Pretty sad, pretty jazzy.

Fabulous!

Jazzier than I expected!

great vibes and vocals and instruments

Love just about anything with horn sections and string sections

por más que la música de Ray Charles es preciosa, un album entero se hace ya muy repetitivo. Igual soy fan de todo lo que pueda sonar en una película de Barbra Streisand, que se haga medio denso no quita la calidad que tiene 8.5/10

Ray at his best. Playing the chops and singing the classics of rock rag stage romance n the blues.

amazing voice

Highlights: Let the Good Times Roll, Two Years of Torture, Just for a Thrill The usual affair. I guess he just has a style and sticks to it. But compared to his other record on the list, it never had a good lively (sounding) track. Alexander's Ragtime Band was the closest but it didn't hit the same knack that Bye Bye Love hit on the other record. This time around, he repeated his role of a weeping mess, but it was a bit of a bore. I don't know if the problem is that he's really so monotonous or just that I wasn't dumped by a woman in a while.

To be honest, I did not expect to enjoy this album as much as I did. At first, I had mixed feelings about it: I absolutely loved the first two tracks, but as I was listening to the rest of the album, I confess that I got a little bored. However, I got it on the second listen! The big band arrangements and instruments got me real good. I feel like this album was made for cold and rainy days, and luckily today was one of those, so I felt like I was in one of those old and classy movies. I loved it!

Classy

Wonderful music and in my opinion, a perfect time length for a full album

encore une fois en plein session tricotage, c’était cool, toujours moins fan de jazz (la honte) mais my bad, je crois que ça me touche pas tant

Not too bad Wouldn’t call it genius though

Ingen höjdare va, rätt trist

Föredrar när han är råare och mindre big band-slick men det här är tillräckligt för en stark 3a eller liten 4a

Man är ju svag för Swing och Storband. Rätt slicka inslag från blues också. Sjukt att Quincy Jones är aktiv redan här.

Basic

This was really good

(2/1089) I don't like the distorted horns in the first half of the album. I liked the second half better. All the songs are simple and the performance is good, but sometimes I was bored. Favorite: Just for a Thrill, Come Rain or Come Shine Least favorite: When Your Lover Has Gone 5/10

Beautiful as expected, went by way too fast