The Genius Of Ray Charles

This was fine. I wonder if maybe I didn't get a good listen in on this day? Maybe another listen (or more) would do me some good here? 3 stars for sure, maybe it has another one if I were to learn all the moves.

"Dont Let The Sun Catch You Criying" es una belleza, por sí sola vale todo el disco, pero, eso no significa que sea un mal disco. Nada que ver. Es un disco sólido, capaz un poco... no sé, se siente como una misma larga canción.

Less good than Modern Sounds. Pretty boring, overall?

This & Frank Sinatra etc are so hard because I just forget I'm listening to them. It's not that they're bad, it's just. It feels like I'm at Macy's at Christmas or something. Unobjectionable. 2.4 stars is my subjective rating (I just don't care for it). Not a bad album. idk.

Pretty soothing and chill. It's nice as both background music or a focused listening

I really like these old loungey albums that essentially amount to a recording of the live show, although you can see the beginnings of studio experimentation here, especially on side 2. Side one is a total banger, and if you're in the right mood for side 2, it hits hard.

Ray Charles sings and plays a range of classic standards. Side 1 is big band. Side 2 is orchestra backed ballads. All fine but not very interesting. Rating: 2/5 Playlist track: Come Rain or Come Shine Date listened: 03/06/24

It's Ray Charles, you know what you're getting. Fantastic voice. But as with the other album of his on this list, the record just doesn't blow me away. I mean I liked it but it just kind of washes over you. 3/5

I mean, he really was a genius.

After Layla and Other Assorted Love songs, now another collection of love songs, quite nice, slower pace. 3.5

Obviously a hugely important and talented musician but this style of music just does nothing for me personally.

I was pretty sad today, and even his sad songs made me feel better about it.

Really enjoyed this one—great instrumentals and soulful vocals. Will listen to this album again for sure.

i loveeee the instrumentals

Delightful. Almost a little too much on the easy listening side of things, but it works for me on this album.

I really want to like Ray Charles, and I really thought I did! But the albums on this list have been so boring. There’s nothing wrong with this, but that’s kind of the problem. It’s plain and inoffensive. I want there to be some grit, some excitement. These songs just kind of are. Uninteresting, underwhelming.

This one displays Ray’s great talent and vocal ability. He really could do it all. But what he did here was a little boring. I hope we get some of his rockers on this list.

Beautiful, kind of need to be in the mood for it but great loungey vibes.

Can't say that i enjoyed it a lot, "modern sound" gives way more complex experience of jazz and Ray personally

Of course, it's Ray Charles, so undoutedly a decent set o'pipes. Didn't give me the feelz though.

Wonderful!

"Genius" is always a hard word to put into a title. You start throwing it into things, it really makes you look at the work and think "is it REALLY?" My first reaction to a number of the songs was "where is the piano?" But looking at the wikipedia, I see there was a reason for the lack of it in the first half. It did how up very tastefully in a number of pieces at the end, like "Tell Me You'll Wait for Me". I wish that the pieces with backup singers didn't have the older sound to it. That vocal singing screams very old-timey. Aside from that, a lot of the songs do not sound like they were done almost 70 years ago. But that chorus, ugh. I had heard "Alexander's Ragtime Band" before, and I had always felt part of his singing was a little off. I think it's just his coming in on the off beat on that last line of the chorus, it just always seems a little jarring to me. I dug this a lot, the jazz and orchestra coming together, I just wanted the backing vocals to be more modern. Top tracks: "Let The Good Times Roll," "Am I Blue," "Come Rain Or Come Shine"

I just crapped all over the Stones for a debut album full of covers (except one). And now here comes Ray Charles with 100% covers. But this feels different. Maybe because taking a bunch of R&B or jazz standards and doing in them in your own style is typical in that genre (and seen as last innovative in rock). Or maybe because Ray just brings it, at least on side one, and then changes the tempo on side two. I think he does the big band side one better, maybe because it matches his powerful voice, but the strings-oriented arrangements on side two are solid too. Yep, genius. Not perfect but very good.

What an amazing, amazing voice. Crazy to think he was just 29 when this was released. He already sounded like an old jazz and blues legend. Plus, his piano playing is as smooth as his voice. Every track is good, but I particularly loved the mellow mood of side two. I thought about pulling a point away for repetition - every song on side one has high trumpet shakes and every song on side two has schmaltzy strings (and sometimes cheesy backing vocals). But I'm giving that point back, because Brother Ray is a joy to listen to, and this is his only album on the 1001. Favorite tracks: Let the Good Times Roll (no, not the Cars song, but this one's great too!), It Had to Be You (sure it's a standard, but he owns it), Just for a Thrill, Tell Me You'll Wait for Me, Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin'.

Woah almost accidentally skipped over this one! It's Ray Charles doing standards nicely. I like the sound of his first couple albums better ('57, '58) so I'm hoping those will show up on the list eventually.

Obviously Ray Charles was a hugely seminal artist, but I'm not sure if this album does a ton to demonstrate what set his music apart from similar jazz singers at the time. Still solid, even if I would have liked it to be a little funkier.

Greatness in all it's glory!

Such a great singer.

I love ray Charles

He’s so cool. I really like this album

Great album. Don't really have much else to say.

Hey, everybody Let's have some fun You only live but once And when you're dead you're done So let the good times roll I said let the good times roll I don't care if you're young or old You ought to get together and let the good times roll

Decent album. I liked the bluesy aspects of it the most; the big band stuff was alright.

Nice and smooth. Might add this to my rotation on a rainy day.

Old fashioned. Music has moved on but I realise that it is an evolutionary process and this guy has contributed.

Vocal jazz, soul. Took a bit to get into this album, but Ray has such a great voice and the choir adds a lot. I liked the variety on this album, big band stuff and lovely string filled ballads. Not everything was memorable but it was all enjoyable. Still not familiar enough with the genres to really go in depth, but I had a great time. Probably won't revisit. Light 3.5/5

This is exactly what you’d think Ray Charles is. Fun, catchy and full of energy. I am not excited to listen to it. Not my type of music but it’s not terrible.

Just a really classy player and singer

He’s the master. Everything he touches is gold. Incredible sound.

Not my favorite work from Ray Charles. Canned and formulaic.

Solid soul woth some catchy songs in there

Very good, very few interesting songs though, different genre to bat im used to

Let The Good Times Roll // It Had To Be You // Just For A Thrill // Come Rain or Come Shine // 4.5/5

pretty good. it's got that typical recorded "big band" sound, when the blare of a dozen trumpets gets flattened down until it can be background music to a single vocalist. A surprising number of sad wistful "why'd my baby leave me" songs. As always I get bored when every song is a love song.

Great classic album, enjoyed almost every song here. Low 4.

This can go on every day! Background, foreground, wherever you like

Even though I had heard a few Ray Charles songs, I was absolutely blown away by this album! So thankful I got to experience it!

Really beautiful album to be honest with you, especially the latter half <3 3.5/5

Det lyder rigtig fint, men jeg tror, at jeg har svært ved at tænke på Ray Charles som en albumkunstner. Det lyder rigtig fint, ligesom det sidste Ray Charles album vi havde, men det er også bare en samling random sange

Catchy og god brug af horn! Jeg kunne bedre lide den her end den anden Ray Charles plade vi havde

Rimelig arrogant titel.. ved godt at det er over 70 år gammelt og det er måske hjulpet lidt på vej af at jeg lige har set Fallout, men det er lidt for old-timey for mig. Svært at vurdere om det burde være på listen, men man kender jo navnet Ray Charles...

Well yeah I guess he was

What a nice, soulful big-band sound. Sometimes I just wanted it to be Ray Charles hammering away on the piano. And I was hoping for a rocker tune.

Love this! I could listen to this all day. Rays voice and his expression throughout each song is a joy to behold. More of the same please.

Why not! Perfect performances, recorded perfectly, of absolute classic standards.

Classic Ray Charles

Ray charles, very listenable. Im not dressed well enough for this though

Great album to listen to while loitering around Target. I know from experience.

Very buttery jazz tones. Timeless and classic.

Mother fucker why aren’t you playing piano?

Cracking album with some great tunes

A lot of the songs sounded very similar. Preferred second half.

Ray Charles is iconic. He’s an awesome musician, and had a much celebrated career. Love his music!

The guy's a magician. Don't love every song but it's got soul.

Great through and through. Subjectively, Ray sounds at his best on the second half of the album where we are treated to more intimate string-backed arrangements rather than the sudden bombastic blasts of big band brass. While recognizing their merit, I find those swing big bands personally a bit jarring and overwhelming but that said, if anyone can pull it off, it's Ray Charles. He has a way of grounding his environment where anything off-putting in one's world or even on his own record, fades out of view. When an artist is this talented and has this much presence, the smaller the ensemble the better, in my opinion. This one resonates through and through, however, just providing a tonal shift as the evening winds down and as universal an appeal as Ray holds, something for everyone.

I feel like Ray Charles has better albums from this time.

Amazing musician, awful person.

Baladas de Ray Charles. Se me han hecho un poco de bola... Ni fu ni fa.

Viele Klassiker. Tolle Blues Stimme Ich mag Blues nicht sooo gerne...

I'd rate it 3.5 if I could. I'm not too into Big Band sounds with vocals but this is nice album to have in the background at work

It's okay

I think music like this is reallyyyy hard to rate and critique with modern ears. Does it sound good? Absolutely, and that puts it leagues above other contemporaneous records. But is the music listenable to modern ears? Not particularly. This sort of big band jazz has been regulated to a certain type of cocktail bar/coffee shop/mid-tier Italian restaurant, and unless you’re trying to throw a try-hard dinner party, there’s very little reason to listen to this type of music. It never feels timeless, or even exceptional. It’s just “good for what it is,” and that’s extremely boring and forgettable to my modern ears. And I like it, but I’m not going to go out of my way to ever actively listen to it, either. I wonder if there’s maybe a better Ray Charles album to include on this list, because this is not doing much for me, even if it’s good for what it is.

The kind of music that is fine, but just difficult to listen to after two songs

Nice. Would never have listened to this. Big band and blues

This album had a rough start but it got better. The second half is what makes "The Genius of Ray Charles" shine. The ballads on that half are great. I'm usually not a fan of big band music but I like it. Ray Charles's voice is nice throughout. I'll give this record 4 stars.

Incredible work, not my personal vibe but for what this is it's perfect

This is not really my thing. It's pleasant enough and fine as background music in a coffee shop but not something I would sit down and 'listen' to. Musically all the songs sound very similar which doesn't help to hold my attention. 2- stars.

Really enjoyed this album - so interesting that the first half was happy and jubuliant, and the second half was sad - I've not come across this before. First half was my fave!

So very good

10. I love Ray Charles

Enjoyed it

Ray Charles is great, band is great. Awesome early R&B

It's hard to vote against this, an absolute masterpiece in the genre, his career, and the history of music in general. Sounds amazing, and the session players are as tight as a decades old group.

Didn’t realize Ray’s (early) albums were so big band sound. Kinda slow, too. Songs are very similar, no standouts. His voice is rich, but the sound is out of date and not for me. (1.4*s)

How is there already another Ray Charles album in the list? I didn't like the first one and this one is only slightly better. It doesn't age well, this big band stuff will always sound dated. Not for me.

Read the review I gave for his Modern Sounds album. More big band and Ray. He's good but is he really a genius? I'm not sold...

Enjoyed more than prior Ray Charles entry. I'm more into the big band sound than his soul/R&B hits. While it started with a bang it unfortunately slowed down a lot and was pretty mundane. Not sure I would listen to this with any regularity but it serves as a better entry to 1001 than a few of the prior 50s albums. I wasn't there in the 50s but it yet again doesn't sound like anything special. 1.10 stars

Is it in danger of sounding a bit schmaltzy to modern ears? Maybe. Is it still extremely good? Yes. I'm probably under-rating it a bit here

Remarkable straightforward big band swing, and some ballads thrown in. Some of the big band cuts have some interesting solos and great composition, though Ray's vocal jazz stylings rarely add to these songs and overall everything feels very safe. The ballads are sweet and everything locks together quite well, though nothing stands out and just passes over me as if nothing at all. The background vocals are a nice addition that do add a slight boost of emotion. Overall this is simple and competent vocal jazz and big band swing that plays it close to the chest, it is enjoyable but nothing shines bright here.

Try a little tenderness

I should probably read more about these albums before I listen and make notes. I was surprised at the heavy big band sound and crooner style songs, but obviously that was his intent. I can't say I'm the biggest fan of big band sound, but damn, how can you not listen to this and picture yourself in a smoke filled, darkened club just absorbing the music. I do prefer the rock n roller/blues Ray, but I did think this was a wonderful album to hear. I've listened last couple days, then just the genre play out. This is just good, fun music that is a joy to hear all day long. Different than I use to when I think of Ray Charles, but the beautiful all the same. A very good album. 4

3 I saw Ray Charles on this list and smiled to myself, thinking of childhood memories of his music, including his wonderful rendition of America the Beautiful as featured in The Sandlot. Well, unfortunately, this album didn’t quite live up to my expectations. I’ve always known Ray as more of a piano-based soul/jazz artist and didn’t realize he did so much big band stuff - stuff that, honestly, didn’t really work for me. Maybe it’s just the production of this album, but I found the first half to be incredibly brash, to the point where I had to turn down my speaker multiple times while listening. It certainly has an old-timey gala charm to it at times, but it’s hard to get too sucked in. The second half of this album I think does a much better job of highlighting said genius of Ray Charles with its more stripped back, slower tunes, but even then, there still wasn’t anything that quite captured me like his music did for me so many years ago. The last three songs on the album are far and away the best (with Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Cryin’ probably being my personal favorite), but it feels like there’s a lot you have to wade through to get to them. So, this one was a little disappointing for me, but I don’t think it’s changed my opinion on Ray as a performer and singer - I just think there’s too much going on in this album to really allow his talent to shine. It’s still a generally enjoyable listen (it’s hard to imagine anything coming from the guy not being), but for better or for worse, what this album mostly succeeded in was making me want to listen to his other stuff.

Un excelente álbum de jazz melódico con influencias de blues, R&B y soul. Para el año en el que se estrenó, el trabajo ya cuenta con tintes de pop, adelantándose unos buenos años a la industria. Sumamente recomendable para quien quiera conocer de historia musical, sin embargo, atención a escucharlo sin sueño (puede ser muy relajante).

He really is a genius

Stellar big band soulfully made album, love it. Great listening to when cleaning and moving out!

2.75

First half is big band; second half if string ballads. Let The Good Times Roll It Had To Be You Alexander's Ragtime Band Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin' Am I Blue Come Rain or Come Shine

Two minds on this album. Ray Charles is amazing on it. But, I’m not a fan of the overall recording. Something about the mix or engineering makes the band/strings sound rough.

enjoyable

Just one of the best. It’s interesting that this album came out close to the same time as Sinatra’s “Songs for Swingin’ Lovers.” I just find this so much more interesting. Great songs realized by…well, a genius.

Yes! 4.

1. let the good timez roll - 1.5 2. it had to be you - 1.5 3. ragtime band - 1 4. torture - 1 5. gone - 1.5 6. deed i do - 1 7. a thrill - 1 8. let me go - 1 9. uuait for me - 1 10. crying - 1 11. blue - 1 12. come zhine - 1.5

Interesting to hear Ray with a big band, not what I was expecting. Overall a good album, just think I prefer his later work more. 3/5 Might listen again

Ray Charles er en av musikerne eg har hørt mye på i mange år, selv om jeg ikke har satt meg ned og hørt på et helt album. Når jeg hører på hele albumet blir jeg imponert over hvor god han var på å produsere for storband. Voicingen i trompet- og saksofonkora sitter som et skudd. Og selv om mye av dette er Tin Pan Alley-musikk, så er det fortsatt en grunn til at det er Ray Charles som huskes. Senere kom selvfølgelig Ray Charles til å være toneangivende for helt andre musikksjangre, men allerede her så viser han seg som den fantastiske musikeren han er.

good songs, sounds pretty similar tho

This is a super jazzy, bluesy, crooner style album. I really enjoyed listening to this album, but it's definitely a style that i need to be in the mood for. Maybe an evening with a cigar and a sunset. I'll play this one when i'm looking for an album that starts out like a fire an burns down to a cozy warm cuddle session. 4 ⭐️

liked this so much i listened to it twice. what a voice

3.5

At this point in my life, I need big band music that I'm listening to for the first to do something interesting, and there's nothing that stands out about the first half of the album to me. I would listen to it again, but I'm not going to go seek it out. Now, the ballads on the second half of the album are a completely different story. I'm a big sucker for slow jazz ballads, and these songs are killing me.

Really boring. Fits in a shopping mall in a christmas movie.

Lots of talent, but lots of the same soul groove trudging on for far too long.

Not bad. Seemed to start slowly for me, but maybe I just got distracted while working. Probably wouldn't return to it, but not off-putting at all. 3/5

Solid album. I can see why people enjoy it.

This will require several further listens cause the first two were incredible. There's some serious Wizard of Oz fairytale dream sequence swooning twilight zone mystery going on throughout but especially from the second half onward. Am I Blue is a straight up beautiful piece of music. Also what are the chances of the last two albums in a row (this and the cars) both having the same title track.

Gr8

hill chilll

Stuff

What better way to try to get Ray Charles to "cross over" than to orchestrate his voice like Frank Sinatra?

Such a classic voice and excellent musicianship/arrangements

Classic voice, but only a couple songs from this album really stood out.

For early R&B this is really well made artistically, it’s amazing how well he could make music for the time period. It’s both a slow blues and a fast jazz but the songs almost melt together Ending tracks REALLY wrapped it up Favorite: Alexander’s ragtime band, am I blue Least favorite: none 3.9/5

Rating: 5/10 Meh.

Side 1, with Brother Ray swinging with an impeccable group of jazz musicians (and arrangements by one Quincy Jones) stands in contrast to the orchestrated ballads on Side 2. Thing is, Charles handles it all with complete ease. Class.

I love this. The orchestration may be a bit much, but it is of the time. Quincy Jones did the orchestration. Great sax. 4*

I found this album enjoyable, but it's not really my kind of music, and I don't see myself going back to it. However, there is no denying it is well written, well performed, and just generally good music.

Þvílíkur snillingur. Ég elska big band tónlist. Ray tekur þarna góð lög og setur upp í big banda tónlistarveislu sem ég mun hlusta á aftur og aftur. Það er ekki hægt að biðja um mikið meira en þetta. Ray er einhver sem ég hef ekkert svo mikið hlustað á en hann er bara kominn í topp-tónlistarmenn hjá mér.

Great songs all around (those trumpets can get quite tedious)

Classic

Not much to say except I love the title.

Beautiful album. Nice soul. And I can’t believe he had such an incredible voice for so long.

Kort maar krachtig 👍🏻

Let the good times roll

Really enjoyed it, always love jazz. I was thinking about romance while listening so it definitely worked its magic lol

какая-то негритянская старая херня

HL: “Two Years of Torture”, “Alexander’s Ragtime Band”, “Just for a Thrill” Was looking forward to a brassy good time but something about this left me cold. At least there are moments where Ray and his piano aren’t totally lost in the mix

Lovely, even not entirely in my wheel house. Let down by the harsh production, and ultimately it did feel a bit samey.

3.5

I love jazz

Ray Charles was a gift to us all, and I almost wanted to give this album a five just for being him. That said, it’s big band Ray, not blues-y Ray, which I think is a shame. There were several ballads on here that I feel didn’t show him off at his best, so I’m downgrading it by one star and praying that there is a five star Ray album on this list.

Love his voice and the big band era. Beautiful album!!

Soothing jazzy, bluesy love songs

Great bluesy album

Not bad but also not the best. So it’s a typical three star rating

This was an easy 5 for me. What an amazing performer!! His band elevated his words so much! “Just for a thrill” was one of my favorites.

I love big band. I dig Ray Charles, but Ray Charles doing standards doesn't belong on this list. His release WHAT'D I SAY is why he belongs on this list and yet it its not included. WTF? These covers are no better or worse than anyone else that the time. Nothing notable here. About the release itself, my only complaint is that I wish the horns weren't distorting so much.

I started to get the feeling I was waiting too damn long for a table at an overrated, overpriced restaurant. His voice is soothing at least.

Not my kind of music

Schmaltzy big band love and romance songs, fine if you like that sort of thing.

Similar to Ella Fitzgerald, when I play Ray Charles my life just becomes a movie. It's actually difficult to just listen vs start to daydream.

I so often think of Ray Charles as his more modern hits, but this is much more old school than I realized. Lots and lots of soul and yearning in his songs, and I love the big band support throughout.

Have I heard this album before? No Highlights: Rating: 3/10 I could tell from the start of the album that this one probably wouldn’t be for me. The music in the first half sounds like the introduction to an old 50s talk show. The second half was pretty boring, felt a lot of the songs were very similar.

Un genio. Me encantó. Aunque tiene mejores álbunes.

No notes

The Genius of Ray Charles" is a seminal album by the legendary musician Ray Charles, released in 1959. It is widely regarded as one of his finest works, showcasing his remarkable talents as a singer, pianist, and arranger. The album blends various genres, including jazz, rhythm and blues, and gospel, into a cohesive and innovative musical experience. Here's an in-depth review focusing on lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, along with the pros and cons of the album. Lyrics: Ray Charles's lyrical content in "The Genius of Ray Charles" reflects a range of emotions and experiences. His ability to infuse raw emotion into his singing brings the lyrics to life, whether he's singing about love, heartbreak, or joy. Tracks like "Let the Good Times Roll" and "It Had to Be You" exude a sense of exuberance and celebration, while songs like "Come Rain or Come Shine" and "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin'" delve into themes of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity. Charles's delivery is soulful and heartfelt, drawing listeners into the stories he tells with his expressive voice. Music: The musical arrangements on this album are nothing short of masterful. Ray Charles's virtuosity as a pianist is on full display, with intricate melodies and dynamic rhythms weaving throughout each track. His innovative blending of jazz, blues, and gospel elements creates a rich and dynamic sound that is both timeless and groundbreaking. The backing instrumentation, featuring lush strings, punchy horns, and tight rhythms, complements Charles's vocals perfectly, adding depth and texture to the overall sound. The album's musical diversity keeps the listener engaged from start to finish, with each track offering something new and exciting to discover. Production: "The Genius of Ray Charles" benefits from top-notch production, courtesy of legendary producer Sid Feller. Feller's keen ear for detail and expert guidance help to bring out the best in Charles's performances, capturing the raw energy and emotion of each song while maintaining a polished and professional sound. The album's production values are ahead of their time, with crisp, clear instrumentation and balanced mixes that allow every element of the music to shine. Feller's collaboration with Charles results in a cohesive and cohesive sonic experience that stands as a testament to their combined talents. Themes: Thematically, "The Genius of Ray Charles" explores a wide range of topics, from love and heartache to joy and resilience. Charles's lyrics often touch on universal themes that resonate with listeners of all backgrounds, making the album accessible and relatable to a diverse audience. At its core, the album celebrates the human experience in all its complexity, offering glimpses into the highs and lows of life through the lens of Charles's unique perspective. Whether he's singing about the ecstasy of newfound love or the pain of heartbreak, Charles approaches each theme with honesty and authenticity, drawing listeners into his world with every note. Influence: "The Genius of Ray Charles" has had a profound influence on generations of musicians across a wide range of genres. Charles's innovative blending of musical styles helped to break down racial barriers in the music industry, paving the way for future artists to explore new sounds and push the boundaries of what was possible. His expressive vocal delivery and virtuosic piano playing set a standard for excellence that few have been able to match. Countless artists have cited Ray Charles as a major influence on their own work, from soul and R&B legends like Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder to rock and pop icons like Elton John and Billy Joel. His impact on the world of music continues to be felt to this day, making "The Genius of Ray Charles" a timeless classic that remains relevant and influential. Pros: Exceptional musical talent displayed by Ray Charles as both a vocalist and pianist. Innovative blending of jazz, blues, and gospel elements, creating a unique and groundbreaking sound. Top-notch production values that capture the raw energy and emotion of Charles's performances. Lyrically rich songs that explore a wide range of universal themes, making the album accessible and relatable. Significant influence on future generations of musicians across various genres, solidifying its status as a timeless classic. Cons: Some listeners may find the album's production to be somewhat dated compared to modern recordings. Limited stylistic diversity may not appeal to listeners who prefer more experimental or avant-garde music. Occasional moments of lyrical cliché or predictability may detract from the overall impact of certain songs. The album's focus on traditional musical forms may not resonate with listeners seeking more contemporary sounds. Some tracks may feel slightly repetitive or formulaic in their structure, lacking the innovation found in other parts of the album. In conclusion, "The Genius of Ray Charles" is a masterpiece of American music that showcases the immense talent and creativity of one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. From its exceptional performances and innovative arrangements to its timeless themes and enduring influence, the album stands as a testament to the genius of Ray Charles and his lasting impact on the world of music. Despite any minor flaws, it remains an essential listen for music lovers of all ages and backgrounds, cementing its status as a timeless classic that continues to inspire and delight audiences around the globe.

frightening closing doors and screeching grinders, the thought passes like a bird, mind her widening blinders, flattening imposing foes and friendly outsiders, allies squandered. cohersing yours truly to share words kinder, couldnt find them in my core, an enlightening reminder. albums great but needs some spice imo

Maybe if I was 90 I’d appreciate it more

I loved the strings, horns, vocals, and songwriting

I liked this album a lot, but not as much as I thought I would. I've never listened to Ray Charles before. It was a little too much crooning and some of the songs got a little too slow for me. I found a few of the most popular songs like 'Come Rain or Come Shine' a little boring, but loved 'Alexander's Ragtime Band'. These thoughts are a little negative, but that's only because I went into this anticipating a possible 10/10. 8/10. Great album, I want to hear more.

think it might be illegal to dislike this it makes me smile just to hear

The title says it all. A genuine one-off talent.

I'm really not a fan of big band music, but I can't argue against Ray Charles' lyrics and melodies. "Let the Good Times Roll," "It Had to be You," and "Alexander's Ragtime Band" are great if you can get past the big band screeching of instruments.

Siento que es difícil aislar éste tipo de música del contexto de Estados Unidos. No tiene muchos puntos en común con otros territorios, por lo que tal vez es difícil que enganche con otras identidades, con otras culturas. Así y todo, lo siento como un disco para escuchar en pareja, ambos bien lookeados, en un restaurant de noche. Increíble como los símbolos yankees se cuelan en el inconsciente y nos llevan a un viaje al pasado de Hollywood o a una película navideña.

Ray Charles voice is great but just not a fan of big band music.

Die man heeft een prachtig geleefde stem. Het album zit vol met vrolijke up-tempo en wat rustigere nummers. Verrassend leuk, al vind ik teveel big-band ook niet heel aantrekkelijk. ***

4/5 Really beautiful album.

Ah - ear bleach after yesterday’s crap. Great stuff here. What’s not to like.

So good

Listening to this, I realized that I am more familiar with the old, gravelly voiced Ray Charles. Heard very little of the work he did as a young man. He sounds so strong and smooth here. Truly wonderful, delightful, lovely, perfectly balanced. His music feels like a high wire act. Never a step out of place. This really is a work of genius. That almost undersells how good this is.

This is fine and quite nice. Like the other jazz records I've heard on this list, I might have it as background music while I was hosting a dinner party or sipping a cocktail in a bar. Just to listen to, it's alright but not that exciting. He does have a good voice and the strings are nice, the slower songs sound like Sinatra-style swing in places.

Quite a refreshing listen. I enjoy this music although I could not listen to it all day and I do also feel if I was to listen to this music I would listen to something a little softer. The loud brass and the sharp vocals can sometimes be a little much but considering how old it is I think it is great people can still listen to this music. All in all a nice listen that can sit comfortably in a 3/5 slot. I also feel I was maybe a little harsh on Solomon Burke but I don't know much about this music other then some of the greats (Ray Charles included) so it is hard to tell what my go to would be. Always hard to rate after 1 listen. Stand out songs: Let the Good Times Roll You Won't Let Me Go Come Rain or Come Shine

We all know that Ray Charles is a great singer and can play fun piano. Which is why when this album instead shoves Big Band music in your face it is so perplexing. A lot of musical genres from the last century have survived and thrived after they were the most popular music of their time. Blues and Jazz musicians are still able to build a following and release good new music. Big Band is shit and always was. It is completely abandoned in the zeitgeist and for good reason. This album wastes Ray Charles's talents and is basically a Big Band cover album. A shame.

Not quite what I expected from one of the progenitors of rock and roll. Besides “Let The Good Times Roll” this is mostly Charles as a crooner, which isn’t a bad thing. I especially enjoyed the string-accompanied second half of the record.

2 nothing really stuck with me. Was mostly ok crooning lounge-y songs

The first half is big and bold but sometimes woozy and swoony brass band full of glorious horns just bubbling up. RC delivers a hot vocal performance that brings it to a boil. It's big band jazz arrangments of classic blues. The second half is piano ballads with string adornment that cool it all the way down. This verges more into schmaltz, but the depth and range of the vocals overcomes the corny studio treatment its subjected to.

Another man who can play without sight. How do they do it! Wizardry

It’s almost a 4 because Charles is such a great singer and there are some great arrangements here, but it does struggle to engage me at times in the middle. Still a very worthy listen. Shoutouts to the lyric “was I gay… til today?” Best song: It Had to Be You

The whole album is fine, but not particularly interesting or engaging in the slightest. Definitely the kind of music I would put on to help me quickly fall asleep.

Brilliant album. All songs are consistently soulful.

Wanted to like it more but its just aight

Objectively good and I enjoyed it, but I don't see myself returning to this on a regular basis. Faves: When Your Lover Has Gone, Just for a Thrill

I expected to love this one but it just wasn’t for me. I’d like to give it another try in the future. I did like one song, and added it to a playlist.

Pure swag

Album 342 of 1001 Ray Charles - The Genius Of Ray Charles Rating : 4.5 / 5 Hard not to enjoy this album. Great talent, great songs. Guess this is more a record label's release rather than Ray Charles' release as I can't see him calling himself a "genius". Either way, it is a great listen.

Ray Charles is a master of the craft. Ragtime piano, raspy vocals. Great album.

Very relaxing. Great for a quiet morning. I may keep it on deck for mornings or nights when I want something a bit softer. No stand out songs, but I enjoyed it for what it was. My dad was a big fan of Ray Charles so it made me think of him a lot which was nice

3 - I got a little tired of the album by the end, but it's short enough that that's not too big of an issue. Admittedly, I'm struggling to say much about it, looking back on the album. I did like that it took more of a somber tone in the second half.

I enjoyed this album and would listen to it again

Really gets the fingers snapping and toes a tap'n.

What’s not to like?

perfectly fine, nothing really stands out but nice to listen to

Very pleasant, soothing, and nostalgic. That being said, it’s a little on the saccharine side for me. But definitely an easy listen for background music or dinner party.

Not my style, but can appreciate it for what it is.

Good album, warrants a re-listen

That is very good

8/10 Liked this one - really well sequenced and produced First half: uptempo, more playful, brass loaded Then the brass is just outstaying its welcome and boom Second half: strings, introspective, brilliant Amazing voice, amazing emotion in second half

Bigger fan of the second half, but this album is a winner because of the vocals and the overall feel.

Ray Charles was truly a genius. Some great songs here, but unfortunately also some very repetitive backing orchestra arrangements.

Great

let the good times roll- 5 it had to be you- 6 alexanders ragtime band- 6 or 7 two years of torture- seven years of torture seven years of penis. sorry. 6 when your lover has gone- 5 kinda boring deed i do- 5 or 6 just for a thrill- 5 you wont let me go- 5 tell me youll wait for me- 5 dont let the sun catch you crying- 5 am i blue- why are you blue? 6 come rain or come shine- 5 favorite track - alexander ragtime band

Amazing album, I don't know how to properly put into words how much I enjoyed this one..

Outstanding of course!!

Lovely and powerful

Songs were good, each one was shorter than I thought it would be, a quick under 40 min album!

While the horns accentuate the passionate nature of songs, the consistent use of them gives a monotonous feel to the record. Ray's vocals are phenomenal but songs didn't impress me too much.

Really great music, can tell why he’s so revered although I’d never choose to listen of my own volition.

What a banger of an album. Obviously aptly named and a 5/5 star album. My favorite thing about it is the placement of the first track and the last track on the album. Imagine the way the party would howl when you turn this record on in your living room in 1959 with “Let the Good Times Roll,” and imagine slow-dancing with your steady girl/guy/pal at the end to “Come Rain or Shine.” Just gorgeous.

Ray Charles knocks you off your seat and makes you pay attention. The abrasive horns attack your senses and lead you directly into Charles' sensational voice. The force of side 1 flows into the smooth ballads of side 2, with the incredible singing still with you. As another reviewer said, he exudes pure class.

I wasn’t in the mood so I barely listened. The few songs I heard didn’t grab me.

Some classic tunes but it got a little same same after a while

It's okay, a bit boring

interesting and charming at times, but no real connection to it.

There are two types of jazz musicians, those on coke and those on dope. Ray Charles falls into the later camp and it shows. My personal taste is for those in the former but that doesn't take away from the fact that this is one of the best jazz albums I've ever heard. Ray Charles on the piano and vocals are stunning but every instrument in the ensemble gets a moment to shine. It feels like a very complete album, lots of different melodies, lots of different instruments taking the musical lead...I still like my coked out jazz musicians though.

lijepo

cozy

izmedu 3 i 4 al nije mi nes sjeo, mislim da bi mi neki drugi dan bio bolji

Classy and elegant but dated

Not bad

It's right there in the title... "Genius". And it is.

PERFECT

Such a smooth vocal and great backing from the band. The brass is big and loud and isn't compressed down like it might be in future recordings. The arrangements are fun, it's not pushing crazy boundaries but I don't feel it needs to too much. There could have been slightly more diverse song choices tbh, but hey.

I feel conflicted because I do think that the songs are good and I can appreciate them, they just aren't something that I would find myself listening to. Both halves of the album have interesting things to offer with the first half's big band sound and the second half's more downbeat piano. However I am not the biggest fan of big band music. I am going to have to rate this based on my personal preferences so unfortunately it's going to be a 4/10. I think Come Rain or Come Shine was probably my favorite song off the album

Great classic I really enjoyed it

I really liked this - great job with many of the standards. A lot of horns and strings, I would have like to have the piano play a little more prominent role, but the vocals are great.

Beautiful

Beautiful piano arrangements, deep vocal soul but more of an album of its time. Still happy to appreciate today.

Ray Charles never disappoints!

Nice as BGM. It has a mood that I like, but not something I would look to actively listen too very often.

Good. Not me

Jazzy, big band. Sounds old fashion in the good way.

I did not know this is what I needed today. Feeling groovy.

This was a bit of a different sound than I expected from Ray Charles. Good, but nothing great, and I like the later albums better.

An amazing voice. Some fun big band backing to go along with it.

Good songs. Great singer and player.

Not my cup of tea at all. Mostly ballads and slow numbers that were pretty boring and forgettable

Beautiful. The voice, the arrangements. chefs kisses all round

This anchors a Playlist I have called "the greatest."

J'ai de beaucoup préféré cet album au précédent de Ray Charles que j'ai entendu. Moins plaignard, plus énergique, j'ai pu apprécier la texture de la voix et l'interprétation

History.

Ray Charles was actually incredible. I don't think I resonated with his music while listening to it, but it was still so interesting to get a glimpse into someone so talented. Not something I would put on myself, the mood would have to be just right for it.

Good Stuff

Loved this album! A nice break from the other albums I’ve been reviewing. Heavy on the jazz, Ray truly delivered on the vocals and piano!

Enjoyable listen to an iconic singer. Lots of standards but missing some Oomf. Decent record from an amazing talent.

What can I say, other than this is just fantastic! Very fun listen.

Awesome album. Big band music and the genius of Ray Charles!

Dobra muzika za koju sam bas mislio da ce mi se svidit, al nez zasto ne vajbam bas nesto s njom, tugy. 3.5/4

Ray Charles demonstrates his genius in every song of this engaging recording. Most, if not all, of the songs are standards and Charles makes them his own.

I really enjoyed listening to this album. Ray Charles was truly a musical genius.

Hard not to like Brother Ray

•Not owned: Streaming •Just a great album that highlights just what a wonderful vocalist Ray Charles was—while still retaining great instrumentation and arrangements. •4/5

4,8

3,8

Ray Charles! How lucky 🍀 was this draw. First album was John Lennon followed by this gem 💎

I wish he did more slow and moody songs

The Genius! I love that it has been said Ray Charles was more influential than Elvis. I agree.

bunyi-bunyian dari masa depan

I had not heard before. Nicely orchestrated and executed.

Class

Brought back memories

Meikäläisen älymystöön kuuluu tasan kolome herara... Eput.... Ja jotkut muutkin suomalais artistit.... Ei tule hyvää arvosanaa jos jo otsikossa yritetään viisastella kuuulijoilta korvat pois.... Kuuntelen itse ja ymmärrän kyllä. Ymmärryksessä ei ole ikinä ollut mitään vaikeuksia tässä on heikohkoa mutta vedenpitävää musiikkia.. Yritin paskaveesä käyttää ... Sovi yksi tähti jo värikkäälle hra:lle..

Curro muito Ray Charles, mas sou mais das musicas agitadas. :/

Big band and swing sound. Performance oriented. Danceable. Excellent voice and delivery style although not what I enjoy the most. Music was more strongly ensemble work--there was a singer, an arranger, song writers, multiple members of the band with highlighted skills and solo opportunities. Everything is well-crafted. Ray puts his own imprint on standards and moves out beyond the styles of Sinatra. "Don't let the sun catch you cryin." and "Let the good times roll" will be re-interpreted by others but this album sits at a crossroads of pop music starting to ascend along with rock, smaller groups becoming common, and a change in energies. A bit of crooning which I find mostly annoying. But overall a solid album--just not something I like.

Fantastic album. RC's vocals and piano are wonderful. The only drawback are the 1950s strings arrangements, which date it a bit.

First time really listening to his music. Not my typical style but very enjoyable. Great stuff.

pretty easy listening. 3.7.

I had the misfortune of listening to Ray's "Modern Western" album before this and disliked it immensely. This album has much more character, talent and personality. The songs do all suffer from similar themes, but they are distinct enough. The first and last song are great openers and closers. 3/5

A pretty damn good early pop record. Not my style of music at all, but I still found it a good, enjoyable listen. Much better than the hyper-polished Vegas crooner stuff.

Surprisingly boring and hokey.

Fantastic vocal stylings and band arrangements.

The first half was a lot of light piano with what I would call brass airhorns. I love piano because of its consistency and volume. The second half was more my taste. probably won’t seek this out again because of those horns. 6/10

I love Ray Charles' music. It's impossible to listen to this and not sway along with the beat. Super clean music and the singing is just impeccable. The only ding it gets is that I have to be in a precise mood to search this music out. 9/10

Ray Charles is a legendary status household name and yet I have never heard any of these songs before. Seemingly two distinct tones in this album: love & sadness. Some of the songs started to meld together and could have possibly just been combined. He had a great voice but It wasn’t amazing or anything. At times I also felt that his voice was sort of jarring against the accompanying instrumentals. Couple pretty good songs with a handful of more forgettable ones. 5/10

Great. Loved the orchestra

3.5

Legend.

Classic album marked by great craft in the waiting and arrangements, as well as the genius of Ray Charles.

Very nice songs

I love Ray. He has better records so not giving this a five though. This was back in the days when the record company named the album but it makes me laugh imagining that it was Ray himself who came up with the title.

Very strong four.

Gear: Fostex TH610 (Lawton) Mix: entspannte und toll lokalisierbare Instrumentierung (insb. Bläser). Stimme teils dröhnend und mit deutlicher Kompression. Musik: kann man gut hören - bestimmt die Hälfte der Songs muss man aber nicht 🤷‍♂️ Wertung: 2-3/5

It's pretty good but, not sure i'll be revisiting this anytime soon

да гений, че тех кому не нравится старый соуловый джаз и это не зайдет Кто не знает чарльза - пожалуй хороший альбом вкатится Алкоальбом: виски 20-летней выдержки и петь песни с Синатрой

Immer wieder schön ...

Decent album.

Classic stuff.

Not my bag

Very "Big Bandish".....interesting.....nice album.

Fabulous album of old jazz classics.

Way too “Big Band” from my liking. Sounds like he was trying to be the black Lawrence Welk with this one. There’s no energy to this music. Definitely not my thing.

JAZZY!!! All that jazz, baby! Swingy in the first half, bluesy-ballads in the second half. Definitely a wonderful balance that makes me long for times I never had.

He's a legend for a reason. (Though it's from '69, so the mixing is a bit whack)

Interesting album. The first half is big band with brass, second half is just strings. It's a fine listen, and showcases the immense talent, but not sure it's something I would come back to very often.

Bracht me meer plezier dan verwacht.

Enjoyed. Not an all time favorite album though

Big band blues with vocals. Not my thing. But this is a seminal album and it is well-done. Three stars

Tontechnisch solala, war aber auch 1959 Musik gut.

Piano playing was very nice and some good songs, but overall felt pretty samey. Probably wouldn't listen again.

the balls to call it The Genius of Ray Charles gets it a point, if you like your horns loud, you will love this. what can I say, Ray is a legend for a reason. just maybe lower the volume a bit.

The songs are great but those horns are a little loud Ray! You might be blind but I don’t want to go deaf

I love Ray Charles, this was a decent album Top tracks: Let the Good Times Roll

First 3 songs were pretty solid, the rest was honestly a bit of a snoozer. Felt very neutral overall on it 5/10