The Genius Of Ray Charles

Refreshing to listen to this kind of music! So easy…

Great Listen Watching the sandlot as a wee boy and listening to Ray Charles sing America the Beautiful is imprinted on my brain Best Song: Am I Blue Worst Song: N/A Best Lyric: "Was I gay?"

Ray wraps me up in a feel-good, cozy embrace. Listening to this album with snow falling outside the window was a perfectly serene match.

What a magician, voice tone, all instint. Grand

Don't like, not my style

Es como estar en una habitación con luz tenue, llena de humo y una copa de martini.

I like it in the sense that it’s nice to have on in background but not really something I’d actively listen to.

Great classic bluesy jazz. I loved it

Classic.

Not Ray's greatest, for sure.

Classy old school

Honestly every song sounds the same but maybe i’m just not used to this style and not a fan of it, yet at least.

Yum! Thoroughly enjoyed my entire day with ray Charles. You can put this on, any occasion, and it just enhances everything. This is going on my Spotify Wrapped for 2024, for sure, because I had it on repeat for the entire day. Legendary voice. Not much to say other than I loved it! I'm not sure if it's a "I need this before I die" album for me. More like a pleasurable comfort food. 4/5. If I had to pick one of these 50's pop artists, it would be Ray Charles.

Great voice.

Awesome…Ray is a gem

Genius. Sublime. Slightly different set of songs from what I was expecting.

Really a Genius singer. Did not know these old tunes that showed his origin in jazz and blues.

Ray Charles' genius is undeniable, but the songs failed to leave an impression on me. Personally, I enjoyed the ballad half of the album more than the big band half, which was just a bit too much. The last three songs are an especially big mood.

Genius is the right word. Great stuff.

Such a amazing vocalist really enjoyed album

Ray's Stimme mit Bigband-Sound! Yeah!

The better of the Ray Charles albums we’ve done so far

I mentally catalogued this in the 'yeah great another timeless classic' pile. I think this list is spoiling me slightly

nice old-school music

Soulful! A little slow and emotional for the moment

Really solid stuff. This is the exact kind of thing that comes to mind when I want to listen to jazz. I love how energetic the first half is, and how it mellows towards the second half, keeping you on your toes while listening to it and offering a great diverse selection of sounds

Really good album, will definitely have to add some Ray Charles to my music collection. Had me tapping my foot listening to it. Would give it a 4.5 if I could.

Pretty audacious to use the word "genius" in an album title, but in this case - perfectly justified. The man could sing anything and make it his own.

Loved this so much! The vocals 🔥 the instruments 🔥 just my style

Great classic!

very good sounds would recommend

Ray Charles in incredible, as a pianist and as a performer. Makes this a lovely listen, although sometimes the big band arrangements are not all that needed, which is why I enjoy the ballads on here more

du bon petit soul blues jazz très relax mais très agréable 8/10

Buen disco

A classic

Not into blues

Let the Good Times Roll - big energy song to open the album. Charles voice paired with the band is great music It Had to Be You - A classic song that fits Charles style perfectly Alexander's Ragtime Band - a fun swing style song. Big band is a style of music that deserves a comeback. Love the trumpets on this track. Two Years of Torture - the way the trumpets come in and out really gives this song personality. Paired with the saxophone this is a fantastic track When Your Lover Has Gone - a solid slower track Deed I Do - another song where the brass section kills it. A real shame this type of music has faded out of the mainstream. It is truly incredible stuff. Just for a Thrill - one of the first songs to focus on the piano more. A great combo with Charles voice You Won't Let Me Go - this song makes you feel like you are sitting in a smoky jazz club enjoying your drink of choice and in the company of someone special. Tell Me You'll Wait for Me - good song, not too often you can hear a triangle being used Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin - switching it up to strings, the amount of different instruments featured on this album is impressive. Am I Blue - like many of the songs on the back end of the album, this one is a slower song that goes from strings and woodwinds instead of brass instruments Come Rain or Come Shine - beautiful song and great way to end the album. This was a fantastic album. Charles has a magnificent voice and the backing instrumentals add something different to each song. From heavy brass on the more upbeat songs to strings on the slower tracks, along with Charles' classic piano brining it all together. Putting this record on while sipping a scotch and smoking a j sounds like a truly wonderful time.

Lovely album. I feel like I've heard this before throughout my life, and by various artists, but not done nearly as well. What I mean by that is the melodies, licks and vocalizations done on this album were so solid that between its release and present day people have been inspired by this. A very tight 40 min that wastes no time, bringing great track after great track. My favorites were: just for a thrill and am I blue

Iconic

Loved the soulful vibe. What a classic sound.

Enjoyed it, very chill and relaxing to listen to.

Starts off with quite a bang, much more high energy than I was expecting it to start. Lots of beautiful ballads and performances here. The big band backing is perfectly arranged, lots of crescendos and emotional mirroring between Ray and the band. Back half of the album certainly slows some, but still has beautiful songs. 3/5

Excellent performances. Ray Charles is a great, emotive singer. He jazzes up these songs in a way that sounds very natural and organic. Great piano too. Very easy, pleasant listening this morning. Love that big band sound too!

This is a solid classic album. Spotify play counts (if they are good for anything) are surprisingly low though? Of course to further prove that Spotify play counts don't mean much, I think one of my favorite tracks on this was "Tell Me You'll Wait For Me", which had the lowest playcount by over 50% fewer plays than any other song. It's a slow, lumbering love song. The final 4 songs of this album are really amazing. I'm so glad I didn't breeze through this album because this is one of the better ending albums I've heard in a while.

Song: Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin' I was pleasantly surprised by this song. I really enjoyed the soft string instrumentals & Ray's piano playing is wonderful, too. While it definitely sounds of its time, it has a real timeless feel to it, too. It's a very mellowed out song, but I liked that about it—it was a really calming listen, and I would definitely listen again.

I’m not really into blues, didn’t love this.

The A-side was fast-paced and upbeat but then it got too sappy slow and boring. Stand-out: Alexander's Ragtime Band

gorgeous

For a thrill liked best, 3.5 but kinda better then remain in Light

Þéttur og góður Ray. Engir hittarar samt en flott plata. 3.5

What an energy and the great voice and music brings you back in a fifties bar. Great to listen to.

Lovely, soulful, energetic blue. Great composure and execution.

I have a soft spot for this era of music from my grandparents so this was a super fun listen. Love the contrast between the big band sound and the latter portion of the album.

I'd never heard the two days of torture song before, interesting... The rest is classic after classic.

Super R&B

Klassiker zum Start der Musikreise. Aber mir gerne mal zu aufgergt

I have listened to this

Iconic

cool

This is probably going to come across way meaner than I intend. But this was generic jazz tunes without any passion. They’re performed competently but without urgency. I’ve heard Judy Garland, and other artists, perform these songs and I become emotional due to her performance. This elicited nothing from me. Ray Charles could do that with other songs that I’ve heard. This was a dud. 2/5

Ray Charles is amazing but this album just isn’t quite for me or I guess the something I would just put on to listen to through. Still a fun listen. Amazing musicians!

Ok

Geniale Big Band Arrangements von Quincy Jones. A-Seite mit David "Fathead" Newman unterstützt von Mitgliedern der Count Basie und Duke Ellington Bands.

Still Energieunternehmen

Genius indeed

Nice album I liked the contrast between the two sides

Good but a bit samey after a while

Really good, loved the mix of big band and slow songs

Litt masete men også ganske bra 3.5

Certainly an appropriate album title. The man was one of the most prolific artists of his time, and of all time. I don’t find anything super incredible about this album, but mostly because I wouldn’t want it to be someone’s introduction to Ray. For a fan, it’s required listening.

Self-proclaimed geniuses rarely live up to their own mythologizing, but the proclamation tends to ring true when you’re one of the most prolific purveyors of popular music in the 20th century and beyond.

The title of the album fits. I loved every song and got goosebumps when I heard “Come Rain or Come Shine.”

Amazing!

they right

I haven’t listen to much Ray Charles before, but I see now why he is considered so influential. This is a very good album.

8/10

Great proto-R & B album!

Old, piano heavy. Must have been interesting for the time

G-ray-t

When you name your album "The Genius of Me," you sure as shooting better be able to bring it. Well, he brought it -- big band style. 1959 never sounded so good. Definitely an album better listened to on vinyl as digitally it's a bit harsh. But still 5 stars nonetheless.

Amazing big band and Ray Charles!

This is kind of a joke right. This record has some fine music on it with one great artist and some other fine ones I'm sure. This is far from ray Charles best work and doesn't even suite him that well. Could've died without listening to this

Wéér Ray Charles en Stevie Wonder in één week. Alsof de duvel ermee speelt. Eigenlijk is het verband tussen die twee niet zo groot, maar ik heb het vorige keer gelegd en nu zit ik er aan vast. De bigband opent luid en duidelijk. Na 30 seconden bronzen getetter begint ome Ray lekker erbij te schreeuwen en is het feest compleet. Dit wordt ondanks de 38 minuten toch weer een hele zit. Dit album bestaat uit oorverdovend getoeter en rustige nummers. Die rustigere nummers kom ik prima doorheen, maar de drukke nummers vind ik amper te doen. Voor mij teveel schel getetter. Geen fan van.

It's ok. Not quite my style but I see why it did well at the time it was released.

Ray never disappoints, this was an absolute bop of an album. The horns section blaring, Ray's voice shining through...this is big band blues at its finest. It's hard to believe this album is 60 years old. The slower downbeat songs are somehow not overshadowed by the in-your-face over-the-top numbers and this is the real genius of Ray Charles. The man had soul for days. Standout Tracks: Let the Good Times Roll, It Had to Be You, Just For a Thrill, Come Rain or Shine

Genio el Ray Charles en su debut

Lots of brass.

Genius

More slow covers. Tho this one is better than the other album

Genius is right!

Buen album, muy tranquilo y esta para relajarte o hacer tarea. A destacar "Come Rain or Come Shine".

56/100 Based on this scale: 1 star - 0 to 19 2 stars - 20 to 39 3 stars - 40 to 59 4 stars - 60 to 79 5 stars - 80 to 100 It's Ray Charles. It's comfy, without offering me the mind trip that so many other musical journeys provide.

Good for the xmas preparations ans being a bit tipsy during baking cookies.

Ray Charles was very accomplished musician, I really liked Ray Charles when he plays blues, but I wouldn't say this album is a representation of the genius of Ray Charles. But let's not be too harsh here, if we consider it was released way way back in 1959... he'll my mum was barely a teenager then... so it's in the hayday of jazz and the big band sound, and fornthat era it's a smooth compilation. Did I enjoy the album, yes, mostly. Would I listen to it again, well yes kinda, if it was already on in the background. What tracks did I like, well none of them really stood out, but I didn't completely hate any of them either.

Listening to this on 1st December was absolutely perfect, banger of an album

Not my typical genre but it was an enjoyable listen. Definitely would be really good in the right environment

I mean, yeah, five stars. I'd listen to this anytime.

Like liquid caramel being poured into one's ears. Tail end of the nineteen-fifties, and this still sounds sensational through a good set of speakers. Charles' voice - a beautiful mix of smoke and silk - is just about the standout here, but everything on this album is sheer class. The quality of the arrangements, song choices and performances doesn't dip even once. Damn, in some ways this feels like a relic of its age - but in others, startlingly forward-looking.

Ahh. This is nice. This is refreshing. It's like the Sprite of this week's list.

Timeless music from Ray Charles, big band ensemble paired with his stellar piano and voice make this an easy 5/5.

Soul. Jazz.

I have a world of respect for Ray Charles but I just don’t care for his music so this album did nothing for me.

I think a little better than his last album

Jazzier than expected

Classic!

i like the guy, he's alright

Prima

More of this please. Love the voice, the horns, the grooves.

Love a little grit in my crooners. TBH I don’t love this particular set; Modern Sounds is my favorite. But everyone should give Ray Charles a few listens in several stages of life.

3/5

Good!

I'm gonna love you, like no one loves you Come rain or come shine High as a mountain, deep as a river Come rain or come shine I guess when you met me It was just one of those things But don't ever bet me 'Cause I'm gonna be true if you let me You gonna love me, like no one love me Come rain or come shine Happy together, unhappy together Wouldn't it be fine Outstanding album. Classic, yet fresh on every listen. 5/5

Good stuff, surprised I haven’t heard any Ray Charles before.

Decisamente molti ottoni, mi è piaciuto il fatto che fossero vagamente ordinate per mood, ma nessuna mi ha fatto innamorare. Contrabbasso intrigante, dovrei provare a imparare qualcosa

Heel fijn album, maar het heeft net niet goed genoeg de tand des tijds doorstaan voor 5 sterren. Maar 4 is ook meer dan prima.

Fantastic. Hadn’t heard his more Jazz-like content, and he does a great job with the down-tempo jazz content.

Idk, I've heard of the genius of Ready Charles, but this sounded kind of bland. I'm sure it's good for someone. I found it pleasant, but that's all.

love it!

Awesome...

Not my favourite but it was a decent walk album. Will I listen to it again? Probably not.

60 years ago this was the music people would put on to fuck to.

Pretty easy listening. I enjoyed the big band tracks but I also enjoyed the slower, more harmonious tracks. Nothing special though. 3 stars

excellent listening piano

Not a fan of the blaring horns, could listen to it in the background though.

It was my first time listening to Ray Charles. It was like a time travel into the past. Lyrics are simple but effective. I will definitely put it into a loop when im feeling blue.

Big band. Classic. 3.8

Jazz mäßig. „Swinging Pop“ steht bei Wikipedia. Ohne mich! Hoffe, ich bin schon halb durch. Ne, Lied drei Aber ich denke nicht, dass ich da noch viel von hören muss um zu wissen, was es ist.

Pretty good album. Ray was certainly a great artist.

An absolute genius indeed.

I thought he was more raucous than this? Maybe he is sometimes. This reminds me of the music my grandparents loved.

I had no idea Ray Charles started out doing big band standards. Wild

Amazing album

Ray charles todo un genio del jazz. ame este album y todo lo que transmite. una leyenda

jsjajaj no se por que me puse bien triste cuando escuche este disco diosmio no entiendo ?

Yeah, seminal and all that - also music for people who are just old or who have heard this stuff on romcoms

Awesome! Hou van dit soort oude muziek, en ook perfect rond de kerstdagen. :)

On a quick listen, I thought this had some pretty music and of course great vocals, but I prefer his more upbeat stuff, and not much of that is on here.

Beautiful, amazingly structured, energetic yet calming

Well kinda what I expected

Timeless. Immediate mood booster. 3/5

Very good

ray charles is awesome, this is all i got to say about this album honestly. was i gayyyyyyyy, till todayyyyyyyyyy??

Episode a million of me not liking vocal jazz as much as instrumental jazz. Its solid tho.

Quite calming and timeless!

fun but not my current style

Liked the first half better I think

Beetje teleurgesteld, dacht dat ik dit leuker ging vinden.

Nice jazz type deal, I like it. Some songs were bangers whilst others not much so rating is straight down the middle.

I haven’t really enjoyed the RC that has come up so far. Couple of songs on this were really nicely put together so deserves a 4 I think

bruh it’s all the same song

Louuuuud emphatic horns made it a sometimes rowdy listen. Back half is very chill and soulful

Not for me

Bit pretentious to call yourself a genius in your own album, but I respect it. First half is big band music, second half is orchestral. Music was kind of boring to me, but he has a great voice and the album is well composed. Favorite Track: Alexander's Ragtime Band

This holds up remarkably well for an album nearly 65 years old. A mix of big band tracks - a sound I'm nonplussed over - and string led easy listening reminiscent of roaring log fires whilst snow flutters down.

Some good tunes. Some mellow tunes. Some forgettable tunes.

Very strong beginning and end. A classic

Relaxing, splendid. Highlight: Just For A Thrill

- it's decent jazz with vocals, but nothing super memorable or remarkable i guess? - the production/recording quality isn't the greatest, maybe just because it's super stagey cause it's jazz? - yeah it's def a bit "deep fried", esp in treble regions, kidn of detracting from listening experience - didn't know he was blind, that's kinda cool - it's quite relaxing and beautiful but no song individually worth saving...

i fucking love ray charles

a good vibe

I'm finding this a bit middle of the road. The vocals a good. The orchestra is good. But it isn't knocking my socks off.

What a great, varied album! Plenty of upbeat swingers and lots of slower moving songs. I just wish it was balanced a little bit better! The man can sing like the greatest and he has great performers behind him. 8,5 out of 10

Really soild album from one of the early pioneers of popular music. Charles showcases a unique blend of blues, jazz soul and gospel. But in comparison to modern music this does feel a bit dated now. One that’s worth a listen but won’t be making my frequent rotation list.

Bop. 8/10

Brani Preferiti: - "Let the Good Times Roll" Note: Iniziamo con un grande problema, questo album ha la spettacolare voce di Ray Charles, ma non ha il vero Ray... dov'è il ritmo, dov'è il soul, dove sono i cori?! Per carità, questo è un buon album ma il nome scelto non è per niente adatto, ciò che viene mostrato al suo interno è un Ray che sa seguire i trend. Mostrare che sa cantare un jazz lento è parecchio distante dal vero genio di Ray Charles.

Fifties Ray. Pre-HTRJ.

An album where you just have to sit and listen. So good and full of emotion.

Good but too old timey for me

I enjoyed it. I knew a few songs on the album so it was cool to hear the reset of it and get an idea of the entire story

Lowkey a fan of this style/genre of music solely because of Fallout (which is kind of cringe, but whatever). This is a pretty good album. His voice is so iconic, and the presence of a big band backing him is great. I really like how they loved to use muted trumpets all the time in this era. The shitty tin can microphone quality also added a lot to it. A low 4/5

Classic soul shit. Impossible to dislike even though it's not really my thing. Incredible singing obviously, great piano and sax solos throughout. The big band backing arrangements on side one get a little hard to differentiate across songs (a little samey/repetitive), but it's never bad. Side two is preferred for me with the more orchestral arrangements. Really a go to album if you're in the mood for that 50s jazz club atmosphere. Favourite songs were "Just for a Thrill" and "Am I Blue".

The genius of Ray Charles is evident in this album. Sad that there’s so much distortion in the recording but doesn’t take away from the brilliance in songwriting and harmony you get to witness. All the warm feelings associated w beautiful heartfelt vocal melodies have come to me and swept me off the floor on this hazy November delhi afternoon. The string section is masterful, absolutely transporting these songs to another level. I made the stank face many times 🥴🥴🥴 Definitely going back to this album to be the soundtrack to a cold moody day

Holy shit his voice is incredible. I felt like I was transported to a speakeasy bar in New York or Chicago just drinking a whiskey on a Thursday night and it's snowing out after I've spent all day working and I'm weary. It seems very Christmas-y I'm not sure if this because of how cold it is outside or because of just the warmth in the songs? Or the instrumentation? Overall really enjoyed this. Easy listen, and went through it a couple of times today. Just left it on and felt no reason to switch it out. The only minus here (and it's pretty big when you start noticing it) was the distortion from the audio quality(?), I didn't mind it too much initially but at some point I couldn't unhear it and it got annoying. I wish there was a remaster or something. Standouts: It Had to Be You Tell me you'll wait for me

2nd half was more enjoyable for me. Love when ray slows it down

Beautiful, classic, started my day off right

I prefer rollicking and fun Ray Charles to ballad singing Ray Charles. The first song on the album is amazing but then it goes to snoozetown and never returns.

Turns out I needed more Ray Charles in my life

I mean come on.... who doesn't like Ray Charles? Hahaha need I say more? Big band swing and his style

Really enjoyed this one.

Good classic easy listening music, great for the background

A great album almost a 10 out of 10 it helped t fall asleep so I guess it was soothing. I'd have to say it has to be you was a highlight track.

Classic, brings me back to an era

That's a bold claim you're making there Mr Charles, but goddammit if you're not spot on. Reminds me of the music I'd hear my grandparents playing when I was a kid

#18. I thought this one wasn't as good as the other Ray Charles one. Either that or the novelty of listening to old timey music wore off. Or maybe it was because I was sober when I listened to this one? Who knows. It was fine, I guess. The album title is a bit pretentious though, no? 3/5: acceptable Song added to playlist: Deed I Do I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link

Jazz vibes, very appreciated. Little album cohesion, but every track is good individually

Good album. I don't listen to Ray Charles too much so I'm glad I got this album. I'm not likely to revisit this album but I'm still glad I heard it.

SO FUCKING GOOD, soul music FOR REAL, the sax, his voice, the whole theme of the album, so so chill and mellow and pleasant and also, the arc felt kinda relevant to me lmfao idk, would listen again from beginning to end

Classic Ray Charles music, horns are amazing. Come rain or shine is probably my favorite track.

Big, bold, brassy, and cheerful, even on a song called "Two Years of Torture." Love it! The slower songs later on the album, sad as the lyrics may be, still have a real sense of contentment about them that is satisfying. Not a fan of the song "Am I Blue" but only because of the backing vocals.

It's like good Christmas music that isn't about Christmas. First half of the album the horn and big band accompaniment can distract from Charles, whereas the second half string and ballad-y feel better suits and highlights his singing.

- Not a bad listen but nothing I'd go back to - Let The Good Times Roll was pretty good - Nothing else stood out too much - 2.5

- really really enjoyed this one - his voice is so warm and smooth - very comforting to listen to - feels like a 5, but could be biased because there’s frost on the ground and this music reminds me of the holidays

Like jazz, not a bad artist. Just to old of taste for me.

Personally, great winter album.

Am I Blue is wonderful as is Come Rain or Come Shine.

Favorite Songs: Am I Blue; Let the Good Times Roll; Come Rain or Come Shine Big band and strings. The album is a tale of two sides. I prefer the crooning Ray of the second side. His voice shines, the strings complement. First ever listen and a true show of Rays genius.

Listened Before? No I understand (at least basically) the legacy and impact of Ray Charles, but three songs in, I'm feeling pretty meh. I think a lot of it is my lack of interest in big-band style jazz. Yea, I dunno. This was on in the background and while it is all fine musically with very pretty interplay between the vocals and the backing band, I just really had a hard time caring. Felt like good music for either sipping highballs to and feeling "sophisticated," or shopping for groceries. Giving this a low 3 because it is all fine, but I won't be back. Added to Library? No Songs Added to Playlists:

Love me some Ray Charles. Smooth classy easy listen

The title of this album sounds like a biography or a documentary; it's funny that he named it himself. Big brain stuff, Ray. This is nice pleasant album to listen to with practically zero flaws. That being said, it was a steady level of high throughout this album, but no real peaks that especially resonated with me. This album sniffs 4.5 stars for me, but didn't quite do enough for me personally. Good listen for sure though.

Legendary album that was nice to listen to but would never choose to put it on. His singing to go along with the jazz is great. This is excellent background music

This was alright. Had it on in the background while working and it sounded good enough, but it also all sounded the same. Enjoyable enough though

Not my taste, but good. Slow songs are nice

a genius alright!

Good sound, but most of the songs sound the same. Not many memorable standouts.

Jaaaazz

star ratings suck

people maybe dont know this about me but i really really like ray charles 'you wont me go' aaaaaw fuck man :'

good, but the mixing and quality of the music leaves a lot to be desired

Very beautiful album! 4/5

This is enjoyable. Not something I'd be likely to put on by choice but I'd be lying it isn't a good time.

Half jazz. Half blues. Piano and horn. Pretty good.

A side big band tracks were fun, but the ballads were a little too slow for my taste. Can appreciate the sound though.

Great ray Charles album, iets te veel ballad voor mijn smaak

Fuck wat een bangers. Tijdloze classics, geen andere woorden voor. Dit album nooit geluisterd echter nu baal ik dat ik dat nooit heb gedaan. Rock and roll, jazz, it’s all there. Een aanrader!

Not for me. Kinda basic.

Incredible voice. What an absolute great album!

Side one is fantastic. Ballads on side 2 get a little samey and a little over-orchestrated for my taste.

Not good

Funky, bluesy, and authentic. Ray radiates energy and charisma!

Jazz standards and mainstream production. Solid performances all the way around. It's a little over-produced for my liking, but it's still a strong album. If I had my way, I'd prefer a do-over with a four or five piece combo. (I submit the intro of You Won't Let Me Go as evidence for my preference.)

Objectively really great, but not something I’d throw on all the time. Great rainy Sunday morning music.

Music transcending sonic sight; love and emotions in the depths of hungry horns and jaunty bass lines. Sounds instantly classic. You could say the title is hubris, but you’d be wrong. Easy and pleasurable listening.

Clearly really good even if classic slow 50s

Ok. Good singing..

This album transported me to so many places in the 1950s/60s: jazz club late at night just vibing- maybe dancing with a handsome man, a cozy, dark living room smoking a cigarette from a holder and drinking a glass of gin, a fancy, expensive restaurant. His voice is like a velvet blanket. So full of soul and life but effortless. A perfect album.

Love Ray. This was all very fun and light. Nice background music while doing errands around the house lol

Pretty bread and butter big band music as far as I can tell. Nothing wrong with that though, it slots in perfectly when you're in a certain mood for that. The listen made me feel happy, which is more than you can say for many albums!

Chose this specifically for morning work while jet-lagged. Was a nice chill listen. If your in for some chill big band and jazz this is a nice one. "Come Rain or Come Shine" is a very nice track that showcases Ray Charles singing.

Timeless romance. Duke Ellington orchestra phenomenal as always

I really appreciate what Ray Charles did for soul music, and music in-general. I don't think this is the best album to represent his music. I think the big band backing takes away from him, as they seem to be the focal point of the record. It would be better if it was just Ray and his piano.

Damn, he can't see the bullshit like Tokyo’s Revenge. My jaw stuck from yawning and this music wasn't worth it

decent, nothing much tbh it was nice to listen to and kinda reminded me of christmas time, the kind of genre of jazz thats popular then

The title of the album alone should let you know that you're about to listen to a genius at work. And the songs this man could make are unbelieveable. God bless his soul for gracing us with this classic ass album!

Great songs, low 4, high 3

Too many standards. Piano isn’t as loud in the mix as it should be.

Jazzy, classic, love it

Nice

Nice One number or two

Heerlijk tijdens het studeren

It is what it is!? I wouldn't revisit it anytime soon.

Not really my jam

Easy listening, makes for good breakfast/dinner music at home.

You can't see me

Ray Charles with his timeless beautiful voice runs through a range of songs with ease. There is always time to listen to Ray Charles.

Heartbreaking yet joyous.

Makes me want to listen to more swing music 3.4

Joda, flere fine spor.

Simply Ray. Can't mistake him for anyone else. Man got his style in 1950s and nobody really got close to his level of performance in that genre of music.

It takes some real chutzpah to call yourself a genius in the title of your album (and not even a Greatest Hits, just a regular record!), but he ain't wrong.

Me ha gustado mucho mucho mucho. Don't let the sun catch you crying Ray Charles 🤝 Arctic Monkeys

The first couple tracks didn't do much for me, but the more the album went on the more I really liked the somber and string-filled tracks. He's got a great voice, and the choir enhances the songs rather than feeling unnecessary, something that happens too often in this era of music. Piano is great too, jazzy without being overwhelmingly nonsensical. Sure, it's mostly dinner party music, but it's pretty, I could see myself liking this a lot more as time passes, but I already like this quite a bit.

Not quite musical dna - that would be modern sounds in country and western - but it is to me an album that lives up or at least almost lives up to its title. Rays genius lay elsewhere, but the man was versatile. 4.5 stars rounded up.

nice to experience ray charles voice - different to what I expected. very varied album. side B preferred, smaller intimate sound, and his voice comes through. a different pace altogether. but mostly its background, atmosphere, as oppose to deeply moving, for me.

Not bad, but not inspiring.

I think I’ve raved before about the desperation with which popular( i.e. “pop”)singers in the 1950’s felt that the yardstick for success was recording with strings. Brother Ray was no different. What I didn’t realise was that Ray climbed that mountain when he was still with Atlantic, who released this record. All of Side 2 features strings. I always thought that Charles left Atlantic & went to ABC Records because they promised to record him with strings. Apparently, however, it was because they offered him higher royalties & ownership of his masters. Anyway, there’s nothing not to like on either side of this record. It opens with a Louis Jordan cover that’s almost the equal of the original. A great version of It Had To Be You follows (the song now most identified with the film When Harry Met Sally) & then the only dud here - Alexander’s Ragtime Band? Really? I’ve never understood why This song is constantly wheeled out by great singers who should know better. But then he slides straight into Percy Mayfield’s Two Years Of Torture - the bluesiest song on the whole record & an absolute winner. The band on Side 1 is awesome - the horns are drawn from great swing bands and their charts are arranged by people like Quincy Jones. Side 2 is a huge contrast. But Ray Charles ‘s vocals shine with any backing & the strings also work for him. The highlights are the final 2 cuts - the great, great Am I Blue (written in 1929, the line “Was I gay?” really makes you smile these daze) & Ray’s magnificent version of Come Rain Or Come Shine. Swings & Strings. It’s a winner for me.

I confess I am a bigger fan of Ray Charles' more gritty Atlantic sides, which are more blues/r'n'b/soul than this. This was clearly engineered for cross-over appeal with white pop audiences, and it certainly achieved that. I don't mind Quincy Jones' side 1 arrangements, which are tight and powerful. The strings side, however, is a bit schmaltzy for my taste, truth be told. It feels like pandering to the middle of the road. I'd like a bit more flavour. That said, Ray's singing throughout is just wonderful. I don't feel like he compromises his tone or phrasing to pander to the intended audience. And the song choices are mostly excellent, drawn from the best of the great American songbook. So, four stars for Ray Charles being generally excellent, even in a middle-of-the-road outing such as this. (Minor note; is it just me, or are there some weird recording artefacts on this record? Some of the horns and louder vocals seem a bit distorted and harsh.)

Ray Charles is a legend for a reason. Enjoyable record with excellent musicianship behind it. Added to playlist: Come Rain or Shine

What a voice! Beautiful record. Favourite track: Let the Good Times Roll. Other than that, the whole thing is just a super lovely listen.

Very enjoyable, would pop a few on a playlist but unlikely to enter the rotation album-wise

Pleasant enough, but this Big Band shit ain’t for me.

I mean it's pleasant to listen to, but after finishing it, I realised how there's nothing really memorable on this album, at least for me. I feel like it lacks of highlights. Great performances overall, and I like his voice. Sadly I'm also not a big fan of the scratchy production. Best song: Let the Good Times Roll

Ray Charles es un gran intérprete pero el disco es un rollo patatero de standards jazz-pop. En la primera cara aparece acompañado por una big band que suena a rayos y la segunda son una serie de baladas bañadas en melosos arreglos orquestales, pero que resulta más tolerable porque en ellas se aprecia mejor la voz y el piano de Charles.

Perfectly competent jazz, though I found it a little boring

Decent jazz / soul but I didn't find it very engaging

Bluesy solid

Not a huge fan of the big band sound. I much more enjoyed the tracks where the piano shined. Love his simple, real lyrics that focus on love and relationships.

Ray truly was a genius

Rating: 2.5

Nice album from Ray. The first half are big band numbers which I think work quite well. The second half is more ballad based but also enjoyable. The talent seeps through and is an enjoyable listen. Strong 3

Dude, it's so good. I haven't listened to a lot of Ray Charles but I love this album now. No major comments on any of the songs, they all mesh very well together and provide a big-band but also a quieter ambiance which is good. Excellent album.

I can respect his genius but not really my thing

Not my cuppa tea. Talented though.

Enjoyed the two listens. Only tracks I really dug were Sympathy for the Devil, Street Fightin Man, and Salt of the Earth. After five listens, these are incredible ballads in the second half of this record. Wow, just wow.

Soulful class

Genius might be a bit much, but he was definitely a classic

a good album, and I like the novelty of having each side dedicated to either swing or ballads, but I personally prefer soul music pioneer Ray Charles to pop crooner Ray Charles favs: It Had to Be You, Just for a Thrill, Alexander's Ragtime Band least fav: Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin'

Genius

Not really my kind of thing but still good!

Think I just don't like big band stuff. First track was alright, Ray shone through and made it his own. Second track though, along with most of the rest of the album, felt too much like he was being told to try and emulate Sinatra, which is never a good thing. No need to listen to that again.

BL: Ray Charles isn’t someone I know much about, so I’ll give it a listen AL: I enjoyed this a lot, some incredibly melancholic tracks on here. I didn’t think it was revolutionary but for the 50s it was pretty good. One of the most soulful voices I’ve ever heard FT: “It Had to be You”, “When your Lover has Gone”, “Am I Blue” 3/5

Smooth but not my cup of tea unless I saw it live

Pretty nice for jazz

I really don’t get on with big band stuff. All just sounds the same to me. Not arsed. But I liked the second half a lot more.

Genius record. Hit after hit on this one. The energy is so high from every member that the feeling becomes infectious (Charles is always gives the perfect energy). The writing and production are both good, for the time. I’ll listen to most of these songs again. 4/5

Wonderful stuff here back to front

Let the Good Times Roll It Had to be You Alexander's Ragtime Band Deed I Do Come Rain or Come Shine Just for a Thrill Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin'

Not my favorite Ray Charles album but still good. 3.75/5

I like Ray Charles, i don’t like big band arrangements. They’re too coordinated. I prefer music to be more loose, especially jazz sounds.

Más o menos entretenido, pero no le he prestado atención. Supongo que darle 2 estrellas es justo por el interés que me ha producido. Buena calidad en el sonido. En este disco solo había una de las canciones más escuchadas de él así que tendré que buscar si hay algo que le haga más justicia.

a little slick

Fine

Bastante bien.

Oozing humanity and positive vibes, while keeping the themes simple and straight forward. Artists today could benefit from going back to the basics, instead of trying to reinvent the wheel. 3 textbooks out of 5 📖📖📖

Good

It wasn't the best produced album, but it wasn't dreadful and I found it quite enjoyable. I also liked the fact that each side sounded so different, which kept my interest going.

Ray Charles is obviously incredibly talented, in songwriting as well as by voice. And it's in a style, soul combined with big band and jazz, that I really normally enjoy. Then why can't I get in this album? It's been baffling me a bit. I find the horn section in the first part of the album annoyingly loud for some reason and I find the second part of the album a bit dreary, even though this normally is also within my style. Maybe Ray Charles himself just doesn't do it for me, but I can't put my finger on it.

all of the songs were just really good and i enjoyed them a lot nothing else to say

Gold Jerry. Gold

Beautiful

liked this way more as it went on; some really nice stuff, tho i think i also just have a soft spot for this kind of romantic blues lol