Reviews (page 11 of 12)
+3 voor Ray, +1 voor saxofonist, -1 voor big bands
Hm... Ik houuuuu van Ray Charles, maar op dit album stonden geen van de nummers die ik zo nice vond. Beetje een tegenvaller, maar wel gewoon chill.
👍🏻
Chill om te luisteren maar had er niet per se veel mee! Zou het niet snel nog een keer aanzetten
Lekker album, ging soms wel wat heen en weer
Kanske inte min bästa Ray, men det är ju ändå Ray.
even at the tender age of 29, ray charles’s voice was already so soulful and rich. and what a voice it was. this one is a good listen. highlights: “let the good times roll” “ ‘deed i do” “don’t let the sun catch you cryin’ “
Not great and not bad, classic for a reason!
Great voice, but the band in the background is distractingly loud. The second half is better. Mostly piano based ballads which let his sound shine well. Decent overall I guess.
Thoroughly enjoyable listen, upbeat and jazzy
This is a good album of standards arranged and played by Ray Charles but I'd much rather listen to an album of original Ray Charles songs. Standout Tracks: Let the Good Times Roll, You Won't Let Me Go, Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin'
Fun and nice
Fiiniä musiikkia. Casino Jazzia
Lupsakkaa meininkiä, I like
Great singer. Strings produced this way always sound schmaltzy to me. No hate but the music passes through without any real resonance.
Favorites: -Golden Years -Word On A Wing -Wild Is The Wind
This was a very pleasant listen. At no point did I feel as if I wanted to skip a track - Ray Charles' voice is lovely, and the music itself is beautiful. That being said, I can't see myself listening to the whole album again. It's just not the sort of thing I normally listen to, and while I found it pleasant, the album as a whole didn't blow me away. I did particularly enjoy "When Your Lover Has Gone," and "Tell Me You'll Wait For Me," and saved them both on a playlist of relaxing/rainy day music.
its nice, a bit one-note
A lovely album to ease into the day. With his seventh album, the dulcet tones of Ray Charles never disappoints. A big-band sound upfront on the album, coupled with a much more subdued ballad/string second half, shows that Charles can do it all, although personally I enjoyed the big band sound more. Best: Let The Good Times Roll Worst: Am I Blue
C'est nul à souhait, Ray Charles ferait mieux de se consacrer à son vrai génie, à savoir se mettre en boule et rouler comme une toupie.
Not my thing
Yeah, I love the Great American Songbook and I enjoy Ray Charles. This entry baffles me because it doesn't showcase his songwriting, singing or overtly his piano playing talent. His Country Western volumes are Ray Charles that NEEDS to be listened to. This album is an average output from Ray and as an example of the Great American Songbook, but as usual, the authors missed a great opportunity to really nail both entries. 3.5/5.
This is exactly what I expected. Nothing more, nothing less. Kind of disappointing, honestly.
The album title is slightly lacking in humility, but it's fairly listenable. I imagine if 50s jazz is your bag, this is a fine album, as it is I'm not a huge aficionado but it was, on the whole, tolerable
I didn't love this one unfortunately but not because it's bad, just because I do not really like this kind of crooner jazz. Some good songs here and there though. It's fine while It's on, but I won't come back to it. 6,8/10
I don't listen to big band offerings generally, so this was a nice foray away from the norm. I did enjoy the quiet numbers a bit more than the swinging big ones though. Thanks Ray, that was a bit new.
Ray has an incredible voice, but this is more the crooner end of his spectrum. I prefer the bluesy rock 'n' roll Ray.
Not a genre that does a lot for me personally, and the first half sounds too obsolete to my ear. The second half is a more somber affair, and it’s definitely a nice soundtrack to a nighttime stroll around the city. Nevertheless, I’m lead to believe that this is pretty mediocre Ray Charles by any measure, and it shows.
Ágætis rólegheita plata
I can see the appeal for the time and the audience studios were trying to sell to. However, it was over produced with the classic big band approach. It did not incorporate the gospel roots he set in his earlier albums. Album was OK, but not the authentic Ray Charles I prefer.
Apart from the title of the album, which is a little bit self-aggrandising I really like this. I loved the big band arrangements and the production. I suppose Ray Charles’s voice got a little lost under the production, but the songs were all really easy to swing along to. It helps that they are all very well-known songs, not only for that time but they have endured and permeated the collective consciousness. I preferred the first half of the album, what was originally the first side. The ballads lost me a little bit. But it was a very pleasant ride.
I enjoyed this, though the whole time I kind of felt like it wasn't the best genre for Ray Charles' talent. I feel like his sound and vocal approach works best with a more stripped-down R&B thing (ala "What'd I Say"). Also, even though Quincy Jones did many of the arrangements, I don't think they were quite as thrilling or inventive as what Nelson Riddle was doing at the time. (Maybe QJ hadn't come into his own, yet.) But "Don't Let the Sun Catch you Crying" was good, as was "When Your Lover Has Gone." I think it might help that I don't already know other (better) versions of those songs by other singers. BTW, do yourself a favor and check out the Les Paul and Mary Ford version of "Deed I Do." Perfection.
A perfectly pleasant listen, but feels very dated - big band swing/blues stuff. Nicely arranged, all very smooth, but lacks a bit of grit for my tastes. 3/5.
Terrible recording quality really gets in the way of what I a, sure is a great record
Beautiful little songs and a soothing listen, but they tend to blend into one another making the album lack truly memorable moments.
Enjoyable music for the background, standard "non-pop-music'" three star rating from me
Fantastic, incredible voice
Classique son de Ray Charles
Not bad. Let the good times roll
3.25
under-whelming-ish
Semmoista kun kuvittelisi Ray Charlesin olevan. Tsilliä
Liked it. Some ballads were a little boring and nothing blew me away
If you’re into theatrical big band or swing music with a lot of strings and snazzy horns (or you just like to fantasize about romance while listening to old records) then you’ll probably enjoy this. Sometimes the horns were too harsh and I wasn’t really into the music. It’s okay for what it is, but I can’t say I love it in any way.
I like Ray but I don't like the Big Band. His genius sure shines through the brash tinny horns. Shame really they ruin what could have been a gem purely because this is what respectable America wanted.
Fun, drags near the end. Best: Let The Good Times Roll (probably biased as its the first track lol)
pretty great but gets kinda samey through the middle sections. for some reason this sounds like Christmas! best songs: let the good times roll, come rain or come shine, don’t let the sun catch you crying
I’m not a big fan of big band arrangements.
3.8/ The upbeat tracks were ok but I didn’t love the slower songs. His voice is incredible, but this album didn’t hit me like I wanted
You know those dorks that write the reviews that only say, “Not my cup of tea . 1 Star” this is what I picture those dorks being super into, it’s not bad but, they’re good at what they’re doing but it’s just bland and boring to me. Ray’s voice is really smooth so I’ll be fair with my review but this is a yawner overall. 2.5 stars rounded up to 5
Not into this
What a voice! The musical arrangements are dated and formal, not really matching the excitement of the vocal. When he lets rio, the backing is still very prim and proper, but that is probably a product of the time. A rock and roll backing would sound way better than the big band sound - but he can really sing! Later work starts to get this treatment and is way better for it.
Just nice, first half was great but with horns that were too loud, second half was gorgeous though, not completely sure on my rating, but for now its a three. A decent record
Classy and swaying but nothing really that stuck out to me.
Not that interesting
Not my style of music but really nice album, will probably grow on me with more listens.
Big band music almost..? Not really my thing and to my shame I don't think I've ever explored Ray Charles. It all seems very adept. Swinging big band jazz. Solid 3 i think.
Ray Charles is exceptional, this album not so much.
Let The Good Times Roll very nice. The brass ensemble reminds me of the kind of music a flapper would get introduced to.
Wanted more of Ray Charles voice. Not into the big band stuff
If this was anyone else is probably be raving. Lush arrangements backing a smoky voice that puts out plenty of emotion. But it's Ray. He sings sassy rhythm and blues. This is too middle of the road. It features those awful choral backing harmonies that were prevalent at this time. This is particularly damaging on the final track. Ray is singing in that special bluesy tone that only he owned. Then in come the harmonies, turning it back into schmaltz.
Raw talent tarnished by too much horny production. But listening to this, I can see where Richard Manuel from The Band learned to sing. I'm glad Mr. Charles inspired my favorites.
A bit too big band for me, but still effortless.
Funkade
I enjoy Ray Charles' voice. Definitely a soul and warmth that elevates the tracks. The album is an easy music-era album to put on and enjoy. I don't think i love any of the songs, but it would be great background music for a mood.
Not the biggest blues, jazzy fan. Nonetheless, it’s an overall good album. Felt like I was in the 50s-60s for sure
TFW (that face when) Ray let’s the good times roll: 3/5
omg that second half was sleeeeepy. I tried to get kasia to slow dance with me in the kitchen, but she just yelled at me to turn that elevator music off.
He's really good - unfortunately brass instruments simply do not vibe with me
First song "Hit the Road Jack" was awesome. Only listened to about the next 6 or so and nothing jumped out to me.
Smooth as silk (like all Ray Charles' stuff), but each song here is cut from that same big bunch o' silk - woman/man done man/woman wrong, and now man/woman feelin' sad 'n' blue about it.
If frontloading the album with bangers is genius then he totally is. Then side two is nice and quiet so you can have a little nap.
even a genius has his off days
Not fully my cup of tea but actually really enjoyed when I was cookingg
It's disappointing that this list contains two albums of the genius that Ray Charles is. The Genius Of Ray Charles: an album with big band and singing pop arrangements and the other: Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music with country and folk songs. That is not who Ray Charles is. He is the man that almost singlehandedly invented soul as a music genre combining gospel and blues in songs like "I Got a Woman". Why is a fantastic album like Ray Charles - Ray Charles (1957) not on this list containing the genre he defined. It is a Shame, Shame, Shame (I know that is not a Ray Charles song, but it is more Ray Charles than the two albums on this list). The Genius Of Ray Charles is a mediocre album and certainly not one of his best.
A pretty good album. Ray Charles does his thing. I don't think I was familiar with any of the songs before listening. It was relatively short. I don't think I would choose to listen to the entire album again but it is definitely better than some of the other albums on this list.
I love Ray Charles, and he was indeed a genius. But the title of this sounds more like a compilation or a pushy sales job than a serious album release. There are some lovely songs within this set, and Charles’ voice is superb throughout. I was however craving a bit more variation of tempo and tone by the middle of this. Probably more of a Sunday afternoon than a Friday morning at work selection.
Classic
Poor recording — the sound regularly breaks up a bit. Could use a lot more piano and a lot less everything else.
Me gustó más la segunda parte. Es que me gusta el blues de Ray Charles. Lo que no quiere decir que la primera parte sea de menor calidad.
Extremely uneven. There are some monster tracks and a whole lot I never want to hear again. Unfortunate. Best track: Deed I Do
Solid album. I liked it more than expected. However, most songs sound pretty similar to me. 3/5
Smooth, catchy jazz, I like it.
Great big band moments. I preferred the first half over the string backed ballads on the 2nd half
‘Two Years of Torture’ ‘When Your Lover’s Gone’ ‘You Won’t Let Me Go’. Is it actually possible to ‘like’ an album so lachrymose?
Best Song: Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying. A really beautiful lyrical theme, in a song where Ray Charles is just the right mix of laid back and freewheeling. Also features what is (in my opinion) the best piano solo of the album. Worst Song: Alexander's Ragtime. The backing band is turned up so loud that each of their entries just comes out as a blaring blast of sound. Overall: Surprisingly, I ended up liking the quieter, more subdued tracks on here. Although usually I like the more bombastic additions, I think problems with the mixing caused the quieter songs to stand out more.
C'est pas le plus pépé des albums de Ray Charles, mais ce n'est pas mauvais. Faut être dans le mood puisque c'est vraiment smooth comme album. Le big band est cool. Ça ouvre super bien avec Let the Good Times Roll. Pièces préférées: Let the Good Times Roll, Come Rain or Come Shine
Let the Good Times Roll: ok this is blues, I really like the chorus but could do without the verses. his voice is very expressive. ah this mix is hurting my ears by how abrasive the instruments sound. nice sax solo. listening to this music literally feels like time travelling to the time of its release, which is kinda creepy. this track makes sense as an opener. 4/10 It Had to Be You: Ok I know this song. I like this better than the opener for sure. Pretty basic lyrics with basic rhymes but I guess all music back then was like that. the instrumentation is more basic on this track, for sure. more “radio-friendly”. the ending is nice and climactic 6/10 Alexander's Ragtime Band: ok my fav so far. Also it's not about love so that's a plus. Nice and boppy and even dare I say catchy. Also with an important message for the time I'm sure. Love the left-panned female vocals during the hook lol. May actually save this song. Nice sax solo again, really pretty and kinda atmospheric, feels like a jazz club. 9/10 Two Years of Torture: Kinda melodically and arrangemently(?) similar to his other music so far. Major filler track vibes (despite this being a compilation) and also the lyrics aren't as deep as I hoped for such a title. Unless it's about interracial relationships? Ooh the sax solo is nice and rich in this one lol. Love the bluesy piano as well in the calm little breakdown. Still not my fav of the album tho, def not 4/10 When Your Lover Has Gone: nooo this sounds like something Dad would listen to. Also boring subject matter. His voice doesnt sound as on-point in this one either. skimmed through the rest. very boring song 2/10 Deed I Do: so weird to hear outdated terminology that was considered hip back then lol. I like the attitude in his voice in this one. kinda sounds like italian restaurant music somehow, like something they would play at Maggiano LOOOL. It's an ok song, pretty good. Nice charismatic instrumental breakdown, very skilled and fun. Seems like all his songs have the same structure. Ok climactic ending. 6/10 Just For a Thrill: same rhythm as a lot of the other songs on this album. i like the lyrics to this one, especially because you usually don't hear males sing from this perspective. probably one of the better songs on the album so far. a bit monotonous but a nice chill & classy ballad, a small little journey. more female backing vocals, but they don't work as well as in the other track. saving this one as well. nice ending with the female choir. 7/10 You Won't Let Me Go: listening to this in the pouring rain hits different. again kinda simplistic lyrics (that are untrue anyway) a song that doesn't stand out from the others on the album. also the oh yeah at the end is creepy lol but nbd 5/10 Tell Me You'll Wait for Me: instantly a gloomier feeling than the other songs. the intro was interesting. love the strings(?) in the background, they add a lot of drama. despite the melody being kinda basic this song definitely feels darker than the other ones on the compilation because of the little instrument details. wish the lyrics were darker to match. saved this one. 8/10 Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin': Definitely more depressing than the other songs (the title says all). Also finally a bit of a different melody. I like this one a lot. Saved. 8/10 Am I Blue: amazing strings opening. Pretty flute too. but again the same rhythm as always. love the male vulnerability. nice melody, especially in the B-melody. the lyrics could have been better, another song about heartbreak. not gonna save this one, but it's quite pretty and heartbreaking. nevermind i am gonna save it lol, the B-melody is too pretty 7/10 Come Rain or Come Shine: ok, I know this one ofc. But I have never actually actively listening to it. I think it's one of his biggest hits. Definitely the poppiest song on the album, so it makes sense why it was a hit. Really nice B-melody again, with the haunting choir as well (why are his B-melodies way better than his A-ones)? Not the best on the album, tbh. It's nice though. 6/10
I can't say I ever choose to listen to this style of music but it's nice enough. I don't really have a point of reference as to whether this I'd exceptional or not.
Jane (3/5) Shannah (2/5) Conor (3/5) Bill (3.5/5) (2.875/5)
Like listening to an old time radio.
Super miellyttävää mut en missään vaiheessa oikein kokenut mitään sen suurempaa elämystä. Tosin tein samalla asioita. Pitää kuunnella joskus uusiks.
Good album. Some great big band swing songs, but likely won’t be a frequent listening partner
I didn’t have anything against this but it seemed like an odd selection to represent Ray Charles. I’m not sure that showcasing Charles as a vocalist was all that necessary of a goal. This is all solid but at the end of the day it’s just an album of standards, competently but not remarkably performed.
The two sides of this album are very distinct but I dig both. His piano playing really shines on the back half. The mix is somewhat subpar but otherwise this is really enjoyable.
One of my all time favorite albums is Ella and Basie which was released about four years after this album. The 'Deed I Do' track on E&B is far superior to the Ray Charles original on this album. The tempo is slow but enjoy the southern draw and soft rasp of Charles' voice. However, my advice is to listen to the Ella and Basie album first before you embark on this one.
The album started out with a bang and I wish the whole thing were like Let The Good Times Roll. There is a noticeable dichotomy between up tempo tracks and slower ones. The up tempo tracks are more fun although they tend to have a bit too much of a big band feel. The slower tracks are nice. Ray Charles’s voice shines through, but I want more up tempo stuff.
The album has a nice split of brassy to string with Ray Charles holding it together. He’s talented and the music is full. Not sure I’d self appoint the genius title if I was Ray Charles buy that is maybe because Ray doesn’t feel as relevant to today.
The ballads were good. The big band stuff was not the best.
Anytime I hear an older album like this, it reminds me of Christmas music. This is probably good. I just don't need to listen to it.
Really harsh trumpets that seem to overpower what is trying to be accomplished on this album. It's jarring every single time. Without them I'd probably rate this one star higher. Love the mood and feel of Ray Charles on this album and we really don't need blaring trumpets to compete with him.
Pretty decent album. Ray Charles is a legend and his music is all around good. I felt this album was easy to listen to and it was entertaining. It didn’t blow me away or make me replay any specific song but it was good. 6.7/10
Really good. But, it is just a bunch of already well-known standards that he's singing. Nothing original here. It's good, but I can't give it more than 3/5.
Låtarna på slutet var bättre än de i början
This one was nice. The songs themselves are pretty basic, but there’s some nice instrumentation here, such as on “Alexander’s ragtime band”. I’m gonna slap a 3 stars on this one. The most impressive and interesting thing I’ve heard on this in a little bit.
Listened to it a day late on a Sunday and glad I did. Perfect lazy Sunday listening. Completely forgettable though...
what a lovely listen! i so enjoyed listening to this album. i enjoy a good album containing covers of classics! it wasn't perfect sounding, but that's the beauty of it. the second half of the album hit me hard. “am i blue” is going to stay with me for a while. charles’ voice really shines in the last few songs!
I liked how this album was divided in half between a "big band" jazz sound, and a more "stripped down" piano ballad sound. Between these two parts, this album clocks in as pretty short, and yet Ray commands each track, giving them his all and lending his full-bodied soulful voice to these old standards! He sounds golden and he makes it seem so effortless. In addition, despite the fact that this album's recording is such poor quality, his playing of the piano comes through so nicely and effortlessly, especially on the second half. Jazz is not a favorite of mine, but Ray makes this so easy to listen to.
Cracking voice. The whole album merged into one long track for me, but I did enjoy it.
Coule.
Interesting to hear the big band sound, but nothing jumped out at me. Perhaps a bit of its time?
Okay to me. Not my favorite sounds
nice. smooth.
pretty slow but so smooth 3.5
Not the best from Ray Charles, but still a great album. Incredible voice !
It's Ray Charles doing the crooner thing with an orchestra, not Ray Charles Shakin a tail feather in the Blues Brothers. It's good but requires the right setting.
Wasn't expecting to bump into Ray again after the goodness that was Modern Sounds but I can't complain. This is a fine collection of songs assembled here, not exactly genius level as portrayed in the title of the album but it's still Ray Charles in his element and that's always a good thing. Favorites: It Had to Be You, Alexander's Ragtime Band, Deed I Do, Just for a Thrill, Am I Blue.
2/7/2022 Today's Album: "The Genius of Ray Charles" by Ray Charles - Going back to the first artist I reviewed, this album is another stellar work by the great Ray Charles. This might be a compilation album of some of his best work, which would make sense given the bangers on this album, but I think it still flows well as a traditional album. I don't think I need to say too much more about this one. Its Ray fucking Charles. If you like country western albums, he is the best and his talent is not to be understated. The best track on here is the super hit "Let the Good Times Roll" and the momentum pretty much keeps up from there. It Had to Be You makes me sad because my now passed grandmother sang it a lot before I ever heard this version, so I think this album hits extra hard for me. No other track quite grabs my attention like the first 2, but they don't have to. This is the kind of album you have playing in the background during dinner or something and it is some of the best there is for country western music. Give it a listen if you like this sort of thing, or just listen to the first 2 tracks to hear some great lyricism and artistry. Score: 7 Another great classic Highlights: Let the Good Times Roll, It Had to Be You, Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin'
Some great big band blues standards - my top pick is 'It Had To Be You'.
Not the Ray Charles I was expecting. Much more of a big band, orchestral sound than his bluesy, R&B big hits I'm familiar with. I prefer the latter but this was still good.
album ranged from a piano chuck berry to a songs similar to frank sinatra, decent 60s album
Fun, and a nice listen, but otherwise standard crooner fare - nothing really stands out from the whole.
Love the big band jazz upbeat songs. The slower crooners are pedestrian, but quite lovely (eg. Don't let the sun catch you cryin'). A high 3 because the slots are too slow.
Sentimental Beim spazieren gehört, 02.01.2022
More mellow than expected. A great listen on a Bank Holiday Monday morning.
Nice and easy vocal jazz for your mornings. Ray Charles always sits well.
ist musikalisch sicher ein sehr hochwertiges album und irgendwie auch lustig zum nebenbei hören. werde es aber vermutlich nicht bewusst nochmal hören, ist einfach nicht meine musikrichtung
Eh cool :) keine Ahnung, mehr fällt mir gad noch hat ein. Gestern war Silvester...
6/10
Fairly pleasant to listen to, but all the songs sound the same.
There was a lot of talent on display for what turned out to be a very average album. Didn't care too much for the songs and there wasn't enough of an interesting twist on the standards for me to enjoy.
Best aardig eigenlijk!
This is a good handful of songs. It helped Charles to popularize his name. Excellent orchestra and sound. I cannot hear a lot of his “get the road Jack” R&B in this thou… Enjoyable, for sure
3 1/2
good but not what i'm angling for today
Classic Ray. Easy listening.
While Ray Charles was a genius, his amazing voice was overwhelmed by the big band horn section.
I was aware of Ray Charles, but I couldn't have named a single song of his. The first half of this album was big band music and the second half was orchestral ballads. As a modern listener, I found Charles to be an amazing vocal talent but the orchestra and lyrical themes didn't age as well (10/12 songs are about romantic relationships and most of those are about failed relationships). The cover photo is a bit misleading as this is not a piano-focused album.
Classic blues-inspired R&B. Not a lot of variation to be found, but Charles does one thing and he does it well.
More of a 3.5. Few great song but the second half was a slow for my taste
Classic, big band feel. Great holiday album.
Who am I to rate the musical genius of Ray Charles? Seriously though, this album was my very definition of a 3/5 - started well, with let the good times roll being an absolute classic, and I was enjoying the listen through the cover of Alexander's ragtime band - after that point though, it slides into a series of interchangeable ballads where Ray moans about people dumping his sorry ass, only picking up for the final track come rain or shine, where he keeps to the subject matter but at least does it in a slightly more upbeat fashion. Would I choose to listen to this again? Probably not, but I wouldn't immediately leave the venue if someone played this to me.
I didn't realize how long ago this came out. The mix on my laptop wasn't great but that's noones fault. I didn't quite get into it but I enjoyed what I heard. Especially the "simpler" tunes I was surprised by.
Baladas de Ray Charles. Se me han hecho un poco de bola...
Un poco rollete
The B side is unfortunately sameier than the A. Ray Charles's voice is consistent and compelling, but there was little more on the bones in the first half. The transition to slower tunes is very nice, but the rest of them blur together a bit. This is a nice sampler record, especially if you like the genre. No jazz edge, sadly.
This feels like a pretty forgettable big band record. Am I Blue is a great song
JazzSoulGospel með pínu blús. Klassík.
I would hope that there is more to the genius of Ray Charles than singing a couple of big band standards. The ballads at the end are nice but overall I find this very meh. 5/10
It’s alright. No complaints.
20. The Genius of Ray Charles - Ray Charles 12 tracks. It's foot-tappingly, nod-along in the background decent. I can imagine that loads of these tracks were used in films back in the day. It doesn't make me pay attention though & definitely won't make me listen again. 3/5.
It had that old jazz and blues feel to it... almost put me to sleep....
Jazz, big band, r&b, blues... una mica de tot i tot bó... no és la meva música preferida, però cal reconèixer un gran disc quan t'hi trobes amb ell...
Always thought I'd listened to Rau Charles but I haven't....turns out it's exactly how I imagined it
Wiki notes say his debut album was released in 1957 and this 1959 record was his seventh. He's pumping out a lot of music. I am not a fan of the orchestration since I'd prefer if his piano playing was front and centre rather than buried. Two Years of Torture is typical of this. I can't really hear any piano until the solo which is more than halfway through the song. Yeah the trumpet solo is good but if I'm spinning Ray C I'm spinning it for the piano. Just for a Thrill also has excellent keyboards outside of the solo but the orchestra tries to hide them. I wrote the above after my first listen. The second time through was more enjoyable since I knew what to expect and really appreciated the piano and his vocals when they came. Come Rain or Shine is a wonderful way to end the album as he shows excellent control of his velvety voice. Coin toss for 3 or 4
Not my favourite genre but Ray Charles is an excellent singer and has some catchy songs - 6/10
I don't know a lot of Ray Charles, and I didn't know a single track from this album. It's all good and fine, but I think there are other albums/tracks I enjoy more. 3.5 to 3.
It’s classic Ray Charles. You either like it or you don’t.
Ok
Big band Ray Charles, not his best work tho
Good, but a little to slow fir the mood I was in. Some classics though.
A bit to much swing for my taste. But some great tracks
Pretty dated. I really liked the mellower b-side.
not the most upbeat and my style but incredibly influential and he has a great voice and music overall.
I like the big band side but it kind of loses me on the back half with all of the ballads.
not my cup of tea but he has a great voice
Ne znam, osjećam da je ovo u nekom ranku sa Frank Sinatrom. Takva glazba, kao za gospodu. Uživanje uz viski pokraj kamina dok vani krpa snijeg ili pada kiša dok puše hladan vjetar - govoreći za drugi dio albuma.
Gledao sam film o tebi care kao mali na DVD-u imao original tako da sam neke i prepoznao, no zaboravio sam sve te utvrdim gradivo ponovno zbog ovog super albuma.
While Ray Charles was undoubtedly a very gifted musician, calling one of your own albums "the genius of myself" really seems like too much. That said, despite the undeniable musicianship, the songs were just not interesting enough to me. Add to that the production which sounds even older than the album itself.
An easy listen, enjoyed from start to finish and would definitely put it on again for another listen
Great talent but the album feels a little too similar at times, which brought this down a score from 4 to 3. Still very enjoyable and calming Saved: Let the Good Times Roll
I like it - but it is a bit too big-band for my tastes
Enjoyable. No stand out songs for me. But I like the style.
Nice to get a proper old album. Absolutely no doubting the man's influence and legacy, such a recognisable voice. I bet this album gets absolutely rinsed in films and hotel bars. I wasn't so much into the "big band" first half of this album. The chilled second half was more my vibe. 7/10
great voice but some of the songs are a little big band-y for my liking.
Boring, but listenable.
Whats not to like. Standard.
Decent album
5.5
Todo un artista al piano. Buena voz y buenas canciones
1959, Swingin' pop, traditional pop, rhythm and blues
Not really my style
Not bad, just not memorable.
Thanks Ray, very cool. 👌
Wasn't THAT genius
Good nice music, nice to listen to.
Pretty good, very jazzy. Probably won't listen again though.
Flew by and I loved the slower ones. Here I was saying the other day that we need a new blind guy. I hate people just saying 'Stevie Wonder could have done a better job' or something like that. I found out that Ray Charles was the blind guy before Stevie Wonder so we're due for a new one.
Nikad nisam slusao Ray Charls-a ozbiljno, niti jedan album ceo, vec samo po neki hit kao Hit the Road Jack. 7/10
Yeahhhh this was decent
Storbands-jazz, inte riktigt min smak föredrar kvintetter/kvartetter, men Ray Charles är Ray Charles
Nice easy listening
Legendary
My kind of background music. 3
false
3.5 stars
Klassisk Ray Charles, kærligheds soul, charmerende, 50’er
more like a 3.5... very easy listening but nothing stood out
12/14 Real classy, lovely instrumentation. Standout Tracks: It Had to Be You, Just for a Thrill, Tell Me You'll Wait for Me, Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin', Am I Blue,
First half is cool upbeat big band stuff, a good few foot-tappers. Second half is all ballads, lost my attention. Didn't totally lose steam but it started to drag towards the end, which isn't great at 37min. And tbh, "standards" are just covers at the end of the day, no matter how well played. This is a covers album, and reading all the other, overwhelmingly gushing reviews for it... wtf guys, get your hands off it. That being said, would listen to the first half again. 3/5.
This is ok... I can see the appeal.
Гарно але трохи нудно
at the beginning it felt jolting with the louder instrumentals , but as it progressed and included piano i found myself enjoying each track more than the last.
Some big band songs followed by ballads. Ray Charles has a really great voice but I didn't like the strings it was a bit too much for my taste. Favorite Songs: Let the Good Time Roll
Mooi, maar niet zo onderscheidend. Laat vooral zien dat zn stem mooi genoeg is om zich staande te houden in een big band, zonder de rest van zn muzikaliteit
Didn’t like it very much but good job Ray
Idk, I kind of would have liked this album more if it had been all ballads, which is never something I'd have expected to say about anything
Insanely skilled and so full of energy but it's just not the right energy for me. Jazz isn't my forte so this was uninteresting to me, apologies. 2/5
Not really my thing
Ray's voice does not go with big band sounds. Album probably made to attempt commercial success.
1959. The album showcased Charles' breakout from rhythm and blues and onto a broader musical stage (more of a swing-pop style).
1.) Very jazzy opening. ooh, nice vibe - giving Alastor music? - very nice accent on him. Very loud trumpets/background music. It reminds me of the Michael Jackson movie. 2.) More calm opening than #1. Oh, nice scratch on the voice. I don't really know how to feel about this. 3.) Smooth transition, very upbeat! I think this might be my favorite. 4.) Trumpet bursts like fireworks at the start. Mostly instrumental ngl. 5.) Soft opening, love it! 6.) Short but emotional, pretty good. 7.) Soft as well, calm smooth voice too! 8.) It's giving Chinese restaurant background music, but in a good way that makes me hungry. 9.) It started suspenseful but it's very sweet when the vocals come in. A very Disney feel to it. 10.) Beautiful start, almost angelic. Oh wow, the violins are so beautiful in this song. 11.) Same-ish start as #10, vocals are a bit more soft. This one is way more emotional, which definitely gave it bonus points. 12.) Jazzy sad entrance, almost nostalgic. His voice never fails to have that scratchy, aged feel, and combined with the angelic voices in the background makes for an amazing vocal synchronization.
Man it’s just too boring
I honestly had higher expectations! Somehow even with all its big horn sections, the album fell a bit flat for me. Standout: Alexander's Ragtime Band
Come Rain or Come Shine
langweilig
A bit too slow for me.
Not a huge fan of this one. Still jazz
Hvordan er det her nogensinde en OK titel til en plade, jeg KAN ikke forstå det..... Jeg er ikke god til at lytte til sådan noget her, man kan jo nok sige alt muligt om for tiden og sådan noget men hvad ved jeg om det, 2.5, det er fint nok. Skud ud til "Was I gay, 'till today"
Oh great, more swing Foden vipper og alt det der, men det er som om det faktisk også fungerer bedst, når jeg ikke tænker over, hvad det er, jeg lytter til. Altså, når det forbliver i baggrunden. 2.0
- Great voice and piano playing, some nice strings on the second half, too. - Starts and ends strong with a few good songs, but the rest is generic jazzy heavy handed big band filler that's just a lot of brass doing the typical punctuation thing (which doesn't keep my attention). - Honestly, most of these songs feel like someone else (Sinatra?) could have sung them because they're so by-the-books. - Lyrically, it's all super boring surface-level love songs (from a serial cheater, lol).
I felt incredibly bored.
like ya it was good, but after watching his movie i don't like the guy and that over took my opinion on this album
nie lubie jazzu, z wlasnej woli bym tego nie wlaczyla nie chcialo mi sie brnac troche
Andre skiva med Ray Charles. E bare ikke for mæ rett og slett.
Svingende storbandmusikk som virker helt standard etter mine ører. Blir litt mer inderlig på de siste låtene, men det fenger ikke helt. Kommer ikke til å vende tilbake til denne.
Too nice I’m broken
Ok
So good
Album #72, Ray Charles, The Genius of Ray Charles, ⭐⭐ I kind of feel bad for this review because I know he’s a bit of a legend, but I just can’t lie, this album did nothing for me. It came and went through my speakers and it didn’t touch me or make me feel anything at all. I’m just not that big into big band stuff. The big smacking horns on some of these tracks were actually giving me a headache. I appreciate that the arrangements are varied and complex and some of the chord progressions are quite nice, but I just find the sound to be a little bit obnoxious at times. As for Ray Charles, his voice is phenomenal, but every song is kind of the same. Not necessarily musically, but they’re all about the same thing, being in love with someone who either loves you or doesn’t love you back. That’s 90% of the album. Now! That is also 90% of popular music as well, but I just got bored with this. I don’t really have much more to say than that. I liked the quieter tunes, songs like “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying”, “When Your Lover Is Gone”. “Two Years of Torture” would probably be my favourite, it leans more into blues. Any Ray Charles fans out there, help me with this. I’d love an album that’s more stripped back. Just his voice and a simpler arrangement. These big band backings just don’t do it for me. It just is what it is, and I’m sorry if that offends anyone, but it’s two stars all day for me and I don’t really have any desire to give it another go.
The term 'genius' is one of the most overused and misplaced in musical discourse. What is certain, is that Ray Charles was no genius. I would go as far as saying there may not be a single artist on this entire list who deserves that title. But if we're using it lightly, in a colloquial sense, then sure, I'll allow it. If he's a 'genius' then what is also true is that his songs simply aren't very good. Limited appeal, filled with soul and skillful playing, but largely free of melodic quality and emotion. The 1950s was such a wasteland of music. While literature was in an interesting place and there was banger after banger in the Cinema, music was in a dreadful state. Rock music had made it's landing, but it was highly repetitive and derivative in the US, waiting on a much needed injection of creativity from the UK. Like most albums of the time, this is a circle jerk of megastars sharing the same hits and giving their own spin. It makes for very dull listening. Charles at least splits the album into two styles - shite and other shite. The first half is intolerable, filled with unlistenabke brass, and the second is at least at bit more tuneful. It's a shame that by the time you get there your already numb from what came before.
Big band bwooops is niet mijn ding, wordt wel beter halverwege tho
I suspect if you are a fan of this type of music then this is a really good album. Unfortunately I’m not really a fan so just find it a bit dull.
The big band songs were ok, the rest wasn’t!
2.1/5 Look this isn't a bad album by any stretch. It's just not my cup of tea. If I heard any of these songs playing on the radio or while I was out somewhere I wouldn't mind, but there's not much on this album that would warrant me to come back to it.
Feeling like in an old Disney cartoon
I know Ray Charles is great and all, but this is not at all for me. Has a big band flavor I just don’t like.
Fun music.
It’s good but won’t ever revisit.
whatever
This is my first album-length experience of Ray Charles, and I was disappointed. I suspect these songs are not really making the best use of his talents, though. I came in expecting a soul album, and it was instead a bunch of competent, but not particularly distinctive, versions of jazz standards done better numerous times by others. It honestly starts out with a good punch, on the swaggering version of "Let The Good Times Roll", but from there it just winds down to a whimper by the end. I suspect this program will give me more Ray Charles in the future, and I expect it will be better.
Don’t really like swing, or big band, or ballads, so this was a miss. Like the occasional tune but having Sinatra and Ray Charles back to back has been rough Trumpet count: i bet the horn community talk about swing being the golden age of the Trumpet, & sure there was a lot of good work available. But I think it’s all a bit too uptight and homogenised. Some of us who don’t play trumpet or like jazz or really know anything about swing music will know that trumpets have so much more to offer. 4.5 / 10 Alright track: Alexander’s Ragtime blues
Lite självgod titel kan tyckas? Stabilt men mer sömnigt än genialiskt enligt mig.
Mhh Zuviel r&b bigband elevator? Rührt mich nicht so sehr wie die anderen aus der Zeit…c
Eh j'aime pas ça
I think rather sadly I didn't get on with this. It wasn't unpleasant and I didn't want to turn it off but I didn't feel like I wanted to listen to it again.
Lo más llamativo es la marcada versatilidad entre sus dos caras. Mientras que la primera parte se inclina hacia un jazz demasiado denso para mi gusto, es en la segunda mitad donde aparece el Ray Charles que realmente me atrapa. Vocalmente, me parece el mejor de los tres discos que llevo escuchados hasta ahora en este proyecto
I've no interest in this. Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ❌️ Revisit ❌️ Default ★★☆☆☆ (4/10) Total reviewed : 237 Already owned : 54 Purchased : 12 To buy list : 3 Nope : 168
I have never been a fan of this recording. I like a few of the songs okay, but it just always seemed muddy to me. Compare this to Careless Love from Modern Sounds and the true genius of Ray Charles is apparent.
Got a lil bored , but decent
What is this, a Nora Ephron movie? Ray was 29 when he made this—DORK.
Would have liked it more if I was in a better mood at the time.
The great American Borebook... Charles macht auf Sinatra und klingt... banal. 2 Punkte für das reduzierte Arrangement auf Side B, obwohl das immer noch teilweise schlimm ist.
I liked this one slightly better than the other Ray Charles one I got earlier in my journey - but then again, I like rap and hip hop slightly more than yodelling, it doesn’t mean I want to listen to either ever again.
The album gets repetitive kinda quickly, specially the first half which just kinda sounds the same. The second half is also repetitive but the songs are more calm, which I enjoyed a little bit more. Overall it's just not my cup of tea. Ray Charles has an amazing voice, but the album just feels like generic 50s music and gets boring very quickly. 2/5
😐
4 - BAD
First time listening to a Ray Charles album and I guess it didn't help me understand "the genius". This big band music just doesn't work for me, each time I get randomly attacked with horns in the middle of a song I flinch 2/5
big band jazz. mira vos, no se en donde entra esto en mis gusto pero me gusta. divertido sacar la escala mientras suena. Que buenos vientooos. Y los solitos pianitos. Siento que las mejores canciones son las tranquis. Likes: It had to be you - When your lover has gone - Just for a Thrill - You wont let me go - Am i blue?
(3/7) The slow jazz ballads really lost me
I like Ray Charles but this really didn't do anything for me.
This was tight, I just don’t really listen to Big band ever really. I’m gonna give it 2 stars but I do respect it for sure
My first album from the 50s. Very much in two halves. Let the Good Times Roll is a fun big band track the first in the livelier first half, with others a bit more forgettable. I found the second half quite dull and plodding, although I appreciate how influential this artist is. I hadn't previously realised Ray Charles was blind! He also fathered 12 children with 9 different women. Yikes. 2.5
Can I now get something a bit more recent please?
I love Ray's voice but I feel like a lot of the big band numbers don't really do it justice. The slower softer songs are where he shines. Favorite track: Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying
Fun little album but nothing too memorable for me personally. 3.8/10
Big band sound attracting the post war nostalgic followers of the earlier dance era
not mine (personally)
Ca me fatigue c'est du jazz des années 50 quoi. J'ai soit l'impression d'être martin lefebvre soit d'être dans un film de disney pendant les trentes glorieuses. Finalement pouet pouet la trompette.
2/5 I understand why people like this album but this isnt my cup of tea.
idk, for me it’s a plain jazz album, i like something more experimental fav: just for a thrill
A lot of the songs were very similar
Jazzy
Best Track - "Come Rain Or Come Shine"
Historically monumental and undeniably skilled, yet somehow plays like a very classy museum exhibit where you’re not allowed to touch anything or feel too much. Impressive, not thrilling.
Unspektakuläres Album eines Musik Genres, dass ich nicht mag. Ich war froh, dass ich durch war, Pflicht erfüllt und freiwillig werde ich’s mir nie wieder anhören.
It was ok. Some songs felt like I had heard them before, probably because they are classics but it didn't feel insightful to me.
I mean… sure. Ray was apparently the greatest live performer. His albums are okay.
I sorry mr. Charles, but this is one of the most boring records I’ve ever listened. Your good singing is the only reason for 2 stars.
Dit genre doet me gewoon echt niks. Soms vind ik het zelfs irritant. Dat getoeter en gejazz. Alles klinkt ook hetzelfde. Niks voor mij. Ik kan heus wel horen dat het goede muziek is, maar gewoon niet voor mij. DNF
Helt okej, blev inte så sugen på mer
High As A Mountain, Deep As A River 1001 Albums Generator 174 (12/2/2025) I wish that I cared more about Ray Charles. I understand that he is super influential, but this old style of big band/vocal jazz is just so boring to me. Vocally, it reminds me of the Frank Sinatra album I had recently, which is to say, the vocals themselves are mint quality. The humbly titled The Genius Of Ray Charles is a collection of standards, with the first half being largely bombastic big band arrangements and the second half being ballads. Both sides have a couple of great songs, but most of the songs here are really nothing to write home about. Let The Good Times Roll and Alexander's Ragtime Band are my favorites off the first half. The latter is especially fun. Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin' and the hit Come Rain Or Come Shine are my favorites off the second half. Pretty much every other song I could leave. Even choosing a least favorite is hard because, like on In The Wee Small Hours, most songs are approximately interchangeable. I guess Am I Blue is pretty boring. I don't know man, neither Ray Charles album on the list spoke to me at all. 2/5. Favs: Let The Good Times Roll Alexander's Ragtime Band Come Rain Or Come Shine Least Fav: Am I Blue
glad to know music hasnt changed so much in so many years. didnt finish. was ok i guess
Great performer, not my favourite songs.
Pretty good. Sounds cool. But not for me
Back in 1959, “genius” obviously meant something very different: you took an old tune, sang it like you owned it, and people called you a visionary. Done. Interpretation was the job. You didn’t need to write anything. Arrange anything. You didn’t even need to let Alexander’s Ragtime Band scan properly. By the following decade, of course, genius had changed postcode entirely. It no longer lives in interpretation but in authorship, in the self-inventing demiurge who writes his own myths. Dylan mumbles some poetry, the Beatles discover the Lydian mode and suddenly genius is Sui generis, not a man in a dinner jacket crooning someone else’s cleverness. Which leaves Ray Charles here, stuck with a title that promises more than the record delivers. These dense arrangements smother most of the charm of the songs and Ray doesn’t add anything that wasn’t in the writing: no particular subtext, no fresh feeling, no special phrasing. He hasn’t even select anything particularly great from The Great American Songbook. It is like Hollywood before The Method, a fantasia of what the mid-century thought sophistication sounded like. But genius isn’t sophisticated. Nor is it professional. Nor is it dependent on Quincy Jones. I’m going to look like an idiot when the notion of genius changes again, aren’t I? Ray Charles will have the last laugh. 1.5 So here’s Ray Charles’ ‘Genius’ in a nutshell apparently. But what kind is he? A genius of songwriting? He didn’t write any of the songs here. Arrangement? These arrangements aren’t his. Piano playing? His piano is barely discernible beneath the maximalist orchestra and choir arrangements for almost the entire album. That leaves singing. Yes, Ray Charles is a very nice singer. I have no affection for the Great American Songbook. It is overrated. Whether I am right or wrong it is impossible to believe that anything found on this record represents a superlative account of any of these songs. The arrangements - obnoxious, overwrought, witless - are a chore. Antiseptic glitz. 1.5/5
I'm not a huge fan of this genre of music, and I get that at the time you had to put out several albums a year at this time point to stay relevant, but unfortunately it means that the album has a ton of filler.
I appreciate Ray Charles. I am unsure if I appreciated this record. It was okay but maybe my expectations were a bit higher when it’s called “The Genius of Ray Charles”
I don’t like vocal jazz. It’s has nothing I like about jazz, and the vocals used in this genre are as annoying as in pop. This album is not as mind-numbingly boring as some of its counterparts and has some energetic and even somewhat epic parts like in the opening track, but it’s still not good. 5/10
Either I was distracted or it just didn’t hit right. Interesting album title. Pretty similar to the subject line of my emails
Love Ray but there is something a bit too packaged and sterilised about this. There is plenty of emotional expression in the playing and singing but the big band hollywood movie style of the recording is not my cup of tea and i’m not sure of all the Ray Charles recordings this is the one i absolutwly have to hear before they lay me horizontal and ignite the burners.
I guess you had to have some RC on the list. Not bad. Just nothing I’d ever choose to listen to. 2.5
Good for what it is
I like Ray Charles but I don't care for cover albums.
This from 1959, I know very little about Ray Charles, so it’s good to give this a spin. I did not know he was blind. Lovely instrumentation, full big band on here, lots of wind instruments in particular. Must have been amazing at the time but the sound has dated as you would expect 66 years later. I’m not mad on his voice. Ultimately this is too ott showbizzy for me, it’s like it’s been lifted straight out of a film. My favourite parts are the calmer instrumental sections. Towards the end of the LP the songs mellow out which I prefer. I appreciate the legacy of Ray Charles but have to vote on what this sounds like to me at this point in time. Also all of these songs are about love which is a bit much given he had 12 children by 10 mothers or maybe not.
Don't like his genre.
Bombastic and schmaltzy The Genius of Ray Charles is short on genius and long on undistinguished often way too loud big band/swing arrangements that say little but says it loud AF seemingly as a sort of disguise for how second rate the messy production is. So, what's good? Not much. When Charles just plays his piano and sings things are good sometimes very good, but the bloody production always rears its big loud ugly head and every time the production is confused on how best to handle a powerhouse like Charles it simply gets LOUD convinced that LOUD equals powerful & impactful when in this case it never does and nothing on The Genius of Ray Charles rarely goes above serviceable even the string of ballads that end the album are victims of too many cooks in the kitchen each one more inept than the other. Ray Charles has a great voice & is a skilled soulful piano player but if this is your introduction to Mr. Charles- well good luck hearing either among the schlock production. I would like to take a moment to thank the assholes at Atlantic Records for the booming headache I now have. To Robert Dimery. You could have thrown us a crumb and included the vastly superior Ray Charles album 'Live at Newport' a record that easily rates 5/5.
This was perfectly fine. It’s fantastic for what it is, just didn’t resonate with me too much. It certainly wasn’t shit, just isn’t for me.
Standard easy listening fare. Not what I would really come to think of when listening to Ray Charles. 2.5/5
A pleasant enough listen. It makes me think of my father in law, who liked his jazz and big bands. It's not my go to type of music, but you have to appreciate the drama and musicality of it all. Let The Good Times Roll had me tapping my feet and Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying was another great production. I doubt I'll listen to the album again though.