The Genius Of Ray Charles

So good

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

Brilliant album. All songs are consistently soulful.

What’s not to like?

That is very good

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

Outstanding of course!!

Lovely and powerful

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

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

PERFECT

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

Beautiful

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

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

Good Stuff

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

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

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

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

Great. Loved the orchestra

Legend.

Classic stuff.

Fabulous album of old jazz classics.

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

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

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

What a magician, voice tone, all instint. Grand

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

Great classic bluesy jazz. I loved it

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

Genius is the right word. Great stuff.

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

very good sounds would recommend

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.

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.

Super R&B

I have listened to this

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

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

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.

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!

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

Genius

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

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

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

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

love it!

excellent listening piano

An absolute genius indeed.

Amazing album

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

Beautiful, amazingly structured, energetic yet calming

Very good

Beautiful, classic, started my day off right

Turns out I needed more Ray Charles in my life

Really enjoyed this one.

Classic, brings me back to an era

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.

- 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

star ratings suck

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.

Timeless romance. Duke Ellington orchestra phenomenal as always

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!

Jazzy, classic, love it

Nice One number or two

Heartbreaking yet joyous.

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.

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.

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.

Genius

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'

Gold Jerry. Gold

What a genius this man was. Another great 50's album this week, always glad to see Mr Charles in the line up. Saved a few from here including my own Rag Time Band?? Felt like the same band that Sinatra used too in terms of the sounds but Ray is such a gem. This was a great album to end the week on. Gotta go with a 5 for this puppy.

I like it a lot!

This album has very simple songwriting, which may be a negative for some, but has undeniably allowed this to be a timeless classic.

wow, the “genius” of ray charles? some ego huh 😒 nah but fr these are some excellently crafted songs. i especially loved the abrasion. there’s such an incredible energy to this album too. shoutout to the blind legend 😎

Wow, I expected to enjoy it, but it’s amazing. Horns, piano, his voice, all sound fresh as fuck.

Very good. Ray Charles is one of the greatest. All of these songs are so smooth and perfect for a nice chill listen.

It was the instrumental arrangements that kept this consistently engaging for me. The horns throughout the first half sound absolutely wild and in tone alter between sounding like a celebration of love and a warning of impending heartbreak. Sometimes they sound like both at once. This gives the album a more nuanced feel than you would imagine from reading the lyrics on paper. In the second half as the energy calms down, the instrumentals stay interesting and lush instead of going for a stripped back and I’m glad. This record feels like a conversation with call and response between Ray and his band. Ray is straightforward and heartfelt, but for me the real depth comes from interpreting the tone of the instrumental passages. 👍: Deed I Do, You Won’t Let Me Go

Didn’t love the first half at first cuz I usually like his RnB stuff more than the big band sound and the horns were crazy in headphones but listened to it again in the car and it grew on me. Overall was a great album and just about anything by ray charles is classic. Honestly could go either way on a 4 or 5 and was my favorite of albums I haven’t listened to all the way through yet. 👍: you won’t let me go, just for a thrill, deed i do

5 stars all day long.

Classic

I love his music & his style of piano playing. I'm glad this came up on a day I was feeling blah...it lifted my spirits & ended up listening to hours of him, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke & the like. Yes, Ray Charles is a genius.

All bangers. Ray and the band sound amazing

Beautiful big band kind of sound. Perfect for my slow rainy morning.

Great listen. Made me daydream.

A very appropriate title.

Belta this

Like a big cozy blanket you can wrap yourself in.

The Genius Of Ray Charles is a gorgeous album, smooth and soulful and arrogant and charming and swaggering and raucous and everything else. Absolutely golden stuff, Deed I Do was the best of a high quality bunch, 5/5 stuff.

The good times are rolling here!

cool

Brilliant

Best album so far. An incredible example of ray Charles unique blend of r&b, soul, and the big band pop/swing of the day. Even without carrying some of his biggest hits this album is great!

Fun stuff

Yeh

loved

LOVE IT

sonzeira sensacional

This is a great big band album. Personally, it feels a bit tiresome after a while but if you're into big band jazz and ballads you'll love it. Ray Charles just doing his thing is worth the listen.

Ray Charles is a legend, and this album is legendary. Definitely something I wouldn't seek out on my own, but I'm glad I was recommended this album to listen to

[07/09/2022] Fucking great. I knew my lucky number three wouldn’t let me down. The lyrics are good. The sound is better. Great both for listening attentively and for letting it play in the background as you do something else… I think this was soul/jazz? Life kinda sucks rn but this definitely helps… I can make my days a little better just by listening to this. And Ray Charles was blind too?! Damn. Oldest album yet too, 1959. I wonder what the oldest one will be.

Can't beat ya charles

Glorious. No notes.

He does Sinatra better than Sinatra. Beautiful.

Always solid.

Loved it

Brilliant

Amazing. Ray Charles’ voice just gets you.

You are hosting for your third date. Get some wine and cheese, maybe you just went to the theatre. You show your record collection and of course play this, after telling some bohemian story about how you found it on some random second hand record store. It has to be on a small central-european city, of course. But it works, and the date is a blast.

Great Voice, great album

A beautiful album, Brother Ray’s prowess on keys alongside that whisky smoked voice is a transportive, enrapturing experience. Whether ballad or big band, there’s none finer. The arrangements are sublime (including two by Quincy Jones), the band are brilliant.

This was a surprise and a discovery to listen to. I guess I thought I knew my basic Ray Charles. Big band and orchestra arrangements? Pop standards? But it was pure Ray singing, and while I was at first just a little skeptical, the second time through I just enjoyed the ride and loved his take on some classics. "Let the Good Times Roll" was really a ton of fun and "Am I Blue" was gorgeous. I'm so happy I got to hear this today!

I was not familiar with these Ray Charles tracks, but it was a great listen. Lots of fun and musically interesting.

Sailing smoothly from big band horns to jazzy sax and piano to lush orchestral strings, The Genius of Ray Charles is one glorious ride.

Ray Charles is another of those artists my dad really loved so I heard a lot of him growing up. No sure if I’ve ever heard this album in particular, but I knew some of the songs and very much enjoyed it! Smoking in some places, sumptuous in others, this is a really wonderful addition to the day.

Perfection, geniality, superb arrangements, Ray has an unique talent.

Very good. Great summer album. Makes me wanna sit outside somewhere and people watch.

GRAND RAY FUCKING CHARLES

10/10 my man Ray out here makin the best hits of the century

I could listen to this all day.

Highlights: Let the Good Times Roll Two Years of Torture Deed I Do Just For A Thrill Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin' Artwork: 4 / 10 Rating: 9 / 10

..and to think he accomplished it all without a sense of smell.

Yep, genius is right

um meio-termo q extrapola 💯

Just a good album. I think this might be the first full Ray Charles album I've heard and I am slightly ashamed by that fact.

This was an excellent album! It is the only record I received so far that I actually listened to twice in one day because I enjoyed it so much. Ray Charles is always fantastic, and his performance here is top notch. I have heard what feels like a lot of his work over the years, but I did not recognize any of the tracks on this particular album. For what I know about him, this was a perfect representation of what he is capable of. The first half features more upbeat, big band music (my favorites being Alexander's Ragtime Band, Let the Good Times Roll, and Deed I Do) while the second half features some great orchestral ballads (the highlights being Just for a Thrill and the last three song stretch which is definitely the brightest spot of this record). I found this division between styles super interesting as this was obviously originally intended to be listened to as "Side A and Side B". Some might find this a bit repetitive as there is not much instrumental diversity throughout the two different types of songs, but that didn't really hurt it at all for me as the music and performance from Charles were both very strong. This album is absolutely timeless and nearly perfect. I will definitely come back to this one in the future (maybe I can even find an original pressing for my collection). 4.5/5.

Loving both Ray and Louis Jordan, as I do, I have to admit I couldn't wait to hear this album again. some classics on here but Ray's original voice and these different arrangements are classics in themselves. Love "Let the Good Times Roll" and "It Had To Be You" (Which I first heard on "A Little Touch Of Schmillson In The Night" A great Album that should also be on this List!) But I don't think there is a bad track on this album in my honest opinion. Rightfully on the list I say!

smooth and pleasant

Incredible!

Le genie de ray charles, evidemment. 5* merci pour cet album.

Good classic Ray Charles. Album does not disappoint.

Ray Charles is brilliant.

5/5. Ray Charles’s singing is pretty dynamic actually. Lowkey better than Sinatra 🤭🤫

Incomparably classy.

A ten out of ten

9/10

Loved it. Good background dinner jazz/swing music.

Ray's music always works

I mean, it’s Ray Charles and a big band…how great is that!?

jazz music! big, brassy intense. digigng it. great listen. easy 4 or 5!

Great album, especially if you want an overall slower paced R&B style. Pretty easy 5 stars.

Great tunes. Great voice

Boy is this album named correctly! Genius!!! Whether he’s partying, romancing, breaking up or heartbroken, I want to listen to Ray telling the story. My kind of music.

Sweet, sweet jazz

Oh yeah. Big Band feel? All about this.

Pure gold

Loved every minute! Timeless classic!

What an amazing sound! A well titled album.

Yep

Stellar from front to back. Didn't expect so many string and chorus harmonies throughout. Plenty of classics I've heard before

a masterpiece

An artist stepping outside the box and doing that creative thing....Swing and Pop...sure. Why not!

Took me back to grade 8. The big band feel was a nice change.

GREAT Jazz

A classic, reminded me of my parents

Quality, Ray Charles is an OG baller

Album name says it all. Don’t think this is his finest work but still deserving of top marks

Genius indeed

Yes I really liked this

just gorgeous

Liked. relaxing.

Dope

First one I really enjoyed, and actually listened through. Have always loved Ray Charles. So soothing, crooning, wanting, in love. Great!

great listen. Always loved Ray.

Beautiful charming

BIG BAND JAZZ

Cozy

Liked this a lot - certainly outside of my normal type of music, but I definitely enjoyed this. Standouts: Alexander's Ragtime Band, Deed I Do, Tell Me You'll Wait For Me

A nice listen. Great performances, felt maybe a bit over long

Whenever I hear Ray Charles it reminds me of the movie Ray. I like Jamie Foxx

Swinging big band. It's great but I don't really connect with it, it kind of turns into background music for me. Probably would like it more on vinyl. Dig the orchestral stuff.

so good. classic. big band big sounds. highlights are Come Rain or Come shine and Let the Good Times Roll

Very chill. Smooth.

Mais um artista que cresci ouvindo falar mas nunca tinha parado pra ouvir.. A fama e o respeito que o Ray Charles tem não é a toa, Músico com M maiúsculo. Um discaço que faz parte daquela lista de discos que te levam a outra época, e que você consegue sentir a vibe de algo que você nem sequer viveu. É muito gratificante quando você consegue finalmente filtrar de verdade um gênero musical do qual tinha dificuldade em compreender.

345/1089 Aexander’s Ragtime Band is a BOP ooh this album is classy af, i’m feeling so zen and relaxed listening to it that was a really nice project, a little pleasantly surprised that i liked it this much tbf 74/100

One of the greatest

I’d never listened to Ray Charles on purpose before. This was really good.

they weren't lying about the band sound being big

Obviously have heard of Ray Charles but never this album. Not my faveorite version of good times roll but the production is really good. Definitely dated. It had to be and Alexander’s ragtime kind of blended together. Really good background tracks. Not the most memorable lyrics. Two years of torture is cool. I like it more than I do most slow songs. Good song writing. Again nothing really special with when your lover has gone and deed I do. It’s good songwriting and production but all kind of similar. Another good slow song with just for a thrill. Love the strings. Really cool outro too. You won’t let me go is just a little too slow. Not enough cool production to make up for it. I do like the harmonies tho. Good songwriting again. Tell me you’ll wait for me is a banger. I love the piano. Great rhymes. Just a well made song. Don’t let the sun catch you is more of the same but in a good way. Dude can sing and write. I can’t believe how good the production is throughout. Cool production again on am I blue. Come rain or come chine is another banger. Great strings. Great (but subtle) piano. Great way to close out the album. Awesome outro to boot. Really good album. No outright bad songs, none even were just ok. Pleasant listen. 4/5 stars.

Gives me good vibes from my childhood from the cartoons I used to watch.

Great old school music. Definitely feel transported to certain time

beautiful

Jazz

This was really sweet to listen to. Really easy music to wile away the afternoon.

Great instrumentals. Lyrics were pleasant to listen to.

What a humble title.

Legendary.

Another great Ray Charles album - more standards elevated. Favourite track: Deed I Do

Amazing collection of songs. My man has done it again.

Deuxième album de Ray Charles sur lequel je tombe. Il est très très jazz, mais aussi avec beaucoup de chant, ce qui est pas non plus ma facette préférée du jazz. Mais en vrai, c’est un album hyper énergique, hyper entraînant et Ray Charles est un chanteur hyper charismatique. Cet album me semble cependant aussi un peu plus proche des standards de son époque, là l’autre était plus gonflé dans son approche. Alors dit comme ça, on dirait que je suis mitigé, mais en vrai, je l’ai trouvé super cool et je me dis que vraiment, Ray Charles manque beaucoup à ma culture !

Unmistakably a genius

would pair well with a glass of whiskey

Have I listened to this album before No How familiar am I with this album Unfamiliar How do I feel about this artist? I like Ray Charles Pre-Listen Thoughts: Apparently this is more big band than his other stuff, but I don’t mind some big band so I’m sure I’ll like it Favorite track(s): Let the Good Times Roll Post-Listen Thoughts: Solid 4. Great stuff, nothing that I wanted to skip but nothing that makes me want to give it a 5 either.

Such a talent, maybe one of the greatest singers of all time. The production is a little much at times - but that is more a product of the era.

Yes! Ray Charles WAS a genius. Yeah. My stepfather LOVED Ray Charles. Hard to separate growing up listening to him from my evaluation of this album in particular. My husband was not impressed. But he’s not rating these, I am. 4 Boolean: True - some people were just sheltered and had musically empty childhoods

This is the stuff. One of the greatest ever. Could and did listen to this all day. Would highly recommend watching the movie about him. Pretty sure this album came around Georgia on My Mind, when he switched from his first label. Generational voice, timeless sound, a vibe through and through. Need to get him on vinyl too. Only point of criticism I have is that each song is maybe a bit too similar — they’re all very similar in arrangement and tempo with different lyrics. Even still, I love this kind of music.

enjoyed this

Completely justified album name

Very relaxing, I liked it

could listen to this for hours

Very nice

For some reason, I thought this would be slower and soulful and this was rock and roll and soulful.

Album title is pretty accurate

Jazz e Soul de qualidade excepcional. Um álbum muito rico nos instrumentos e vocais. QoA Adonis New.

He has a surprising number of albums with "genius" in the title. Seems a little pretentious, but it's really not. This album was great. I definitely prefer his old stuff (young voice) to the newer. Definitely worth a listen or two.

Solid album. Starts off with some big band American standards and resolves to American standard ballads on the second half. Probably a 3.5 because some of the stuff is only ok. Several very good songs though - enough to bump to 4 instead of 3.

He’s just incapable of making bad music I just can’t imagine the kinda person that doesn’t like this guy; it’s just a fundamentally solid album that basically doesn’t do anything wrong. He’s got an iconic voice that just makes your day better, great instrumentation, and most importantly just so much energy and soul behind every song. Not a whole lot of 50s albums on this list but the ones that made it on really stood the test of time; it’s just got such a nostalgic sound to it even though I’ve never heard this album before I don’t think it’s quite as good as Modern Sounds in Country, but I have zero complaints about this one. It doesn’t really have a a real standout like I Can’t Stop Loving You, though it has nothing I would consider remotely bad. I think the lack of real high end songs prevents me from raising this to a 5, but this is just a damn solid album all the way through, and I’m genuinely sad we’ve already exhausted all his albums on the list

Classic music uhhhhhh yeah i think if i had this on ata. dinner party id seem pretty classy

Exceptional album, Ray Charles lays it all out there. In an era where everything a black artist recorded was considered a "race record," Ray recorded this one and it had massive crossover appeal. In fact, this one was such a hit that the name "Genius" was attached to several other of his projects... The Genius Hits The Road Genius Loves Company The Genius After Hours The Genius Sings The Blues Genius + Soul = Jazz Solid stuff, including some classics. The added horns change the sound completely, making it bigger and fatter. Using Quincy Jones as an arranger can do that. Ray Charles would record over 50 studio albums and several complications. Prolific. Probably not his best, but so significant.

The Genius Of Ray Charles is certainly a really good album. It doesn't have a single mention of country music in its title so that means I can't sue the people who worked on this album for deception and false advertising. Jokes aside, I really enjoyed a lot of the music on offer here. They all have that nice orchestral sound that i would come to expect from Ray Charles as well as a lot of his contemporaries from the time. I also enjoyed Charles' vocals and songwriting as they fit the album very well. The album also went on at the perfect length too. I think that this is a great jazz album and i would put it above his later album on this list.

Tam White & the Dexters introduced my to Ray Charles in the dark sweaty Preservation Hall, Edinburgh. Good times indeed but sadly the rolling did stop in the end. Tam’s version is on 😢 Anyway…back to Ray Charles. I prefer the first half by a country mile. His voice and piano are great.

Really great album. Loved the hits and some of his covers. Very glad I got to listen to it.

בהתחלה חשבתי mid ואז הגיע החצי השני של האלבום ובפרט don't let the sun catch you crying שגרם לי לדמוע קלות

Very good album. Very easy to listen to.

Flawed human? Perhaps. Musical genius? Most definitely. A great listen.

He is a genius.

круто!

I guess it was 959, but this had much more of a big band sound than I was anticipating. But I actually love that about it. It also previews elements of jazz and blues, the building blocks of rock and roll and what was to come. This is a great album to relax to, and there is something very soothing about Ray Charles's voice. I can see myself going back to this again.

Great listen, although the big band stuff can get a little much after a while

I really liked some songs on first listen ! “When your lover has gone” , “Just for a thrill” and” Am i blue” were my favorites.

Classic Ray

Хороший запис. Сподобалося досить багато пісень. Є дуже класні аранжування (наприклад, Квінсі на першій пісні дуже класно видав). Друга половина мені трохи менше сподобалося, бо занадто пішла в балади і майже мінорність. Я б на платівочці цей альбом іноді вмикав би точно.

Solid album from Ray Charles. With the sounds of Hank Crawford and the band, its a fantastic view of the mid 50's blues with a big band.

Ray Charles making Ray Charles stuff

This one didn't quite grab me at first compared to other jazz/soul albums from this period that we've had - the very loud mastering on the brass didn't help. Over its runtime, though, it really grew on me, to the point that my rating had increased from 7/10 to fully 9/10 by the time I was done!

ray charles is such a genius, it was 38 minutes of pure big band fun and charm, every player on this album putting 110% into making it a delight for the ears. plus his vocals are just so iconic

How good is Ray Charles and his incredible band? There are not many people at his time (or now) that could make something of this wonder. Such a great soul and jazz album that uses the big band in the best ways. No wonder he is a Genius!

Classics

Great listen. I enjoy some classic Big Band Jazz. I liked Am I Blue. 4/5

This feels like Ray in his prime. He was on there playing them keys like the virtuoso he is. It's crazy he has this full big band and he never gets lost in the sauce. The lyrics really blew me away too. Highlights: When Your Lover Has Gone, Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin'

Gran blues, me gusta. Muy movido por momentos, super chill por otros. Sería un disco que me compraría sin dudas. 8/10

So many good classic songs I didn't realise were Ray Charles - made me feel smooth and suave and fun!

Genius is not an exaggeration. 4.5/5

solid jazz album very relaxing and cool

4.0

I enjoyed it. Not my favorite ray but still good

This was good stuff. I really like Ray’s energy. It’s so far removed from today that it feels almost vintage at this point and I love me some vintage.

4 good stuff

Really enjoy music like this, so it's a soft spot for me. Enjoyed this album, was a fun listen. Would definitely listen to it again.

This is a great album. It has a timeless quality to it that I love. My Only criticism is that it is bit "big bandy"

great album, completely different from anything I normally listen to

Very jazzy. It combines soul with big band music and orchestra-backed ballads. It is a really good album and is one of Ray Charles' greatest works. Definitely for jazz people. Amazing album.

good albumn

Good stuff, big bands big horns big blues big rhythm. Ray Charles really knew how to do it. Let The Good Times Roll is such a great opener. 4.0/5.0 Best Song: Let The Good Times Roll

Big band big fun, I can't remember the last time i wanted to chuck a Ray Charles album on, so i am glad this came up. It was jazzy and lovely and i will definitely listen again. Best Track: It had to be you

This is a great album. Charles' version of Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying is the standout for me and is just fantastic, but the whole album is excellent.

An album for all seasons, can just as easily sit next to a fire with a cup of hot chocolate as you could sip lemonade in a hammock. I guess beverages are the common denominator, but in any case it's a great listen. It's hard to tell which songs are standards like had to be you, vs which just have that similar nostalgic feel to them even hearing the first time, which in my opinion is a good thing. 4.5 rounded down bc Ray Charles has so many other songs I love not on this album.

One of the greats doing it all - ballads, swing, country, you name it.

It's Ray Charles, what else is to say. Great album, not all the hits but pretty nice songs.

Seria melhor se tivesse em outro momento

What a great album. Ray's voice is at its best. The big band and orchestra are perfect. Feel so blessed that I got to see Brother Ray.

Play those horns loud! Between listening to a band leader friend's views and my mum's friend's experience with Ray Charles' exacting practices, it's interesting to think about the discipline that goes into such a tight sound.

Great! I wish we could give .5's because it's a solid 4.5.

Pure class. Top song: Deed I Do. vibe: Rainy weather, Jazz Band, Warmth.

Ray is always great though this isn't my favorite album of his

Learned a lot from this one, plus Sue loved the big band

what a pleasant way to spend 35 minutes or so

There is something so nostalgic about ray charles and the sound of his music/voice that I cannot explain. I enjoyed the album thru and thru.

Aujourd'hui, on va parler d'un disque qui porte bien son nom, The Genius of Ray Charles. Rien que le titre, ça pose le bonhomme, car il faut quand même avoir une sacrée paire de baloches pour sortir un album en s'autoproclamant « Le Génie ». Imagine un type aujourd'hui qui fait ça, il se fait dézinguer sur les réseaux en deux minutes. Mais là, on parle de Ray, et Ray, il ne demande pas la permission. Il pose son cul sur le tabouret, il plaque trois accords, et il te ferme ta gueule. Cet album, c'est le moment où Ray Charles décide qu'il est trop grand pour une seule étiquette. Il veut tout, le jazz, la soul, le blues, et même les violons qui font chialer les ménagères. Et le pire, c'est qu'il y arrive. C'est énervant, non ? L'album est divisé en deux, comme un cerveau bien équilibré. La face A, c'est le côté « Big Band » qui te rentre dedans avec Quincy Jones aux arrangements. A ce moment, le mec n'était pas encore le producteur de Michael Jackson, il était juste un génie en devenir qui savait faire sonner une section de cuivres comme un peloton d'exécution. Ça swingue, ça transpire, c'est d'une puissance absolue. Quand les trompettes démarrent sur « Let The Good Times Roll », tu as juste envie de renverser ton café et de danser sur la table. C'est précis, c'est sec, c'est du travail d'orfèvre. Et puis, il y a la face B et là, on change d'ambiance. On éteint les projecteurs, on allume une clope (virtuelle, hein), et on sort les cordes. C'est Ralph Burns qui gère cette partie, et on est dans le pur style « crooner ». « Trop sucré », « trop hollywoodien », diront les pisse-froid. Mais écoutez bien la voix de Ray, elle ne triche jamais. Même au milieu d'une forêt de violons, sa voix reste ancrée dans la boue du blues. C'est ça, la magie du type. Il peut chanter n'importe quoi, ça sonne comme une confession. Cet album, c'est le disque parfait pour comprendre l'ADN de la musique américaine moderne. Ray a pris le sacré (le gospel) et le profane (le blues) et il les a fait baiser dans une ruelle sombre. Le résultat, c'est la soul. Et sur cet album, il pousse le concept encore plus loin en y ajoutant le prestige du jazz orchestral. C'est une démonstration de force. Je vais pas vous faire le détail morceau par morceau, on n'est pas là pour faire un inventaire à la Prévert. Mais prenez « Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin' ». Si vous ne ressentez rien à l'écoute de ce truc, allez consulter. Sérieusement, c'est d'une tristesse magnifique, porté par une interprétation qui frise l'indécence. Ray ne chante pas la chanson, il la vit. On sent chaque goutte de pluie, chaque regret. Alors oui, c'est écrit « The Genius » sur la pochette. Et c'est pas du marketing de bas étage, c'est juste un constat clinique. Ray Charles est capable de passer de l'euphorie la plus totale à la mélancolie la plus crasse en l'espace d'un changement de face. Il maîtrise les cuivres comme un général d'armée et les cordes comme un poète maudit. Et son piano... bordel, son piano. C'est l'extension de ses doigts. Il n'a pas besoin de faire des démonstrations techniques de dix minutes. Chaque note est à sa place. C'est l'économie au service de l'émotion. Alors pourquoi "seulement" 4 et pas 5 ? Peut-être parce que la face B est parfois un peu trop « sage » pour mon côté irrévérencieux. J'aime quand ça gratte, quand ça bouscule et ici, c'est tellement parfait que ça en devient presque intimidant. Ce n'est pas un disque de révolte, c'est un disque d'affirmation. Ray dit au monde : « Voilà qui je suis, et je vous emmerde si vous trouvez ça trop ambitieux ». Dans la liste des 1001 albums, celui-ci est une pierre angulaire. Sans lui, pas de soul moderne, pas de pop orchestrale telle qu'on la connaît. Ray a ouvert des portes que personne n'avait même osé regarder. Il a abattu les cloisons entre les genres avec une élégance rare. Et il l'a fait avec un sourire en coin, derrière ses lunettes noires. C'est ça, la classe. Alors, si vous voulez vous faire une culture, posez-vous sur cet album de 1959. Écoutez la dynamique, écoutez les silences, écoutez la voix de ce mec qui a tout compris avant tout le monde. C'est brillant, c'est parfois un peu pompeux, mais c'est toujours sincère. Et la sincérité, dans ce milieu de requins, c'est ce qu'il y a de plus rare. Pour résumer : La face A vous botte le cul. La face B vous caresse la joue. Et au milieu, il y a Ray, le génie absolu, qui rigole. C'est un disque qui impose le respect. C'est de la musique, de la vraie, faite par un mec qui n'avait rien à prouver mais qui a tout donné. Note : 4 / 5. Parce que le génie, ça ne se discute pas, ça s'écoute. Et cet album est la preuve irréfutable que le titre n'était pas usurpé.

I recognize the objective quality of this record, and I see what makes it so beloved, but it’s just not my style of music. Clearly a huge inspiration on multiple other generations of music though!

Crisp

Great!

solid. really liked the saxophone!

Heerlijk album, iconisch

Love it

The birth of soul, the early days of an indispensible career with countless highlights. Everything's good, nothing's skippable, you'll not hear me say a bad word agin it. That said, I'm a heretic here and I prefer Sinatra's version of Come Rain or Come Shine from two years later.

Ray decides to mess around and pretend he's Duke Ellington. A genius, no doubt.

Wow, what a great Ray Charles album. Excellent music to kick back with.

Bold album name

Maybe Ray Charles' job was to almost make me close my eyes with his smooth jazz here. Or maybe I was just tired. There are better songs by him in his arsenal that aren't here, but it's Ray Charles, c'mon. I have to be fair.

I actually liked this more than I thought. I thought it would be a repetition of the upbeat songs but it was very diverse for different moods. There were songs that were upbeat eccentric sounding instruments, that would switch to a song with mellowed out, smooth-cool like instruments.

Blir overrasket hver gang jeg hører Ray Charles hvor mye jeg liker det, men så hører jeg aldri på han igjen.

Had a great time. Love the two halves.

4/5

Fav song: Let the Good Times Roll

Two days of back-to-back Ray Charles! Same catchy, trademark style as always.

I love Ray Charles' voice, stellar album!

8/10 Muy buen album, me encantó, música relajante y suave pero que no aburre

Actual Rating: 3.5/5

This is the album to put on after a long day at work

Did you know the somewhat obscure Beck song Deadweight borrows a phrase from this album? You do now.

I do not have too many words for this record other that it's good. It is some of the best ballads and blues of its time and the way rays voice lays the final layer of smoothness to the ballads had me mesmerized the first listen. I think if I had to choose the ballad side have the songs I go back to the most, but the more bluesy numbers still stick in my mind. The brass on this LP is great too. Fav tracks: It Had to be you, Dont let the sun catch you cryin', and Come rain or come shine

A good album to play when trying to relax or focus.

Sehr entspannend – ich hätte nicht gedacht, dass es mir so gut gefällt, nachdem ich das Erscheinungsjahr gesehen habe. Ich weiß jedoch nicht, ob ich es mir noch einmal anhören würde, weil ich es dann doch eventuell etwas zu langweilig finde.

There was a lot to love with this, I thought that it was a really interesting idea. The choice to split it into sections was pretty cool, I think it would be a little weird to mix the big band stuff with the slower piano ballads, but the flip side is that the second half didn't flow as well as the first. But still a really strong album, this is like some of the best male jazz I've heard so far. Favorites: Let the Good Times Roll, Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin', Come Rain or Come Shine

Just damn there are some love songs on here that are certified bangers

Truly is genius!!

quite jazzy and chill and vibey

Very pleasant and Soulful. I enjoyed listening to. Don't let the sun catch you Crying is a fantastic song. 4 stars

Discazo para tener de fondo en cita o cocinando con un vino en la mano

would listen again