The Genius Of Ray Charles

Incredible album. I really enjoyed the lyricism and the overall blues themed instrumental. It is an overall classic album !

Amazing voice. Total entertainer. Great orchestration and arrangements.

Very awesome

It had to be you - LOVE IT 9/10 Alexander’s Ragtime Band - makes me happy, jazzy, gives me summer 10/10. Would be good to use as an ending credits to a summer movie. Ok now I’m not gonna take notes for every song, as I’m trying to finish my essay whilst listening to this. So im just going to write my whole thoughts at the end (when I finish listening) MY THOUGHTS Some of these songs are really sad, but it has such beautiful instruments and upbeat rhythms behind it. So your brain thinks it’s a happy song until u read the lyrics it’s like oh. Just a thrill is really a sad song, but wow the backing vocals and the piano and HIM RAY CHARLES Jesus the emotions. Like you can really feel what he is saying, even though I never been a relationship but Damm it makes me feel like I’ve been played as well LOL. Wait i wrote a lot and I lost it daamm bc I didn’t save it. HE CAN SING AND HES BLIND? LIKE HIS PIANO PLAYING Ok Ive finished the album 9/10. I really liked it and enjoyed it #real music

Primer albúm del año, nunca habia escuchado algo de este tipo por tiempo prolongado, es tranquilizante y en algunas canciones me perdi por la voz de Ray, mis canciones favoritas sin duda son You won´t let me go, It had to be you, Just for a Thrill, no me veo escuchandolo de forma cotidiana pero fue un buen descubrimiento.

Beautiful crooning by one of the greats. 3.5/5

If you’re going to name your album “The Genius of [Your Own Name]”, but better be ready to back it up. I had never really listened to much Ray Charles before, and honestly, he was pretty darn talented. I enjoyed this and wouldn’t mind owning this on vinyl, though it didn’t move me enough to warrant a perfect 5/5. Solid 4/5 instead.

J'ai retenu : - come rain or come sun - you won't let me go - Let the Good times roll Certaines sont chouettes pour danser

I enjoyed this album. Seemed like a fun dinner party mix. Fun instruments

The beginning was a little slow for me personally, but I kind of expected that. Ray Charles has very captivating vocals. I’m a fan of the song “It Had To Be You”. “Two Years of Torture” is brilliant. I love it when he did more balladic songs like, “When Your Lover Has Gone” and “Just For A Thrill.” The songwriting on that is brilliant. It felt like some of it was quite repetitive, though.

This was a really interesting album. It went from very upbeat notes and sounds to a melancholic feel towards the later half

Un disco esencial, con Ray Charles figura central de la música negra, plagado de clásicos como Let the Good Times Roll, y la magistral triada final: Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin', Am I blue y Come Rain or Come Shine. Sonido Big band, Jazz, Swing... y un sonido muy pobre que no le hace justicia a las interpretaciones fabulosas del genio.

Great album not quite 5 stars but it’s knocking on the door. 1/5 didn’t finish the album 2/5 didn’t keep the album 3/5 kept it and will listen when songs randomly show up on shuffle 4/5 kept it and will listen to it again front to back on my phone 5/5 buying the vinyl

Good stuff, especially the second half of the album. Nice jazz music I could put on in the background.

This is such a beautiful and classic album. I really love how romantic and sensual it sounds in every track. It's crazy to think that, even though I never listen to this kind of music, Ray Charles is able to make me smile just by listening a few seconds of his music. I think it's very special the way that these kinds of albums neve die and never stop being iconic.

This is a very strong record, and by the second half it becomes clear why Ray Charles commands the reverence he does. When the arrangements loosen just enough to let him stretch phrasing, bend time, and inject that unmistakable conversational soul, the album really comes alive. Tracks like “You Won’t Let Me Go” showcase Ray’s genius not as spectacle, but as presence. He sounds human, instinctive, and fully in control. That said, the album leans heavily on lush big-band and orchestral settings, especially early on, and while they’re beautifully executed, they sometimes dilute the sense that this is Ray driving the experience. I found myself wishing for a few more absolute gold-standard tunes where his personality fully overwhelms the framework rather than politely inhabiting it. So no, this doesn’t quite feel like a five for me. Not because it isn’t excellent, but because it doesn’t consistently reach that transcendent, can’t-imagine-music-without-it level. It’s a very good record, one I’m glad to know and revisit, and a clear four stars: dignified, powerful, and deeply impressive, even if it stops just short of all-time personal essential.

I mean it's Ray Charles

Inte så fantastiskt som jag föreställt mig från vad jag sett och hört. Känns inte så edgy. Men en fyra är det.

Great album, subtle mix between jazz like music mixed with whats now pop and a great vocalist. Overall a joy to have listened to even thought it isnt my cup of tea per se. Felt slow and methotical but not too slow to be boring

An amazing album despite poor recording quality. Makes me want to be a racist cop in a 50s noir movie who is slowdancing with the femme fatale who is only allowed to be a damsel in distress with this on the background.

Gorgeous album. I'll admit I had low expectations that were absolutely blown out of the water. Ray Charles' voice is so smooth and so rich; all of the instrumentalists are playing from the heart. A little slow for my daily listening but truly a wonderful listen.

Nice listen, made me feel very at ease.

So excited for this after a string of duds. Fun and swing-y, hadn't listened to much Ray Charles before.

very showtune-y and big start! i love that this list is exposing me to more jazz because i'm learning i really like it. i like alexander's ragtime band. what a voice! i want to relisten to this.

oldie

Always enjoy a good early album for an artist... this one was unsurprising and pretty straightforward, but the man knew how to sing some jazz standards... Loved the ones that were most jazzy with "Tell Me You'll Wait for Me" being the highlight of the bunch.

4/5

Ray's voice is timeless. The big band arrangements punch hard and get things moving early, but things do slow down on the back half, and I got lost in the feels of the quieter piano ballads. Damnit. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions - Let the Good Times Roll - It Had To Be You - Just for a Thrill - Come Rain or Come Shine

bem chill e easy going, gostei da vibe mas nao é algo q procure muito

Only heard the first song

cheerful and fun and a great voice!

I really liked these slower ballads, very much in the realm of someone like Frank Sinatra. Even the big band jazz stuff which I don't usually like all too much I found quite enjoyable

Ray Charles is another blind spot. Enjoyed the idea of side 1 being upbeat jazzy numbers and side 2 being the softer ballad side.

Easy listening.

An icon.

Dreamy mastery of the classics and standard love songs

Good vibes :)

On Christmas Day, as I was lamenting the end of the season, especially Christmas music, I said to my wife, "Of all the things I've been listening to, I've really come to realize just how good Ray Charles was. I should listen to more of him." Well, I log into this site after about a month hiatus and what is sitting at the top of my list? You got it. While I thoroughly enjoyed this album, I have a hard time justifying jazz standards as "must hear" music. Plus, this album seems to have an identity crisis between the big band numbers and the piano ballads. For these reasons, it's going to stay highly rated but fall short of a perfect album for me.

This album is a definite four. It’s smooth and nice; Chill back and let the thoughts be kind.

felt like i was walking around new orleans on a sunday morning. incredible vibe.

I am very happy I listened to it, but not my favorite genre of music. It was a very respectable album, though!!

Cozy autumn album especially second half

Beautiful compositions, the music transported me to a calmer place (especially on the latter part of the album). Great voice too.

Actually a banger 4/5

After the first few songs I was a bit disappointed, thinking the album was a bit too boring for me. But as I continued it grew on me and I really loved it by the end.

I'm a sucker for a big band, so the first half of this album drew me in immediately. I think the second half with just the strings is stronger though. It's hard to beat Ray Charles on the piano.

Favorite Songs: Let the Good Times Roll + Two Years of Torture

Thoughts before listening: Ray is certainly a classic musician. I own his Sounds in Country and Western Music album, and enjoy it quite a bit, but I don't have this one. I feel like this will have a lot of very recognizable songs though. Review: Yeah, I love this. Ray Charles has a great voice and he's singing wonderful songs on this album. The band is also top notch throughout. Something this project has helped me to identify is that I really enjoy swing-era jazz. I will say that the second half of the album abandons the full jazz band arrangements for a subdued piano driven sound which is less to my liking. In all I'd give this 4-stars.

The only thing I could think while listening to this was how much I would love to see it live… Big door, more like big band - 4.5 stars from connie

Let The Good Times Roll: 7/10, I really like this song, it's very fast at the start and then it calms down, im not sure how to explain this song It Had To Be You: 8/10, it reminds me of an old record player In a way, it makes me feel very energetic somehow but it also feels like a love song missing something Two Years Of Torture: 8/10, it sort of just sounds the same as "it had to be you" but with different lyrics When Your Lover Has Gone: 9/10, if I was broken up with in the 50's this is what I would listen to, its very calming and bring me some sort of musical comfort Deed I Do: 10/10, ooooh this is so feel good grandpa song I am so happy listening to this, it makes me regret not going to dance Wednesday Just For a Thrill: 9/10, first dance song?? this reminds me of my parents wedding, it was so romantic omg, anyway I really like the piano solos in this one and how it doesn't have much lyrics You Won't Let Me Go: 6/10, this was more of the sad songs in my opinion, brought a tear to my eye Tell Me You'll Wait For Me: 10/10, I looooveee the back vocals and the piano and just everything about this Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin': 7/10, it's very fairy tale like to me, it's slow which I like and I love the high in the song Am I Blue: 10/10. no words for this other than PERFECTION. Come Rain Or Come Shine: 11/10, if I was in the 50's this would be my favourite song and I'd play it on my record player all the time

Raaaahhhh I love soul and jazz!!!! Waiter oh waiter! More soul and jazz please!! Hell yeah. Makes up for yesterdays album. Good mix of Jazz sould and R&B.

Great album.

Nice orchestral arrangements, great voice

Der einzige und wahre Soul sänger. Lets rock

Bangers

Absolutely one of the best an innovative artists. No question. He is one of my all time favorites and this record is great. Just for a Thrill?! I mean come on. He's a genius and I listen to and appreciate everything he has made. Including the country!

Genius is a fair descriptor. Just damn good music!

Classic - its great

Soul / Jazz. How can this be abrasively smooth !? Ha. A big band, Charles' soulful vocals, a delightful and chilled album. All these tracks and the sound are timeless really. Thirty eight minutes well spent.

Brilliant. 1950s excellence will add to collection.

Really enjoyed this album was a great listen

Very nice !

What a treat.

A generational talent and voice. A really great sometimes-listen.

w old school

i love my bo3 shadows of evil trailer on repeat for 10 minutes and then the rest of the album

Pretty freakin good

Iconic soul album, I don't know if I can appreciate how it hit back then. You can hear the man inventing a genre

If I ever open a barber/cigar shop, this is most likely the 1st record being spun.

To say it’s genius would just be agreeing with the album title

So good

That's a hard title of the album to live up to but Ray is definitely a genius of interpreting standards. I love what he does with these songs. "Let the Good Times Roll," especially, has some Louis Prima energy and abandon with Charles almost sounding deranged at times. Most of these songs can't quite match that intensity but are beautifully orchestrated and sung throughout. I'll take Ray over Frank Sinatra and the other crooners any day.

I'd rather listen to Ray Charles' soulful croon over a killer big band than Sinatra's any day. I also love that he lets the band cook on so many tracks with some really skillful solos. I like the first half more than the second but ends on a great note with Come Rain or Come Shine.

Pretty nice album, really enjoyed having it in the background. I don't know if I can say that it is Ray Charles' best album because there are a few songs that are really good and catchy, but this was definitely great listening to.

Not bad.

Easy going, romantic, jazzy music. Each track takes its time and isn’t in a hurry to get anywhere, which is something a lot of us need right now I reckon. I could see myself thoroughly enjoying chores while listening to music like this. 78/100

I much prefer the balladry half of this album. Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin' and Come Rain or Come Shine are exceptional songs.

bit slow towards the middle but holy hell the brass goes crazy

++*: Come Rain or Come Shine ++: Let the Good Times Roll, It Had to Be You, Alexander's Ragtime Band, Two Years of Torture, Deed I Do, You Won't Let Me Go, Tell Me You'll Wait for Me, Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin' +: When Your Lover Has Gone, Just for a Thrill, Am I Blue 9,4/10

Incredible, a 50s album that cheers you up immediately and Ray Charles has an amazing voice, delighted to have discovered this album and artist, now I can say I've listened to old music!

Helt omöjligt att lyssna på detta album utan att röra en min. Jag teleporteras omedelbart till en helt annan plats med detta i lurarna. Jag fascineras av att man kan höra hur denna musik är urmodern till så många moderna genrer vi har idag. Fantastiskt album. En liten poäng tas av då jag upplever att man blir "mätt" på musiken efter ett tag, inget jag hade lyssnat på om jag är upptagen med något, utan det här måste man sitta ner och njuta av i lugn och ro, alternativt lyssna på under en rask promenad.

Ray Charles bringing amazing blues sensibilities to big band and ballads - what’s not to love. The first half of the album is more to my personal taste but overall some outstanding music.

Enjoyed this one! easy on the ears and good album to wind down to.

Ahhhhhh yes. Lovely. Superb

yesssss he is so good

If only the second half sounded as good as the first. His sassy energy is top notch through the first side, but the strings and slower pace on the b-side misses the needed crescendo.

Genius indeed...very catchy (and long, a double album)

So good it’s hard to fully appreciate. Just a comment in general but listening to these older albums it’s simultaneously hard to understand their true influence (as we don’t have the full context of their breakthroughs) but at the same time it’s easy to feel how familiar they feel.

If this isn’t some sort of greatest hits album assembled by Columbia Records or something, I find it hilarious that Ray Charles would name one of his own records, “The Genius of Ray Charles”. But, for real, this is a pretty solid record. It’s kind of just mood music for me, but it’s really enjoyable. Like, it’s tough to not feel relaxed while listening to it. It’s not something I’d throw on every day, but it’s great for a relaxing night in the study with a pipe and glass of scotch or something. 4/5

How do you not like anything this fella has ever done? And heck, he was still in his 20s when this was recorded!

Highlight songs: Let the Good Times Roll Alexander's Ragtime Band Deed I Do Just for a Thrill Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin'

Oh fuck me up ray

Enjoyed that. Terrible recording (typical of the period) and I'll need to find a less revealing amp and headphone combination for next time I listen to it, but there will be a next time. 4/5.

Big band vibes and Charles’ voice. Gotta love it! 4/5

It swings, baby. Felt too short! I could have listened to Ray for another hour.

4.5 I’m a simple man it turns out. I get one of these albums that just features one of the greatest voices of all time singing the heck outta some songs, and I’m happy.

Smooth jazz Strong trumpets Great album sound

is this really him at his best? Maybe it wasn’t the title he would have chosen. Great voice. Talented and influential.

Jävligt trevlig.musik faktiskt. Jag gillade skivan rakt igenom. Kan dessutom se mig lyssna på mer, det är förstås ett mycket gott betyg. Kul!

Musik som får en att känna, oklart varför. Blir både glad och ibland lite sorgsen. Bra skit.

The Genius Of Ray Charles is certainly a really good album. It doesn't have a single mention of country music in it's title so that means i can't sue the people who worked on this album (the ones that are even alive, that is) 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. Best Song: You Won't Let Me Go Worst Song: Alexander's Ragtime Band

Incrível

Wow, 1959!? I didn't realize he started so early. I'm really loving this sound. It's a bit like Sinatra or some of those other big band names but with more soul. Digging the jazziness to it too. Loving it thus far. 4 stars

Genius is the correct word.

I love the blues

Incredible nice listen, what can i say? Good tunes mannn

Ray Charles and a big band is a winning combination.

Especially let the good times roll was good, there were other bangers too

The master at work.

Lovely, just lovely stuff.

Man I do love Ray Charles so much. But I have to admit that this early stage of music partially does lack in power, while it is still a blueprint for so much great art down the following decades

a little too "easy listening" for my tastes, but nonetheless a solid album 5/7

Classic jazz record, nothing to be said about Ray Charles that hasn’t been said already.

Classic Ray Charles, always high marks for this legend

Good example of a great songwriter singer, player and bandleader

I love the blues

I just love big band

I remember a few years ago listening to both this and 'Modern Sounds In Country & Western' as preparation before watching the Ray Charles biopic. I'd figured, hey, may as well get a taste of some of his greatest works before diving into his story, huh? Or at least the "musician biopic" version of his story, anyway. Regardless, what I did was revolutionary, I know. And I can tell you for a fact: 'The Genius Of Ray Charles' did **not** stick with me after the biopic. Didn't really stick with me. Heck, halfway through, I was kind of bored of it. Meanwhile, 'Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music', on the other side of things? Oh, absolutely, that stuck with me. It was one of my most listened to albums that month — and for sure, it's a love that's continued to this day. I do **not** listen to it as much as I used to, but I raved about it to the best of my ability back when my group got it. But what **was it** about 'The Genius Of Ray Charles', anyway? Why did it not inspire me in the same way that 'Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music' did? I think it all comes down to the way this album is presented. It aims to show off Ray Charles in two distinct ways: one, as a big band jazz man; and the other, as a balladeer backed by strings. Thus, somewhere in the middle of these two sides, you find the genius. And it is **determined** for you to understand these sides of him as thoroughly as you can — that's why these two styles are separated by sides. One half is all big band, one half is all strings, and never the two shall meet. It's certainly an angle of presentation I can understand — 'The Beach Boys Today!' did a similar sort of thing — but I don't know if it necessarily works to this album's advantage. Let's keep using 'The Beach Boys Today!' as an example. That album separates the upbeat, simpler songs and the slower, more complex songs onto different sides of the record. But neither side feels like it's wearing out its welcome. Each song sounds so unique to each other, and has so much going on under the hood, you're always engaged. I have no problem with **its** stylistic segregation. Meanwhile, with 'The Genius Of Ray Charles'... Well, Ray's clearly a genius in a different way than Brian Wilson was. Brian pulled out a lot of complex musical compositions, even on the simple girls n' surf songs. Ray's genius, meanwhile, clearly lies more in his arrangements — how lush and beautiful the strings are, or how upbeat and punchy the horns are. You add his voice and his piano playing on top of that, and you've got a hell of a combo. But I don't think any of it is as musically complex or as varied as Brian's work, and that's where I think the issue in this presentation arises. For as much as I love Ray Charles, and as much as I do admire his work, and as much as, again, I **get** what this tracklisting was going for, I gotta be real: these songs can kind of blend together a little. And not in a way like how the songs on side 2 of 'The Beach Boys Today!' flowed together, no; they just kind of make you wonder what makes **this** big band song different from **this other** bang band song. What really makes 'Modern Sounds In Country And Western' work as well as it does, besides any commentary about a black artist doing country music, is that it **mixes the styles together**. You get some big band here, some strings there... And you never tire of one sound too quickly. That's why 'Modern Sounds In Country And Western' stuck with me over 'The Genius Of Ray Charles'. Ahh... But still... It **is** Ray Charles. You can't knock his voice, even if it's not as good here as on 'Modern Sounds In Country And Western'. And having a better understanding of this record's presentation, and taking a break between sides instead of playing it all at once like I did back then... Yeah. It does play a **lot** better. And no matter what, like I said, Ray Charles **is** a genius. Maybe the stylistic segregation dun' did him a bit wrong... But the fact remains true, no matter what. And this is still easily a record to check out if you wanna understand why. Certainly it's better than the biopic was, anyway. Seriously, all I remember about that movie is Jamie Foxx launching himself over a table at a guy... And that's it. Funny moment, for sure, but don't speak too well on the quality of the film. I mean, you speak about something that needed some genius, goodness...

Dude, I love Jamie Foxx. But seriously, this is some good stuff. 4.5 bumped down to 4.

Perfect Sunday morning vibes

This album of mostly swirling, 1940s-style orchestra arrangements is not my favorite style, but Ray Charles just adds magic to everything he graces with that voice and performance.

Quintessential Ray Charles. Big band pop up front, with string ballads in the back. Fun to start and relaxing to end. Great listen.

Part of the genius of Ray Charles is the way he navigates these songs in a way that feels effortless. So good!

This was just really nice, what a legend.

with ray charles, you're getting iconic singing, and fantastic musicianship from him and his band. this album is no exception. it's got that classic sound from yesteryear. i just wish i liked the selection of songs better. they're not bad, but i find i tend to like ray charles' stuff when it's more r&b and this is way more standards focused. like i said, it's not bad, just not totally my thing. still, it's a solid listen.

Yeah, it does seem like he was a genius m, another really good album. 4 stars

Legenda

Very high 4 this one, great tracks throughout. 1959 is the best year for music

Yep...good stuff. Ray Charles did one thing and he did it better than anyone. I never really understood the "Genius" moniker, though. Did he create something entirely new or somehow transform music in a totally unique way? I don't see it (no pun intended). I am open to hearing a differing opinion, though. Plus one half-star for his iconic appearance in one on my favorite movies, "The Blues Brothers".

Great piano, vocals, and lyrics the whole way through. Easy to put on and listen to over dinner or a time to relax

8/10 Some of the best songs of the 50s. A bit repetitive to give it a 9/10 in my opinion. Faves: Alexanders ragtime band, Let the good times roll

Solid, though the first track set high expectations it didn’t quite maintain throughout.

Eğlenceliydi, kendimi jazz barında viski içiyor gibi hissettim. Biraz gürültülüydü ama dans edilebilitesi vardı. Sakin şarkıları daha çok beğendim. Am I Blue çok tanıdık geldi

Jazzy classics from Ray

Sounds like the end of pink panther episodes. Very nice smooth jazz. Excellent brass licks and stabs.

How can you not like Ray Charles?

I never gave this kind of music much of a chance, I listened to the album twice, and I really like it. The music is so interesting and full, without the words it’s written well enough to convey emotions so strongly, and when we add the lyrics back in, it only makes it stronger. I have heard versions of It Had To Be You before, I do love that song and his version was just as beautiful. I enjoyed the second half of the album more than the first. Reflective and wishful music. You Won’t Let Me Go, Tell Me You’ll Wait For Me, I really enjoyed those both. And the songs that came after just continued those same feelings. If you are looking to get into your feelings, this album is very good for that!

Great album, almost a 5! Lost its way a little as the album went on.

7/10… soul / big band / jazzy

realmente, ray charles era um genio bom d+

bão demais esse aqui tem muito o que falar não. ray charles mandava muito. cabuloso.

I mean, it’s Ray Charles. Genius is a pretty appropriate label. Two Years of Torture, Come Rain or Come Shine, and Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying were the standouts. 7/10, 4 stars.

A bit too gentle

Pretty good. Excellent music all around.

Spoilers: for this listening note you will see many jokes based on puns related to looking and seeing. visually impaired people may not find it (or *see* it) funny so i apologize in advance. like how i approached Innervision, i entered this *blindly*. as always, i tried to keep my *eyes* sharp on judging albums, but also to keep an open mind since i havent *seen* anything. it *seems* that this album is not something that i would actively find and listen to as far as i have *seen* because of the blues-adjucent music present in the first half and the jazz adjecent thing in the second half. but its decent though, really make me *see* things from a different light. 4/5

Only Ray Charles can call his album "The Genius of Ray Charles" Yeah, he is absolutely right Need to listen to it at least once more to fully appreciate it

Smooth mood

L’ego du gars Mais c’est sympa très cool en vrai

Pretty neat, this is one of the records that flows so well and is so easy to listen to I can’t find much to say

1959! Wow. Very pleasant listening. Much of what came after him sounds similar, even was reminded of Amy Winehouse and the like at times. Brilliant.

I can always listen to ray

Let the good times roll: 4 It had to be you: 5 Alexander’s ragtime band: 6, I mean Two years of torture: 4 When your lover has gone: 3 Deed I do: 4 Just for a thrill: 4 You won’t let me go: 4 Tell me you’ll wait for me: 4 Don’t let the sun catch you cryin: 4 Am I blue: 3 Come rain or shine: 5 Really missed out by working while listening to this instead of playing any fallout game.

Smooth and relaxing to listen to. Ray Charles was certainly a pioneer.

I like his voice but I get the book's comments on how what made this a commercial succes is a pulling at the strings of the mainstream. So the subject matter of the songs is rather safe. This is still very much worth a listen. I watched a sunset from a train to this after a particularly strange weekend. And it felt like a simple pleasure.

great

Tällaisessa on vaan niin paljon sielua, ääntä jota on mielekästä kuunnella

So smooth, how was he doing this in the 50s?? Also I love jazz 7.5/10

Absolute genius.

This album is great. Ray Charles’s music is so cool. For a long time this was an album I could put on with company over and be pretty sure it would land with everyone. It’s not quite perfect, but pretty damn good.

Superb!

Great album

Such a lovely morning vibe

More like "The Atomic Mr. Basie" from a week ago than I think most would expect from a Ray Charles album. This does indicate his range and clear intention to fuse all the music he was exposed to as he rose to stardom. I got tired of the blaring horn section, but still a good slice of Americana.

This is iconic stuff, it sounds like music that other things are trying to be for years afterward, if that makes any sense. Smooth, impeccable vibes. It's not a bullseye for my personal taste, but it's hard to think of anything bad to say about it.

A couple songs in I wasn’t really feeling it. I love soul but not the big symphony upbeat soul if yk what I mean. But gradually the album got sadder and more chilled out. I absolutely loved this idea turning you from happy and dancy to in your feels. Now I do have to discredit the upbeat songs still not being my favourite but cmon I can somewhat get into it. My favourite songs were Am I Blue and Just for a Thrill. Overall great album and would listen again so I’m feeling a calm 8.2/10 4.1/5

Genius is right!

I thought the early songs were upbeat and energetic and fun and the slower songs were just beautiful and really gave the space to show off his voice. Struggled to pic a favourite as I think it would be so mood dependent whether I would prefer a slower or more upbeat song. Not sure when I would reach for this as an album though as I think if you’re in the mood for one part you’re probably not in the mood for the other. Fav song: Let the Good Times Roll - also liked Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying Least fav: Tell Me You’ll Wait for Me

Quite enjoyed this album. The backing music reminded me of the incredibles. Love that. Not a huge fan of the slower ones Specific rating - 4.1 Fav song- Alexander’s ragtime band Least fav- tell me you’ll wait for me

Veldig deilig

I enjoyed the big band sound but I found the album became a bit too monotonous for me.

Great, but some songs get boring at the end

Old school big band rhythm and blues. What a time! Oozing with musical inspiration.

Don't like it as much as Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, which is fucking astonishingly good, but I listened to it four times in a row, so it must be pretty damn good too.

Lovely orchestral arrangements and a beautiful soulful voice. Not every track fully grabbed me, and it erred towards schmaltzy in places, but still a fun listen. A low 4.

Real humble album title

he really was goated

Imagina ter ouvido esse na época em que foi lançado? 🤯🤯🤯

scho uuu viel glost. let the good times roll isch soo geil. arrangement vom quincy, sini stimm. it had to be you au fantastisch. es tönt halt alles so wie e sehr gueti big band söll töne. d blöser tätsched, d drums swinged, dynamik stimmt. two years of torture soo geil wiener plötzlich ine tüfers register goht. when your lover has gone wieder viel intimer, blöser so fiin soo cool. die zweit hälfti isch mit striicher hä. ah und wunderschöne backing vocals. you won't let me go findi gad fantastisch. die "aaaaah"s. huii und er spielt scho saugeil klavier. schluss vo am i blue isch fantaastisch schön. hm ich glaub s lauft uf es starchs vieri oder es füfi use. s einzig wo mich vomne füfi abhaltet isch dass etz nöd die allerbeste ray charles songs do druff sind. aber denn binen mit sich selber am vergliche well en bessere big band sound oder traditional pop sound findsch susch nienets.

RAAAAY let the good times roll schomal en banger vill liebeslieder, surprise!! aso d big band lieder hemmer sehr gfalle, wenn au mengisch chli langsam, jz chömmed d ballade! jaa han bis jz nöd vill meh z sege ussert "schön aber au chli langwilig", s klavier findi uuhuere schön han leider chli meh erwartet, es knapps 4i? d ballade simmer chli z langsam und ah let the good times roll chunnt nüt anne

Beautifully recorded. Undeniable greatness. Smooth and easy listening.

I listened to this on the train and I really liked it, very chill and interesting sound and the songs had enough variation where it wasn't purely boring. Made me want to look into more of his music.

Very good for its time, let the good times roll definitely the best upbeat song, am I blue best melancholic song.

Just when you start getting tired of all the loud brass he breaks out the mellow piano ballads. Genius.

C'mon now ... it's Ray Charles!

Really great album. I think viewing from a modern lens the more mellow songs in the second half stand the test of time more. Highlights were Let The Good Times Roll, Tell Me You’ll Wait For Me, Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Cryin’, and Come Rain Or Come Shine.

delightful! big fan of Alexander’s ragtime band <3 big band jazz isnt usually my main thing but ray charles is really good so this was fun

This was a solid album listen for me! I’m not sure if I’ve ever listened to a Ray Charles album in full before but I had a great time doing so! This album was full of soul, jazz, and blues vibes. I would listen to this again depending on my mood!

Got me coming over all romantic, heartbroken, and I may have let the sun catch me cryin'... Well recommended, just for a thrill... ;)

Didn't have a chance to really digest this one, but I did give it a listen. The big band songs are so bright and lively, really steeped in infectious joy, and the balladry is earnest and sweet. This is just incredibly pleasant, Ray Charles is a fantastic presence, whether crooning or providing some real energy, and the band here really knows what they're doing. I enjoyed this a lot, even though it was kind of a blur, and I'd say I am feeling a 4.

#1 - This album was a pleasant surprise since it was different to what I've listened to in the past however it was great. It felt like I'd stepped back in time

Can’t fault Ray Charles.

Wasn't in the mood for the album, but reluctantly started to listen, and was pleasantly surprised. The opener wasn't my cup of tea, but the rest really was able to sway my mood. What more can you expect? 4/5

One of the greatest to ever do it. Side one is hirns and side 2 is strings. Big band and orchestra. Vintage.

Typ hela genren låter likadan men det var vibe

And a genius he was! What a great album.

Very pleasant listen. Easy to listen to. Good background music.

I respect Ray Charles, but have never gone out of my way to listen to his songs. Reading about this album ahead of listening, I was not looking forward to it. I don’t like big band. I’m not a huge fan of “standards.” However, this is very well done. He put his emotion into the singing and it was about the best version of things I don’t enjoy that it could be. A very pleasant surprise.

At one point, the blaring horn of the train I was on synchronised perfectly with those of Ray Charles’ band. That moment was the closest I’ve been to literally shitting myself since the time I drank 12 pints of Guiness in 4 hours. Anyway, he’s a legend. I don’t listen to enough big band stuff. Probably should have listened on speakers as the audio quality in headphones wasn’t the best. That’s no shade to Ray though. He gets 5 stars.

Didn't know Ray Charles did big band stuff! First few tracks were great, very Sinatra. Also enjoyed some of the slower bluesy stuff too, though there were a couple of tracks that were a bit stuck in the middle, not big and exciting or cool and laid back. Lots of these tracks were great and I should listen to Ray Charles more.

Uncompressed real sound. Distorted recording but great music.

great

Un clásico para conocer el Blues y el Soul inicial de América

Semmosta hyvää perusrokkia.

Olihan se laatukamaa!

Relaxing, nostalgic, beautiful. It's a gem I'd really like to own as a record and play it back on my old player. My grandmother used to really love this album, so it brings back some memories too.

Tell you what I say!

Feels like 2 mini albums stuck together! Good stuff though

I know who Ray Charles is, I can identify his voice, but I honestly don’t know if I be listened to an album or know his “hits”. I was not expecting a big band on the opening track. I love this so far. I’m so disappointed I didn’t know about this album before. This is amazing. Loved this album.

i prefer modern songs in country and western music. a little less orchestra? but ray is always great, no matter what’s playing alongside him.

This is the most Christmas sounding album without actually being about Christmas

Using any standard, a great album. However, for Ray Charles, there’s several other albums in his discography I come back to before this one. What a talent.

Unlike Newman, I like big band stuff. I think the album starts great, then peters out a bit. It's not my fave Ray Charles album (that would be the self-titled/'Hallelujah' one) but still, it's Ray fukken Charles. This is in his prime and really good. Top Tracks: "Let the Good Times Roll," "It Had to Be You," "Alexander's Ragtime Band"

A great listen! The big band stuff is wonderful, his voice and keyboards are nearly unmatched. It doesn't have the hits from later on (where was the Pepsi jingle????) but you can't really do better in the genre than Ray fucking Charles. Don't even try.

--Let the Good Times Roll...big band stuff --It Had to Be You...never liked this song but I like Ray singing it. Don't care for all the extra instrumentation --Alexander's Ragtime Band...fun --Two Years of Torture...nice and cool --When Your Lover Has Gone...this one is great. I just need the other musicians to get out of his way! Let Ray do his thing! --Deed I Do...Big Band stuff --Just for a Thrill...mostly Ray. Which is a good thing --You Won't Let Me Go...very nice --Tell Me You'll Wait...this shit calms my soul --Don't Let the Sun...keeps the mood going --Am I Blue...wonderful --Come Rain or Come Shine...Thank you, Ray

7/9/25. Loved this! Cool hearing Ray with the big band sound. Very danceable too.

A beautiful voice and timeless style. He's better suited to the quiet, intimate arrangements rather than many of the big band tunes here.

Good album. I consider this basically an extension of era frank Sinatra and just as good if not as iconic. Added to my list

Liked it

The king don’t miss

His voice is incredible and coupled with a band…a powerful combination. Each instrument shows up but it never becomes noise.

The voice is in fine form. Highly listenable. But lacks the visceral impact of earlier sides. All covers that are mostly elevated in his hands. Orchestra swings as much as an orchestra can. And the man can sing sing sing.

Very fun beats, I can tell this is good music but it is still just not my taste :/

Seems a bit pretentious to call something The Genius of Ray Charles, but I guess it worked out. Another great album, and just a nice listen.

Chad

Let the Good Times Roll - 5/5 It Had to Be You - 5/5 Alexander's Ragtime Band - 4/5 Two Years of Torture - 3/5 When Your Lover Has Gone - 4/5 Deed I Do - 4/5 Just for a Thrill - 5/5 You Won't Let Me Go - 3/5 Tell Me You'll Wait for Me - 4/5 Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin' - 4/5 Am I Blue - 3/5 Come Rain or Come Shine - 5/5 Average score: 4.1/5

Beautiful voice and music. Everything about it felt silky smooth. It did feel more like dinner party music and the slower tracks were a bit more suited than the big band tracks.

soothing and energetic at the same time

not bad for a blind guy

Quality listen. The backing band can sure play. Wish it had more hits and fewer ballads but I'll revisit again. Ray Charles is a legend.

The perfect way to listen to this is walking down city streets. I did that my second time through and it brought the music to life. All of the Ray Charles richness is on display here: we start with big band and then taper down into the sultry crooning as we round the corner into the second half. Let the Good Times Roll, indeed! That track and Am I Blue were my faves.

Great album! Ray Charles is so talented and this album did a good job show casing. The songs were the perfect length, didn’t drag on. Short and sweet

A beautiful album, really hit walking along the Chicago river and later looking at the royal wedding photos.

Just Ray Charles

I'd never heard this album before. It's not my cup of tea but it is very good and, for me, a pleasure and very easy to listen to. For sure, I'd happily listen again.

Pretty good for what it is just good older music

Sounds good. Probably genius.

I really enjoyed this. Truly beautiful music.

Best Song: It Had to Be You This is good, but like a lot of music in this era, I just don't see any opportunity where I will throw this on again.

Doesn’t overstay its welcome, doesn’t need to prove anything

Never heard this album before today. It's a quick listen and gets right to the point. Very nice music and he is of course a legendary singer. It's very chilled out with the songs being a bit slower, not in a bad way though. It works really well and I enjoyed listening.

Great stuff as always from the incomparable Mr. Charles.

Brilliant artist. Album gets a bit repetitive with most songs sounding similar at first listen. Still. Really great listen

Incredible album. First half had so much energy and second half was beautiful slower songs. Very raw. Will add to rotation

[...] and Modesty [...]

7/10 This is the Ray Charles I know and love. 6-9-2025

Classic, iconic.

Legendary again, these are great albums for a reason.

Good stuff! Big claim to call your album genius but I think he’s done well.

Great voice and a great listen

I waiting for him to start playing ‘The Long and Winding Road’ but it never came.

That's some smooth jazz baby.

- ‘Just for a thrill’ is incredible - the lyrics on tell me youll wait for me are absolutely just the prettiest thing youll ever hear, breaks you the fuck down

Nice!

Great, but not something I want to listen to a lot.

Ray Charles rules.

A bunch of jazzy early numbers from the Genius. Solid tunes. Nothing really challenging for the era they were released, but inarguably great performances all.

Approached with caution having listened to Ray Charle compilations in the past, but this was very pleasent surprise. Top track: It had to be you

8/12

Not a massive fan of Ray Charles, just not one of my guys. Hard to fault the album and there’s some cracking tunes but won’t be rushing back

The absolute legbag

A great take on classic songs.

Beautiful record with the unique charm that only Mr. Charles can bring. His voice and the band provide a wonderfully rich experience that resonates throughout the entire duration. This is a really nice one.

This album had some great instrumentals and vocals, it was a nice chill album. But I really liked how it started off really energetic and it gradually got more emotional and deeper.

While I don't listen to it very often big band and swing is still a genre I really enjoy. When the mood strikes there is nothing better. Ray Charles is a master at this so its easy to enjoy this album throughout.

makes me wanna grab an apron and sweep around my partners apartment while they’re reading books on the couch… occasionally glancing back at one another but never locking eyes. a testament to admiration.

Love Ray Charles but I wouldn't say this is his best - it feels like two mini albums with the split of big band / ballads but still enjoyed it. Songs added to playlist: - Let the good times roll - You won't let me go - am i blue - come rain or come shine

Bello, ma dove è Hit the Road Jack

Really enjoyable album. Ray Charles is a classic and the band is killer.

Oof. Big band brass, swing, and blues all come together here to make a really great album. Despite this being over 75 years old at this point, I would not hesitate to give this one loads of more spins.

Because of the radio my mum listened to when I was growing up, this kind of thing will always be ‘Sunday Roast Music’ to me. This is no bad thing. I really enjoyed the big band sound - I’d never knowingly heard the album before but it was all cosily familiar. I’ll definitely listen again. Probably on Sunday.

Very cruisey. Not his best work, but a taste of things to come.

I prefer the uptempo jazzy tracks more than the ballad-y ones but it’s overall a great album

Great soundtrack for our Road trip.

Genius is correctly used in this instance.

One naturally frowns on such a self-serving title, but there are suggestions of genius, sure, especially for such a young singer. The heavy-handed smatterings of strings complicate a few cuts – they weren't necessary or at least it would have been nice to see what a lighter touch might have sounded like. Mostly this is pleasant. ”When Your Lover Has Gone” and “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying” are one's faves.

holy shit those horns are so loud theyre peaking this is very fun and a good balance of high energy and ballads!! 4.5/5

Genius

Genius confirmed

Swing & Big Band

Favorite Track: Let The Good Times Roll

Whenever I hear Ray Charles' voice it makes me smile. I haven't heard this before and it's so Jazz/Big Band influenced.  The only thing I didn't like was the occasional cheesy strings and backing vocals. Liked Songs Added: Two Yeaes Of Torture Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin'

Big band sound! Really enjoyed this - very O’Farrell friendly

"Patrolling the Mohave almost makes you wish for a nuclear winter" I am a sucker for this era of music, love me some horns and walking baselines, very much enjoyed this album

I have a newfound appreciation for Ray Charles. Earlier mixing and mastering sometimes leave something to be desired, but his music here is so vibrant and full that it doesn’t matter.

Charles shot rays out of his genius eyes

What a talent this man was. Just astounding to imagine. Good solid listen.

Liked his version of it had to be you. Liked the big bandy -jazz sound and soulful vocals while getting ready for work this AM. I've only ever associated him with his up beat vocal range so it was nice to hear the more moody/slow style as well.

Jamie Foxx is such a great singer! I do love his voice though, and it was nice to hear songs I had never heard before. Good for listening to while cooking or dinner!

Beautiful, emotional, need more listens to truly fall in love

Bloody amazing

Excellent

Impressive stuff from a master.

Very solid, enjoyable album.

I loves me some Ray. But not all of this one. I like jazzy, flowing Ray. This had too much weepy music. Am I Blue? I don't care. Stop whining. Can't you see...[The AI for this app detected a probable blind joke and deemed it to be potentially offensive to those who read it. Therefore, it has been interrupted. I am a bit.]

This is just great. It's an album you play on a day you have no plans and just want to sit down, read a book, and relax with your partner. It's what cozy sounds like to me. Ray is just smooth, the band both adds to, and compliments his voice. This could play in a small bookstore or coffee shop and at least three people would ask if they could buy it. I had forgotten how much talent Ray Charles had. I need to listen to all his stuff now.

Wow Ray Charles did not play. I love big band music can we have a resurgence right now (I need more hsc material). If we are bringing back yearning let’s talk about When Your Lover Has Gone and It Had to Be You. AND THE TRANSITION to Alexander don’t play with me. This album had me feeling pretty jolly. Deed I Do feels like a play on scatting, and if that’s what it is I highly appreciate that. If you can’t have them crying, have them dance I say 🤷‍♀️.

let the good times roll - i feel like james bond listening to this. do not play whilst in car. it had to be you - mr ray charles i think ive heard this one before. a slightly more original rendition may have been in order. piano solo goes very hard tho. i like the final section. alexanders ragtime band - randomly good transition from it had to be you. i do love a good piece of music about music. never fails in my books. im getting a little tired of my ears being blown out tho. okay so I was going to rate all the songs? but I ran out of time. I felt that was the only way to really do the album justice since it was more a collection of songs than a story. whilst I have a large amount of appreciation for mr ray Charles' voice and his piano skills (especially since he's blind), the very loud big band kinda put my off after a bit. I prefer quieter jazz/blues. I give it 4/5.

Ray Charles was a treasure. This is a great album and should be listened to everyone.

Classic

I didn’t know a single song off of this record, but it was a vibe and consistent the whole way through.