Reviews (page 5 of 14)
Let the good times roll - 3 It had to be you - 4 Alexander's ragtime band - 3 Two years of torture - 3 When your lover has gone - 4 Deed I do - 3 Just for a thrill - 4 You won't let me go - 3 Tell me you'll wait for me - 3 Don't let the sun catch you cryin' - 4 Am I blue - 3 Come rain or come shine - 3
Ray Charles. Enough said.
Pretty good B side way better than A
It's a great album, just not really my style.
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
I dunno man, it's Ray Charles singing pop standards. I liked the swing half a lot better than the string half. I liked the blues numbers on the swing half best of all. At its high water marks I want to give this a strong 4. What gets me is that this is on the list rather than his debut (technically a compilation) with all of his early singles on it. Like, I need to hear Ray Charles playing a bunch of standards for Frank Sinatra fans to go "hmm yes" to, but I can die having not heard I've Got A Woman or Hit The Road Jack? I've never really cared for the whole "soft jazz singer" pop crossover bit either, and I probably like swing considerably less than the next jazz fan (though, again, I thought the swing side was pretty good). Part of me really wants to thumb the scale because there's like a dozen jazz records total in this entire list, but don't think this sustains a 4 through its runtime for me.
I love jazz so this was extremely up my alley. Sure some stretches got a little samey but not much can make me feel like jazz does, and it's an excellent sample of jazz standards done extremely well
It's a beautiful album, immediately put me at ease and made me feel like sophisticated gentleman in a dimly lit basement bar. Not something that really gives me big feels though and it's just not my personal taste but I appreciate it! Grew on me after the first listen.
I had a review from before the group started up so I'll copy and paste it: "This music feels so closely associated with scenes of old timey people partying in Las Vegas in the mid 20th century that I almost can't see myself really listening to it except in that context like as background music in a film." This is fine but I think there will be better music from Ray Charles. I gave it a 3 then so I'll keep that.
Not bad at all really, but not my kind of thing. Ray Charles does have a great voice and a clearly accomplished grasp of the instruments at his disposal, but with these big band jazz types of albums, I never really feel the urge to revisit.
My wedding song is on this so five stars
Could use a half star here. Most of my favorite songs of his aren’t on here.
Nice, realistically won’t revisit
Enjoyed a couple of songs and the big band.
Already knew I liked a couple songs here and ended up discovering more. The jazz band kid in me is happy, and the quieter tracks shine too
It's soulful, it's jazzy, it's a good time! You can't go wrong with Ray Charles!
Not my cup of tea but can appreciate it for the era.
Obviously it’s Ray Charles. The man could sing. Prefer the second ballads side to the big band stuff. Overall good but there are better Ray albums I think
I enjoy this style of music and listen to it when reading
Very vibey
Nice. I enjoyed the second half more than the big band stuff in the first half. I think there's other stuff by Ray Charles that would appeal to me more, I should seek it out.
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
Really nice listen, probably missing a lot of time / cultural context as to his genius, but for 70 year old tunes they hold up nicely
The album for world end
What else can you expect? It’s Jazz! Love it! So classy! Hehe
I could often predict what kind of sound would come next, especially in the first or second track. Even so, I enjoyed this album a lot. For me, jazz music used to feel calm and a bit boring, but this album was awesome.
Fun little album but nothing too memorable for me personally. 3.8/10
The big band in the back is fantastic. 4/5
not Ray's best (but i'm not typically a fan of these big band arrangements unless they're by Duke). However, "Alexander's Ragtime Band" is absolutely sublime. the ballad side is the stronger side ("just for a thrill? "am i blue"? c'mon!) with "come rain or come shine" rightfully heralded as an eternal classic i hope ray's modern country soundz is on this list. that is some great stuff
He was hilarious as the bus driver in the movie Spy Hard
I like Ray Charles but he was of his time and it doesn't resonate with me as much, still an iconic voice and style
If the rest of this album was as great as the first 2 songs I would have said 5 stars. Don’t get me wrong the other songs are still good, but I enjoyed the upbeat songs more, 3+ stars but I’m not going to round to 4, perhaps I would have on a different day
Is it weird that I always think Ray is a blues combo guy and then get surprised that he’s really a big bang vocalist? Great voice, no issues with this one. Call it 3.5 that I’ve rounded to to 3
Yeah. Rightly named album.
Quintessential Ray Charles. Just perfect
Some toe tapping tunes!
Genius
Fav song: Don’t let the sun catch you cryin’
Good voice vary romantic
These were great. I loved when the tracks had a lot of strings going as accompaniment.
Yes cool since a long long time! I remember my parents
It is genius! Sultry bluesy genius 4
i think you cannot deny that ray charles was so so highly influential during the 20th century, and listening to this full album in this current year shows why this is true soul music. a true album of love filled with yearning, some anguish and overall true adoration in its purest form.
Great for lounging and drinkin fine drinks
Good listen although I don’t typically listen to jazz or blues
Ray Charles, one of the pioneers of that early R&B/jazz style, suffers here a bit on the first few tracks with the big-band brass tending to overshadow both his singing and piano playing, but then the album settles more into piano based balladry which soothes the soul. Hard to believe this album is 15 years older than me, but it still stands up well today. 3/5 for me, could've been more if there was a bit more subtlety to the first few songs.
no notes.
Delightful
🔥🔥🔥
Big band sound attracting the post war nostalgic followers of the earlier dance era
Cute
Absolutely brilliant. Sound mixing needs work.
i never thought i would really become a fan of jazz, but here we are. maybe i was just listening to the wrong stuff before
not mine (personally)
This is a really nice album. He's got such a lovely voice, and he imparts some real feeling and soul into the songs. I like the big band stuff, but the second half is just lovely. 3.5 rounded up.
Lovely
I thought this album was very good and I was happy to have listened to it. Not something I would often put on, but I’m happy I have been reminded of Ray Charles’s music.
This was really good! Vibes: Fallout wasteland, classic comfort I could listen to this one all day
fun to hear Ray Charles leaning more into full pop music and the "side A big band"/"side B ballads" idea is interesting but a part of me wishes the album committed more to either choice.
Dude can't see shit
As the album says Ray Charles is a genius
0 songs added to my favorites. Listened to twice.
Uma obra prima do maior pianista cego da história. Eu sou completamente apaixonado com a sonoridade do jazz clássico. Exatamente o que esse álbum trás. O vocal do Ray Charles é tão bom que impressiona até mesmo pessoas como eu, que preferem o jazz instrumental. Difícil escolher a melhor e pior por ser um álbum tão consistente. Melhor do álbum: "Let the Good Times Roll". Pior do álbum: "When Your Lover Has Gone".
Seloco, cara sabia demais. Don't Let the Sun Catch you Cryin', que música linda...
Premium album, no skips
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.
Well titled.
Not my style but very good music nonetheless
Favorite Song: Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin' Least Favorite Song: N/A I can't choose a least favorite song because... they kind of all sound the same. But in this case, it isn't such a bad thing because the entire record is consistently lovely.
2/5 I understand why people like this album but this isnt my cup of tea.
Sehr gefühlvoll. Erste Hälfte Big Band (sehr harsch, klingen teilweise wie verzerrte Gitarren), zweite Hälfte eher baladig mit Streichern. Geiles Klavierspiel. Highlights: Just for a thrill, tell me you'll wait for me
jan 14 2026 im finally getting off my ass and listening to this FIRST LISTEN BTW [before listening] i know literally nothing about this man im so serious. I feel silly saying that [on it had to be you] you know what i love? i love the horn section on this album so far. i know im only two songs in but whoever they got on the horns here are putting their whole hearts into this
I liked the first half more than the last half, but generally I'm often not too impressed with the albums from this era though they have been hugely important for shaping music as we know it, so props for that Standouts Let the Good Times Roll Alexander's Ragtime Band 3/5
idk, for me it’s a plain jazz album, i like something more experimental fav: just for a thrill
very good album, i loved his voice and the lyrics were very relatable.
Well the title is right, he is a genius.
Perfection
1/9/26. Classic. 7/10
Sometimes expectations influence one's assessment. I am very fond of Ray Charles and was therefore looking forward to this album. However, “The Genius of Ray Charles” is not particularly outstanding among Ray's recordings. The mediocre arrangements and poor production (for a Ray Charles album—still good for its time!) have been mentioned by critics, but I think the biggest weakness is the selection of songs, which resemble those of any Broadway singer. As a result, Ray Charles doesn't really come into his own. Two songs are noteworthy: “Am I Blue” and “Let The Good Times Roll.” I expected to give a Ray Charles album 5 stars, but for me this one is “only” 4+.
Going to experiment with not doing track by track notes so I can do more things while listening without writing all the time! I really like this one! Solid 4 stars from me. Reminds me how much I love horns. Not much to say other than it’s just a very enjoyable listen. Favorites: Let The Good Times Roll, When Your Lover Has Gone
Meh, great voice but songs/arrangements arent great. 6.5\7 ish
I’m surprised that this is only the second album I’ve encountered on the list that isn’t on a streaming service. The other one is Captain Beefheart. Ray Charles is better.
This is the good version of old people music If I was classier I’d hang out in places that play music like this Idk man it’s Ray fuckin Charles what was it gonna be? Bad??
I saved “Let The Good Times Roll” and “Just for a Thrill”. This is fun. High energy. Songs are well constructed.
It feels like very generic Jazz, I couldn't pick it out of a lineup of other jazz I've heard. It felt like a movie soundtrack to me. I fully respect that this opinion is probably based on inexperience with the genre, and potentially the result of modern jazz coming from this as a primary influence.
Didn’t finish listening the album because it’s not quite my style of music so in terms of preferences i’d say for me it’s a 6/10 but considering it in general i think it’s an 8/10
Favorite Track:Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin'
First time listen. Beautiful album.
I had heard most of it before. Nice soul and jazz tunes. You can't go wrong with Ray Charles
Nice. Easy listening
Solid 7/10
Ya like jaaaazz?
A lot of the songs were very similar
Is a classic and sounds classic. Not much to say here
This has my wedding song on it so automatic five stars
Classic
Never been a huge Ray fan
Craig: good, not great. Good singer, but not his greatest work. Courtney: I’m not mad at it and it was a good way to start this process—a great singer performing an assortment of great songs.
I love Ray Charles, his voice is timeless!
GENIUS of RAY CHARLES is very apropos. His music is and ALWAYS has been the creation of a TRUE GENIUS 🙏🏻🎶🎶
Wow brass. Fav song tell me you'll wait for me
it’s good, just a lot of the same
Nice album.
Jazzy
Grande classico del jazz
ray can singggg some songs are great, others don't resonate with me
This is so fun and so jazzy! I have already recommended this album to like 3 people. It is a lotta fun. This is a solid 4.5. The big band is GREAT! Liked Songs: "Let the Good Times Roll" , "Alexander's Ragtime Band" , "Two Years of Torture" , "Deed I Do" , "Just for a Thrill" , "You Won't Let Me Go" , "Tell Me You'll Wait for Me" , "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin' " , "Am I Blue" , "Come Rain or Come Shine"
A tale of the halves (or rather two sides): the first side of the (original vinyl) album consists of a number big-band R&B / Swing / Pop arrangements, while the second side consists of a number ballads accompanied by a string orchestra. The album doesn't feature any tracks written by the Ray Charles, but nonetheless, it still shows the brilliance of the man.
good album of jazz/soul for when you’re in that vibe, would make great references for people on this path musically but not a day to day album for me.
QUE LINDO ES EL JAZZZ!! que viva el jazz, te hace sentir enamorado y flotando. un 10 el disco
not my cup of tea necessarily but a legend regardless
I love this album!
j'ai adoré, vraiment mon style, ça faisait longtemps que j'avais pas écouté du ray charles en plus de cela
Very fun, not the sound I think of when I think of Ray Charles
Incredible album. I really enjoyed the lyricism and the overall blues themed instrumental. It is an overall classic album !
yes
Super duper soothing. The horns are beautiful. I love the vibes of a warmly lighted dinner restaurant in a big city with people slow dancing to the music. This is that music.
Summed up perfectly by it's title
Best Track - "Come Rain Or Come Shine"
Discovered I love slow 50s jazz And started a new playlist
Amazing voice. Total entertainer. Great orchestration and arrangements.
Not my cup of tea tbh. Fav song is ‘Let the Good Times Roll’.
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.
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
The Genius of myself gives this Album 3 Stars.
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.
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.
3.5 No estoy en el mood pero un jefe de jefes
Primera vez que lo escucho a pesar de ser tan reconocido, definitivamente un virtuoso musical 3.5
Love the instrumentals. Romantic listen for rainy evening.
I mean, it's ray charles!!
Ray Charles is an absolute legend. My first reaction after starting the first song was that it was neat to hear him with a big band behind him. Unfortunately I realized very quickly every song is the same with just different lyrics. Overall not a terrible album but just mostly boring.
J'ai retenu : - come rain or come sun - you won't let me go - Let the Good times roll Certaines sont chouettes pour danser
My 1st note here 🎶 I appreciate the value and legacy of soul music, but the improv and discontinued melodies are just not my thing, never were :) Still a good way to open this project, challenging myself to listen to something I would have never listen on my own accord 👂
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.
Nice and relaxing. Felt as if I was in a swanky jazzy bar, drinking in a booth.
As primeiras músicas me trouxeram desconforto pois são muito brilhantes devido aos metais agressivos. Nas últimas faixas a coisa muda de figura e o som fica relaxado. A voz é incrível em todas as faixas
ВАУ
Big band r&b, classic voice
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
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.
I don’t feel this shows Ray at his best. It’s very subdued somehow, lacklustre. He needs to be given room to let loose and show us what he’s got. This just ain’t it, he deserves a better choice than this one
GOING IN: No strong feelings LISTENED WHILE: Driving FAMILIARITY: Know the artist, not the album SKIP RATE: Played it straight through REPLAY VALUE: Might come back to it DISCOVERY CURVE: Warmed up nicely ALBUM ARC: Pretty even, consistent VERDICT: Better than expected BODY'S VERDICT: Toe tapping situation FAVOURITE TRACK: My Rating: 3
Favorite Songs - Let the Good Times Roll, Just for a Thrill, You Won't Let Me Go, Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin', Come Rain or Come Shine
Amazing! Alexander’s Ragtime Bad is the best! Just for a thrill 😍 dont let the sun - love love loveeee
absolutely true - his genius demonstrated here, put on the record for all time, with magnificent arrangements and a beautiful range of vocals, from tender to commanding. 5 stars
Beautifully composed and orchestrated, it's a wonderful deep dive into the era, however I feel it hasnt aged well foe the modern ethos and fits more into a niche catergory of preference today, a preference I sadly do not fall into. I can appreciate an incredible talent however.
Really good
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.
Ray Charles doing what Ray Charles does.
Some nice jazz but it has a lot of uninteresting parts, still pretty good though
So it turns out I am definitely more a fan of his more upbeat work. This album just kind of bled into the background. Favorite track was tell me you will wait for me
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
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
I love Ray Charles' voice and piano playing but I'm not a huge fan of big band. I do really like the jazz chord progressions but would prefer if they weren't being absolutely blasted into my ear holes by a thousand horns. Just not my thing, but I can appreciate it. Highlights: it had to be you, just for a thrill, am I blue, come rain or come shine (so, the less big band ones)
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
Slower, more ballad-y songs about love aren't my usual go-to. Ray Charles' voice has a lovely raspy quality to it I really enjoy though. Good music to put on in the morning while drinking a cup of coffee. After 2-3 songs you will have heard everything this album has on offer though. After a while I get sick of hearing lovesick ballads. Who hurt you Ray? 6/10
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.
Helt okej, blev inte så sugen på mer
An actual perfect album omfg
Nice listen, made me feel very at ease.
Need to relisten, have heard many of these before. Frantic at times and chilled others
Like I get it, but I think big band just isn't for me, really
4.5/5
So excited for this after a string of duds. Fun and swing-y, hadn't listened to much Ray Charles before.
Some songs where really fun and enjoyable for me. The ones who had lyrics and who where not to long, I liked those, other where for me personally too long
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.
ja gewoon genieten
oldie
Good one. Classic of genre. But i have to be in mood for this kind of music. All songs seem quite similar. It is 6,5/10
A lot of the 3 and 4 star comments mention that this is essentially just a cover album and isn’t even the best that Ray Charles has to offer. This is easily a perfect 5/5 for me for how soulful it all is. This is the kind of thing that reminds me how much I love blues and jazz and that realm of music, for as much of a punk or metal head I might be. If this isn’t the best he has to offer, I’m excited to hear the rest of his catalogue.
Nicely sung - I do prefer his funkier songs from the 60s
Pas vraiment mon truc Etonnamment, certains morceaux me font penser à des musiques de films Disney (Am I Blue)
This was cool to discover and listen to. He really was talented, and this record showcases his genius.
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.
Yeah, this is Ray Charles. Its amazing by default.
This was ok, but I don’t have very strong feelings about it. Found myself getting a bit bored by the end of I’m being honest.
No
This music feels so closely associated with scenes of old timey people partying in Las Vegas in the midcentury that I almost can't see myself really listening to it except in that context.
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
I can see why this is seen as one of the best albums ever made. However, I think I am just not a huge fan of this genre. I mean I can appreciate it and definitely see why it was so influential and iconic, but I wouldn't necessarily listen to it on myself.
Starts strong but kind of melts into the background over time.
bem chill e easy going, gostei da vibe mas nao é algo q procure muito
Only heard the first song
The definition of easy listening. Pleasant, yes, good vocals, yes, but exciting it is not.
Even the great charismatic force that is Ray Charles could not save this album from repetitive big band irritation. The more laid back tracks on the b side without constant horn blasting are actually quite enjoyable. 6/10
cheerful and fun and a great voice!
One of those albums that feels difficult to relate to others. It's Ray Charles!
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.
Good, but prefer Ray Charles' R&B songs over this big band swing style. Still, his voice carries this album. Song choices were a bit strange, with the entire second half composed of just ballads. Solid record, but kind of generic Standout Tracks: Let the Good Times Roll, Tell Me You'll Wait for Me
I'm nearing the last 50s album of the project, aren't I? Oh wow. How interesting. Anyway, this album's good. I do prefer the other Ray Charles album on the list, but this one's good too. As is the case for many other 50s albums, I do feel that this album is very "of its time," but it certainly could've aged worse. Ray's vocals are solid. I like the character that he adds to these songs. I think the instrumentation for this one could be better. The horns are honestly a bit much. I normally love horns in music, but these ones feel a little overbearing. They draw attention from where it should really be, that being Ray Charles himself. The album feels a little samey for me as well. There are strong tracks for sure. "Let the Good Times Roll" and "Come Rain or Come Shine" are great openers and closers respectively, but the middle kinda blends together. The two sides being so different does create an interesting listen experience to an extent. This album isn't bad at all, but there are definitely other albums of this style that I personally prefer. Solid 3/5.
Dreamy mastery of the classics and standard love songs
classic. seasonal. mood.
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.
Band was in full swing, but I found the album a little plain. Boy was he sad.
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.
7.3/10 pretty good a classic
Easy listening, great background music
I am very happy I listened to it, but not my favorite genre of music. It was a very respectable album, though!!
I enjoyed it, but I feel like I'm not knowledgeable enough in the genre to fully appreciate it.
Rhytm and blues. Han er en af de største som har inspireret samtlige fremtidige kunstnere. Jazz og swing var ved at miste deres dominans og nu var RnB på vej ud af nichemarkedet. Han arbejdede sammen med count basie orchestra (dem har jeg allerede hørt faktisk) og quincy jones som jo også er en legende. Der var også stor raceadskillelse i industrien på dette tidspunkt og alligevel valgte han at køre noget jazz pop? Han tog en masse hvide popklassikere og blandet sort sensibilitet ind i det og lavede noget som mindede om proto-soul. Så stevie wonder, sam cooke osv. det er virkelig charmerende og romantisk og storslået på samme tid. Jeg kan rigtig godt lide lyden af det, men det vil være til et meget specifikt humør. Jeg tror ikke bare lige sådan at jeg sætter det her på whenever.
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.
hard one to rate, but I will go with a high 3 instead of a 4 after revisiting this album. Just too many songs I would skip after hearing them in my playlist for a while. Still love the album.
The Late Great Ray Charles.
Lubię Raya Charlesa, ma niesamowity głos i wyczucie muzyki. Ale ta płyta była bardzo monotonna, jak jeden bardzo długi utwór. Nie poruszyła mojej czułej struny, a szkoda. 6/10
Actually a banger 4/5
pure genius
It ages very well. I like this jazzy swinging pop. Very good vocal performance too. Come rain or come shine really pushed it to a five. Loved it! Beautiful album!
for ray charles being the father of soul, this didn't have much of a soul feel to it. it wasn't bad, but this big band swing and string composition was not what i was expecting. glad i listened, but overall could take or leave it. give me some actual soul from the man, and then we'll talk
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.
The man truly was a genius. Right in the sweet spot for runtime. There were no huge standouts but that’s not really an issue because I thought every song was fantastic. Easy five stars.
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.
Absolutely brilliant. Loved every bit of it. Some old school swing an ting
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
Low 4 Stars/High 3 Stars (3.5 of 5 stars) When I first listened to this, I found the big band hits and shots in the first few tracks kind of abrasive and cheesy, but as I listened to them (and woke up a little more), I started not minding them too much. It's definitely part of the sound. But, whenever an instrument gets a solo (like the sax solo in the first track), the hits just seem to disrupt it imo. That being said, Ray Charles' voice on a lot of these are definitely great, especially on tracks like the closing track. Speaking of the last few tracks, I feel like I definitely enjoyed those a lot better. I guess I'm just a fan of more sparse instrumentation when it comes to jazz, blues, and soul. I really enjoyed the solos in "Let the Good Times Roll," "Alexander's Ragtime Band," and "When Your Lover Has Gone." However, I still prefer the slower and sparser tracks from the B-side of this album. I love how in a lot of them, the strings, voice, piano, and light horns all come together to create a really warm sensation. The best examples of this being "Am I Blue" and "Come Rain or Come Shine." What holds this album back for me though, is the feeling of repetition that is evident across the full length of it. The album is split into two opposing sides, the Big Band A-side and the more mellow B-side. But, it feels like within these sides, the instruments, lyrical content, and overall ideas seem to be very similar, without much development across the tracks. In my opinion, you could get away with listening to both the intro and outro tracks, and get a pretty good idea of what the rest of the album sounds like. Nevertheless, it's a pretty good (and timeless!) sound, and Ray Charles is amazing, but if you're looking for more variety, this isn't really the album, and I'd point you more to his self-titled release. Fav: Come Rain or Come Shine Likes: Let the Good Times Roll, When Your Lover Has Gone, Am I Blue, Come Rain or Come Shine.
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
Fun listening and good vibes. Not much to say other than I just very much enjoy this era of music
Similar to Frank Sinatra, this album is sensual, smooth and romantic. I loved the sultry feel with the orchestral elements but I didn’t find it super interesting.
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
Der einzige und wahre Soul sänger. Lets rock
Band was too big
Bangers
Fun listening
glad to know music hasnt changed so much in so many years. didnt finish. was ok i guess
Great performer, not my favourite songs.
He's that guy. Monumental achievement in modern American music. 3.5/5
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!
Too many slow jams.
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
Not sure if I prefer the first half of big band cacophony or the second side’s moodiness, as they seemed to synch with my day. Charles’ delivery is powerful, but as usual on an album of covers I find myself wondering if there are better versions out there.
I'm sure the album is good quality but I really don't like this style of music!
Pretty good. Sounds cool. But not for me
This, especially the second side, is far slower than you’d expect for a Ray Charles record. But even if it’s unexpected, it’s still welcome, for these uptempo swinging jazz numbers and slower, meandering soul ballads are engineered by Charles’ commanding and unmistakable voice. So it is Ray Charles’ “Genius” that makes this album noteworthy. If this was just some crooner then I doubt this would be found even in charity shop bargain bins, let alone on this list. Which is the trouble, really. There’s plenty of great artists who made their best material before the album was the foremost musical form of expression. But you can’t exactly just put Hit the Road Jack on here alone.
Oldest album that's come up so far. It was fine but I might say slightly disappointed, a lot of this is just ballads and mainly covers I think, which I have heard done better before. Not sure if he writes any of the songs on this album. Nice voice great pianist etc and some good arrangements but nothing memorable enough to hit 4 stars or higher. Essentially there's a lot of crooning here and he doesn't do it as well as others of the era
"An American TREASURE... the dynamic FORCE that was Ray Charles... a guy who could play his @$$ off... Blues, Jazz, anything... a guy who could write songs like "What'd I Say" and "Hallelujah I Love Her So"... and a man... who was maybe the GREATEST MALE SINGER in history... that is debatable... but, that he was one of them is, surely, not... on this album, he is interpreting songs like no other... i chuckle when i hear a non-artist, or limited one, deride "cover artists" lol... there are people paid to play familiar songs in a bar... that's a cover band... to INTERPRET a cover is a completely different thing... and Ray Charles is as good as it gets... his vocals display everything you want to hear... it's impeccably accurate... gravelly, gruff, clear, at will... and the SOUL dripping out of it... when i HATED Beyonce doing "country"... i EASILY accepted this genius' version of the genre... anyway... long story short... FIVE STARS forever... one of the greatest musicians and artists of our time."
A slightly curious, stitched together mix of big band swing standards, and piano-led ballads that Charles would become known for throughout his career. The recording quality is not good - yes, it's 1959 but it should've been better than this - and the arrangements throughout are pretty well by the numbers. But that Ray Charles voice overcomes.
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
мид
Very nice !
premda načelno dobar nije me baš sad oduševio
What a treat.
A generational talent and voice. A really great sometimes-listen.
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”
w old school
Ray Charles being Ray Charles. It’s nice but I don’t have too much to say about it.
A bit of big band sound never did anyone any harm. I worked in a ballroom in the early 1980's where they had a big band on once a week and I always enjoyed that. The same is true of this Ray Charles album - I enjoyed it. There's something about the beat of the music, the melodies and the vocals that's chill out relaxing from long before the ambient house chill out of the late 1980's to 2000's. I don't go out searching for big band music when looking for something to listen to, but I don't skip it if it's suggested and hopefully having listed to this album I might get a few more suggestions in future.
The horns on this album are like all or nothing.
Decent 3,5
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
First listen. 3 This album was pleasant enough, but I feel like this probably isn't the most interesting material from Ray Charles. Much of it sounded like other crooners I've heard.
classic
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
Awesome!
It was okay. The pacing of the album was a little bit odd with one half containing upbeat songs and the other half containing ballads. The ballads should have been in between the faster paced songs.
If I ever open a barber/cigar shop, this is most likely the 1st record being spun.
Either I was distracted or it just didn’t hit right. Interesting album title. Pretty similar to the subject line of my emails
To say it’s genius would just be agreeing with the album title
time travel to 1950s smoky late night jazz lounges or dinner parties.
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.
I can tell it was quality but not really my cup of tea
Not bad.
This was fabulous. Love the instrumentals, especially all the horns!
79/100 Good Soup Didn’t listen intently enough and need to relisten
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