The Genius Of Ray Charles

Okay so the only reason this isn’t getting a 5 is because of the big band stuff in the first half of the album. I’m just not a big band fan. It’s too much, too many instruments clashing together. Also it completely overshadows Ray’s voice which is kinda the whole point of the album. His voice is just so, so good. He sings with his soul. He makes every song sound achingly beautiful (at least for the second half). The slower stuff is where he really shines. Really great album.

Ray Charles is always a solid pick.

A Genius he is! Beautiful classic R&B, Country Western tinged pop tunes. Mostly ballads, which Ray always excelled with, because every tune continues to mount energy higher and higher until the bottom falls out and the statement made leaves you awe struck. Hard to hate on this album, but its dated and slow pace wouldn’t make it a mainstay in my rotation. But in the right mood, in the right lighting, in the correct moment this album is a perfect collection of tunes that I have no criticisms of !!!

The strings and orchestra impede the looseness of Ray Charles and makes the album feel more like background music. Not his best album but it’s still the genius at work.

неплохое начало когда все надоело

Crazy horn arrangements. I'm not super familiar with Ray Charles's music, so I don't know if he's the one doing the arranging – but man, it's good. Dramatic, thick vibratos, particularly in the trumpets, punctuate Charles's soulful vocal with jazzy, big-band-style hits. This is particularly prevalent in the first half of the album with tracks like Let the Good Times Roll and It Had to Be You (which are, coincidentally, my two favourite songs in the set). And Charles is just about the most likeable singer you can get, even with the steep 50s competition of Little Richard, Buddy Holly, and Ella Fitzgerald (among countless others). This is about as good of an album as you can get without committing to any sense of album-esque "adventure". In other words, I reckon you could rearrange the songs on this album in pretty much any order and get the same experience. It did feel at times that the songs were slight variants of each other, what with the identical arrangements, commitment to the big-band swing-pop genre, and so on. 4/5 Key tracks: Let the Good Times Roll, It Had to Be You, Alexander's Ragtime Band, Come Rain or Come Shine

Delightful album. Slow, calm swing. Probably timeless. I should pay more attention to this album and listening to it while not working.

The title didn't lie. I love the mood switch right in the middle - it goes from lovely upbeat swing to soulful blues.

This was very please to listen to. He has such an amazing voice and vocal style.

hugo

Great album.

8/10

Enjoyed it although it was more show band than I expected

Back when music was GOOD.

Loved it.

Genius indeed

This was very relaxing to listen to. 10/10 would listen again

Nice smooth music

I really enjoyed this album. My fav: Maybe “Am I Blue” but all the song were good.

Favourite songs: Deed I Do, Alexander's Ragtime Band, Let The Good Times Roll, It Had to Be You, Just For a Thrill Least favourite songs: Am I Blue 4/5

Some good big band music. Not my favorite genre, mostly find it boring, but there were some good songs and it's hard to deny the quality of musicianship. I rather enjoyed the lyrics.

Very good but not great.

Aptly named album. The voice and piano. Beautiful. Would be a higher rating, but it reached my limit of listening to big band sounds.

I didn't realize Ray Charles was "big band" as I haven't listened to much variety from him. This was a nice listen, and has some well known songs as well as some good new ones. "Daddy's done turn salty, Baby, you made him so sore. You done your daddy dirty." Slow dance only, good voice, but singing register too low.

Classic, but not something I'd go out of my way to listen to.

A title that only Ray could have gotten away with

Now thats what i call music

Ray Charles truly is a genius! Loved having this album pop up.

Ein sehr schönes Album von Ray Charles. Vielleicht etwas angestaubt. Ich habe es aber gern gehört. 4/5

4.0

9/10 Fav track: Let The Good Times Roll

Very solid. Rays vocals mix well with both the big band and the more string focused sections to make a something worth listening.

- liked the slower songs especially - brash horns are interesting - very old timey so needs repeat listens 3.5/5 atm

Smooth, powerful, pretty great.

Lots of horns. Big band feel. Not your typical Ray Charles.

If you must have jazz, this is the jazz to have. So much fun.

Love this album. Definitely a jazz album. Simply wonderful.

"Dont Let The Sun Catch You Criying" es una belleza, por sí sola vale todo el disco, pero, eso no significa que sea un mal disco. Nada que ver. Es un disco sólido, capaz un poco... no sé, se siente como una misma larga canción.

Pretty soothing and chill. It's nice as both background music or a focused listening

I really like these old loungey albums that essentially amount to a recording of the live show, although you can see the beginnings of studio experimentation here, especially on side 2. Side one is a total banger, and if you're in the right mood for side 2, it hits hard.

Delightful. Almost a little too much on the easy listening side of things, but it works for me on this album.

Beautiful, kind of need to be in the mood for it but great loungey vibes.

"Genius" is always a hard word to put into a title. You start throwing it into things, it really makes you look at the work and think "is it REALLY?" My first reaction to a number of the songs was "where is the piano?" But looking at the wikipedia, I see there was a reason for the lack of it in the first half. It did how up very tastefully in a number of pieces at the end, like "Tell Me You'll Wait for Me". I wish that the pieces with backup singers didn't have the older sound to it. That vocal singing screams very old-timey. Aside from that, a lot of the songs do not sound like they were done almost 70 years ago. But that chorus, ugh. I had heard "Alexander's Ragtime Band" before, and I had always felt part of his singing was a little off. I think it's just his coming in on the off beat on that last line of the chorus, it just always seems a little jarring to me. I dug this a lot, the jazz and orchestra coming together, I just wanted the backing vocals to be more modern. Top tracks: "Let The Good Times Roll," "Am I Blue," "Come Rain Or Come Shine"

I just crapped all over the Stones for a debut album full of covers (except one). And now here comes Ray Charles with 100% covers. But this feels different. Maybe because taking a bunch of R&B or jazz standards and doing in them in your own style is typical in that genre (and seen as last innovative in rock). Or maybe because Ray just brings it, at least on side one, and then changes the tempo on side two. I think he does the big band side one better, maybe because it matches his powerful voice, but the strings-oriented arrangements on side two are solid too. Yep, genius. Not perfect but very good.

Obviously Ray Charles was a hugely seminal artist, but I'm not sure if this album does a ton to demonstrate what set his music apart from similar jazz singers at the time. Still solid, even if I would have liked it to be a little funkier.

Great album. Don't really have much else to say.

Hey, everybody Let's have some fun You only live but once And when you're dead you're done So let the good times roll I said let the good times roll I don't care if you're young or old You ought to get together and let the good times roll

Just a really classy player and singer

He’s the master. Everything he touches is gold. Incredible sound.

Let The Good Times Roll // It Had To Be You // Just For A Thrill // Come Rain or Come Shine // 4.5/5

pretty good. it's got that typical recorded "big band" sound, when the blare of a dozen trumpets gets flattened down until it can be background music to a single vocalist. A surprising number of sad wistful "why'd my baby leave me" songs. As always I get bored when every song is a love song.

Great classic album, enjoyed almost every song here. Low 4.

Well yeah I guess he was

Classic Ray Charles

Ray charles, very listenable. Im not dressed well enough for this though

Great album to listen to while loitering around Target. I know from experience.

Cracking album with some great tunes

The guy's a magician. Don't love every song but it's got soul.

Great through and through. Subjectively, Ray sounds at his best on the second half of the album where we are treated to more intimate string-backed arrangements rather than the sudden bombastic blasts of big band brass. While recognizing their merit, I find those swing big bands personally a bit jarring and overwhelming but that said, if anyone can pull it off, it's Ray Charles. He has a way of grounding his environment where anything off-putting in one's world or even on his own record, fades out of view. When an artist is this talented and has this much presence, the smaller the ensemble the better, in my opinion. This one resonates through and through, however, just providing a tonal shift as the evening winds down and as universal an appeal as Ray holds, something for everyone.

Amazing musician, awful person.

This album had a rough start but it got better. The second half is what makes "The Genius of Ray Charles" shine. The ballads on that half are great. I'm usually not a fan of big band music but I like it. Ray Charles's voice is nice throughout. I'll give this record 4 stars.

Really enjoyed this album - so interesting that the first half was happy and jubuliant, and the second half was sad - I've not come across this before. First half was my fave!

It's hard to vote against this, an absolute masterpiece in the genre, his career, and the history of music in general. Sounds amazing, and the session players are as tight as a decades old group.

I should probably read more about these albums before I listen and make notes. I was surprised at the heavy big band sound and crooner style songs, but obviously that was his intent. I can't say I'm the biggest fan of big band sound, but damn, how can you not listen to this and picture yourself in a smoke filled, darkened club just absorbing the music. I do prefer the rock n roller/blues Ray, but I did think this was a wonderful album to hear. I've listened last couple days, then just the genre play out. This is just good, fun music that is a joy to hear all day long. Different than I use to when I think of Ray Charles, but the beautiful all the same. A very good album. 4

First half is big band; second half if string ballads. Let The Good Times Roll It Had To Be You Alexander's Ragtime Band Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin' Am I Blue Come Rain or Come Shine

Just one of the best. It’s interesting that this album came out close to the same time as Sinatra’s “Songs for Swingin’ Lovers.” I just find this so much more interesting. Great songs realized by…well, a genius.

Yes! 4.

Ray Charles er en av musikerne eg har hørt mye på i mange år, selv om jeg ikke har satt meg ned og hørt på et helt album. Når jeg hører på hele albumet blir jeg imponert over hvor god han var på å produsere for storband. Voicingen i trompet- og saksofonkora sitter som et skudd. Og selv om mye av dette er Tin Pan Alley-musikk, så er det fortsatt en grunn til at det er Ray Charles som huskes. Senere kom selvfølgelig Ray Charles til å være toneangivende for helt andre musikksjangre, men allerede her så viser han seg som den fantastiske musikeren han er.

This is a super jazzy, bluesy, crooner style album. I really enjoyed listening to this album, but it's definitely a style that i need to be in the mood for. Maybe an evening with a cigar and a sunset. I'll play this one when i'm looking for an album that starts out like a fire an burns down to a cozy warm cuddle session. 4 ⭐️

3.5

At this point in my life, I need big band music that I'm listening to for the first to do something interesting, and there's nothing that stands out about the first half of the album to me. I would listen to it again, but I'm not going to go seek it out. Now, the ballads on the second half of the album are a completely different story. I'm a big sucker for slow jazz ballads, and these songs are killing me.

Gr8

Such a classic voice and excellent musicianship/arrangements

Side 1, with Brother Ray swinging with an impeccable group of jazz musicians (and arrangements by one Quincy Jones) stands in contrast to the orchestrated ballads on Side 2. Thing is, Charles handles it all with complete ease. Class.

I love this. The orchestration may be a bit much, but it is of the time. Quincy Jones did the orchestration. Great sax. 4*

I found this album enjoyable, but it's not really my kind of music, and I don't see myself going back to it. However, there is no denying it is well written, well performed, and just generally good music.

Þvílíkur snillingur. Ég elska big band tónlist. Ray tekur þarna góð lög og setur upp í big banda tónlistarveislu sem ég mun hlusta á aftur og aftur. Það er ekki hægt að biðja um mikið meira en þetta. Ray er einhver sem ég hef ekkert svo mikið hlustað á en hann er bara kominn í topp-tónlistarmenn hjá mér.

Great songs all around (those trumpets can get quite tedious)

Beautiful album. Nice soul. And I can’t believe he had such an incredible voice for so long.

Kort maar krachtig 👍🏻

I love jazz

Ray Charles was a gift to us all, and I almost wanted to give this album a five just for being him. That said, it’s big band Ray, not blues-y Ray, which I think is a shame. There were several ballads on here that I feel didn’t show him off at his best, so I’m downgrading it by one star and praying that there is a five star Ray album on this list.

Soothing jazzy, bluesy love songs

Great bluesy album

Similar to Ella Fitzgerald, when I play Ray Charles my life just becomes a movie. It's actually difficult to just listen vs start to daydream.

I so often think of Ray Charles as his more modern hits, but this is much more old school than I realized. Lots and lots of soul and yearning in his songs, and I love the big band support throughout.

frightening closing doors and screeching grinders, the thought passes like a bird, mind her widening blinders, flattening imposing foes and friendly outsiders, allies squandered. cohersing yours truly to share words kinder, couldnt find them in my core, an enlightening reminder. albums great but needs some spice imo

I liked this album a lot, but not as much as I thought I would. I've never listened to Ray Charles before. It was a little too much crooning and some of the songs got a little too slow for me. I found a few of the most popular songs like 'Come Rain or Come Shine' a little boring, but loved 'Alexander's Ragtime Band'. These thoughts are a little negative, but that's only because I went into this anticipating a possible 10/10. 8/10. Great album, I want to hear more.

4/5 Really beautiful album.

Ah - ear bleach after yesterday’s crap. Great stuff here. What’s not to like.

Not quite what I expected from one of the progenitors of rock and roll. Besides “Let The Good Times Roll” this is mostly Charles as a crooner, which isn’t a bad thing. I especially enjoyed the string-accompanied second half of the record.

The first half is big and bold but sometimes woozy and swoony brass band full of glorious horns just bubbling up. RC delivers a hot vocal performance that brings it to a boil. It's big band jazz arrangments of classic blues. The second half is piano ballads with string adornment that cool it all the way down. This verges more into schmaltz, but the depth and range of the vocals overcomes the corny studio treatment its subjected to.

Objectively good and I enjoyed it, but I don't see myself returning to this on a regular basis. Faves: When Your Lover Has Gone, Just for a Thrill

Album 342 of 1001 Ray Charles - The Genius Of Ray Charles Rating : 4.5 / 5 Hard not to enjoy this album. Great talent, great songs. Guess this is more a record label's release rather than Ray Charles' release as I can't see him calling himself a "genius". Either way, it is a great listen.

Ray Charles is a master of the craft. Ragtime piano, raspy vocals. Great album.

Very relaxing. Great for a quiet morning. I may keep it on deck for mornings or nights when I want something a bit softer. No stand out songs, but I enjoyed it for what it was. My dad was a big fan of Ray Charles so it made me think of him a lot which was nice

I enjoyed this album and would listen to it again

Really gets the fingers snapping and toes a tap'n.

Good album, warrants a re-listen

8/10 Liked this one - really well sequenced and produced First half: uptempo, more playful, brass loaded Then the brass is just outstaying its welcome and boom Second half: strings, introspective, brilliant Amazing voice, amazing emotion in second half

Bigger fan of the second half, but this album is a winner because of the vocals and the overall feel.

Great

Songs were good, each one was shorter than I thought it would be, a quick under 40 min album!

Really great music, can tell why he’s so revered although I’d never choose to listen of my own volition.

Ray Charles knocks you off your seat and makes you pay attention. The abrasive horns attack your senses and lead you directly into Charles' sensational voice. The force of side 1 flows into the smooth ballads of side 2, with the incredible singing still with you. As another reviewer said, he exudes pure class.

Some classic tunes but it got a little same same after a while

There are two types of jazz musicians, those on coke and those on dope. Ray Charles falls into the later camp and it shows. My personal taste is for those in the former but that doesn't take away from the fact that this is one of the best jazz albums I've ever heard. Ray Charles on the piano and vocals are stunning but every instrument in the ensemble gets a moment to shine. It feels like a very complete album, lots of different melodies, lots of different instruments taking the musical lead...I still like my coked out jazz musicians though.

lijepo

cozy

Not bad

Such a smooth vocal and great backing from the band. The brass is big and loud and isn't compressed down like it might be in future recordings. The arrangements are fun, it's not pushing crazy boundaries but I don't feel it needs to too much. There could have been slightly more diverse song choices tbh, but hey.

Great classic I really enjoyed it

Ray Charles never disappoints!

Good. Not me

I did not know this is what I needed today. Feeling groovy.

An amazing voice. Some fun big band backing to go along with it.

Beautiful. The voice, the arrangements. chefs kisses all round

J'ai de beaucoup préféré cet album au précédent de Ray Charles que j'ai entendu. Moins plaignard, plus énergique, j'ai pu apprécier la texture de la voix et l'interprétation

History.

Enjoyable listen to an iconic singer. Lots of standards but missing some Oomf. Decent record from an amazing talent.

Awesome album. Big band music and the genius of Ray Charles!

Ray Charles demonstrates his genius in every song of this engaging recording. Most, if not all, of the songs are standards and Charles makes them his own.

I really enjoyed listening to this album. Ray Charles was truly a musical genius.

Hard not to like Brother Ray

•Not owned: Streaming •Just a great album that highlights just what a wonderful vocalist Ray Charles was—while still retaining great instrumentation and arrangements. •4/5

4,8

3,8

The Genius! I love that it has been said Ray Charles was more influential than Elvis. I agree.

I had not heard before. Nicely orchestrated and executed.

Class

Brought back memories

Fantastic album. RC's vocals and piano are wonderful. The only drawback are the 1950s strings arrangements, which date it a bit.

First time really listening to his music. Not my typical style but very enjoyable. Great stuff.

pretty easy listening. 3.7.

A pretty damn good early pop record. Not my style of music at all, but I still found it a good, enjoyable listen. Much better than the hyper-polished Vegas crooner stuff.

Classic album marked by great craft in the waiting and arrangements, as well as the genius of Ray Charles.

Very nice songs

I love Ray. He has better records so not giving this a five though. This was back in the days when the record company named the album but it makes me laugh imagining that it was Ray himself who came up with the title.

Very strong four.

да гений, че тех кому не нравится старый соуловый джаз и это не зайдет Кто не знает чарльза - пожалуй хороший альбом вкатится Алкоальбом: виски 20-летней выдержки и петь песни с Синатрой

Immer wieder schön ...

Very "Big Bandish".....interesting.....nice album.

Enjoyed. Not an all time favorite album though

the balls to call it The Genius of Ray Charles gets it a point, if you like your horns loud, you will love this. what can I say, Ray is a legend for a reason. just maybe lower the volume a bit.

The songs are great but those horns are a little loud Ray! You might be blind but I don’t want to go deaf

I love Ray Charles, this was a decent album Top tracks: Let the Good Times Roll

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

Classy old school

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

Awesome…Ray is a gem

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

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

Ray's Stimme mit Bigband-Sound! Yeah!

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

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

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

Great classic!

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

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

Buen disco

A classic

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

Loved the soulful vibe. What a classic sound.

Enjoyed it, very chill and relaxing to listen to.

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

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

gorgeous

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

cool

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

Still Energieunternehmen

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

8/10

Great proto-R & B album!

G-ray-t

Lots of brass.

Genius is right!

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

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

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

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

I think a little better than his last album

Jazzier than expected

Classic!

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

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

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

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

Awesome...

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

Big band. Classic. 3.8

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

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

Quite calming and timeless!

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

Very strong beginning and end. A classic

Relaxing, splendid. Highlight: Just For A Thrill

i fucking love ray charles

a good vibe

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

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

Bop. 8/10

Fifties Ray. Pre-HTRJ.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Personally, great winter album.

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

Love me some Ray Charles. Smooth classy easy listen

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

a genius alright!

Jaaaazz

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

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

Very beautiful album! 4/5

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

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

Incredible voice. What an absolute great album!

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

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

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

Clearly really good even if classic slow 50s

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

Great songs, low 4, high 3

Not really my jam

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

You can't see me

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ray truly was a genius

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

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

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

Wonderful stuff here back to front

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

a little slick

Beautiful

Great voice, this guy oozes soul. What a legend

For some reason I was shocked to see that Ray Charles put out an album in the '50s, I thought he was a much more recent talent. Well considering his last album was put out in 2004 I guess I'm not that crazy, this guy was just prolific! We all know and love Ray Charles, but hearing him here felt new because I just didn't know he had the sauce some 70 years ago. Really love his voice, the emotion with which he sings. Of course, his piano ability is renowned, but damn, just the way he sings is really special. The phrasing of things on "Let the Good Times Roll" really stuck with me, just meandering around and cramming syllables anywhere he pleases in that chorus. Great stuff. Favorite tracks: Let the Good Times Roll, Just for a Thrill, You Won't Let Me Go, Come Rain or Shine. Album art: Definitely an oldie, old style framing and font, but it works. Ray obviously looks younger in this picture than I remember (seared in my mind is that cover from the 2004 album), but considering this picture is 45 years prior to the other, the guy aged tremendously well. 4/5

Ray is just oodles of fun, this was a good time here.

Incredible performance by Ray, no shiners for me but a solid R&B/Piano Pop album nonetheless.

Very enjoyable.

4.5

Ray Charles is a friggin beaut. Super talented dude with a great band - this kind of music always makes me feel like I'm in another decade which I love.

I love big band music, what a great album. If I had one wish for contemporary artists, it would be that they experiment more with horn lines because it adds so much power to a song.

A solid album with some bangers

Ray's got a great voice for getting your feet and heart moving, but this album doesn't quite wow throughout

Genius indeed! Magnificent voice and feel good music

Top tier jazz album.

Smooth and soulful. Ray Charles at his best in my opinion.

Can’t really remember… not as much piano as I thought there would be

Such a classic

Loved the sound of this album though critics make some good points

If this album were just big band or just ballad, I might give it 3 stars, but I enjoy having both options. Sort of trivial, but enough to make me give me 4 stars. I believe this is as good as Ray's studio albums get.

Just a beautiful record. Gorgeous arrangements and just a delight to listen to. Ray is awesome.

Lovely love songs.

Love the big band sound and it's made even better by the sounds of a great artist, I definitely enjoyed the listen and would listen again.

Enjoyable, but not my favourite of his albums

A great selection of classical songs. Ray's delivery is one of the best. His voice carriers so much - it's not just an instrument but half an orchestra. I rate it four stars because while it is great it's just another selection of standards.

Very nice, smooooooth album.

A soulful album. I enjoyed the accompanying orchestra that was on most tracks. Had highlights and lowlights. Good for a 40 minute mixup in genre.

Usually not too big of a fan of 'big band' but c'mon, it's Ray Charles. Such a good album to get on a beautiful Sunday in May. The final two track are such an incredible ending to the album. 4/5

I remember seeing the Ray movie a few years back and thinking it was pretty magnificent what he was able to do 60+ years ago. Big saxy sound, played with feeling

Almost perfect for what it sets out to do. It's vocal jazz, it's soul, it's big band, it's power ballads, it's so much wrapped into one, and each song executes on its intentions very well. The first half is big band, the second half is more somber, string and backing vocal led ballads. Not often do you see a double album that doesn't take 4 years to get through, but Charles does it. Let the Good Times Roll and Just For a Thrill, the two sides' openers, are the definite highlights. The only downside are that at points the production can get a little bit too full of itself, and it can feel like I'm listening to technically good music, but not necessarily what would be best for the song. But that's a minor nitpick. Definitely recommend for anyone looking for old(er) music.

nice

Awesome album. Ray Charles has such a great sound.

very enjoyable music and voice

Really quite nice. No wonder he's so famous.

The first half is big band jazz at it's best !!

thoroughly enjoyable listen. my favorite songs were the more classic big band jazz numbers but every song was pretty good

It feels like the recording is limiting the dynamics of his voice. Tons of range and emotion. Definitely hits its stride in the second half.

Good. He makes even the sad songs kind of upbeat.

Ray Charles just oozes fuckin SWAG. Two years of torture is sick Bro really interpolated pop goes the weasel on ‘You wont let me go’ that’s a coke head move for sure Pretty much was into every track on this, could be a little slow or repetitive at times but RC is one of the goats 👍:you wont let me go/ two years of torture 👎:Alexander’s rag time band

Top album

Ray Charles was a brilliant musician, and his talent is evident here.

The Genius of Ray Charles. This album is like a shot of musical adrenaline straight to the heart. It's got everything: soul, blues, jazz, and enough energy to power a small city. From the opening notes of "Let the Good Times Roll" to the soulful rendition of "Georgia on My Mind," Ray Charles' talent is undeniable. He's like the lovechild of a piano and a saxophone, and he's got the voice of an angel with a side hustle as a devilish bluesman. Listening to this album is like taking a time machine back to the golden age of music, when people knew how to really belt it out and make you feel something. If you don't find yourself tapping your toes and swaying to the beat of "Hallelujah I Love Her So," then you must be legally dead. In conclusion, The Genius of Ray Charles is not just an album, it's a musical experience that will transport you to another world. Ray's voice is like a warm blanket on a cold night, and his piano playing is like a warm hug from your favorite aunt. From the upbeat "What'd I Say" to the heartbreaking "Drown in My Own Tears," this album has something for everyone. So, whether you're a longtime fan or a newcomer to Ray's music, do yourself a favor and give this album a listen. Your ears (and your soul) will thank you.

Time spent listening to Ray is always time well spent.

Great listen! Ray Charles is definitely a genius.

- Never listened to a Ray Charles album before - Pleasantly surprised, didn't think I would enjoy this but it was really good - Not something I ever would've listened to on my own - Very bold to call yourself a genius in your album title but I guess he can pull it off - Fav songs: Let the Good Times Roll, Alexander's Ragtime Band, When Your Lover Has Gone

It was honestly surprisingly good and I did enjoy this a lot

Great big band record. Can’t believe it was recorded in 1959. Ray Charles has a great voice and the band plays super well together.

Very enjoyable fun music to listen to. If there is a music I'd describe America with, it'd be Ray Charles. My only complaint is that after around 7-8 songs it's getting a bit repetitive to me because of the style of music. 4.5/5 but I'm giving it a 4. (p.s. my twitter account @AlbumsChallenge got hacked today and I won't be able to get back my account according to twitter support. I am sad to see my account go, I loved to write my little reviews there. I didn't even reach 50 albums yet...).

O disco entrega precisamente o quê o título promete, a genialidade dele.

Genius is not an overstatement here.

Nice

I really like the big band songs in the first half of the album. Still feels fresh

Bluest, jazzy, it's got piano, strings, and horns, and most importantly Ray Charles. Great singer, this album shows the genius of Ray Charles.