Reviews (page 8 of 14)
Not my cup of tea
Wistful and sweet album
Awesome music, just not my cup of tea
Starts out fast. Ends slow. Ray Charles with a big band. Sounds like an old movie soundtrack that Ray Charles wrote some tunes to go over. It's fine.
Classic for a reason. Just nice to listen to.
Not my type of music
I had some fun listening and if i ever were doing some cleaning or driving i could be in the mood to put it on again. In the end it's not really something i'm crazy about, the lyrics are all extremely simple love based pop poetry. It all sounds amazing though.
Thoroughly enjoyed! Unfortunate that record companies forced artists to pump out albums! What these songs would sound like if the had some time to breathe is something to ponder
way jazzier than i expected. less blues. pretty fun album, slightly cinematic.
Skøn knas på spolebåndet. Fint, men lidt kedeligt.
I like Ray Charles, and I normally don't mind an album of big band/jazz/swing/whatever standards. For some reason this one hit me wrong and it just sounds like music for old people. Charles' talent and charisma overcome the material. He definitely has better albums than this.
Legal
It alright. Can't complain. Uhhhh, yeah. I've been sat here, arms folded in true music critic fashion for the past 10 minutes and the above word are the only ones that I have been able to muster. I'm not sure how I'd categorise this album, which makes it difficult for me to compare and understand it's strengths. I may be way off in my appraisal of this album, though the latter half strikes me as a halfway home between jazz and bossa nova, whereas the first half is more of a big band affair. Not sure if this combination was a popular genre of music during the 50s or if I'm even on the money at all, though I can't deny that this style of this music is distinctive and iconic. There are many great string sections in here, which is the aspect of this album that wins me over the most. The brass sections are also quite good. Ray Charles is a good songwriter and an equally skilled vocalist. I appreciate and respect this album for what it is without being crazy over it.
I don’t like jazz.
i dont think i like jazz so that much
I loved this, but I'm more in music for the instrumentals and am a slut for those big band arrangements with some good jazz/blues mixed in. Would gladly listen to the whole album again (and did several times).
Ah, Ray Charles. What is there to say about him? I've listened to so much of his music but never this album all the way through. It's a pretty classic Ray Charles album and an enjoyable listen.
Smooth big band vibes. The talent is clear and Ray has such a good voice. Some truly great moments in here but for me, this is a moderation is the key to success kind of thing. Small doses are welcome any time. An entire album basically lulled me into a trance while walking the dog today. Thankfully I didn't walk into traffic. Phew!
perfectly alright but i wouldnt mind something more interesting or unique if this is what you feel like listening to today i wont stop you robert dimery
Once you get over the fact that every track sounds like the theme from "Police Squad," this is pretty amazing. His voice is absurd. "Let The Good Times Roll" could well make it to my funeral playlist.
Perfectly fine background music
very easy listening, good to get back into it
Not my bag really
I think that "Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music" is a better album, but this is still a solid 4.
Superb.
Great mix of half of the album being arranged by a Big Band Orchestra and the second half more soulful and relaxing songs. Amazing record, will listen to it again in the future
Didn’t do much for me, honestly. Ray sounded good and the band sounded good, just seemed like pretty generic 50’s big band stuff to me.
2.5 I think there are better Ray Charles offerings out there (my favorite is Soul Brothers/Soul Meeting with Milt Jackson)
Some of this is great
I mean, it's Ray Charles. It's called The Genius of Ray Charles for a reason.
piano is cool
i suppose having the A side be All firey swinging pop songs and having the B side be All silky orchestrated ballads counts as impressively Intentional album construction in 1959 but its fairly wonky as a listening experience for obvious reasons. otherwise uhhhh cant rly fault this HFJFHSJSF ray charles was a rare combination of a once-in-a-lifetime creative innovator and a once-in-a-liftime magnetic and multifaceted capital p Performer. this record shows him venturing into songbook-style pop with a ton of verve...despite the unideal listening experience i love both halves almost equally somehow. A side btw features arrangements by quincy fucking jones, which kind of illustrates ray's boundryless approach to music...he didnt totally leave jazz behind for greener commercial pastures, he just reconfigured it into a new series of strengths. should be no surprise that despite the huge arrangements, his piano always rings out the most powerfully. the record on the whole feels like a minor miracle, but the more i think about it perhaps its a major one instead...
Ray Charles was an excellent piano player, and that's illustrated throughout this album. I only wish it had a little more variety. Favorite Track: "It Had To Be You".
Super warm sound. Reminds me of grandma and grandpa. Wish there were more examples of Charles at his more revved up R&B best like “What’d I Say” or “Mess Around”. Overall a great listen and perfect for chilling at home.
Ok 2.5
Hell yeah
This wa enjoyable. I wouldn't reach for it again but I would like to hear this in a coffee shop or at a jazz bar or something. Ray's voice is beautiful and he's a legend for so many reasons and he absolutely was a genius. I like that the generator has a lot of jazz representation despite being Brit pop heavy and this was a nice change of pace. However, for my personal taste, it's middle of the road.
Great sounding album, but it's just not my tempo today. It's more of a log fire/christmas listening to me
Soul
Great listen, very accessible, just a good time.
Liked it better than the country music one he did.
3 out of 5. This albums lets the good times roll.
Can't put Ray Charles in one genre - he does jazz, gospel, rock, blues and blends them so well. Favorite track: Don't let the sun catch you crying other picks: it had to be you, deed i do, am i blue, come rain or come shine
A nice, easy listen!
Ray Charles is undeniably one of the greats, but The Genius of Ray Charles leans a little too hard into the Big Band sound for my taste. The arrangements feel a bit dated, and while his talent shines through, this earlier work doesn't quite hit the same as his later, more stripped-down stuff. It's got its moments, but overall, it’s not something I’d come back to often. More historical appreciation than personal enjoyment. Favorite song: Let The Good Times Roll
rocknroll
Great album. I enjoyed both the first more big band leaning first side and the more mellow ballad side. I bet this would be amazing to hear live!
I usually love Ray Charles, but this album didn't quite reach my expectations. The first side is more upbeat and energetic, but the brass can be a bit harsh at times whilst the second side is more ballad-y but lacks anything particularly notable.
Listened in the car. Easy listening!
Starts on a high note with Let the Good Times Roll but the rest of the album doesn’t quite match up, probably in part because the tone shifts to slower jazzy soul music for most of the album. It’s still not a bad album overall, it would just work best as background music in a nice restaurant.
Good but too bombastic for my tastes 3.3
Ray Charles is a gift, and his talents are in full display here
Genius, indeed.
2 - I like the production of these old albums but after the first two songs it just gets annoying to listen to
My first full album from Ray. I enjoy the bombastic first half and the slower second half equally, and both conjur vivid moods. I can imagine reaching for this quite regularly. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Shadows of Evil soundtrack be like
not really doin it for me, but i can appreciate that it’s like technically good
A beautiful album, but unfortunately no songs really stood out to me.
Simpatico, convincente.
Sei lá, não achei muito "genius". Obviamente é o Ray, pica pra caralho, mas meh
Amazing album. Kept me engaged. I really liked a lot of it.
Love it. Favourite track is Let The Good Times Roll 4/5
More big band ray Charles. Not really my thing.
big band jazz. classic stuff, high quality, not my jam.
The record sounded somewhat old and dated, but how can it not, as it was released 1959, more than 60 years ago. I do like the Big Band sound though, that Ray Charles provides, and his singing and playing. So despite the age issue, this record was quite enjoyable.
This was pretty and fun but big band gets same-y to me after a while.
The definition of genius has changed over time, as has my taste in music. But if the old-times are your vibe, it’s hard to go wrong with Ray Charles. And yet this record is hardly the best representation of Ray. The big band arrangements push him into the role of a swinging singer rather than the central star—a music direction choice compounded by poor recording and a less than great mix that doesn’t work for me. Furthermore, the album’s shifting moods between sides make it less of a full-session listen and more of a "pick a side" record. Personally, I prefer side two for "re-centering" Ray.
good album 👍
ray charles
Good album, not really my style but a nice listen all the way through.
It is the genius of ray charles - a spectacular talent who sings like he means it. The recording isn’t the best, but a decent listen.
This album is split into two distinct sides: the first half features Charles backed by a swinging big band, while the second half leans into orchestral ballads with string arrangements. The more familiar I become with Ray Charles, the more I realize I really enjoy his orchestral ballads, where he leans deeper into soul and R&B. I know his big band side deserves just as much credit, but to be honest, big band and swing music have never really been my thing. It’s not that I dislike it—it’s just there for the sake of existing.
Nice background music for a dinner party. Lots of brass and big band vibes. I prefer Ray’s blues-infused music.
Wanted to hear some more blues but this sounded a bit too big band for me.
Solid big-band tracks with Ray Charles being Ray Charles. Not much to complain about. Maybe just a bit too straightforward but whatever.
I like how different the two sides are but they still work together. Love some Ray
The instrumentation on this album is beautiful and I really liked the vocal performances. I wasn't in the right mood to appreciate the lyrical content though. Favorite song: "Am I Blue?"
Ray Charles is a legendary figure in modern popular music for a reason. S familiar as I am with him and his music in general, I think this is the first time I've ever listened to an entire album of his from start to finish. It's certainly out of my usual wheelhouse, but it made for a relaxing drive to work this morning. With so little context for this type of music, it's hard to rate it fairly. I find no faults with it honestly. But it's not anything I would revisit regularly. I certainly appreciate Ray's legendary status. I'd probably give it 7.5/10 if the system would allow. But I'll give it a 4 for this format. Album 2/1001
Beautiful
All classics on this album. Songs by André and Dory Previn, Irving Berlin, Fred Rose, Johnny Mercer, and others. 12 songs - 6 with a string orchestra, 6 with a tight jazz band. A very good album. A very calming album. This version of DON'T LET THE SUN CATCH YOU CRYING far outshines any other. Excellent excellent production by Jerry Wexler and Nesuhi Ertegun. I'm gonna give this 5 stars. I don't know when I'll listen to it again, but it is just so good. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 76 🎧 LPs left to review: 925 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 18 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 19 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 20
This is the second Ray Charles album I've gotten. I can absolutely understand his influence, but ultimately, it's just not my kind of music. It doesn't do much for me. It's kind of neat that this album functions as a two-in-one deal, with the brassy big band songs on the first side and the string-heavy ballads on the second. And he's a great singer, hands down. But I hear this music, and I don't feel anything. If anything, the big band songs actually annoy me a bit. They can be a bit predictably bombastic. The ballads are better. Fav tracks: Just for a Thrill, Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin', Am I Blue
This is #day214 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... here we are with another late '50s record. I've heard of Ray Charles, but never had a chance to dive into his music until now. And, well... I can appreciate its historical significance, "the genius" behind it, and all that jazz, but it's just not my kind of music. That said, I prefer the quieter moments on this record, though. This is a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day215.
Really phenomenal example of the genre and the artist.
Well that's just great, now my ears are pregnant.
“Come rain or shine” sounds like “Georgia on my mind”
It’s ok. The songs were not great. Didn’t live up to the title.
Fun, full o classics would recommend
For an album with "genius" in the title, The Genius of Ray Charles is surprisingly uneven. Split into two distinct halves, the first side is an energetic big-band swing session with Charles backed by a powerhouse brass section, and the second half shifts into lush, string-laden ballads. The big-band tracks, like Let the Good Times Roll and Two Years of Torture, have a great sense of energy, with Charles' vocals cutting through the bold, punchy arrangements. The band swings hard, and you can feel the joy in every note. But once the album moves into its orchestral side, things slow down considerably, with the dramatic string sections sometimes overpowering Charles’ natural grit and soul. There’s no denying Charles' vocal brilliance, but the album never quite finds a consistent groove. The transition from the lively, swaggering first half to the more polished, sentimental second half makes for a bit of a jarring experience. While both styles showcase different sides of his artistry, they don’t necessarily complement each other in a way that makes for a truly cohesive album. It's an enjoyable listen with standout moments, but compared to his best work, The Genius of Ray Charles feels more like a solid showcase of his versatility rather than an essential masterpiece. 3/5.
INCREIBLE
It's Ray Charles!
bella voce, innegabile, ma non il mio stile
Genius is right. What a pleasure to listen to. 4/5.
This is fine. I'm sure this was wildly innovative at the time, as most Ray Charles was, but personally, it doesn't do a ton for me. It's not off-putting, but just a little bland 65 years after release. Best Songs: Let the Good Times Roll, Alexander's Ragtime Band Worst Songs: Deed I Do
It was fine.
Ray could sing a grocery list to me and I’d be enraptured. Last half of this album is gorgeous.
As I said on the previous album of his I got, Ray Charles has a great voice. Songs are fun as well. Kind of drags towards the end, the last few songs don't really hold up the energy from the first half. But all in all, a solid album. Best song: Alexander's Ragtime Band
Love the big band horns here. Great tunes. Reminds me of high school.
too jazzy, I prefer the soul or blues Ray
this was a fine listen 4/5
Alright, but doesn't even contain his biggest hit(s)
Chill music and good mix of big band and ballads. However, anyone who unironically refers to themself as a genius in their album title deserves -1 star from me
This started strong and swingy with Let the Good Times Roll and Alexander's Ragtime Band but dropped off towards the middle. Favourite tracks: Let the Good Times Roll & Alexander's Ragtime Band Probably not one to revisit. 3/5
Good stuff, very easy listening
Good vibes. Simpsons: Yes
Nice and relaxed album, enjoyed it.
A delightful album to listen to. Ray's voice is nice and smooth, will probably listen to him some more, especially when I need to relax.
Solid stuff Ray, close to a 5 but not quite
Ray Charles with a big band, good but nothing that stood out.
So beautiful. This album seems to show off his skills as an arranger rather than a piano savant but it's just so beautiful
Not Behd
Viele Bigband-Liebeslieder, die fast alle gleich klingen und trotz vorhandenen musikalischen Talents ziemlich langweilen. Alles Mittelmaß, ohne aufregend zu sein. Das Album startet eigentlich ganz cool mit einer Coverversion von Let the Good Times Roll, aber lässt dann schnell nach. Der letzte Track, Come Rain or Come Shine, hat mir daneben noch am besten gefallen.
This album made me feel beautiful inside
What a series of bops. I like the full orchestration bits, we need to bring those back. I also like the solo heartbreak songs. Those seems to be clinging around just fine tho
Easy listening to a tee.
3.5/5
Enjoyable
Pretty groovy
Zum Ende hin wiederkehrend schmalzig.
Nice horns and big-band sound.
I think this is good! Love a big band sound, love that this was his seventh album since debuting two years earlier. Not something I can see myself returning to consistently as the covers are only able to reach the heights of being well-done covers, but Ray Charles’ career overall has a substantial amount of hits that I love and this album showcases his ability to match several different energies across its runtime.
This was a great listen!
The first two songs are pretty fun, everything thing else is good at best, but it starts to get a little repetitive. High 3.
This was good. But I want later Ray Charles
Dnf
Let the Good Times Roll 4 It Had to Be You 3.8 Alexander's Ragtime Band 3.9 Two Years of Torture 3.7 When Your Lover Has Gone 3.5 Deed I Do 3.6 Just for a Thrill 3.5 You Won't Let Me Go 3.4 Tell Me You'll Wait for Me 3.2 Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin' 3 Am I Blue 3.1 Come Rain or Come Shine 3.2 Score: 3.491666667
"The Genius of Ray Charles" is an album that left me speechless, such is the depth and beauty of its compositions. Ray Charles' talent is a true breath of fresh air for turbulent hearts, providing a musical experience that transcends time and emotion. Each track resonates with a sincerity and passion that touches the soul, reaffirming his status as one of music's greatest geniuses.
Easy listening. For the time and place I see why he got so big. Good grooves. Me likey
Yes!
Ray Charles is undeniably the man. I’m not usually a jazz fan, but if I have to listen to jazz, I want it to be him! This album stands out with its rich variety and dynamic sound, making it an easy exception to my usual tastes. There are some fantastic tracks here—Deed I Do and It Had to Be You were definite highlights for me. You can really hear the foundation being laid for the rock and roll explosion of the ‘60s, which makes this album feel even more influential. Even if jazz isn’t usually your thing, this album is worth a listen—Charles brings so much soul and style that it’s hard to resist. Favorite song: Deed I Do Least favorite song: Just for a Thrill—way too Disney for my taste. Album artwork: Cool and timeless.
3.5
4.5
Honestly when I hear his name, this is the kind of music I associate with him... In fact most of the material I've heard sounds like this... I think the movie Ray highlighted the more daring aspects of his singles, but not the balladeer that he actually was. I like his style and I love hus phrasing, but it's not as exciting as the single "Hit The Road Jack", "Hallelujah, I Love Her So", "I've Got A Woman" or "What'd I Say?". The opener "Let The Good Roll" is about the only track on here to capture that magic. The more up beat side one is more to my liking than the ballad laden side two. But there are few nice touches on that side especially the closer "Come Rain or Come Shine" 7.9 ★★★½
A very good verison of "Come Rain or Come Shine", and Ray Charles has a good voice, but I am especially not a big fan of the big band style. 3.5 stars
This is nice enough, but it sounds kind of old fashioned even for 1959, and as a result comes across as a bit boring. What I'd Say was released the same year and packs a bit more punch. 3 stars.
More like ‘The Goodness Of Ray Charles’. All of this stuff is very good. A lot more restrained, chillaxed and easy listening big band stuff and less gritty blues and RnB than I was expecting. Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Cryin’ fav tune.
Very nice, but has a strong easy listening vibe that is a bit too strong. BUT, it is Ray Charles so it’s highly tolerable. 3.5 stars but I’m bumping it to 4 on this site because I’m a nice person.
Not my kinda thing, at all, rated kindly
Sometimes I worry I am uncultured. Like, I get it, but it's not for me? 😭
Good. It sounds like Ray Charles as Ray should.
Good fun!
Day404 - there’s not enough big band jazzy albums on here so it’s a treat to hear ray charles
Very fun to listen to
Classic tunes from a classic artist.
Hell yeah
Ray Charles - The Genius Of Ray Charles This album has some of the most beautiful lyrics I have seen in a long time. It's a coincidence that I got to listen to this days before valentine's. Combining that with jazz and blues, which is a heavenly combo, makes this a great album, something that a 2000's pixar movie would put on as a soundtrack. Honestly, this is great! 1.- Let the Good Times Roll = 8/10 2.- It Had to Be You = 8/10 3.- Alexander's Ragtime Band = 7/10 4.- Two Years of Torture = 9/10 5.- When Your Lover Has Gone = 8/10 6.- Deed I Do = 6/10 7.- Just for a Thrill = 8/10 8.- You Won't Let Me Go = 8/10 9.- Tell Me You'll Wait for Me = 10/10 10.- Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin' = 10/10 11.- Am I Blue = 8/10 12.- Come Rain or Come Shine = 9/10 FINAL SCORE: 8.2/10
Pretty standard swing. I enjoyed it but liked his other albums more
Shortly before he finally transformed rhythm & blues into soul, Ray Charles appeared in 1959 with this crossover hit repertoire, half in full big band regalia and the other half embedded in Hollywood-esque string arrangements. Maybe not Charles' best or most relevant album, but a relic of an era when Frank Sinatra and Peggy Lee still ruled the so-called pop charts and Atlantic Records contributed to the de-segregation of American society with records like this. What remains today is the recognition that Ray Charles could make any music his own.
Good background music
All sides of Charles on this one. Horns, crooning, piano playing, belting. It’s a classic and always great to put on, but also forgettable as a collection of songs. It’s great, I loved it, but I couldn’t tell you one song on it. It’s an atmosphere album, put it on to set the mood and party. Like most from that era and style.
This is pretty fun - like a great museum visit.
3.5
Great cooking music
I was never a big Ray Charles fan. Sure, I like his most famous songs, but apart from that, I don't know. It's fine, I guess? Doesn't really sound any different from other 50's Soul/Rhythm & Blues artists. I can't say the record has the definitive version of any of these songs. Again, it's fine.
Ehh I'm not that big on jazz Edit: changing to a 4 on Oct 5 2025, I like jazz a bit more now
Me likey le jazz when le man sing
niet mijn ding, maar de up tempo nummers zijn zeer goed
I mean, the title speaks the truth. It's goddamn Ray Charles, motherfucker. Whaddaya need, a road map?
Ray singing some jazz standards I'm already familiar with perfect for a Sunday chill who doesn't love a bit of Ray Charles
Not a massive jazz fan i think with this one.
Mmm... Ray Charles
So the first song was a blast! The rest was... uh, just what I expected to hear from Ray Charles, which is not really my thing.
Ray Charles is great. I even don't have to justify it.
It was fine! a little too poppy
His playing is excellent and singing is iconic. I didn’t love all the song selections and the big band sound covered his actual genius at times. All in all very good tho
The first half is great. Exciting songs with incredible vocal range. Let the Good Times Roll is an all-timer, but maybe not as good as some of the other Ray hits. The second half takes on a sleepy/romantic lounge vibe, which is pleasant but unremarkable.
Enjoyable but not something unlikely to return to
heard many times, unique
This was a very fun album, pretty much what you would expect from Ray, but it wasn't bad, I enjoyed it but I wasn't completely enthralled in it, I definitely feel like it sounds like most music from that time and it's not bad at all just pretty mid
Gorgeous music, a little boring?
Good Ray Charles album. Wish I could have paid more attention to it. Willing to give it another listen.
Marvelous
Ovo je vrhunski iako nikako nije moj đir načelno
Excellent.
I love soul music but I've always thought that Ray Charles was kinda overrated. Don't get me wrong me was very talented and he had a nice voice but most of music is just so dull compared to other artists that came after like Sam Cooke and Otis Redding. That's how I would describe this album, DULL. Charles plays it safe, he makes quality music but doesn't do anything interesting in my opinion. I appreciate and respect Ray Charles but there are so many other soul musicians that I would rather listen to. Favorite track: Just for a Thrill
Es bien jazz, bien lento, cosa que no había visto de Ray Charles. Me gustó pero prefiero sus otras facetas.
Mutha Fn’ Ray Charles!!
The SOUL in this whole record is amazing. I can only imagine what it was like to listen to this when it was released. My favorite tracks are It Had to Be You, Just for a Thrill, Tell Me You'll Wait for Me, Am I Blue, and Come Rain or Come Shine. The mix of high- and lower-energy songs complements each other and forms a cohesive listening experience.
Romanticizing my life while walking through a snowstorm listening to this
What an icon, beautiful voice, backup vocals and band
not my cup of tea but a good album
Front half big band stuff is decent, albeit outdated . The ballads are phenomenal, especially the final number
Some great big band sounds. A younger Ray Charles. I liked most tracks and a few I didn't care for.
Favorite track: Just For a Thrill Saved songs: It Had To Be You, Just For a Thrill, You Won’t Let Me Go
good album
blind dudes make the best music confirmed. gotta listen again!
Meh.
I love a record with a distinct Side A/B.
I thought I’d prefer the back half, with orchestrated ballads, over the big band first side — but the energy of the first half is infectious. Both highlight different aspects of Charles’s great voice.
acho que tem músicas dele mais marcantes; bom de ouvir, mas não é tão "rock'n'roll" como outras músicas dele posteriores
good
Impressive, but I tired of this album about 2/3 of the way in.
To me, it's hard for large musical ensembles to produce compelling music. I much prefer small groups.
I haven't listen to much Ray Charles in my life, so I have no idea whether this is one of his essential albums or not, but it was fun to get a strange mashup of big band sounds on one side and orchestral ballads on the other, especially at the end of a somewhat marathon catch-up session with this collection (and quite a nice contrast to both of the immediately preceding artists, Neil Young and Elvis Presley). I'm also impressed at how early this album is in this collection, which may partially explain the not-so-great production quality from the late 1950s. I'm not sure if this really highlights Ray Charles "genius" or not, but it's certainly more interesting musically than Sinatra's "Songs for Swinging Lovers" (at least the first side)...
This didn't cohere well as an album but there I did enjoy Come Rain or Come Shine and Am I Blue.
- schon moody, was der Mann da abreißt 3/5
You can make a pretty strong argument that, save the pure jazz albums, all of the music on this list owed something to Ray Charles. And side 1 of this album proves he could stand toe-to-toe with the jazz greats too. I prefer his birth of R&B recordings with Atlantic. But these two sides, like almost everything he did, are fantastic.
Really charming, I like the style and how you can tell the age of the tracks by how the instruments sound. Some songs are more interesting because I find the lyrics more charming. I’ll probably listen to more Ray Charles.
You can't go wrong with uncle Ray! Thank you for this reminder.
Pretty enjoyable but not something I’ll probably come back to.
Like everyone I have heard of Ray, his important in the history of popular music and have heard greatest hits. But a proper album put out by the man, with his arrangements! This is as the title says. He takes any type of song and makes it Ray Charles. Don’t give me any shit about the 50s style and production, this is timeless. This is such a great listen today in 2025. My 1st 5 star of something I hadn’t heard before. This is just a joy.
As the album says, he is a genius. Not my normal or favorite type of music but still a good listen.
The relaxed tracks are good, but the trumpet blasts are irritating.
Some good jazz
Not for me, but can appreciate why people like it.
Nicht meine Musik!
Il genio di Raggio Carli di Raggio Carli
Coming up: The TRUE genius of Ray Charles; The Genius (Ray Charles); Ray Charles, the greatest; The amazing genius Ray Charles; one-in-a-lifetime genius Ray Charles; the super duper iper giga genius Ray Charles; and more…
Awesome big band blues sound. Ray Charles has an incredible voice. Some of the most powerful love songs I've heard. I ended up adding 3 songs from this album to my main playlist.
There's definitely better Ray Charles albums out there, but this was pretty damn good. It's hard to find a Ray Charles song that isn't a grand time.
What does it say about an artist when something as beautiful can exist and it's not considered one of their best albums? Maybe not his most memorable tracks but still a wonderful time nonetheless. The 2nd half has an immense bittersweet feel to it
An absolute joy to listen to. This is the kind of music where you know the people who made it just love music and have fun making it. It’s called SOUL for a REASON Mate. My girlfriend insists that he wasn’t actually blind and was just pretending as a bit but it got out of hand and he had to keep it up.
5/10 Fav tracks - Alexander's Ragtime Band, Don't let the Sun Catch you Cryin' , Am I blue
https://media2.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExbnk2NDYyd3FtdHhsYzJ3d2dlODN3Z2szNnYweGhyemh6a3owN3YzZCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/DyYdtGo72J0zq8erhj/giphy.gif Great time with Ray Charles. Heroin users really do make some bangers. Album flew by and had such good variety of songs and sounds. Am I blue is a stand out for me out of all the songs on the album, first time hearing it outside of batman singing it in the Justice league show. 4/5
Maybe it's major depressive disorder, but I find the second side of this album goes a lot harder than the objectively more upbeat and lively first side. While the first side isn't bad by any means, it just does feel to me like a very talented artist (and supporting musicians!) going through the motions. Charles' voice shines in the slower songs, the lyrics hit hard with his vocal style, the instrumentation has more of a dreamlike atmosphere that gels a lot better with me than the bombastic-ness of the first side. Very pleasant to also have an artist know when to cut a song and how to tightly pack an album. This is a lean album with a lot of personality on both sides, a joy to listen to. Highlights: When Your Lover Has Gone, Just For A Thrill, You Won't Let Me Go, Am I Blue, Come Rain or Come Shine
This was great, so classic. I loved it and listened to it twice. Ray Charles is such a great performer and it was captured flawlessly on this album. Five stars, easily.
What a wonderful album, and honestly, shame on me for not knowing let the good times roll came from Ray Charles (or before). NOT a great album for walking, but going to put it on the list for relaxing at night. What a vibe.
Clásico
Good background music
The Great Ray Charles! Fantistic person, amazing musician and composer. I really appreciate his talent and music, but I'm simply not a fan. This album is more like a main piece in the exhibition about history of music and that's the only way I can look at it. I didn't enjoy this record almost at all.
This is the 3rd album I’m rating. I haven’t heard many Ray Charles songs but I did watch the movie with Jamie Foxx. It’ll be interesting to listen to a full album of his for the first time. Let the Good Times Roll - Adding to my Playlist. This is a sound that I’m very familiar with and I love it. It Had to be You - Adding to my Playlist. I have a feeling I’m going to love this album because I love classic pop. Alexander’s Ragtime Band - Not Adding to my Playlist. I’ve always liked this song but I’ve never heard this version. I prefer the version by the Andrews Sisters. This song is good but not as good as the Andrews Sisters version. Two Years of Torture - Adding to my Playlist. I’ve always loved big band jazz. When Your Lover Has Gone - Not Adding to my Playlist. I don’t like the vocals in this song. Deed I Do - Adding to my Playlist. Not much to say other than, it’s jazz. Just for a Thrill - Adding to my Playlist. Side Two switching things up. I don’t like it as much as side one but it’s pretty good. You Won’t Let Me Go - Adding to my Playlist. So far side two is looking pretty good. Tell Me You’ll Wait For Me - Not Adding to my Playlist. The song is kinda boring. Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Cryin’ - Adding to my Playlist. Not a big fan of his singing in this song but the strings arr pretty good. Am I Blue - Not Adding to my Playlist. The singing is a bit annoying. Come Rain or Come Shine - Adding to my Playlist. The singing is better. All in all I liked 8/12 of the songs. This is pretty good all around and despite the fact I added four songs from each side I much prefer side one.
Started off really strong and I was thinking I’d rate it a 4, but it kinda lost its momentum towards the end for me. Though it was an awesome album to listen to with snowfall outside.
Really good top quality album
I want to give it higher, out of respect for the musician/singer that Ray Charles is and his impact on Soul music. However, its not really an album worth running it back for a second listen (which of course I still did). The big band performances are impressive, as well as the piano ballads, and as a sing, Ray is one of a kind. Collectively, I give Ray his flowers, but I only truly walked away with "Just for a Thrill".
Great to hear.
Really enjoyed Ray’s big band Nola jazzy style album. I’m adding Let the Good Times Roll to the playlist next time I’m heading to New Orleans
It's just not for me.
It was alright. I don't really feel an urge to listen to it again though and nothing really stood out to me either.
Good and enjoyable, if rather one note. It’s a good note, but still.
Bluesy Old
I'm not too into big brass bands of this era. But definitely a talented dude.
Always feels like a party when Ray Charles sing.
Ray Charles is my kind of music. Bangers like Let the Good Times Roll and It Had to Be You. Some hidden gems too. Some reviewers commented that they didn't like the big band sound...I love that stuff. Not sure what they're talking about...Ray's voice is clear, strong, and not drowned out.
Not a big band/jazz fanatic so the quicker paced songs were not my cup of tea.. The slower songs were much more enjoyable! Will have to return and re-listen!
Was I Blue?
It's fine, I can't say any of these song really crack my top 10 favorite Ray Charles songs. I like the big band stuff way more than I like any of the ballads, but there was nothing that really hooked me. All the songs with the big string arrangements felt like they should be on a Disney soundtrack. I can't say that's a bad thing, maybe a testament to how good Disney songs usually are. Production wise there's some spots that are harsh and distorted. Some of it happens on the vocal tracks and I think it almost adds to the recording, but it just sounds bad when it happens to the horns. I'd call this middle of the road, completely average, 2.5/5, but I'll round up because I really like a decent amount of his music, just not much on this one.
Closest I came to giving a 5. Really good but the slow ones were a little short of 5 territory for me.
I mean, it’s Ray Charles so it was good but it wasn’t really the Ray Charles I was expecting to hear. Maybe this was an album to appeal to a wider audience? The first half of the songs all sounded like the same song and then the second half sounded the same. I would 100% pick the Hallelujah I Love Her So album over this one. Mess Around is a current favorite song from that one.
Not sure if this is a R&B or a Big Band album, but if you can’t feel the soul oozing out of every track then something is wrong with you. I’ll bet this album would have been an even better listen in a dimly lit room, with a 7 & 7, and a fresh pack of unfiltered smokes instead of behind a desk, looking at insurance claims, and drinking a cup of coffee.
its old and i get it, but its not for me. there are some good jams on here, however.
Its fine, I can see that others may be able to appreciate it but I dont see it myself. Ive heared it all before and sometimes when something brilliant gets canonised it becomes default and I feel thats happening here.
The first half of the album is OK. It's the big-band / swing style. I'm much more into the second half, which is more blues/ballads, with great minor chords. I especially like: Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying, Tell Me You'll Wait For Me, Come Rain or Come Shine. If the whole album was like that second half it would definitely bump it up for me.
Easy to recognize the talent even if -ultimately- the sound is a little too Big Band for my tastes.
More big band + Disney-style strings than I anticipated for a Ray Charles album. A fun listen that might be a 4 if you found me in Times Square on V day, but a bit too dated to really sink my teeth into in 2024.
come rain or come shine is probably one of the best songs I've heard through this challenge. the man meant genius. I love it
Absolute classic.
Fucking awesome
genius.
ray is the goat, but this just isn’t his best work
A bit hokey, but some classic soulful Charles songs.
This Ray Charles guy really understands the genius of Ray Charles enough to make a pleasingly Ray Charles type album.
Proper retirement home music. Ray has youthful (for back then) sounding music but this ain’t it
It was alright, barely listened to it more speedran it at work but fuck it we ball
Nice album
The Genius of Ray Charles Not massively au fait with Ray Charles, but I know he has a bit of a peripatetic back catalogue, and even though he was right at the vanguard of soulifying jazz I wasn’t expecting the very pop big band swing of the first side, but there’s something really interesting about the very Sinatra-esque arrangements with his raspy soul voice and phrasing, particularly on It Had to be You. The ballady second side is also full of charm, and feels like a dfifferent album, but is equally successful and an equally great listen. He might be the epitome of ‘he could sing the phone book and it would sound great, there’s just something ineffably fantastic about the timbre of his voice, that elevates eveything on here, just slipping it into a 4. 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ Playlist submission: Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Cryin’
An album of two halves. Or to be more efficient with my language, an album of halves. Bland big-band, saved in the second half by elegant orchestral balladeering.
Ah Ray Charles! Ça s’écoute comme un charme. Quelle voix! Et quelles orchestrations avec les trompettes, puis les violons, dans la grande classe! Bien que je connaissais un peu son répertoire, surtout ses nombreux succès populaires, je n’avais jamais entendu aucunes des chansons de ce disque. C’était donc un beau cadeau, car j’aime beaucoup tout ce qu’il a fait. Tout est beau et bon goût, mais j’ai eu quelques petits coups de cœur: les douces « Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Cryin’ » et « Come Rain or Come Shine » et les plus rythmées style big band « Let the Good Times Roll » et « Alexander’s Ragtime Band ».
La classe, le chic! Bon album. Vraiment fait plaisir pour être écouté en format vinyle. Même si je l’ai écouté en streaming, j’ai senti les deux faces distinctes et si je le possédais en 33 tours, la face B serait plus usée que la face A!
Good sturdy old familiar standards. Enjoyed this
Enjoyed on a dark night in December with a fire.
Fine; objectively no fault to find other than that it’s not something I’d choose to listen to.
Ah. Ray Charles and some of the classics. This oughta be good. Alas, it's at the very start of his career, and he was added to the mainstream big-band and vocalist swing formula. While you can tell it's Ray's voice, it's just not the distinctive Ray that we know and love. It could be almost anyone. Disappointing.
Good Christmas tree decorating music. Very laid back and very enjoyable.
Good party background!
The Genius of Ray Charles was actually also a book written about my dear brother. Ray-Charles Chutney. My parents weren’t kind giving a little white lad from Barnsley the full first name Ray-Charles and he struggled. Often straying to the wrong side of the tracks. My word didn’t he have the brains of the family. It was a shame all the pressure was too much for him. It was actually the book that inspired Ken Loach to make Kes. Kes himself was actually meant to represent me. We thought calling the bird Ken would be a bit too obvious. 2.9
Now this is how it's done. Tight. Short and sweet. Though the big band opening made me a little nervous for the opening song Let the Good Times Roll. Great album
A perfect wake up call - big band jazz with a bluesy twist centered around the voice and piano of Ray Charles. He was just 25 years old when this was released and this was his seventh album in just two years. Side one is bright and brassy, and the flip side is laid back and cool. My highlight is the reflective Am I Blue. Genius? Yes, I think so
Oh yeah, after a series of meh albums, it's cool to hear some good quality big band/blues. The first half is upbeat and really entertaining, the second half is more laid back but rather pleasant and not boring at all.
This album is a mix of the pop swing music and some soulful piano ballads. I do wish the album did a better job of mixing those track styles up, so it didn’t feel like a tale of two halves. The album gets you grooving, but soon relaxes it down and never comes back to the initial energy. I felt like this caused the album to start blending together at the end. Overall a great album.
Ok beginning and good end. Middle all sounded the same to me.
1st half I thought the arrangements were terrible..all those horns going to 11..ouch my ears. 2nd half was..slightly..better
Didn’t really excite me in any way. Not sure it even gets played at Cafe Kelvinos
Go ahead. Give Ray Charles less than a five. I fucking DARE you!! 5
A perfect three out of five. Fantastic second half and ending of the album, so smooth and soulfoul, like grandma's fried chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans.
I'm not sure that this is his best album, but his worst album is twice as better as most everybody's best. It's a great introduction to the man for sure and would probably send people off to explore his catalog. So go do it already.
Las Big Banda y sus poderosos y variados metales le dan la fuera a Ray a hacer jazz, blues de una forma mágica
Mir gefällt der zweite Teil des Albums besser (Swing ist dann doch irgendwie too much), und ich mag die Stimme von Ray Charles sehr.
Der grosse Meister zeigt wie es geht. Grossartig!
Enjoyed bits of it - but some of it left me feeling blehhhhh
would rather listen to him singing the blues than big band
I can’t help but love the big band excess paired with that set of pipes.
3 - I just found this quite generic music with Ray Charles singing on top. Maybe a bit to safe and industrial. I know what I mean
Bored 2/5
I like the high at the beginning and half way in it shows the blues influence. His Smokey voice is really whiskey/ cigar vibe
too much big band
Enjoyed Side 1>Side 2. Standout songs: Let the good times roll Alexanders ragtime band
“Genius”, je trouve le mot est sans doute un peu fort, mais ça s’écoute agréablement. Un peu trop jazzy, pas de morceau qui se détache vraiment, mais une très belle voix.
For a second I thought Ray Charles was the name of the red dwarf guy, but no he’s not. I was bored by this honestly, it’s just very of its time. Nothing offensive though. 3/5
Music that can’t be denied no matter how hard you try. The classics will always be classic!!
It’s a very bold album title but it’s not undeserved. Charles is a ridiculously strong performer and just sounds amazing all over this
I prefer a more stripped-down, bluesy Ray Charles instead of this overly produced, big band kerfuffle. Can’t hate on the man too much, though, he was a true icon.
Tremendo el arranque, un poder la voz de Charles. Un blues sincopadeadito con frases de negro excelente. El segundo un jazz más melódico, cantado, orquestal, sinatresco y toques de blues en el piano (se le escapaba el blues por las manos a Ray). La tercera canción la más movida y bailable, un rag para mover las cachas con una sección de trompetas muy muy buena. La orquestación excelente, sacás a bailar a tu novia con esto sí o sí. Two Years of Torture, arranca genial, lamento por una mujer y sensualidad de la orquesta y uf tiene una sección de instrumentos muy buena con impro de Ray, papáaa! Deed I Do es el más intenso volumétricamente y orquestísticamente, está bien. A esta altura ya se captaron los giros del disco, son algo contantes no hay tanta variación es más de lo mismo. Just for a Thrill es más melosa y melódica, muy linda. Se escucha la típica voz de Ray como en "Georgia on my mind", la siguiente sigue la misma línea pero más melancólicamente. La siguiente también va en la línea, con aportes mucho menores de la orquesta. Las últimas siguen una línea más balanceada entre solo de Ray (voz y piano) y orquesta. Excelentísimo álbum, aunque no es un 10 porque tiene eso de la repetición, le pongo cuatro estrellas.
Genius? No. Still pretty good though
..
the great Ray Charles, can't never go wrong.
Classic sound and voice. Incredible for his time. Easy listening today
Sure, its nice, but not something i would put on.
When this popped up today I had a slight trepidation as wasn't in the mood for what I imagined a whole album of Ray Charles would sound like. I was in for a lovely surprise. Gorgeous orchestration dancing around beautiful piano and a velvety voice. The second side was extremely string heavy which caused the eyelids to drop which is both a plus and minus. Easy 4
Great listening yesterday. One of my favorite albums I've never heard from this app. It was a time machine, but still relevant and a classic style. Great music for a dinner party in your mid century modern home.
Big band crooner delight. Too bad the album doesn’t end as bold as it starts, it gets a little sleepy. Overall it’s a nice listen.