The Genius Of Ray Charles

Ya like jaaaazz?

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.

Wow brass. Fav song tell me you'll wait for me

it’s good, just a lot of the same

ray can singggg some songs are great, others don't resonate with me

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.

not my cup of tea necessarily but a legend regardless

Very fun, not the sound I think of when I think of Ray Charles

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.

Discovered I love slow 50s jazz And started a new playlist

The Genius of myself gives this Album 3 Stars.

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

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.

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 👂

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

Big band r&b, classic voice

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

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.

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

One of those albums that feels difficult to relate to others. It's Ray Charles!

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.

Band was in full swing, but I found the album a little plain. Boy was he sad.

7.3/10 pretty good a classic

Easy listening, great background music

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.

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

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

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.

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.

Band was too big

Fun listening

He's that guy. Monumental achievement in modern American music. 3.5/5

Too many slow jams.

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

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.

мид

premda načelno dobar nije me baš sad oduševio

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

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

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.

time travel to 1950s smoky late night jazz lounges or dinner parties.

I can tell it was quality but not really my cup of tea

79/100 Good Soup Didn’t listen intently enough and need to relisten

3.5 enjoyable!

Koji kontrast između strana albuma, prva je puno više za mene a druga je baš spora i uspavana. Začudo, ne sviđa mi se ni njegov glas nešto posebno.

Golden oldies your Nanna will love⭐⭐⭐

It was okay. Not really my thing. A bit jazzy and meandering. Enjoyment two stars but it's clearly better than that.

I like Ray Charles, especially with country ballads, but I didn't enjoy this album much. 3 stars or C-.

Great collection of tracks here. 5/10

He could sing with passion for sure, and I enjoyed some of his piano licks. But overall this didn't grab me. Give me Nat King Cole.

Ray Charles is a musical genius - Eddie Murphy could’ve just as easily chosen Charles as Steveie Wonder for that old SNL chestnut. This man can play the shit out of a piano and, man can he sing! But he’s just not the consistent songwriter that Stevie is. There’s a lot of middlin’ (do I say ‘mid’ now?) songs here, which can’t do his talents justice. So, let’s twist it around a bit : ‘love the artist, ‘meh’ the art

Not the ray charles I love but the album is pleasant enough. If I was having a dinner party in the 80s or going through a breakup in a romcom, this would be my soundtrack.

Prefer his later stuff but some nice tracks on here

I feel about the same as the last ray Charles album.

Ray sounds great, the songs are pleasant. But I don't see myself coming back to an album like this. But I also wouldn't turn of the stereo if any of these songs popped up. 3.5*

Really enjoyed this.

6.5/10

Makes me smile rather but doesn't quite excite. A harsh 3

ray charles is not the same as stevie wonder

The Good: We are in the company of genius… The Bad: We don’t know why… The Ugly: Well, I guess you could say that this is, yet again, an album title referring to the artist, which isn’t genius A little swing, plenty of big band, some great classics… it's an excellent album. Yet, I can’t get myself to grade this higher than a 3* Not that there aren’t plenty of reasons to give this album 4-5*, however, not today. I would rather listen to his other album on this list and if not, just find an excellent playlist with all his greatest hits. Sorry Ray, but this album is not genius...

Welcome to Jazz Club. Niiiice. 👌

it’s inoffensive

Rad album. Never listened to a Ray Charles album before. Love that classic sound and really love the production. The drums always sound so good on these old recordings.

Some interesting tracks but generally quite samey throughout and didn't really grab me. Definitely has a place for a certain mood though and some obviously great musicianship throughout.

Good, but I feel like this doesn't pack a punch as strong as some of his other stuff.

Charles' performances on this album of pop, jazz and blues standards are exceptional, even when he's up against ill-chosen material ("Alexander's Ragtime Band", really why?). Competing against him on the first half of this record are the overbearing and corny big band arrangements, the stiffness of which runs directly counter to the natural ease of Charles' voice. The effect is jarring to the point of distraction. Side two is a vast improvement in that the blare of trumpets and trombones is replaced by strings and backup singers, allowing the intimacy of Charles' vocals (and his piano playing) to actually be heard. The beauty of side two's tracks is they have a timeless feel to them, whereas side one's cuts are now unlistenably dated.

*1959. *Pretty wild to call an album "The Genius of [your name]", but it's warranted. *This was interesting because yesterday's album was also big band style (Count Basie & His Orchestra), and this was infinitely better. *Really good and fun to listen to. Would happily listen if someone else were playing it, but wouldn't flip it on myself. RATING - 6.5/10

He has a great voice, and I enjoyed side one quite a lot, but I found the tempo of side two less compelling.

• 3/5 • Like how the selections highlight his voice • Much prefer his rock/R&B work to the swing and orchestral pieces on this album

Happy und Blues. Perfekt für die Weihnachtszeit

Enjoyable, but sounds like background cafe music.

I would think that an album titled The Genius of Ray Charles would include original songs by Ray Charles. Instead, we are treated to The Karaoke of Ray Charles. Do not get me wrong, Ray Charles is really, really good at karaoke. However, an album like this feels like a purely commercial endeavor to sell music to the elderly.

Nice

Second half smoothed me over.

6/10 Bit of a funny one this. I really enjoyed my time with it, but I also don’t feel like any of it was particularly memorable. There’s not really anything in the way of a hook or melody that’s really stuck with me after listening through a few times, and it all felt like a bit of a vibe wash, rather than an engaging collection of songs. Looking at the two sides of the record, each side was very much of a type, and it did feel like one song just sort of ran into another without a vast amount of change happening, like these we’re all songs written to guidelines rather than anything more personal. It almost felt like you could drop the needle anywhere on the side and it wouldn’t be appreciably different from anywhere else. His voice is fantastic, and there is some really great playing here, with some of the little solos and bits of flair, often from his piano playing on side two, which did provide some standout moments here and there. On the flip side, the recording was not great. I kind of got over it after the first couple of tracks, but every now and then something would clip and I’d kind of wince a little at it, which did hamper my enjoyment a little. Overall, while this was a very pleasant musical world I was happy to inhabit for 40 minutes, and I did enjoy it as mood music, I don’t really feel like any of it really got its hooks into me and is likely to stick with me now that the album has ended. For me, I much prefer his more driven, up-tempo work and I’m more likely to spin that than come back to this any time soon. Let The Good Times Roll - Great swing. I love the freedom that he sings with. It flips between creamy smooth and gritty at will and it’s so good. The recording is a bit of a letdown as this would be really good to hear without the distortion, but it’s a quality start otherwise. It Had To Be You - Leaning more on the smooth side of things now. There’s some really nice, subtle piano playing in here that just seems so easy and cool. It’s just butter for the ears. Alexander's Ragtime Band - This is a bit more bombastic, which is a bit more affected by the audio fidelity. There are some fantastic moments in this, but I don’t find it to be the most interesting of compositions. It’s a decent, enjoyable listen, and there are some really cool little solo bits, but it also doesn’t feel vastly memorable. Two Years Of Torture - Some more quality vocal work here, along side some quality soloing from the sax. It’s just cool. This is all vibe and that smoky jazz club vibe is always a good thing. When Your Lover Has Gone - More laid back, buttery goodness. The dynamic is great. Some lovely, chilled and subtle bits that are punctuated with the big band blasts. Deed I Do - His vocal here is so good. Some of the work is so subtle that it’s almost not noticeable, but that dynamic control he has and the little bits of vocal fry are just glorious. This is just a warm blend of quality playing and singing. Lovely stuff. Just For A Thrill - A flip to the second side and the big band has been given the boot in favour of a string section. Again, this is lovely. Beautiful piano playing in the second half and things just swing along nicely. You Won't Let Me Go - More solid work, particularly in the vocal department. He drops to some great deep tones in places here that are so good. I’m glad the piano is getting a bit more of a workout on this second side. Tell Me You'll Wait For Me - There’s a lazy quality to this. Super smooth and laid back. It’s a bit too Disney, but there are little bits of flair in the piano that really pop. Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin' - Ah, this is great. There’s just something a bit more engaging about the composition here for me. It’s still a bit Disney, but the way all of the instruments work with his vocal makes things gel better. Am I Blue - It’s still good, but it could also just be the previous track, there’s not really much to differentiate things at this point. It’s a very nice experience, but I doubt I’ll be singing any of these songs this evening. Come Rain Or Come Shine - Some really nice vocal and piano playing again here. It’s all lovely, and everything, but it also just blends in with everything else here, if I’m being brutally honest.

This is an okay vocal jazz album. Ray's singing is great, but the album feels very dated. I don't like those blaring horns on the first couple of tracks.

The 50s might not have known it, but they were the waiting room for the 60s.

Great big band sound

Heard some of the tracks before, big late-50s pop. I imagine there is a better Charles album out there. 3.5 rounded down Heard before? Yes Owned: No 17/1001, 17/66 (25%) Will I get? No

Not Ray at his most dynamic, but a pleasant listen. There are far more interesting Ray Charles albums to hear before you die.

Overall this was a pleasant listening experience, but I'm not sure there was enough here to grab my attention, let alone keep it. This would be a perfectly good album to have in the background playing at a dinner party, which is a vibe - but not a 4- or 5-star one.

in reading about this album, I wonder if my lack of enjoyment comes from the limitations of my own listening devices in hitting the bass notes that may make the treble wailing of the trumpets much less harsh. it feels, to my ears, like a normal cover album, which I don't associate with a musician as skilled as Ray Charles.

Hard for me to rate as it’s proper 3.5 for me, but I prefer Ray when it’s rougher and less big band. Felt the pace was very similar in the second half. But still good stuff!

Like the jazzier songs but find the more big band stuff a bit artificial

It’s fine

A good album but just not a great album. Missing the soaring arrangements from his classic album

20.00, himas, sennheiser, qobuz iha ok mut clippas vitusti

I wonder who named the Ray Charles albums? He debuted in 1957 and this album released in 1959....and was his 7th album. 7 albums in 2 years is a bit ridiculous. I do like the jazzy blues that they have with the big band. There's a huge difference between A Side and B Side since it's big band brass vs strings and i'm a bigger fan of the A Side. B Side is just too slow and too Bluesy for me. I wish Ray's piano was more of a spotlight instead of more of an accompanying piece. Am I Blue? really stands out as a very emotional piece. Ray has a perfect voice for the blues.

Big band jazz.

1/1001 Would I revisit?: no Rating: 3 Listen before you die: Yes Fav Songs: Let the good time roll- crazy good some but not my style when hanging around This album was impressive, but personally didn't like the jazz like style for day to day life

That was unmemorable.

This is odd - listening to an album that my parents danced to when they first met! This my not preferred style of music, but a great energy and passion shines through on these tracks In 1959 there were not many options for post-production editing, so I'm imaging this is pretty close to a live performance for Ray and the band Music from a bygone era - it evokes images of a pianist in a corner of a high end hotel bar

Digging the big band sound in that first half & then what, they all fell asleep?

Some good big band stuff!

Not bad. Surprised by the sound quality from 1959 but inwasnt blown away musically.

Never listened to him before. It's good but not the type of music I'd likely come back to often.

I only know a few of his tunes, and I was expecting something with more energy. 6/10

Its a good Ray Charles album, you know what you're getting. I think everybody in their life should listen to... Half a Ray Charles album. A boogie song, a blues song, a romantic song and one other of your choice. Anything after that is extra credit

Ray Charles is obviously an amazing musician but unfortunately he’s not what I’m looking for as an artist. Huge respect and admiration tho

I feel my rating’s going to feel a little harsh, so let me explain. I think Ray Charles was a wonderful singer. Compared to other singers around his time, he’s one of the few that feels distinct and timeless. It’s just that I think there’s a lot of big band on here. Actually, my biggest gripe with the “oldies” is that most of it was big band and most of it sounded the same. It makes albums like this a chore, which sucks because most times, like with Ray here, the material’s pretty good. But after halfway, it feels like the same song over and over again. The blasting trumpets, the saxophones, the fact every song is a love song (or a breakup song for variety). I know this is turning into an “old music bad” kind of rant, but it felt like everyone was just chasing Sinatra. It’s not your fault Ray. I just like your blues stuff better. Favorite track: Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Cryin’ Other hits: It Had To Be You, Deed I Do, Tell Me You’ll Wait For Me, Am I Blue, Just For A Thrill, You Won’t Let Me Go

Good in parts but can sound a bit similar over the length of it 3.5*

oh wow I really like this, it's fun old school jazz soul he has an amazing voice and the songs are upbeat and fun with great instrumentation

Good classic stuff. I'm just gonna say it, and I might be the first one: this guy is a genius. I like when George O. Gore II plays him in Dance Flick.

feel like i woulda liked this better if Jamie Foxx did the singing

Crazy awesome production and the horn lines are wild! Makes ya want to bust a move

Maybe it's a fine album, but not for me.

I liked the album. I liked that it seemed different between each side.

Although uncountable accountments of great music could be attributed to the great Ray Charles - adding the legacy he carries as a figure in music history - this album doesnt carry that accoutrement of excellence and essence that I generally distinct with a figure such as him. It is not a bad album, and actually really gains traction de closer to the final tracks it gets, but it feels like a compilations more than a project in itself. 3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐1/2

Good times, fairly standard of what you’d expect

Keepin it classy

De bonnes chansons pour le plupart déjà entendues en fond dans des films, séries, pubs, etc. Bons musiciens, bonnes compositions mais ce n'est pas mon style.

3.5

Good, great voice decent songs

Good big band style stuff for the era but it all kind of sounds the same for me.

A younger Ray before he developed that deep gravelly voice in his later years. Still good stuff.

Smooth as all goodness

I enjoyed it but it felt like a collection of songs. Would pull this out again on date night but probably not for much else.

Still struggle with the big band stuff, but mostly enjoyed this. Decent kitchen music. Bold title.

Ray Charles has like 6 albums referencing the fact that he’s a genius in the title. I think he’s trying to will it into existence. I don’t think he’s a genius. I think he’s pretty good.

Some fun tracks in here. The big band stuff kept my attention, but the ballads were a better showcase of Rays voice. His rhythm in Let The Good Times Roll was awesome.

Wild album title. Thinking how funny it would be for any modern band to try that - “The Genius of Sugar Ray”. Was it just way more acceptable to be a big showboater back then? I think most of this songs would be a lot better without the string arrangements. I want to hear the piano, horns, and Ray’s (genius) voice. I like the rare moments when the backing back and Ray let loose a little - “Deed I Do” is my favorite for this. I think Ray has a bit of genius in him, but I am not sure this album is the best example of it.

I enjoy Ray Charles' uptempo numbers a bit more than the ballads. So it's a hit and miss album for me, and I'm not quite sure how this qualifies for this list AS AN ALBUM rather than an okay selection of songs.

Think I like the slower songs more- can really appreciate his voice and the jazzy vibe of the first half isn't really my thing. It's a bit odd to me to have such distinct halves of the album (probably did feel more understandable when they were different sides of a record). Favourite song: Am I Blue? Least: Let the Good Times Roll

Obviously classic although I prefer Ray without big band style backing

Some nice stuff on here, timeless but can’t get too excited about it personally

Madness that this is nearly 70 years old and holds up really well

More crooner-y than expected. It was fine but won’t go back to it.

This was a good album.

The boss!

3/5

'hit the road jack' guy. the genius, your grandpa listened to it jak nie ma za duzo instrumentow dmuchanych to ladne

it was raining and grey this morning which definitely made this a good listen, very good vibes

Such a nice playlist, this might be my new study playlist! Though none of the songs would be something I would listen to regularly so none of them will be added to my new playlist. Great jazzy instrumental! The saxophone and piano...wow!!

Listens: 2 Standout Tracks: Let The Good Times Roll, Alexander's Ragtime Band I listened to this album twice. Really nothing stood out to me. It's not like Ray Charles isn't talented. I just wasn't enjoying it; Not my type of music. I preferred the first half of the album; the big-band stuff, and the ragtime style.

A bit too crooner-y for my tastes, personally. It's alright, but I like him a lot better on Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music.

That Ray Charles is a genius - no doubt. The 50s production on this album - not so much. I did like it, but all the strings and full choir backing vocals were just a bit too schmaltzy for my ears. They can work well in small doses, but a full album worth is far too much. To his credit, Charles does elevate the songs above the typical album of the era, but that only gets it so far.

It’s hard to find fault here. Classic R&B, soul, rock and roll with gospel vocals. I can’t say that this album has changed my view of anything or that it will be something that I return to often, but it is good stuff and I can see why many people could find a passion for this.

This is a bit big band for my tastes but it has a really good swing along energy.

Due to years of playing Fallout, I am a sucker cold war big band.

RIP Ray Charles you would’ve loved Op Ivy

I really wanted to give this a 4, but it just didn’t do it for me. Maybe a victim of its age, but I enjoyed Ella Fitzgerald a lot more - and that was three hours’ worth.

The second half of the album was pretty good. The first was just jazzy high notes on repeat. Pretty annoying.

I really wanted this to be better. I didn’t not enjoy it but it all seemed to lack anything different and all seemed a bit same. I don’t know if that means the musical range of ray charles needs calling into question but it wasn’t as genius as I was hoping

Brilliant musician, but the constant rain and sun metaphors make the lyrical skies feel a bit overcast.

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.

Pleasant enough. Nice vibes but not much else. Probably won’t go back to this one.

Great voice and playing, and I'm a bit shocked this is my review, but the album felt a bit more hollow than I expected. Ray Charles should be on the list for sure but I wonder if this is the pick.

I really do like his voice. The track lengths are great. It gets a little repetitive sounding. I enjoyed this, but I don't see myself listening to this whole album again.

Good quality Ray Charles

It's fine. I appreciate the artist but it's not my bag.

This is a good album. I like it for sure. 3 stars

Back to back sunglasses-wearing artists, what are the chances. Quite enjoyed the big band tracks, but overall didn't really get into the swing of things. Nothing memorable jumps to mind.

Back to back blind artists, what are the chances..... Very dated, but quite charming. I think I preferred the grander big band stuff at the start to the end of the album. Wont be rushing back. 3 as i preferred it to Stevie

3/6

Great horn parts on this one (Melba Liston!). Enjoyed it for sure.

Great voice, but the songs are all a bit generic.

I love Ray Charles but this was such an odd choice. Why not include albums with his own material? I don't really want to hear him do standards

It's nice but I probably wouldn't listen to it in any other way than background music

Jep

Myöhemmät levyt ovat astetta rokimpia ja niistä pidän enemmän. Eittämättä äijä listalle kuuluu! ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Da scaricare per il viaggio

This wasn't bad.

nice, big band - loud trumpets. Ray's voice is smooth as silk. Gem was the last track - Come Rain or Come Shine

3/5. Amazing voice and some excellent songs, but I’d like to see some more variety, especially in the second half.

3.5

This 1959 album feels as though it could have been recorded in the 1940s (at least side one) with all those big band arrangements. Also, the sound quality was not as good as today’s recordings. Ray’s singing and piano playing are good as he covers some of the classics. For me there are better Ray Charles albums though.

Last Ray Charles we had, I was surprised he was around in the 60s. Now I learn he was around in the 50s! While reading about this album I learned a bit about the world of best-selling sheet music, as in the first half of the 20th century, successful sheet music(s?) sold millions(!!) of copies. I guess pre-radio people would, like, play hit songs on their own instruments?? That's some Jane Austen stuff. Anyway, Ray Charles didn't write these songs; most of them were decades old and have some very popular sheet music. Seems to have been a genius move on his part. I didn't particularly love the album, but I do like this style of music (aka "old") and I wish there were more 50s (or older??) albums on here! Highlights: 'It Had to Be You' (used in not 1, not 2, but 3!! Looney Tuneses), 'Am I Blue' (perhaps only in a single Looney Tune) Related queries: Where did the "deep (as a) river, high (as a) mountain" dual originate? Not 'River Deep – Mountain High', clearly, since it's in the much older 'Come Rain or Come Shine' here. Is that just a coincidence? Surely there are other natural features with measurements that could be paired together and aren't ("canyon so wide; valley so low", anyone?). There's an African-American spiritual called 'Deep River', but it makes no mention of mountains. There's a Bible verse that includes "go up on a high mountain", but no mention of rivers. Is the answer obvious? Or is there nothing to answer? Maybe future albums will shed some light.

beautiful album. I don’t have much of an ear for jazz/soul yet, but I’m going to add it for now.

musique de noël

Pretty good listen, plesent, nothing too exciting but it hits the spot for sitting around and listening to it. Nice easy listen, probably will be liked by people much older then you.

Good chill ass listen very big band sounds and beautiful ray charles voice

3 only because I feel like I have to.

First half is really boring and genric As soon You Won't Let Me Go hits it becomes a way better album

its alright. not my mood or taste rn.

It’s good, but not great.

love Ray, but the older slower 'whiny' stuff starts to all sound the same - just a consequence of what music was being made at the time. Still Ray though :)

talk about back to back 1959. Ray is more of a pop artist than Miles, but that bond with people is what makes his music timeless. i will say i dislike this title, but that's a small thing. this is his 7th record, so his stride is in full swing. like Kind of Blue, the pulse of the American spirit is on this album. Ray is pushing his style of jazz forward with songs like Alexander's Ragtime Band. there is music that defines places like New York and Las Vegas, this is it. he has a sense of humor that doesn't need to tell jokes. its hard to tell what his motive is, other than making songs he thinks are good. styles are varying and rounded. Deed I Do is actually a song that I've heard, and its very playful. with songs like Don't Let the Sun..., it shows the bigger and symphonic direction his music was heading towards. his identity of American culture is being woven into the minds of everyone at this point in his career. at 38 minutes, its crazy the depth this goes into. with songs like Come Rain of Come Shine, how we define soul with a gospel feel was brand new and ground breaking at the time, and you can tell Charles dedication to that distinction. he has a vision of what he wants and its evident in this album. 3/5 for such a memorable time before the explosion of the 60's would change the course for everyone.

⭐️ Come Rain or Come Shine

- You Won't Let Me Go - Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying

My parents were big fans but I am not into him that much

What terrible mastering, all the loud parts are distorted and over-modulated. Makes you understand how people could listen on super rolled-off speakers or phono cartridges and still think they sound good... Songs are good, rockin and rollin and reelin, good musicianship, will never listen again :)

Listened while on road trip. Mixed feelings in the car. Not something I would listen to often but respect for what it is. 3/5

Really solid first half but i wasn’t too into the second half. interesting listen, i did enjoy how half way through the album it flips genres, i thought that was so cool. i just found the second half to drag a lil bit, and i did not like the song “am i blue” at all.

I liked the second side with more piano. First half big band music wasn’t my favorite.

Some good vocal jazz, the album is bookended well with a strong brassy start and a softer ending. Loses me in the middle a bit. 6/10

3.5 He is a genius. But the big-band style orchestration became such a standard after this. He is a brilliant interpreter. But he just pushed the limits with 'What'd I Say) (banned on many stations, but still a Top Ten hit.) A sign of things to come. Read that one both ways.

Good singer, decent music; just nothing really standing out.

Great singing, great arrangements, the songs themselves are patchy in there quality - a few are standouts but the majority are unmemorable. Not Sinatra.

Not really my thing. A bit old fashioned and razzle dazzle. But there's nothing wrong with this.

Mids. No complaints, no big highlights for me

So this stuff is over 60 years old. The effort in remastering that material must have been enormous. Excellent job in the arrangement of the instruments, but Charles' voice seemed to be a too difficult task. For the material itself: the first half is big band, the second half string arrangements, and a lot calmer. No real complaints here, but there was nothing I would remember because it was sung by Charles.

Good

Amazing music but sorry Ray no for me

He’s better than this

Som en morgon läsandes DN med liite för bittert kaffe

That orchestration is tight but it just doesn't seem to fit. Love Ray but this one doesn't work for me.

I mostly know Ray from his Diet Pepsi commercials in the 90’s, so it’s nice to get a better feel for his catalog. Really surprised that I didn’t get a copy of this album when I inherited my grandparents vinyl collection 15 years ago. All in all, an easy listen that I could see myself revisiting under the right circumstances (cocktail hour)

Good to listen to when coming down from a heavy weekend. I do like a big band. And a short punchy album. I did find it difficult to distinguish between some of the songs, but I was driving and concentrating more on the road. Enjoyed it though.

6/10 surprisingly stale for most of it

Pre-listening thoughts: used to get this guy mixed up with Stevie wonder all the time. Now I know there’s a big difference between them but oops Post/during listening thoughts: this is decent vocal jazz/soul. He is very talented but idk it’s just not catching my interest. It’s all a little too mid or down tempo for me. I wish there were some more upbeat songs in here. That’s why I loved the Gershwin songbook so much. It’s sort of like that Billie Holiday album where every song sounds the same/is arranged the same even though the singer is really famous and talented. 5.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: nah Fav tracks: Alexander’s ragtime band Least fav tracks: I didn’t dislike any of this necessarily but I wouldn’t revisit this

A series of traditional pop classics that Ray Charles brings his own flavor to. Ray has a raspy, warm tone that flows over each lyric while his piano playing is engaging and enchanting at times. This collection of songs evoke feelings ranging from joy and wonder for the world down to despair over a lost lover. Fave Tracks: Let the Good Times Roll; When Your Lover Has Gone; Just for a Thrill; You Won't Let Me Go; Come Rain or Come Shine Worst Track: Deed I Do

63/100. Starts strong, but the middle section lost my interest a bit. Fortunately, the final few tracks bring it back with a charming finish. Considering it was released in 1959, it's impressive how well the sound holds up today.

Das Album The Genius Of Ray Charles wurde im Jahr 1959 in mehreren Studios aufgenommen, darunter die Atlantic Studios in New York sowie die Capitol Studios in Hollywood. Ray Charles, ein US-amerikanischer Musiker, war zu diesem Zeitpunkt bereits für seine genreübergreifende Arbeitsweise bekannt. Das Album gliedert sich in zwei stilistisch unterschiedliche Hälften. Die erste Seite präsentiert Orchesterarrangements mit starkem Jazz- und Pop-Einschlag, während die zweite Hälfte vom Sound einer Big Band getragen wird, was an Charles’ rhythmischeren Rhythm & Blues-Wurzeln erinnert. Zu den prägnantesten Titeln zählen „Let the Good Times Roll“ und „Come Rain or Come Shine“, die beide seine Fähigkeit zeigen, emotionale Tiefe mit technischer Präzision zu verbinden. Musikalisch bewegt sich das Werk zwischen Rhythm & Blues, Jazz, Soul und orchestriertem Pop. Es markiert einen Übergang in Charles’ Diskografie, da er sich hier erstmals von der rohen R&B-Produktion Atlantics hin zu aufwendigeren Arrangements bewegte. Das Album wirkt in seiner Anlage durchdacht und stilistisch ambitioniert. Es zeigt Ray Charles als Musiker, der sich zwischen verschiedenen Genres sicher bewegt und dabei eine neue Ausdrucksform sucht, ohne seine Ursprünge zu verleugnen.

Good stuff

I had never listened to a Ray Charles album all the way through before. This was enjoyable.

He was singing and vibing 6/10

Very enjoyable - a lot of strong songs. 3.5 stars, but I’m rounding down. Like it but don’t love it.

Pas mal mais pas dans le mood d'aujourd'hui

An easy going listen on a Sunday afternoon.

It's a very good record, I loved the big arrangements and how stylish they sound. It's interesting though that even though Charles' went in a more "swing" direction with this record, he manages to blend it with soul and his more R&B sound. Charles' voice is crazy good, his delivery is so powerful and stylish. The opening track, "Let the Good Times Roll", is so good, big and very energetic. The string arrangements on "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin'" are beautiful too, same for "Am I Blue". Overall, it was pretty good, easy listening, soulful and energetic at the same time.

3.1 2x catch up 10/24

Legend. Was a fun listen

Respect

Love the late 50s vibe on this one, but not so into the big band brassiness. Still excellent though.

Concert band with jazz influence. Would listen again

Let the good-but-not-great times roll.

Ray is a genius, but these aren't my favorite Ray Charles songs.

Off the cuff remark: Is "genius" a bit much? Big Band Standards? Seems a bit more sterile than the Billie Holiday I love, of a similar ilk. Standout Track: Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin' Revisit?: I'd be happy to, and did listen to it twice, but not sure I'll be hunting it out.

This is so cinematic. Soul over big band instrumentation is elite. Standout Tracks are: “When Your Lover Has Gone” and “Come Rain or Come Shine”

Not bad but also not something I plan on revisiting.

Жалею, что поставил Фрэнку Синатре три. Потому что это лучше, но чувствуется на два. Лучшая песня - Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin'.

I liked the big band and upbeat tracks on this album. I felt like most of the sombre tracks sounded too similar to each other. Favourite Tracks(s): Let the Good Times Roll, Deed I Do Least Favourite Track(s): Tell Them You'll Wait for Me

More big band, but you can hear the soul coming through. Class act. Well worth a listen.

114/1089 - Competent but samey.

Something else I'm too dumb for - obviously amazing but I don't think jazz is for me

Like the ballads lots more than the big band stuff. A good singer.

Adore his voice

Le tengo muchísimo respeto a las canciones de los artistas de esa época. Aunque no sea el tipo de música que escucharía todos los días, puedo reconocer claramente cuándo estoy frente a buena música. Este álbum lo demuestra. Me encantaron especialmente las últimas canciones; sin duda, volveré a escucharlas.

Good album. Not exactly my cup of tea. But there is no denying the genius of Ray Charles.

I love Ray Charles singing

Chill album

I could play Fallout to this.

nerotkin voi erehtyä sanon minä. se että esim.erkiksi osaa vaik soittaa pianoo ja sillee.. ei se tarkota et niinku. oonkohan mä sininen?? siniverinen ainakin.. ruotsalaista verta. mutta sehän on pinkkiä. pinkkiverta. suomalainen veri valkoinen veri. tämä on tylssä, vittu tylsä albumi. 50-luvun poppipaskaa, mitä tapahtui tässä?? onneksi alettiin ottaa vähän roolia ja tuli myöhemmin vastuullisemmin tehtyä musiikkia. tässä ei ole vielä mitään erikoista, no radicalism... misssä hurjapäinen rallatus? tulevaisuudessa. neuteroitu tässä, pallit leikattu. myöhemmin liimattu. let the good times roll

For those peaceful times when you need jazzy background music.

Pretty much exactly what you would expect, good old soul by the legend Ray Charles. A bit too old for me to really get into it but obviously a classic. Favorites: It Had To Be You, Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin'

OG goat, good vibes

I love Ray Charles’ voice but I really struggle with big band music. if you’re a fan of the genre I can see that it’s considered a Classic and man that guy can sing!! Lille of the quieter songs I liked like Just For The Thrill. So not for me but I can see why it’s revered.

I do like Ray Charles. I don’t really care for American Standards in general, and there’s stuff on here that feels like we’re firmly in the land of cheese (as in cheesy music, not as in France). Still, Charles’s voice and piano are strong-the musicianship on this album is also solid. It just feels like a lot of cheese to me. Properly a 2.5; I don’t think I’d revisit this, but also feel like an ass if I gave it less than a three.

Genius is apt, I think, even if it comes across as a bit staid to me, 65 years later. I prefer the big-band bombast of the A-side to the other half's sentimental balladry. I indeed feel a pang of recognition with much of it, particularly the great standard It Had to Be You.

Not my cup of tea

Awesome music, just not my cup of tea

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.

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.

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

Perfectly fine background music

Some of this is great

piano is cool

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.

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

Liked it better than the country music one he did.

3 out of 5. This albums lets the good times roll.

A nice, easy listen!

rocknroll

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.

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

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.

This was pretty and fun but big band gets same-y to me after a while.