The Genius of Ray Charles

Yeah, there's no doubt this guy's a genius, but it's not in his covers, no matter how shmaltzy they are.

I could probably listen to this all day long.

As stated in my recent review of Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, I appreciate Ray Charles influence and importance to music, but it’s just not something I can see myself returning to. That said, I did enjoy this album a bit more than Modern Sounds.

Along with Frank Sinatra, this is the person who I think of when I hear the word "entertainer." Just such raw presence and charisma. The musical style doesn't necessarily do it for me but his persona makes it impossible to give it less than a 4.

Perfectly fine album. Pretty sad, pretty jazzy.

(2/1089)
I don't like the distorted horns in the first half of the album. I liked the second half better. All the songs are simple and the performance is good, but sometimes I was bored.

Favorite: Just for a Thrill, Come Rain or Come Shine
Least favorite: When Your Lover Has Gone
5/10

Better than Coldplay

Can’t go wrong with Ray Charles. Unfortunately, most of the album didn’t stand out to me, except for 3 stellar tracks.

Top tracks: Let the Good Times Roll, Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Cryin’, Come Rain or Come Shine

1950s orchestral-type arrangements aren’t for me, so some of this was a slog. But the sax and Charles’ singing and piano on many of these tracks managed to wake me back up again.

I like Ray Charles and I enjoy a lot of his songs but I'm not sure I enjoy them as much in an album. 3.5

Great voice. Not a huge fan of the songs with the blaring horns.

4.0/5.0

really enjoyed this one

I feel bad saying this but i prefer Harry Connick Jr’s version of ‘it had to be you’. Obviously the music here is all smooth as is Ray’s vocal delivery, but there’s just nothing to get excited about.

I did enjoy the luscious strings on ‘Don’t let the sun catch you crying’, but I guess this sums the issue up in that that some of these songs and stylings ate so classics and standards that familiarity means its difficult to separate them from the rest.

He has a beautiful voice. And I enjoyed this, the big band parts a bit more than the piano ballady parts to be fair. I will happily listen to a Ray Charles song if it comes on the radio. However, I find it hard to get truly excited about any of this.

It's obviously quality. He obviously was a genius in his genre. But it's not a genre that makes my heart sing. So its getting a 'its perfectly fine':

3/5

Noemt de beste man zichzelf nu een genie? Dan heb je het eerste minpuntje eigenlijk al te pakken. Maar goed, het eerste nummer swingt, ondanks dat het vrij ouderwets voelt. Inmiddels laat wiki mij weten dat kant A volstaat met deze big band nummers. Dus laat maar komen.

Dat enthousiasme wordt direct getemperd als nummer 2 mij eraan herinnerd dat een big band ook veel ingetogener en dus saaier kan spelen. En dan moet kant B met de ballads nog komen.

Het boek laat ons terecht dit onderdeel van de muziekgeschiedenis beluisteren. Maar tegelijk is dit zo saai en ouderwets, dat het toch echt ook de laatste keer zal zijn.

Cool 50s pop

Man…I think I have to admit that I just don’t like the old school big band and easy listening type of music. Fine musicianship for sure. But it just doesn’t move me in any way.

First song was a banger, last half of the album was a little slow but overall it was way more enjoyable than I thought it would be going in what else do you want me to say 3/5

Genius is right, goddamn

Pre Listen:
Ray Charles, cool. I've listened to a song of his here and there, and I like it well enough. Higher expectations than usual, let's see what we got here.

Notable Tracks:
Am I Blue - Least favorite track on here. It starts well enough with the violins and soft flute, and the instruments maintain quality throughout, I just get bored of the lyrical whingeing.

Post Listen:
I like Ray Charles, but I liked the big band backing him a bit more than the things he did himself. Still, that was a good album.

Every section of the band played their roles well, great harmonies. The bass and violins stuck out to me as particularly notable. Ray Charles' piano work is superb, though I'm not a huge fan of his voice. It's not bad, just not amazing I think.

Another classic artist with a sweet little album. 4/5