Ray charles in R&B, Hip Hop & Rap Music

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"Genius Loves Company [Digipak]" (08/31/2004) R&B Charles, Ray, Concord Records (USA)This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. Personnel include: Ray Charles (vocals, piano); B.B. King, Willie Nelson (vocals, guitar); Bonnie Raitt (vocals, slide guitar); Norah Jones (vocals, piano); Michael McDonald (vocals, keyboards); Diana Krall, Elton John, James Taylor , Johnny Mathis, Van Morrison, Natalie Cole, Gladys Knight (vocals); Danny Jacob, George Marinelli, Jeff Mironov, Michael Landau, Michael Thompson , George Doering, Charles Fearing, Irv Kramer (guitar); Randy Waldman (piano, keyboards); Alan Pasqua (piano); Billy Preston (Hammond b-3 organ); Michael Beardon (keyboards); David Hayes, Abraham Laboriel, Trey Henry, Tom Fowler (bass guitar); James Gadson, Jim Keltner, Ray Brinker, Shawn Pelton (drums); Bashiri Johnson (percussion). Recording information: 2003. Though Ray Charles, one of the greatest singers of the 20th century, was never in need of vocal assistance, he was no stranger to duets either (one of his finest records is a duet album with Betty Carter). For as much of a musical giant as he was, Brother Ray knew how to share the spotlight, as evidenced by GENIUS LOVES COMPANY, his final project before his 2004 passing. In keeping with the eclectic nature of Charles's artistry, he partners with a wide assortment of performers here. Charles is joined by Elton John on a soulful exploration of the latter's "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word," and sidles up next to Willie Nelson for a haunting version of the Frank Sinatra hit "It Was a Very Good Year," made all the more poignant in retrospect by its posthumous nature. Of course, it's not all bittersweet melancholy; Charles teams with Van Morrison for a jubilant soul/gospel reading of Van's MOONDANCE tune "Crazy Love," and the duet with James Taylor on the upbeat "Sweet Potato Pie" is probably the sassiest, perkiest thing in which Taylor's ever been involved. GENIUS LOVES COMPANY is a swan song that fittingly finds the titular genius surrounded by friends from varied musical worlds, all of whom he's touched with his rare gift.

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"Genius Remixed [Digipak]" (08/23/2005) R&B Charles, Ray, Hypnotic (USA)

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"Golden Legends: Ray Charles" (02/07/2006) R&B Charles, Ray, Madacy Records

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"Blues Is My Middle Name (K-Tel)" (03/19/2002) R&B Charles, Ray, K-Tel (USA)

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"Ray Charles Sings For America" (09/03/2002) R&B Charles, Ray, Rhino Records (USA)Personnel includes: Ray Charles (vocals, piano); Irving "Magic" Kramer (acoustic guitar); Slash (guitar, dobro); Greg Lease (pedal steel guitar); Craig Eastman (fiddle); Jimmy Powers (harmonica); Billy Preston (organ); Tom Fowler (bass); Scott Lombardi (drums); Rosemary Butler, Sharynlee, Katrina Harper, Cooke Lalla, Christal Lalla (background vocals); The Harlem Gospel Singers. Producers: Ray Charles, Jean-Pierre Grosz, Sid Feller, Mike Post. Compilation producers: Ray Charles, Terry Howard, James Austin. Recorded between 1960 & 2002.

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"Late in the Evening" (01/29/2002) R&B Charles, Ray, Park South Records

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"Blue Note Plays Ray Charles [Remaster]" (02/01/2005) R&B Various Artists, Blue Note Records (USA)Personnel: Joe Williams, Lou Rawls, Ray Charles, Bill Henderson (vocals); Grant Green, Ray Crawford, Steve Khan, Morris Dow, Eddie Wright (guitar); David 'Fathead' Newman, James Spaulding (alto saxophone); Joe Henderson , Stanley Turrentine (tenor saxophone); Pepper Adams (baritone saxophone); Blue Mitchell (trumpet); Hank Crawford, Howard Johnson, Jack Walrath, Seldon Powell, Steve Turre, Tim Hagans, Wayne Andre, Bobby Watson (horns); Gene Harris (piano, organ); Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, Richard Tee (piano); Freddie Roach, Jimmy McGriff, Jimmy Smith , John Patton (organ); Reggie Workman, Andrew Simpkins (bass instrument); Bob Cranshaw, Tinker Barfield (bass guitar); Ben Dixon (drums, tambourine); Chris Parker, Clarence Johnston, Donald Bailey, Jackie Mills, Mickey Roker, Billy Higgins (drums); Thad Jones - Mel Lewis Orchestra. Liner Note Author: Michael Cuscuna. Recording information: Van Gelder Studios, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey; Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey; A&R Studios, New York, New York; Lighthouse Cafe, Hermosa Beach, California; M & I Recording Studios, New York, New York; Sunset Productions, New York, New York (1958 - 1992).

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"Celebrates a Gospel Christmas" (09/28/2004) R&B Charles, Ray, Madacy RecordsThis is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. With the passing of Ray Charles in 2004, the year, consequently, became a time for looking back on the soul legend's achievements. Though Charles was a stylistic chameleon, dabbling in everything from soul to country to heavily orchestrated standards, his roots were always in the church. With his passionate cadences and fiery vocal embellishments, Charles came directly out of gospel, and these stylings remained at the root of his work his entire life. RAY CHARLES CELEBRATES A GOSPEL CHRISTMAS--appropriately--brings his legacy full circle. Though Charles recorded the album late in life, when his voice had lost a bit of its trademark control and precision, his warmth and personality pour through on every track. A full gospel choir contributes to some of the album's highlights, including "What Kind of Man Is This?" (which recalls the propulsive swing of Charles's early R&B hits). There are fresh arrangements to holiday standbys ("Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," given an up-tempo, rave-up treatment here), as well as lighter Christmas tunes (a funky "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer") and more contemporary classics (a suave, sweet rendering of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"). This holiday offering is a fond, final way to remember this genius of modern music.

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"The Genius Hits the Road" (06/10/1997) R&B Charles, Ray, Rhino Records (USA)Personnel includes: Ray Charles (vocals, piano); David "Fathead" Newman (alto & tenor saxophones); Hank Crawford (alto & baritone saxophones); Leroy Cooper, Emmet Dennis (baritone saxophone); Marcus Belgrave, John Hunt, Joe Bridgewater, Ricky Harper, Philip Guilbeau (trumpet); Richard Nash, Harry Betts, Frank Rosolino, Ken Shroyer (trombone); Edgar Willis, Roosevelt Sheffield (bass); Milt Turner, William Peeples, Teagle Fleming, Mel Lewis (drums); Bruno Carr (percussion). Recorded between 1956 & 1972. Includes liner notes by Billy Vera & Rick Ward. Digitally remastered by Bill Inglot & Dan Hersch. Genius is a word that gets bandied about with such careless overuse that it's all but lost its meaning. With Ray Charles the word is re-anointed with its true meaning. In 1960 he left Atlantic for ABC/Paramount, not because of any artistic constraints placed on him by the former, but mainly because of the much deeper pockets of the latter. This album followed his former home's GENIUS OF RAY CHARLES release. Continuing in that sublimely successful mode, large orchestrations show off the Charles' full range and emotive power as well as the breadth of his taste. Blues, jazz, pop and country all coexist like pieces of one big picture. There's a thematic unity in this set with the songs all either praising assorted locales or the sheer thrill of being out on the open road. This was also the album on which Ray made "Georgia On My Mind" his own. Seven bonus tracks continue the theme and make this yet another essential Ray Charles release.

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"The Very Best of Ray Charles" (03/14/2000) R&B Charles, Ray, Rhino Records (USA)Personnel includes: Ray Charles (vocals, acoustic & electric pianos); Margei Hendrix, Willie Nelson (vocals); Wesley Jackson (guitar); Terry McMillan (harmonica); David "Fathead" Newman (alto, tenor & baritone saxophones); Donald Wilkerson (tenor saxophone); Cecil Payne (baritone saxophone); Joe Bridgewater, Charles Whitley (trumpet); Jimmy Cleveland, Urbie Green, Julian Priester (trombone); Billy Preston (organ); Jimmy Bell (bass); Glenn Brooks, Roy Haynes (drums); The Raeletts (background vocals). Producers include: Ahmet Ertegun, Jerry Wexler, Sid Feller, Creed Taylor, Joe Adams. Compilation producer: James Austin. Recorded between 1954 & 1984. Includes liner notes by Bill Dahl. It's hard to dispute this disc's title; just about every song here was a hit, and many of them are certifiable classics of postwar American pop. This may be, in fact, the most representative one-disc Ray Charles best-of extant. It's impossible to quibble about the pulsating, minor-key pathos of Brother Ray's stinging prisoner-of-love plea "Unchain My Heart." Likewise the deeply-felt blues of "Drown in My Own Tears," the jazz/country hybrid "Busted," or the late-night piano-and-organ plaint "Let's Go Get Stoned." Another plus is that the salacious "What I'd Say" is represented by both parts I and II. Worth a reappraisal is the instrumental version of "One Mint Julep" (arrangement courtesy of Quincy Jones), which could have fit perfectly into one of the AUSTIN POWERS films.

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"Live at the Olympia 2000" (11/29/2004) R&B Charles, Ray, MK2 MusicLIVE AT THE OLYMPIA 2000 is a live album by the legendary soul singer Ray Charles.

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"Berlin, 1962" (04/23/1996) R&B Charles, Ray, Pablo RecordsPersonnel: Ray Charles (vocals, piano); Sonny Forrest (guitar); David "Fathead" Newman (flute, alto & tenor saxophones); Hank Crawford, Rudy Powell (alto saxophone); Don Wilkerson (tenor saxophone); Leroy Cooper (baritone saxophone); Marcus Belgrave, Wallace Davenport, Phillip Guilbeau, John Hunt (trumpet); Henderson Chambers, James Harbert, Keg Johnson, Dickie Wells (trombone); Edgar Willis (bass); Bruno Carr (drums). The Raelettes: Gwen Berry, Margie Hendrix, Darlene Love, Pat Mosely (background vocals). Recorded live at the Sportpalast, Berlin, Germany on March 6, 1962. Includes liner notes by Bob Porter. After touring with an eight-piece horn band, Charles finally made the jump to a big band (or jazz orchestra, if you like), enabling him to fully realize his rich jazz/R&B vision. This is the first live recording of that band, and Charles joy at being let loose in a big band context is evident. On his older, more R&B-oriented hits like "I Got A Woman," Charles is accompanied only by a scaled-downed ensemble. But when the full band kicks in, supported by the sassy backing vocals of the Raylettes (at this time including Darlene Love), it's the realization of Charles' lifelong dream. The fury of the horn section and the soulful force of Charles' piano make for one of the most arresting sounds in all of American Music. While LIVE caught Charles' '50s band at the top of their game, BERLIN, 1962 does the same for the first incarnation of the expanded group.

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"Piano Strings Tribute to Ray Charles" (11/16/2004) R&B Various Artists, Tribute Sounds

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"The Genius Anthology [Digipak]" (03/08/2005) R&B Charles, Ray, Master ClassicsPersonnel: Ray Charles (vocals, piano); Earl Brown (vocals, alto saxophone); The Raelettes (vocals); Eddie Lang, Oscar Moore, Gossie D. McKee, Mitchell Webb, Louis Speiginer (guitar); Marshal Royal (alto saxophone); Jack McVea, Stanley Turrentine (tenor saxophone); Charles Walter (baritone saxophone); John Buckner, Julius Brooks (trumpet); Johnny Miller, Billy Hadnott, Edgar Willis, Ralph Hamilton, Milton S. Garred (bass instrument); Connie Kay, Milt Turner, Clifton Pitts (drums); Mongo Santamaria (percussion). Recording information: Los Angeles, California; New York, New York; Seattle, Washington (1949 - 1959). Ensemble: The Maxin Trio. Ray Charles created such a huge body of innovative, genre-blending work over his 50-plus-year career that it is easy to forget about his earliest recordings. THE GENIUS ANTHOLOGY collects 20 tracks from the legendary performer's first ten years (1949-1959). Charles originally modeled his singing and playing style on Nat "King" Cole, and songs like "A Sentimental Blues" and "Don't Put All Your Dreams in One Basket" are smooth, nightclub ballads on the order of Cole. Accompanied by stand-up bass and mellow electric guitar (adding horns for some tunes, including "Late in the Evening Blues"), Charles croons softly in a way that seems restrained and tame compared to his material in the later '50s. However, as early as 1951's "Kissa Me Baby," the raw, soulful vocal delivery that would become Charles's trademark is already in evidence. The songs begin to swing harder, and Charles's approach to phrasing and timbre loosen up considerably, incorporating gospel inflections and an improvisational flair. The punchy, bopping "Heartbreaker" shows the artist moving into his mature style, while the set's last four tracks--taken from 1958 and 1959--are classic, indispensable Charles. The wildly exuberant "What'd I Say" (Charles's watershed single and still one of his finest moments) is an appropriate ending to this dynamic, satisfying portrait of an artist discovering his voice and style.

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"Blues Before Sunrise (Pazzazz)" (07/06/2004) R&B Charles, Ray, Pazzazz

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"Music of Your Life: American Soul" (07/24/2004) R&B Charles, Ray, BCI Music (Brentwood Communication)

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"The Complete Swing Time and Down Beat Recordings 1949-1952" (2001) R&B Charles, Ray, Night Train

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"The Early Years (King)" (09/12/2005) R&B Charles, Ray, King Records (USA)In the late 1940s, teenager Ray Charles founded the Maxim Trio, heavily influenced by the style and instrumentation of the Nat King Cole Trio. Cole was the first popular jazz musician to skip drums in a trio and operate instead with piano, guitar and bass. Charles and the band, along with Charles Brown and Johnny Moore's Three Blazers, were successful within the style. THE EARLY YEARS, initially re-released in the 1970s and now digitially remastered, shows Charles in the formative stages of his career. While Charles would later be identified as a hard-driving piano man, most of the tunes on THE EARLY YEARS are slow movers like "Ray Charles Blues" and "St. Pete Florida Blues." THE EARLY YEARS may not show Charles at the height of his genius, but devoted fans, as well as fans of Nat King Cole, will enjoy this collection of early work.

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"Goin' Down Slow" (01/20/2004) R&B Charles, Ray, Laserlight (USA)

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"I Chose to Sing the Blues" (05/10/2005) R&B Charles, Ray, BCI Music (Brentwood Communication)

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"Friendship" (07/12/2005) R&B Charles, Ray, Legacy RecordingsAdditional guest artists: B.J. Thomas, Rickey Skaggs, Mickey Gilley, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson. Personnel: Ray Charles (vocals, piano); Ricky Skaggs (vocals, guitar); Billy Joel (vocals, piano); George Jones, Janie Fricke, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Mickey Gilley, The Oak Ridge Boys, B.J. Thomas, Tony Bennett, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams Jr. (vocals); Chet Atkins (guitar); Terry McMillan (harmonica); Hargus "Pig" Robbins (keyboards).

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"The Early Years (Legacy)" (07/18/1994) R&B Charles, Ray, Legacy International

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"Love Songs" (01/19/1999) R&B Charles, Ray, Rhino Records (USA)Personnel includes: Ray Charles, Betty Carter, Cleo Laine (vocals); Ralph Burns, Marty Paich, Gerald Wilson, Sid Feller, Frank DeVol, Jeremy Lubbock (arranger). Producers include: Ahmet Ertegun, Jerry Wexler, Nesuhi Ertegun, Sid Feller, Norman Granz. Compilation producers: James Austin, Alan Swyer, Michael Johnson. Includes liner notes by Alan Swyer. Digtally remastered using 24-bit technology by Doug Sax & Terry Howard (The Mastering Lab). This latest Ray Charles collection from Rhino isn't as conventional or throwaway as its title might imply. For one, it brings together in one place such standards as Charles' definitive "Georgia On My Mind" and his classic duet with Betty Carter, "Baby, It's Cold Outside," with some of the R&B Meets Country hits like "I Can't Stop Loving You" and "You Are My Sunshine." Add some classic jazz crooning on "Come Rain Or Come Shine" and "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" and you begin to have a full portrait of Ray Charles' masterful versatility as a popular artist, way beyond Dinah Washington or Aretha in his far-reaching, eclectic grasp of American tunes. The rest of modest disc is further proof that there is nearly nothing in the pop idiom Ray Charles didn't or couldn't make his own. Extra treats: "Bess, You Is My Woman" from the Norman Granz-produced PORGY AND BESS and a stirring version of Leon Russell's "A Song For You" from the 1993 Richard Perry-produced MY WORLD.

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"Pure Genius: The Complete Atlantic Recordings (1952-1959)" (09/20/2005) R&B Charles, Ray, Atlantic (USA)PURE GENIUS comes packaged in a '50s-inspired record-player case and contains a bonus DVD featuring live concert footage and an exclusive interview with producer Ahmet Ertegun. Personnel include: Ray Charles (vocals, piano); Edgar Blanchard, Mchouston "Mickey" Baker (guitar); August "Dimes" Dupont, O'Neil Gerald (alto saxophone); Sam "The Man" Taylor, Warren Hebrard, Joe Tillman (tenor saxophone); Dave McRea, Warren Bell (baritone saxophone); Frank Mitchell, Wallace Davenport, Jesse Drakes (trumpet); Lloyd Lambert, Lloyd Trotman, Frank Fields (bass guitar); Connie Kay, Alonzo Stewart, Oscar Moore (drums); Candido Camero (congas). Additional personnel: Jesse Stone (vocals). Liner Note Authors: Ahmet Ertegun; David Ritz. Recording information: 1952 - 1959. A stunning seven-CD/one-DVD box set designed to look like a vintage 1950s record player, PURE GENIUS is aptly summed up by its full title--this mammoth collection features the complete '52-'59 Atlantic recording sessions of genre-defying legend Ray Charles. The first six discs encapsulate the Genius's groundbreaking Atlantic LPs, where Charles essentially invented soul music by tapping into unrestrained, gospel-inspired passion and channeling it into the secular sounds of jazz, R&B, and rock & roll. The seventh CD offers up an array of revealing outtakes, studio-dialogue snippets, and other tracks (most of which are previously unreleased), while the DVD presents Charles performing at the 1960 Newport Jazz Festival, as well as RAY biopic director Taylor Hackford interviewing Atlantic Records' Ahmet Ertegun, who was crucial in helping the beloved artist find his signature sound.

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"The Jazz Biography" (07/13/2004) R&B Charles, Ray, United Multimedia

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"Right Time: The Platinum Collection" (09/12/2005) R&B Charles, Ray, Warner Elektra Atlantic Corp. (UK)The late, great R & B legend Ray Charles is celebrated with RIGHT TIME, a compilation of 20 of his numerous classic hits, including "I Got a Woman" and 'I'm Moving On".

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"Ray Charles Unreleased" (03/14/2006) R&B Charles, Ray, Night TrainOffering a glimpse of Ray Charles in his formative years, the Night Train label's UNRELEASED presents alternate versions of some of the R&B legend's earliest recordings (1949-'54). At this stage in his career, Charles had yet to find his signature voice and was performing in a style that directly referenced the smooth crooning and gentle piano playing of Nat "King" Cole (see the jazzy, delicate numbers "I'm Glad for Your Sake" and "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now"). Given the fluctuating sound quality and many false starts and incomplete takes, this is a disc for Charles completists, but definitely an intriguing one.

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"In the Beginning: 1949-1952" (01/25/2005) R&B Charles, Ray, Fabulous (USA)

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"At Newport [Remaster]" (07/04/2005) R&B Charles, Ray, Warner Jazz (UK)The unparalleled talent of Ray Charles is showcased here in this impeccably restored, inside and out, U.K. import edition of AT NEWPORT.

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"At Newport [Remaster]" (10/21/1998) R&B Charles, Ray, Warner Elektra Atlantic Corp. (NethRemastered and rereleased in limited edition to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Atlantic Records, AT NEWPORT features eight of legend Ray Charles's songs recorded at the Newport Jazz Festival.

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"The Great Ray Charles" (06/18/1996) R&B Charles, Ray, Goldies (The Netherlands)Personnel: Ray Charles (vocals, piano); G.D. McKee (guitar); Milton Garred (bass). Recorded in Los Angeles, California between 1949 and 1950. Includes liner notes by William Hogeland. These early Charles recordings come from his first L.A. sessions for the Swingtime label in 1949 and 1950, and they present a still-developing artist who was already full of both power and finesse. Presented here mostly in a small-group setting, backed by guitar and bass. Just a few years earlier, Charles had been concentrating on a more mannered, Nat "King" Cole style, but by this time, he was fully immersed in R&B. The slow, yearning "Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand" has what may be the only example of blues celeste. On "A Sentimental Blues," the vocal influence of Cole is still apparent, with Charles seeming to be in a transitional phase between pop and blues. However, blues definitely rules the day on these sessions, from "How Long Blues to "Sittin' On Top of the World." Brother Ray's soulful piano work and emotive vocals are showcased to fine effect throughout. THE GREAT Ray Charles ultimately paints a picture of an artist in transition, but still immediately captivating, whatever the style might be.

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"Blues Is My Middle Name" (n/a) R&B Charles, Ray, Prime Kuts/st. Clair

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"Great Ray Charles" (n/a) R&B Charles, Ray, Platinum Disc Corp.

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"Blues Before Sunrise (ZYX)" (06/10/2002) R&B Charles, Ray, ZYX Records (USA)

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"Confession Blues [Remaster]" (11/26/2001) R&B Charles, Ray, Silver Star RecordsEighteen tacks of CONFESSIONAL BLUES are contained on this album from the legendary Ray Charles, including versions of "See See Rider," "This Love of Mine," and "Sittin' on the Top of the World."

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"Standards" (03/03/1998) R&B Charles, Ray, Rhino Records (USA)Personnel includes: Ray Charles (vocals, acoustic & electric piano); Harry Lookofsky (conductor); Allen Hanlon, Bill Pittman, Al Hendrickson, Elbert "Sonny" Forriest (guitar); Bennie Crawford, Rudy Powell (alto saxophone); David "Fathead" Newman, Harold Vick (tenor saxophone); Leroy Cooper (baritone saxophone); Marcus Belgrave, Wallace Davenport, Philip Guilbeau, John Hunt (trumpet); Ed Burke, Henderson Chambers, James Harbert, Frederic Johnson (trombone); Bob Brookmeyer (valve trombone); Wendall Marshall, Edgar Willis, Joe Comfort (bass); Ted Sommers, Milton Turner, Irving Cotler, Wilbert Hogan; Irving Carter (drums); The Jack Halloran Singers, The Gene Lowell Singers (background vocals). Producers include: Nesuhi Ertegun, Jerry Wexler, Sid Feller, Joe Adams, Ray Charles. Compilation producers: James Austin, Ray Baradat. Recorded between 1959 and 1977. Includes liner notes by Mark A. Humphrey and Julee Stover. Digitally remastered by Doug Sax and Terry Howard. A very smart compilation, presented chronologically, of tracks recorded between 1959 and 1977, in which Brother Ray sings what's often referred to as the American Songbook--i.e., pre-rock pop tunes usually associated with Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, et al. The arrangements are mostly appropriately lush (Johnny Ray's "Cry") and swinging (a particularly sly "Makin' Whoopee"), although some of the choral backings on a few cuts verge on the saccharine, albeit not fatally. Adding to the fun, Charles takes a couple of terrific, jazzy piano solos on the likes of "Moonlight in Vermont" and the aforementioned "Makin' Whoopee."

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"Sweet & Sour Tears [Remaster]" (08/19/1997) R&B Charles, Ray, Rhino Records (USA)Personnel includes: Ray Charles (vocals, piano); Sonny Forrest (guitar); Harold Minerve, Dan Turner (alto saxophone); James Clay, David "Fathead" Newman, Don Wilkerson (tenor saxophone); Leroy Cooper, Cecil Payne (baritone saxophone); Oliver Beener, Burgess Gardner, Philip Guilbeau, John Hunt, Floyd Jones, Curtis Miller, Joe Bridgewater, Joshua Willis (trumpet); Henderson Chambers, Jim Herbert, Keg Johnson, Julian Priester, Fred Morden (trombone); Edgar Willis, Paul West (bass); Wilbur Hogan, Bob Thompson, Panama Francis (drums); The Gene Lowell Singers, The Raelettes, The Cookies, The Jack Halloran Singers (background vocals). Producers: Sid Feller, Joe Adams, Ahmet Ertegun, Jerry Wexler. Reissue producers: James Austin, Michael Johnson. Engineers include: Phil Macy, Bill Putnam, Al Schmitt. Originally released on ABC-Paramount (480). Includes liner notes by Eddie Gorodetsky. Digitally remastered by Bill Inglott & Dan Hersch. Wrapped in lush string arrangements and the swooning background vocals of the Gene Lowell Singers, 1964's SWEET & SOUR TEARS is a concept album in which Ray Charles interprets material dealing with loss and heartbreak. Songs such as Johnnie Ray's "Cry" and "Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry" share the same neighborhood as anything on Frank Sinatra's IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS. Charles' voice often cracks with emotion as his piano forlornly pushes on, particularly in the loping country waltz "A Tear Fell" and "You've Got Me Crying Again," providing the soundtrack for heartbreak the world over. The other half of the original album found Charles using Calvin Jackson's punchy horn charts on songs such as "Teardrops From My Eyes" and a much livelier reading of "Cry Me A River" than Julie London's more subdued version. The horn section also provides excellent accompaniment on the samba-flavored "Baby, Don't You Cry" and on an arrangement of "I Cried For You" that either Sinatra or Bobby Darin would have been wise to borrow. Throw in seven bonus tracks that include "Crying Time" and "No Use Crying," and you're all set for another round of drinking and despair.

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"Ray Charles & Betty Carter/Dedicated to You" (04/21/1998) R&B Charles, Ray, Rhino Records (USA)Contains 2 LPs on 1 CD. RAY CHARLES & BETTY CARTER: Personnel includes: Ray Charles (piano, vocals); Betty Carter (vocals); Marty Paich (arranger, conductor); Bill Pittman (guitar); Hank Crawford (alto saxophone); David "Fathead" Newman (tenor saxophone); Leroy Cooper (baritone saxophone); Edgar Willis (bass); Mel Lewis, Bruno Carr (drums); The Jack Halloran Singers (background vocals). Producer: Sid Feller. Recorded at United Studios, Hollywood, California on June 13-14, 1961. Originally released on ABC-Paramount (385). Includes original liner notes by Sid Feller. DEDICATED TO YOU: Personnel includes: Ray Charles (piano, vocals); Marty Paich (arranger, conductor); Bill Pittman (guitar); Hank Crawford (alto saxophone); David "Fathead" Newman (tenor saxophone); Leroy Cooper (baritone saxophone); Martin Banks, John Hunt (trumpet); Edgar Willis (bass); Irving Cottler (drums.) Producer: Sid Feller. Recorded at United Studios, Hollywood, California on August 23-24, 1960. Originally released on ABC-Paramount (355). Includes original liner notes by Rick Ward. Reissue producers: James Austin, Michael Johnson. Includes liner notes by Alan Swyer. Digitally remastered by Doug Sax & Terry Howard (The Mastering Lab). One of the most beloved of all vocal albums, 1961's RAY CHARLES AND BETTY CARTER, has been reissued on one disc with the lesser-known solo Charles effort DEDICATED TO YOU from the same year. The famous Ray and Betty duets are welcome no matter what the format. Charles was never so slyly romantic in any of his subsequent recordings. For her part, jazz singer Betty Carter has rarely been as accessible as she is here; her considerable vocal gifts simply dazzle on "Cocktails For Two" and "Alone Together." The two lovebirds outdo themselves on their definitive "Baby, It's Cold Outside." The arts of seduction have seldom been rendered with as much wit (or truth.) Marty Paich's apt arrangements--alternating between punchy brass and lush strings--support the singers perfectly. DEDICATED is a set of tunes with a girl's name in each title, a concept which allows Charles to try his hand at "Nancy," "Stella By Starlight," "Sweet Georgia Brown," and "Ruby," this last a well-deserved hit. Again Paich's fresh charts provide skillful backup.

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"1949-1950" (n/a) R&B Charles, Ray, Classics R&bPersonnel: Ray Charles (vocals, piano); Gossie D. McKee, Tiny Webb (guitar); Milton S. Garred, Ralph Hamilton (bass). Recorded in Seattle, Washington in 1949 & Los Angeles, California in 1949 & 1950. Includes liner notes by Dave Penny.

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"Ingredients in a Recipe For Soul/Have a Smile With Me" (08/19/1997) R&B Charles, Ray, Rhino Records (USA)2 LPs ON 1 CD: INGREDIENTS IN A RECIPE FOR SOUL/HAVE A SMILE WITH ME. Personnel includes: Ray Charles (vocals, piano); Al Hendrickson, Sonny Forest (guitar); Hank Crawford, Bill Pearson, Harold Minerve, Dan Turner (alto saxophone); James Clay, David "Fathead" Newman (tenor saxophone); Leroy Cooper (baritone saxophone); Oliver Beener, Wallace Davenport, Phillip Guilbeau, John Hunt, Roy Burrows, Floyd Jones, Curtis Miller (trumpet); Henderson Chambers, Jim Herbert, Keg Johnson, Julian Priester, Fred Morden (trombone); Joe Comfort, Edgar Willis (bass); Irving Cottler, Wilber Hogan, Bob Thompson (drums); The Ray Charles Big Band, The Jack Halloran Singers, The Raelettes, Margie Hendrix (background vocals). Recorded at Capitol Studios, New York, New York on July 24, 1963 & April 28, 1964; Bell Sound Studio, New York, New York on September 5, 1959 & February 6, 1960; and United Recording Studio A, Hollywood, California on January 3 & July 18, 1963. Originally released on ABC Paramount (465) & ABC Paramount (495). Includes liner notes by Eddie Gorodetsky, Nat Hale and Rick Ward. Digitally remastered by Bill Inglot and Dan Hersch (DigiPrep). This disc combines the two classic Ray Charles albums that were drawn from a stellar series of 1963-'64 sessions. The two albums are diametrically opposed; INGREDIENTS IN A RECIPE FOR SOUL is full of bluesy, lonesome laments, while the aptly titled HAVE A SMILE WITH ME concentrates on Charles' more light-hearted material. It's striking to realize both were drawn from the same sessions, but the two extremes balance each other quite nicely. The Harlan Howard-penned opener "Busted" picks up where Charles' groundbreaking 1962 country album left off. The tune, a soulful transformation of country, was a huge hit for Charles. He digs deep into a seemingly bottomless inner well of sorrow for the quietly despairing "Born To Be Blue" and brings out the inherent melancholy in "Over the Rainbow." HAVE A SMILE shifts the mood radically, starting with the brassy exultation of "Smack Dab in the Middle" and continuing along with the slyly lusty "I Never See Maggie Alone" and the downright bizarre "The Man With the Weird Beard." This indispensable disc succinctly captures two very different but equally important sides of Charles' musical personality.

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"Anthology" (10/25/1990) R&B Charles, Ray, Rhino Records (USA)Includes liner notes by Todd Everett. This is not a career retrospective per se, since it doesn't include any of Ray Charles' groundbreaking '50s R&B from his tenure at Atlantic Records. It is, however, an excellent greatest hits collection covering his years at ABC-Paramount. As always, what's most impressive is the sheer stylistic breadth of Charles' music making. Here you have, among other goodies, a Latin-tinged blues rocker ("Unchain My Heart"), a reinvented Tin Pan Alley standard ("Georgia on My Mind"), and an unabashed country weeper ("I Can't Stop Lovin' You"). There's an early R&B tune written by the Motown team of Ashford and Simpson ("I Don't Need No Doctor"), a soulful cover of the Beatles at their most classically-tinged ("Eleanor Rigby"), and finally an all-out gospel assault on "America the Beautiful." Amazingly, it all fits together in a seamless whole. Essential listening.

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"Genius + Soul = Jazz/My Kind of Jazz" (06/10/1997) R&B Charles, Ray, Rhino Records (USA)2 LPs on 1 CD. This reissue includes original release liner notes from GENIUS + SOUL = JAZZ by Dick Katz, original release liner notes from MY KIND OF JAZZ by Quincy Jones, and reissue liner notes by Billy Vera. This is part of Rhino's Ray Charles 50th Anniversary Collectors Series. GENIUS + SOUL = JAZZ: Personnel: Ray Charles (vocal, organ); Marshall Royal, Frank Wess, George Dorsey, Earle Warren (alto saxophone); Frank Foster, Billy Mitchell, Budd Johnson, Seldon Powell (tenor saxophone); Charlie Fowlkes, Haywood Henry (baritone saxophone); Philip Guilbeau, Thad Jones, Joe Newman, Clark Terry, Eugene Young, John Frosk, Jimmy Nottingham, Joe Wilder (trumpet); Henry Coker, Urbie Green, Al Grey, Benny Powell, Jimmy Cleveland, Keg Johnson, George Matthews (trombone); Freddy Green, Sam Herman (guitar); Eddy Jones, Joe Benjamin (bass); Sonny Payne, Roy Haynes (drums). Producer: Creed Taylor. Recorded in New York, New York on December 26 & 27, 1960. Originally released on Impulse! (2) in March, 1961. This is a difficult album to categorize. It is big band swing, jazz, soul, R&B, pop and blues, but mostly it is 'the genius' at work. This man has managed to stay hip for succeeding generations and also appeal to middle-class white America. This superb recording was made in 1961 shortly before he hit his commercial peak. Do not be put off by the big band: it is dynamic stuff, for example, 'Moanin' and 'Strike Up The Band'. The CD reissue adds three live tracks from his Genius Hits The Road album to make this even more necessary and vital. MY KIND OF JAZZ: Personnel includes: Ray Charles (vocals, piano); J. Lloyd Miller (oboe); Curtis Peagler (alto saxophone); Andy Ennis, Albert McQueen, Clifford Scott (tenor saxophone); Leroy Cooper (baritone saxophone); Bobby Bryant, Blue Mitchell (trumpet); Glen Childress (trombone); James Markin (guitar); Edgar Willis (bass). Originally released on Tangerine (1512) in June, 1970. Digitally remastered by Bill Inglot and Dan Hersch.

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"Le Genius of Soul [Remaster]" (02/26/1999) R&B Charles, Ray, Warner Elektra Atlantic Corp. (FranTwenty cuts make up this best-of recording from the legendary R&B singer, including "What'd I Say Pts. 1 & 2" and "Mary Ann."

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"Genius Loves Company" (01/17/2005) R&B Charles, Ray, EMI Records (UK)CD contains bonus DVD.

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"Mess Around" (06/15/2004) R&B Charles, Ray, Proper PairsRecording information: 1949 - 1953.

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"Blues Is My Middle Name (King Jazz)" (02/27/2001) R&B Charles, Ray, King JazzAdditional personnel incudes: Hank Crawford, Guitar Slim, Joe Turner, Johnny Moore, Johnny Miller, David Newman. Includes liner notes by John Williams. All tracks have been digitally remastered.

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"Rocking Chair Blues" (01/20/2004) R&B Charles, Ray, Laserlight (USA)

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"Georgia On My Mind" (10/05/2004) R&B Charles, Ray, Phantom Imports (Netherlands)

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"Super Hits" (02/17/1998) R&B Charles, Ray, Columbia (USA)A bargain bin reissue of the 1986 album FRIENDSHIP, SUPERHITS features Brother Ray in a series of duets with country singers, an idea that shouldn't be too surprising to anyone aware of Charles' classic 1961 album MODERN SOUNDS IN COUNTRY & WESTERN MUSIC. Most of the singers (and in the case of Chet Atkins, one guitarist) here blend with Charles like a charm, in particular George Jones, who to all intents is to country music what Ray Charles is to R&B--the most soulful guy around (Merle Haggard, who's probably the second most soulful country guy around, is featured memorably on "Little Hotel Room"). The seemingly oddest cut, Cole Porter's "Friendship" with Ricky Skaggs, actually works, since Porter wrote it as a sort of faux country tune in the first place.

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"Yes Indeed" (03/29/2005) R&B Ray Charles & His Band, Warner Music Benelux (Australia)

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"What'd I Say?" (06/15/2004) R&B Charles, Ray, Warner Elektra Atlantic Corp. (Fran

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"Sinners Prayers 1951-1954" (09/13/2005) R&B Charles, Ray, Rev-Ola Records (UK)

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"Genius Sings the Blues" (12/02/2003) R&B Charles, Ray, Atlantic Records (Netherlands)

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