The Genius of Ray Charles

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The Genius of Ray Charles [Atlantic]
The Genius of Ray Charles [Atlantic] cover
Studio album by Ray Charles
Released 1959
Recorded 1959
Genre R&B
Length 37:58
Label Atlantic Records 1312
Producer Nesuhi Ertegün/Jerry Wexler
Professional reviews
Ray Charles chronology
What'd I Say
(1959)		 The Genius of Ray Charles [Atlantic]
(1959)		 In Person
(1960)

The Genius of Ray Charles is a 1959 album by Ray Charles. In 2003, the album was ranked number 263 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

The Genius of Ray Charles announced his breakout from rhythm and blues and onto a broader musical stage. Atlantic Records gave Charles full support in production and arrangements.

As originally presented, the A side of the album featured the Ray Charles band with David "Fathead" Newman supplemented by players from the Count Basie and Duke Ellington bands, and arrangements by Quincy Jones.

The B side of the original album consists of six ballads with arrangements by Ralph Burns and a large string orchestra. Charles's performance of "Come Rain or Come Shine", a song identified with Frank Sinatra, brought public attention to his voice alone without the "distractions" of his soulful piano and his snappy band.

Each side contains a tribute to Louis Jordan with two songs he had hits with "Let the Good Times Roll" and ("Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying").

Contents

[edit] Track listing

[edit] A Side

  1. "Let the Good Times Roll" (Sam Theard/Fleecie Moore) – 2:53
  2. "It Had to Be You" (Gus Kahn/Isham Jones) – 2:45
  3. "Alexander's Ragtime Band" (Irving Berlin) – 2:53
  4. "Two Years of Torture" (Percy Mayfield/Charles Joseph Morris) – 3:25
  5. "When Your Lover Has Gone" (E. A. Swan) – 2:51
  6. "'Deed I Do" (Walter Hirsch/Fred Rose) – 2:27

[edit] B Side

  1. "Just for a Thrill" (Lil Armstrong/Don Raye) – 3:26
  2. "You Won't Let Me Go" (Bud Allen/Buddy Johnson) – 3:22
  3. "Tell Me You'll Wait for Me" (Charles Brown/Oscar Moore) – 3:25
  4. "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" (Joe Greene) – 3:46
  5. "Am I Blue" (Grant Clarke/Harry Akst) – 3:41
  6. "Come Rain or Come Shine" (Johnny Mercer/Harold Arlen) – 3:42


[edit] Personnel

On "Let the Good Times Roll", "Alexander's Ragtime Band" and "'Deed I Do":


[edit] Other credits

[edit] External links