The Genius Sings the Blues

Artistas: Ray Charles

CD
1
38037

€8.99

Tax included

THE JEAN-PIERRE LELOIR COLLECTION

2-LP ON 1 CD

4 1/2 STARS ALL MUSIC GUIDE

DELUXE PACKAGING – Thick cardboard Fold Open Digi-Sleeves with inner sleeves

"The Genius Sings the Blues" (Atlantic LP 8052) is a conceptual album dedicated to the singer/pianist’s interpretations of the blues. Instead of being a carefully thought-out project produced during a single session (or a couple of consecutive sessions), The Genius Sings the Blues was the result of compiling several blues selections that Charles had recorded for Atlantic between 1952 and 1959. In fact, it was initially thought of as an easy cash-in LP after Charles’ split with Atlantic. However, the final album doesn’t lack unity or coherence and ended up as one of Ray Charles’ Bmost popular sets. The album "Dedicated to You" (ABC Paramount ABC-355), another conceptual LP, this time consisting of songs with a woman’s name in each title, has been added here in its entirety as a bonus.

PERSONNEL:

RAY CHARLES, vocals & piano

Plus:
Marcus Belgrave, John Hunt, Joe Bridgewater, Riley Webb (tp),
David “Fathead” Newman, Don Wilkerson (ts), Bennie Crawford (bar),
Edgar Willis (b), Oscar Moore (d), among others.
Recorded in New York, Miami & New Orleans, 1952-1959.

[13-24] BONUS ALBUM: DEDICATED TO YOU
Ray Charles, vocals, organ & piano with orchestra conducted & arranged by
Marty Paich featuring David “Fathead” Newman (ts).
Los Angeles, August 23-24, 196

TRACKS:

01 EARLY IN THE MORNING
02 HARD TIMES (NO ONE KNOWS BETTER THAN I)
03 THE MIDNIGHT HOUR
04 NIGHT TIME IS THE RIGHT TIME
05 FEEL IN’ SAD
06 RAY ’S BLUES
07 I’M MOVING ON
08 I BELIEVE TO MY SOUL
09 NOBODY CARES
10 MR. CHARLES ’ BLUES
11 SOMEDAY BABY
12 I WONDER WHO
13 HARD HEARTED HANNAH
14 NANCY
15 MARGIE
16 RUBY
17 ROSETTA
18 STELLA BY STARLIGHT
19 CHERRY
20 JOSEPHINE
21 CANDY
22 MARIE
23 DIANE
24 SWEET GEORGIA BROWN

TOTAL TIME: 73:26

Format: CD
Discs: 1
Label code: 38037

Reference JIM 150174

Ray Charles

Ranked No. 10 of Rolling Stones magazine's all-time artists, Ray Charles is a milestone in the history of Rhythm and blues (R&B), soul, blues, country and gospel.

To have it in a personal collection is to give honor to the man who is also considered by the same magazine as the best male singer and the second best singer of all time, after Aretha Franklin. Jammie Foxx played him in the film Ray, released in 2004 and winner of two Oscars. Simply an unavoidable reference for any lover of the genre.

Although he liked to be called "Brother Ray", he was often referred to as "The Genius". And no wonder, Ray Charles (Hit the road Jack, 1961) lost his sight at the age of 7 due to glaucoma and, since then, developed an interest in music that led him years later to become the man who would forever change the destiny of black music, and one of the few people of African descent to win more than 10 Grammy Awards. Here is his story, his career, his musical legacy.

BIOGRAPHY

Ray Charles was born in Albany (Georgia) on September 23, 1930 and died in Beverly Hills (California) on June 10, 2004 from liver cancer. If there is one thing that defines his childhood, it is his own words: "I was born black, I was born poor, I was blind at the age of seven, and I couldn't save my younger brother, George, when he fell and drowned in a tub of laundry. I was paralyzed. Months later he was completely blind.

His mother, Aretha Robinson, moved with little Ray to Greenville (Florida) and it was right from there that he became interested in music. At the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind, where only whites were accepted, Ray Charles began to develop his musical abilities. At first he could only listen to classical music, and even learned to read and compose music in Braille. But when he learned about blues and jazz through the radio, his world changed.

His mother died and Ray was left alone in the world at the age of 15 with a prodigious musical ear, a lyrical baritone voice, a unique talent for the piano and a racial condition that made him a victim of the segregation of the American society of the time. However, his talent and his musical mastery, the combination of piano, keyboards, saxophone, synthesizers, were more powerful than his talent, and he rose to stardom in record time: his song "Baby, Let Me Hold Your Hand" reached the top positions in the music charts and years later he reached the number one position in the Billboard charts, with the song "Hit the Road Jack".

Ray Charles had a life of fame and glory, but also of shadows. He was considered a junkie addicted to sex and heroin, and was imprisoned for drug possession on three occasions. He overcame drugs after being admitted to a rehabilitation hospital and his passion for sex and voyeurism left him with twelve children by different women.

MUSICAL INFLUENCES

Ray Charles is one of the mythical musicians of R&B. His music, accompanied by a broken, fluid voice, sometimes tragic and sometimes sweet and intimate, forged a very effective musical style, influenced mainly by Nat King Cole, Louis Jordan and Charles Brown. Although he was criticized for using gospel in his songs, Ray Charles is known precisely for the perfect combination of genres: rhythm & blues, jazz, country, operetta, pop, rock and roll, swing, and gospel.

On the piano, Charles produced divergent styles: percussive, overlapping chords, smooth melodies, frenetic rhythms and cadences in his ballads. Many musicians consider him the father of soul and even Frank Sinatra himself exclaimed, "Ray is the only true genius in show business."

COLLABORATORS IN PERFORMANCE

In his initial band, Ray Charles had the opportunity to share the stage with Ruth Brown, David Newman (saxophone) and Joe Bridgewater (trumpet). This was just the beginning. Later he would collaborate with Milt Jackson (Soul Brothers), Betty Carter, Oscar Pettiford, Kenny Burrell or Billy Mitchell.

Among the most outstanding collaborations are: Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder; Willie Nelson and Ray Charles in the case of musical stages, and in the case of labels and producers, there is the millionaire duo composed by Ray Charles and Quincy Jones, considered the most powerful music producer of the 20th century.

To close with a flourish, Ray's musical career includes collaborations with Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.

DISCOGRAPHY

Ray Charles Music's legacy is vast and sometimes unattainable.

Below is his discography by year of release:

1957: Ray Charlez (Album) (Oh, Hallelujah I Love Her So)

1957: The Great Ray Charles

1957: Yes Indeed!

1958: Ray Charles at Newport

1958: Soul Brothers (with Milt Jackson)

1958: Soul Meeting (with Milt Jackson)

1959: What'd I Say

1959: The Genius Sing the Blue of Ray Charles

1960: In Person

1960: Genius Hits the Road

1960: Dedicated to You

1961: Ray Charles and Betty Carter

1961: Genius + Soul = Jazz

1962: Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music

1962: Modern Sounds In Country and Western Music Volume Two

1963: Ingredients in a Recipe For Soul

1964: Sweet & Sour Tears

1964: Have A Smile With Me

1965: Live in Concert

1965: Together Again

1966: Crying Time

1966: Ray's Moods

1967: Invites You to Listen

1968: Portrait of Ray

1968: I'm All Yours Baby!

1969: Doing His Thing

1970: Love Country Style

1970: My Kind of Jazz

1971: Volcanic Action of My Soul

1972: A Message From the People

1972: Through the Eyes of Love

1972: Jazz Number II

1974: Come Live With Me

1975: Renaissance

1975: My Kind of Jazz, Part 3

1977: True to Life

1978: Love & Peace

1979: Ain't It So

1980: Brother Ray Is At It Again

1983: Wish You Were Here Tonight

1984: Do I Ever Cross Your Mind

1984: Friendship

1985: The Spirit of Christmas

1986: From the Pages of My Mind

1988: Just Between Us

1990: Would You Believe?

1993: My World

1996: Strong Love Affair

2002: Thanks For Bringing Love Around Again

2004: Genius Loves Company

2004: Genius & Friends

MOST FAMOUS SONG

Among his most emblematic productions we have: Ray Charles (America the beautiful), or Ray Charles - Georgia on my mind, or any single or album that can be found on Ray Charles Greatest Hit. Songs like "Confession Blues" (1949), "Mess Around" (1953), "What'd I say" (1959), "Hit the road Jack" (1961), "Here we go again" (2004) were part of important milestones in the career of one of the most important soul artists of the 20th century.