'Every music has its own soul. Be true to the soul of the music' - Ray Charles

What happens when you take the legendary Ray Charles, put him in front of a big band orchestra and ask him to play a handful of the greatest songs of all time? Genius.

A departure from his traditional sound of rhythm and blues, THE GENIUS OF RAY CHARLES captures the brilliant performer trying his hand at easy-swinging pop with the help of some of the most notable players of the day. Originally released in 1959, the Grammy-winning LP has been re-mastered from the original analog tapes and pressed on audiophile 180-gram vinyl.

The A side of the album features 6 up-tempo numbers arranged by conductor Quincy Jones and performed by the Ray Charles band with David "Fathead" Newman as well as members of the Count Basie and Duke Ellington orchestras. The diverse collection kicks off with a rollicking "King of the Jukebox" Louis Jordan tribute "Let The Good Times Roll," ripping through horn-heavy tracks like "Alexander's Ragtime Band" and waltzing through professions of love like the ever-popular "It Had To Be You."

Side B of GENIUS contains six beautifully performed ballads, complete with arrangements by notable jazz composer Ralph Burns and an impressive string orchestra. His voice in peak form, Charles gives soul to the shimmering melodies of such classics as "Am I Blue" and "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying." But perhaps most genius of all is Charles' stunning version of the Sinatra standard "Come Rain Or Come Shine."

Original recording also available on CD.

'Every music has its own soul. Be true to the soul of the music' - Ray Charles

What happens when you take the legendary Ray Charles, put him in front of a big band orchestra and ask him to play a handful of the greatest songs of all time? Genius.

A departure from his traditional sound of rhythm and blues, THE GENIUS OF RAY CHARLES captures the brilliant performer trying his hand at easy-swinging pop with the help of some of the most notable players of the day. Originally....+Read More...

'Every music has its own soul. Be true to the soul of the music' - Ray Charles

What happens when you take the legendary Ray Charles, put him in front of a big band orchestra and ask him to play a handful of the greatest songs of all time? Genius.

A departure from his traditional sound of rhythm and blues, THE GENIUS OF RAY CHARLES captures the brilliant performer trying his hand at easy-swinging pop with the help of some of the most notable players of the day. Originally released in 1959, the Grammy-winning LP has been re-mastered from the original analog tapes and pressed on audiophile 180-gram vinyl.

The A side of the album features 6 up-tempo numbers arranged by conductor Quincy Jones and performed by the Ray Charles band with David "Fathead" Newman as well as members of the Count Basie and Duke Ellington orchestras. The diverse collection kicks off with a rollicking "King of the Jukebox" Louis Jordan tribute "Let The Good Times Roll," ripping through horn-heavy tracks like "Alexander's Ragtime Band" and waltzing through professions of love like the ever-popular "It Had To Be You."

Side B of GENIUS contains six beautifully performed ballads, complete with arrangements by notable jazz composer Ralph Burns and an impressive string orchestra. His voice in peak form, Charles gives soul to the shimmering melodies of such classics as "Am I Blue" and "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying." But perhaps most genius of all is Charles' stunning version of the Sinatra standard "Come Rain Or Come Shine."

Original recording also available on CD.

'Every music has its own soul. Be true to the soul of the music' - Ray Charles

What happens when you take the legendary Ray Charles, put him in front of a big band orchestra and ask him to play a handful of the greatest songs of all time? Genius.

A departure from his traditional sound of rhythm and blues, THE GENIUS OF RAY CHARLES captures the brilliant performer trying his hand at easy-swinging pop with the help of some of the most notable players of the day. Originally....+Read More...