Album of the Day

Like many early Atlantic albums, including his debut, Ray Charles' YES, INDEED! was a compilation of single sides. The 14 songs on the 1958 set span five years – from his second single for the label, “The Sun’s Gonna Shine Again,” to the then-recent title track – but have the consistent quality of Brother Ray in his prime. While the aforementioned songs are covers (as is a sensational version of “Lonely Avenue”), most of the material is original, and “Swanee River Rock (Talkin' 'bout That River)” and “Talkin' 'bout You” are among the Charles-penned standouts. Though the arrangements give the iconic singer and his piano plenty of elbow room, there's also plenty of additional talent on these sessions, including saxophonist David Newman and vocal groups The Cookies and The Raelettes. Ray Charles Plaza was established in hometown Albany, Georgia, on this day in 2007, and the exciting YES, INDEED! shows the honor was well-deserved.