The Genius of Ray Charles
Studio album by Ray Charles
Released 2009 [originally released in 1959]
Recorded 1959
Genre R&B
Length 37:47
Label Atlantic/Rhino
Producer Nesuhi Ertegun, Jerry Wexler
Ray Charles' initial foray into standards is a career highlight. For the first half, Charles' old friend Quincy Jones crafts hard-swinging big band arrangements that match Ray's band made up of musicians from the Ellington and Basie camps. Ralph Burns arranges the jazz-meets-string-orchestra second half, which features "Just for a Thrill" and "Come Rain or Come Shine."
The album showcased Charles' breakout from rhythm and blues and onto a broader musical stage. Atlantic Records gave him 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").
Professional Ratings:
allmusic 4.5/5 stars
Encyclopedia of Popular Music 5/5 stars
Rolling Stone 4.5/5 stars
Review by Scott Yanow of allmusic:
Some players from Ray Charles' big band are joined by many ringers from the Count Basie and Duke Ellington bands for the first half of this program, featuring Charles belting out six songs arranged by Quincy Jones. "Let the Good Times Roll" and "Deed I Do" are highlights, and there are solos by tenorman David "Fathead" Newman, trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, and (on "Two Years of Torture") tenor Paul Gonsalves. The remaining six numbers are ballads, with Charles backed by a string orchestra arranged by Ralph Burns (including "Come Rain or Come Shine" and "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin'"). Charles' voice is heard throughout in peak form, giving soul to even the veteran standards.
Review in Rolling Stone:
Charles spent the Fifties working hard to pioneer his own sound, fusing jazz, gospel and the blues into a new soul style that changed American music. But here he relaxes: Genius is easy - swinging pop, featuring big-band accompaniment. When he sings "Am I Blue?" the only answer is "Hell, yeah!"
LP track listing
Side One
1. "Let the Good Times Roll" (Sam Theard, Fleecie Moore) Ð 2:49
2. "It Had to Be You" (Gus Kahn, Isham Jones) Ð 2:41
3. "Alexander's Ragtime Band" (Irving Berlin) Ð 2:50
4. "Two Years of Torture" (Percy Mayfield, Charles Joseph Morris) Ð 3:22
5. "When Your Lover Has Gone" (Einar Aaron Swan) Ð 2:47
6. "'Deed I Do" (Walter Hirsch, Fred Rose) Ð 2:23
Side Two
7. "Just for a Thrill" (Lil Hardin Armstrong, Don Raye) Ð 3:21
8. "You Won't Let Me Go" (Bud Allen, Buddy Johnson) Ð 3:16
9. "Tell Me You'll Wait for Me" (Charles Brown, Oscar Moore) Ð 3:21
10. "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin'" (Joe Greene) Ð 3:42
11. "Am I Blue?" (Grant Clarke, Harry Akst) Ð 3:35
12. "Come Rain or Come Shine" (Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen) Ð 3:40
Personnel:
* Ray Charles - piano, vocals
* Clark Terry - trumpet
* Ernie Royal - trumpet
* Joe Newman - trumpet
* Snookie Young - trumpet
* Marcus Belgrave - trumpet
* John Hunt - trumpet
* Melba Liston - trombone
* Quentin Jackson - trombone
* Thomas Mitchell - trombone
* Al Gray - trombone
* Frank Wess - flute, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
* Marshall Royal - alto sax
* Paul Gonsalves - tenor sax (and solo on "Two Years of Torture")
* Zoot Sims - tenor sax (on "Let the Good Times Roll", "Alexander's Ragtime Band" and "'Deed I Do")
* Billy Mitchell - tenor sax (on "It had to be You", "Two Years of Torture" and "When Your Lover Has Gone")
* David "Fathead" Newman - tenor sax (and solos on "Let the Good Times Roll", "When Your Lover Has Gone", "'Deed I Do")
* Quincy Jones Ð arranger, conductor
* Allen Hanlon - guitar
* Wendell Marshall - bass
* Ted Sommer - drums
* Bob Brookmeyer - valve trombone
* Harry Lookofsky - concertmaster
* Unidentified - large woodwinds and strings section
* Ralph Burns - arranger