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Ray Charles - The Genius Hits the Road Audio CD

A fair review of the Ray Charles "The Genius Hits the Road" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Ray Charles reviews here, or go back to the Ray Charles tabs.

Ray Charles Band: Ray Charles
Title: The Genius Hits the Road
Rating:
Release Date: 1997-06-10
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Alabamy Bound 2: Georgia on My Mind 3: Basin Street Blues 4: Mississippi Mud 5: Moonlight in Vermont 6: New York's My Home 7: California, Here I Come 8: Moon over Miami 9: Deep in the Heart of Texas 10: Carry Me Back to Old Virginny - Ray Charles, The Raelettes, Raeletts 11: Blue Hawaii 12: Chattanooga Choo Choo 13: Sentimental Journey [*] 14: Hit the Road Jack [*] 15: Blue Moon of Kentucky (Swingova) [*] 16: Rainy Night in Georgia [*] 17: I'm Movin' On [*] 18: Swanee River Rock (Talkin' 'Bout That River) [*] 19: Lonely Avenue [*]

A Solid if Trite Ray Charles Record
Picture the pitch session. . "Ray, you've done country, you created a new genre by reworking gospel, now? It's time to do a bunch of forgettable tunes that HAPPEN to have place names in them!"

Of course, Ray could make "Happy Birthday" new and exciting, and there are some good moments here. But it is NOT the place to START your Ray collection.


Ray Charles at his dead level best.
Sooo. This CD/album is one I have had as a 33rpm vinyl record for many years--bought it new when it first came out. . . . . . , was tickled pink when I saw it in CD format. The songs are vintage Ray Charles and include the string/large orchestra that he made several albums w/ in the 70's. Brings these old tunes to life as really no one else could. .


Ray poised for Superstardom
This was his first after he split from Atlantic for ABC/Paramount. Thank Rhino for reissuing this overlooked album. People like to think that his ABC/Paramount period starts with MODERN SOUNDS, but you can see the "road" Ray's traveling with this album. Most of the orchestration is done with a lot of taste and not syrupy as might plague some later recordings. These cuts sound classic today and not dated -- well, except for the silliness over Deep in the Heart of Texas.

Enjoy this album for more than Ray's signature tune of Georgia on my Mind, Ray's solo on Moon over Miami, for example. The bonus cuts complete the experience. This album will help bridge those who only know Ray from his Atlantic years into the rest of his career - about a 40 year period!.


It sucks the soul right out of him
This is particularly evident when you hear the bonus tracks. The orchestrations and chorus present on all of the regular tracks intended to make him more palatable to a wider audience suck the soil right out of Ray Charles' performances. The bonus tracks are fabulous, but I'm sure you can find them on another Ray Charles album.


1959 REISSUE AND MORE
We're reminded what a great hit single, "Hit the Road Jack", was, an explosion of anger at the heat of a romantic conflict as the vocals scream and demand in two part melody. After awhile, Ray Charles starts sounding like a spokesperson for 'Travel in America' as each 19 songs on this CD speak of hittin' the road and visiting, not the musical road less travelled, but the swinging nightclubs and hot spots where Steve and Eydie Gormet may be the opening act. The first twelve songs are the original tracks from his 1959 album, "The Genius of Ray Charles", and the transfer to CD has left them sounding a little hollow like Charles is singing from another room. One suspects the vocals were sung over at the time this album was compiled. The Bonus Tracks are much better but hey! did I say something negative about this cool laid-back groovy album? You have to hear the half spoken/half vocal call and response of "New York's My Home", as Charles grinds his gravelly voice over his blues/pop piano and wins any argument against New York City. "Georgis On My Mind" is also here and a less grave "Rainy Night In Georgia", where Charles even hiccups over a drink in the fade out of the vocal tracks. Now that's casual.


You can see a complete list of all Ray Charles discography, or go back to the Ray Charles tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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