Ray Charles (View Discography)

Release Info

This double-disc set collects four of Ray Charles' early LPs for Atlantic Records, the all instrumental The Great Ray Charles from 1957, The Genius of Ray Charles from 1959, Ray Charles at Newport from 1959 (the performance was actually from July 1958), and Ray Charles in Person from 1960 (drawn from a performance at Herndon Stadium in Atlanta in May 1959). Charles' first recording sessions from the late '40s and very early '50s show an artist heavily influenced by Nat King Cole and Charles Brown and working in a pronounced pop direction. Charles recorded for several small West Coast labels during this time, but most notably for Jack Lauderdale's Swing Time Records. It wasn't until Lauderdale sold Charles' contract to Atlantic Records (for a mere $2,000) in 1952 that Charles began the legendary fusion of R&B and gospel that led to hits like "What'd I Say" and "I Got a Woman" that single-handedly created what became known as soul. These four LPs show Charles hitting his stride and creating his signature synthesis that made him one of the most important and influential figures in pop and soul music history. ~ Steve Leggett

Tracks

1. The Ray
2. My Melancholy Baby
3. Black Coffee
4. There's No You
5. Doodlin'
6. Sweet Sixteen Bars
7. I Surrender Dear
8. Undecided
9. Let the Good Times Roll
10. It Had to Be You
11. Alexander's Ragtime Band
12. Two Years of Torture
13. When Your Lover Has Gone
14. Deed I Do
15. Just for a Thrill
16. You Won't Let Me Go
17. Tell Me You'll Wait for Me
18. Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying
19. Am I Blue
20. Come Rain or Come Shine

1. Night Time Is the Right Time (Live at the Newport Jazz Festival, July 5th, 1958)
2. In a Little Spanish Town (Live at the Newport Jazz Festival, July 5th, 1958)
3. I Got a Woman
4. Blues Waltz (Live at the Newport Jazz Festival, July 5th, 1958)
5. Hot Rod (Live at the Newport Jazz Festival, July 5th, 1958)
6. Talkin' About You (Live at the Newport Jazz Festival, July 5th, 1958)
7. Sherry (Live at the Newport Jazz Festival, July 5th, 1958)
8. A Fool for You (Live at the Newport Jazz Festival, July 5th, 1958)
9. Introduction (Live at the Herndon Stadium, Atlanta Georgia, May 28th, 1959)
10. The Right Time (Live at the Herndon Stadium, Atlanta Georgia, May 28th, 1959)
11. What’d I Say
12. Yes Indeed! (Live at the Herndon Stadium, Atlanta Georgia, May 28th, 1959)
13. The Spirit Feel (Live at the Herndon Stadium, Atlanta Georgia, May 28th, 1959)
14. Frenesi (Live at the Herndon Stadium, Atlanta Georgia, May 28th, 1959)
15. Drown in My Own Tears (Live at the Herndon Stadium, Atlanta Georgia, May 28th, 1959)
16. Tell the Truth (Live at the Herndon Stadium, Atlanta Georgia, May 28th, 1959)