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Tuesday, December 28, 2010

#20. The Genius of Ray Charles - Ray Charles (1959)

This album marked Ray Charles' breakout from rhythm and blues and into a broader musical arena. The first six songs featured big band arrangements by Quincy Jones, while the final six songs are ballads accompanied by a large string orchestra. Charles pays tribute to pioneering jazz musician Louis Jordan twice on this album ("Let the Good Times Roll" and "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying."

I actually enjoyed this album a lot more than I was expecting. I especially loved the ballads. Coincidentally, the song "Come Rain or Come Shine" was playing at the Starbucks when I went for my first morning latte today. I went back to my desk and it was the next song on the album. Spooky.

FAVORITE TRACKS: "Come Rain or Come Shine," "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" and "'Deed I Do"

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