The music of the genius
Ray Charles
The latest
Ray Charles was commissioned to perform the theme song for the 1967 movie In The Heat Of The Night. The result was the first song on the soundtrack LP, and a single was released on ABC Records as well. But fans will need both discs, for they are two completely different versions of “In The Heat Of The Night”. The Movie In The Heat Of The Night The movie starred Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger. The film, a pissed-off and in-your-face exploration of race in America, won five... [read all]
Ray Charles and Ginie Line duet on the French-language "Ensemble" from 2002. It was released in France as a CD single and the duo performed it live on TV.
"A Bit Of Soul" is a Ray Charles tune recorded in 1955 and released in 1961. Split into two halves, it shows Ray's versatility with a unique arrangement.
"The Sun's Gonna Shine Again" finds Ray Charles in an unconvincingly hopeful mood. It was the A-side of an Atlantic single in 1953, his second-ever.
"Mississippi Mud" is a fun, jaunty singalong that Ray Charles covered on his first album for ABC Records, The Genius Hits The Road, in 1960.
Album of the day
Ray Charles released the album Come Live With Me in January 1974, his first non-jazz album in almost a year and a half. It featured one side of slow, orchestrated ballads, and one side of faster R&B numbers. Sid Feller arranged the songs on Side 1. The album was preceded by a teaser single, “Come Live With Me”, in October 1973. [1] Come Live With Me opens with the ballad “Till There Was You” from Meredith Wilson’s play The Music Man, and... [read all]
Song of the day
“What Have I Done” was one of the last songs Ray Charles ever performed with his friends Gossie McKee and Milton Garret before the trio split up in 1950. It was most likely recorded in 1950 in Los Angeles and released on a 78 with “See See Rider” on the other side (Swing Time 217), and was credited to the Ray Charles Trio. “What Have I Done” opens with Ray Charles’ lively, bluesy piano, hitting a motley collection of single notes, Ray’s skill and comfort... [read all]