Best Ray Charles..?
 

We have been listening to Ray Charles a lot lately and I have am interested in picking up one some of his material.

(1) What is the best all around album to pick up? Studio, live, best of, anything..

(2) I heard he done a cover of "Am I Blue?" a song I love, what album is that on?

Answer to question one:

http://www.mirror.org/madrigal/pjrc1.jpg

Answer to question two:

http://www.raycharles.com/discs/images/genius.jpg

If you can track them down, get his Greatest Hits vol. 1&2 on DCC/Sandstone. Remastered by Steve Hoffman and Ray Charles from the original master tapes, at Ray's studio, in the dark. (!)
Even better is the 2-disc set Uh Huh! which was remastered using tube equipment (GH1&2 were done on solid state) and omits 2 songs from the GH1&2 but adds What'd I Say parts 1 & 2.

I completely agree with the above. I actually own GH 1 and 2. If you are are interested in the Anthology mentioned by Fielding, I have a very nice copy I would let go cheap. Let me know if you are interested.

Man, how hot is Baby Don't You Cry? I just about lost my shit, first time I heard it. :up:
Apparently, he got the "swingova" rhythm for that song by taking a bossa beat and playing it backwards. :eek:

Genius + Soul, indeed.

Actually, whaat, those are the two CD's I own that cover Ray's ABC recording years. I just figured - considering I picked them both up back in 1988 - that they were both long out of print. They sound great, even today. That said, if you were to actually find these, you probably have to pick up an Atlantic Records greatest hits package to round out his career.

Personally, I'd recommend the 3-disc "Genius + Soul" box set for just that.