Genius: The Ultimate Collection [PA]

Performer: Ray Charles
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: There's no shortage of Ray Charles greatest-hits compilations (especially since his death in 2004 and the release of the biopic RAY), but GENIUS: THE ULTIMATE RAY CHARLES COLLECTION, released in 2009, is a cut above most. Packaged in an elegant digipak and accompanied by a 24-page booklet packed with notes and photos, GENIUS brings together 21 of Charles's finest moments, including "Hit the Road Jack," "What'd I Say," "Georgia On My Mind." The set features the original recordings remastered for sparkling sound, and as for the performances: the first word of the collection's title says it all. Concord's 2009 compilation Genius: The Ultimate Collection is merely one in a long line of Ray Charles hits packages -- not to mention merely one in a long line of releases that have either the word "Genius" or "Ultimate" in their titles -- and "Ultimate" may be too strong a word for a collection that has only 21 tracks, but it nevertheless does function as an excellent sampler of Ray's iconic hits of the '50s and '60s. This samples his Atlantic and ABC recordings relatively equally, ever so slightly favoring the latter. While some of his rawest early R&B will be missed by those who care about such things, those who lodge a complaint already know and have that music in their collections. This is an introduction and sampler for those who don't know Ray Charles' prime, or only need him at his very best, a side that this compilation presents cleanly and efficiently. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Dirty Linen (p.64) - "[It's] just the chart-topping songs in pop, soul, gospel, blues, country, and R&B that gave Charles his legendary status as the consummate performer and one of the most diverse singers of his generation." Living Blues (pp.60-61) - "It's the most comprehensive Charles retrospective ever assembled on a single disc. four hits from his groundbreaking days at Atlantic -- 'What'd I Say,' 'Drown In My Own Tears,' 'I've Got A Woman,' and 'A Fool For You' -- are included." Blender (Magazine) (p.65) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[I]t's a solid selection....His voice leaped out with anarchic savvy. He made every song soulful."

There are few musicians in modern pop music who can truly be called "genius," but in the case of Ray Charles, the term applies. His innovative singing, drawing on both gospel and pop, has inspired legions of great singers. With a long, prolific recording career that began in 1949, Charles became perhaps the finest interpreter of pop music in the postwar years. A gifted pianist, songwriter, and vocalist, he was a master of every style he attempted, be it R&B, country, blues, or soul. The man who wrote such indelible R&B classics as "I Got a Woman" and "What'd I Say" passed away in 2004, a legend several times over. The same year, a remarkable performance by Jamie Foxx in the biopic RAY served as a fitting cinematic eulogy.

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