Ray Charles’ impact on soul music cannot be understated– he almost single-handedly paved the way for soul and blues to be commercially viable and that fact in and of itself has cemented his place as an American icon. His one-of-a-kind baritone vocal melodies and brilliant piano playing legitimately transformed the way soul music was delivered to the masses, and by fusing gospel, blues, jazz, and pop he transformed American music.
On The Genius of Ray Charles he takes somewhat of a more straightforward approach, combining big band arrangements with an easy-swinging pop sound. It may not be as highly regarded as 1962’s Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, but Charles’ ability to hit you like a gut-punch with his wonderful voice and storytelling capabilities is unparalleled. One listen to “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Cryin’” and you’ll know exactly what I mean.
Standout Songs: “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Cryin’”, “Let The Good Times Roll”, “Alexander’s Ragtime Band”, “When Your Lover Has Gone”
