The Best of Ray Charles: The Atlantic Years

Ray Charles

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The Early Peak of the Genius

The singles Ray Charles recorded for Atlantic Records beginning in 1955 are often described as the "birth" of soul. The pianist and vocalist was the first to refine up-tempo gospel, blues, and boogaloo into a highly combustible, era-defining sound—see his superheated "I Got a Woman," as galvanizing an experience as any in popular music. That's where Charles started. Over the next several years, he took the basic notion of soul much further: This collection covers soul in its toddler years ("Hallelujah, I Love Her So"), soul in its heady tumultuous adolescence ("Night Time Is the Right Time"), and soul as the expression of a wise man torn apart by his love for a woman ("Drown in My Own Tears").

Charles's singles have been endlessly repackaged, sometimes in shoddy and incomplete ways—even the three-disc Birth of Soul box has a few holes in it. This twenty-track single disc provides an excellent introductory lesson, focusing on the key charting hits and choice B sides (including "Greenbacks") of Charles's first phase. These outline his development from jump-blues shouter into the architect of undeniably propulsive, quint-essentially American music. To hear the Genius at absolute peak, check out the massive "What'd I Say," the tune that spread his brand of infectious, exultant musical enthusiasm all over the world.

This anthology was released after Rhino carefully remastered Charles's catalog for a comprehensive boxed set; sonically, it's a huge improvement over previous collections. The only gripe is that it doesn't include any of the jazz, big band, or studio orchestra recordings that dominated Charles's long-playing Atlantic albums. Those who find themselves in need of more Ray Charles music (and really, don't we all need more?) might seek out The Genius of Ray Charles (1959), his breakthrough with studio orchestra, which includes an authoritative "Come Rain or Come Shine"; then Genius + Soul = Jazz (1960), which finds Brother Ray fronting a big band. To fully appreciate Charles's formidable range, listen to all of these. But start here—these electrifying Atlantic singles remain Charles's most significant legacy.

Genre: R&B
Released: 1994, Rhino/Atlantic
Key Tracks: "What'd I Say," "Hallelujah, I Love Her So," "I Got a Woman," "Night Time Is the Right Time," "Sticks and Stones," "Drown in My Own Tears"
Catalog Choice: The Genius of Ray Charles; Genius + Soul = Jazz; Ray Charles and Betty Carter
Next Stop: Solomon Burke: Rock 'n' Soul
After That: Van Morrison: Too Late to Stop Now
Book Pages: 156–157