Music is a multi-faceted universe and Ray Charles made a major contribution to changing its boundaries, bringing different kinds of material into play in order to express their full emotional impact. It takes a rare kind of energy and sensitivity to succeed in combining elements of jazz, blues and country music, trustingly and with no false pretenses, simply using your sense of soul. Tainted at first by tragedy and drama, the path Ray Charles took through life demonstrated his unwavering energy and determination. In spite of his success, he never forgot where he came from nor who he was. This shy and discreet man enthusiastically let himself go on stage, revealing a rare ability to really get something across to the audience, which made him one of the most impressive showmen of his time.

This boxed set presents the first chapter in the long story of Ray Charles' career as an artist, from the 1948 Down Beat 78s through to the 1959 album The Genius of Ray Charles, his last for Atlantic before signing to ABC. The 13x13cm box contains the seven CDs in individual slipcases plus a 60 page booklet (Eng/Fr) with authoritative notes. (amazon.com)

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Ray Charles - The Complete Swing Time & Atlantic Recordings 1948-1959
(7CD Le Chant du Monde 2012)


      1. I love you, I love you
      2. Confession blues
      3. Alone in this city
      4. Can anyone ask for more?
      5. Let's have a ball
      6. Rockin' chair blues
      7. If I give you my love
      8. Can't you see darling?
      9. This love of mine
     10. How long blues
     11. Blues before sunrise
     12. A sentimental blues
     13. You'll never miss the water
     14. Ain't that fine
     15. Don't pull all your dreams in one basket
     16. Sitting on the top of the world
     17. I've had my fun
     18. See see rider
     19. What have I done?
     20. Honey, honey
     21. She's on the ball
     22. Walking & talking
     23. Wondering & wondering
     24. Why did you go?
     25. Let me hear you call my name
     26. Guitar blues
     27. Roly poly
     28. Th' ego song
     29. Late in the evening blues
     30. Someday
     31. I'll do anything for you but work
     32. I wonder who's kissing her now?
     33. All to myself
     34. Lonely boy
     35. Baby let me hold your hand
     36. Ray's blues
     37. I'm glad for your sake
     38. Baby won't you please come home
     39. Kissa me baby
     40. Hey now
     41. The snow is falling
     42. Misery in my heart
     43. The sun's gonna shine again
     44. Roll with me baby
     45. The midnight hour
     46. Jumpin' in the mornin'
     47. Someday baby
     48. Low society
     49. It should have been me
     50. Losing hand
     51. Heartbreaker
     52. Sinner's prayer
     53. Mess around
     54. Funny
     55. Feelin' sad
     56. Wonder who
     57. The things that I used to do
     58. Well, I done got over it
     59. Don't you know
     60. Nobody cares
     61. Ray's blues
     62. Mr Charles blues
     63. Blackjack
     64. I got a woman
     65. Greenbacks
     66. Come back baby
     67. A fool for you
     68. This little girl of mine
     69. Hard times
     70. A bit of soul
     71. Mary Ann
     72. Drown in my own tears
     73. Hallelujah I love her so
     74. What would I do without you
     75. Dawn Ray
     76. The man I love
     77. Music, music, music
     78. Black coffee
     79. Lonely Avenue
     80. I want to know
     81. Leave my woman alone
     82. The ray
     83. I surrender dear
     84. Hornful soul
     85. Ain't misbehavin'
     86. Joy ride
     87. Sweet sixteen bars
     88. Doodlin'
     89. There's no you
     90. Undecided
     91. My melancholy baby
     92. It's all right
     93. Ain't that love
     94. Rockhouse parts 1 & 2
     95. Get on the right track baby
     96. That's enough
     97. I want a little girl
     98. Swanee river rock
     99. Talkin' 'bout you
    100. What kind of man are you
    101. How long blues
    102. Cosmic Ray
    103. Deed I do
    104. Blue funk
    105. Soul brothers
    106. Bag's guitar blues
    107. Bags of blues
    108. Charlesville
    109. The genius after hours
    110. Yes indeed!
    111. I had a dream
    112. You be my baby
    113. Tell all the world about you
    114. My Bonnie
    115. Soul meeting
    116. Hallelujah I love her so
    117. Blue genius
    118. Love on my mind
    119. X-ray blues
    120. Early in the mornin'
    121. The right time
    122. Carrying that load
    123. Tell me how do you feel
    124. Fathead
    125. Tin tin deo
    126. Bill for Bennie
    127. Hard times
    128. Mean to me
    129. Sweet eyes
    130. Weird beard
    131. Willow weep for me
    132. What'd I say parts 1 & 2
    133. What'd I say parts 1 & 2
    134. Tell the truth
    135. Tell me you'll wait for me
    136. Come rain or come shine
    137. Don't let the sun catch you cryin'
    138. Just for a thrill
    139. You won't let me go
    140. Am I blue
    141. Let the good times roll
    142. Alexander's Ragtime Band
    143. Deed I do
    144. When your lover has gone
    145. Two years of torture
    146. It had to be you
    147. I'm movin' on
    148. I believe to my soul
    149. The story of my life
    150. Letter to my girl friend