What does Doing His Thing sound like?

A vibrant fusion of soul and blues, showcasing Ray Charles' signature vocal prowess over lively instrumentals. Rooted in country and jazz. Start with "The Same Thing That Can Make You Laugh (Can Make You Cry)".

Is Doing His Thing a good place to start with Ray Charles?

Yes, Doing His Thing is recommended as a starting point for new Ray Charles listeners. A vibrant fusion of soul and blues, showcasing Ray Charles' signature vocal prowess over lively instrumentals. By 1969, Ray Charles was an established figure in the music industry, riding high on the success of his previous albums. 'Doing His Thing' came as his first release after signing with ABC Records, marking a new chapter in his career that embraced a more diverse sound palette.

Who is Doing His Thing for?

Doing His Thing works well if you're into short bursts of lively energy, playful tunes for gatherings and wave-like emotional shifts.

How many songs are on Doing His Thing?

Doing His Thing has 10 tracks, running approximately 31 minutes.

Doing His Thing

Ray Charles · 1969

31 min · 10 tracks · blues

A vibrant fusion of soul and blues, showcasing Ray Charles' signature vocal prowess over lively instrumentals.

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Top tracks — play these first

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The Same Thing That Can Make You Laugh (Can Make You Cry) Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
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You Ought to Change Your Ways — This track exemplifies Charles' ability to blend bluesy storytelling with a catchy rhythm, making it a standout in the album's narrative arc.
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If It Wasn’t for Bad Luck — A poignant exploration of misfortune, this song showcases Charles’ emotive delivery and intricate piano work that captures the essence of his style.
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That Thing Called Love — This track highlights a smooth arrangement and heartfelt lyrics, embodying the rich emotional depth that characterizes much of Charles' work.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

50 /100

Foothills

Higher than 23% of albums we've rated

The album showcases solid songwriting and performance but lacks a strong cohesive flow.

What we noticed

The album features a consistent use of call-and-response vocals, with Ray Charles often echoing phrases sung by backing singers.
Several tracks incorporate prominent horn arrangements that punctuate the melodies and add depth to the sound.
The tempo varies significantly across the ten tracks, with some songs maintaining a slow blues feel while others shift to more upbeat rhythms.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

short bursts of lively energy
playful tunes for gatherings
wave-like emotional shifts
head-bobbing sing-alongs
late-night fun with friends

Maybe skip if you

slow, drawn-out listening experiences
deeply introspective mood seekers

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Deep Cut — A solid entry that showcases Ray's style but isn't widely recognized compared to others.
Themes: bluesy storytelling· misfortune reflections· soulful love exploration
Career context: By 1969, Ray Charles was an established figure in the music industry, riding high on the success of his previous albums. 'Doing His Thing' came as his first release after signing with ABC Records, marking a new chapter in his career that embraced a more diverse sound palette.
Stylistic neighbors: Sam Cooke· Otis Redding· Aretha Franklin