Ray Charles cover

Ray Charles

Ray Charles

63 min · 19 tracks · blues

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Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

76 /100
Alpine
Higher than 98% of albums we've rated

This album showcases Ray Charles' unique blend of gospel and R&B, solidifying his distinctive sound and influence.

What we noticed

  • The album opens with a strong mid-tempo track and maintains a consistent groove throughout, with only a few slower ballads interspersed.
  • Several tracks feature prominent piano riffs that serve as both rhythmic and melodic anchors, creating a cohesive sound across the album.
  • The last three tracks gradually slow down in tempo, providing a reflective conclusion to the album's energetic start.
Composition 25% of the score
8/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
7/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
9/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
8/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. 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.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Mess Around 2:40
  • 2 Hallelujah I Love Her So 3:19
  • 3 What I’d Say 6:12
  • 4 Georgia on My Mind 7:29
  • 5 Hit the Road Jack 2:38
  • 6 Let the Good Times Roll 2:33
  • 7 Sitting on Top of the World (Now She’s Gone) 2:16
  • 8 Going Down Slow 2:40
  • 9 Ain’t That Fine 2:17
  • 10 C.C. Rider 2:41
  • 11 Eleanor Rigby 3:18
  • 12 You Are My Sunshine 3:27
  • 13 I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now 2:26
  • 14 Alone in the City 2:56
  • 15 Baby Won’t You Please Come Home 2:52
  • 16 Cryin’ Time 3:06
  • 17 Let’s Go Get Stoned 3:19
  • 18 I’m Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town 5:07
  • 19 What Have I Done 2:31

What to play next

The Collection
Listen next

The Collection
Ray Charles Collection - Vol. 1
Go back to

Ray Charles Collection - Vol. 1
Full Ray Charles discography Where to start with Ray Charles Artists like Ray Charles
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Reference: MusicBrainz