The Great Ray Charles cover

Released 69 years ago this August

The Great Ray Charles

Ray Charles · 1957

65 min · 14 tracks · country · jazz · R&B

A rich tapestry of blues, jazz, and gospel, infused with Ray Charles' signature soulful vocals.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • steady mid-tempo listening experience
  • soulful vocals for emotional depth
  • rich tapestry for intimate settings
  • for evening relaxation

Maybe skip if you want

  • seeking high-energy tracks
  • prefer short, standalone songs

Where this album fits

Career context
Released in 1957, 'The Great Ray Charles' marked a significant moment in Ray Charles’ career as his first album to be produced under the Atlantic Records label. This period was crucial for Charles, as he was transitioning from regional success to national prominence, establishing himself as a pioneering figure in soul music.
Stylistic neighbors
Sam Cooke· Otis Redding· Aretha Franklin

Tracklist

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

  • 1 Dawn Ray 5:04
  • 2 The Man I Love 4:28
  • 3 Music, Music, Music 2:57
  • 4 Black Coffee 5:33
  • 5 The Ray 4:00
  • 6 I Surrender Dear 5:08
  • 7 Hornful Soul 5:30
  • 8 Ain’t Misbehavin’ 5:42
  • 9 Joyride 4:40
  • 10 Sweet Sixteen Bars 4:07
  • 11 Doodlin’ 5:55
  • 12 There’s No You 4:48
  • 13 Undecided 3:40
  • 14 My Melancholy Baby 4:21

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata