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Ray Charles
Ray: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
(Rhino)
Ray Charles
More Music from Ray
(Rhino)
First Appeared in The Music Box, February 2005, Volume 12, #2
Written by John Metzger
Ray Charles might not have lived long enough to see the resurrection of his
legacy come to fruition, but unlike many, he at least had a hand in shaping his
own re-emergence, which undoubtedly explains the gracefulness with which it has
been achieved. Rather than its being centered around a half-baked marketing
campaign concocted via a series of board room meetings and carried out through
an endless stream of television commercials hocking everything from cars to
beer, Charles’ long overdue return has been constructed around the music that he
made in his prime. It’s this notion that is the driving force behind the
blockbuster biopic Ray. It’s not surprising, then, that the pair of
compilations that were culled from and expand upon the movie’s soundtrack (Ray:
Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and More Music from Ray) fuse
together the most essential selections from Charles’ career, thereby offering
spectacular glimpses at one of soul music’s greatest architects. Indeed, the
bulk of the material emphasizes his legendary recordings during the ’50s and
’60s, and throughout the collections’ combined 34 tracks, he effortlessly
dabbles in jazz, blues, pop, gospel, country, and rock, filling each with his
inimitable style. Even early forays, such as the spirited boogie of 1953’s
Mess Around or the brassy blues of the subsequent year’s I’ve Got a Woman,
feature a fiery passion that is irresistible. Good as the studio selections are
— and there are plenty of highlights, including Unchain My Heart’s
swinging groove, I Believe to My Soul’s anguished cry, the smoldering Losing Hand, the lively Leave My Woman Alone, the animated retooling
of Bye Bye, Love, the slow-burning sorrow of Hard Times (No One Knows
Better than I), the majesty of America the Beautiful, and the
spirited fervor of Hit the Road Jack — it’s on the concert cuts (Hallelujah,
I Love Her So, What’d I Say, Makin’ Whoopee, I Can’t Stop
Loving You, You Don’t Know Me, Let the Good Times Roll, and Georgia on My Mind) where Charles’ genius truly shines. Granted, neither Ray: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack nor More Music from Ray are
perfect, and neither is complete. Their overall flow is sometimes questionable,
and the latter is marred by a trio of 2003 selections that were recorded
specifically for the film: Drown in My Own Tears/You Don’t Know Me
contains bits of interfering dialogue; a collaboration between Charles and Guns
N’ Roses Slash (Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand) is interesting, but ends far
too abruptly; and Every Day I Have the Blues interrupts the brilliance of
the set for a cover song that is sung by contemporary artist Chris Thomas King.
Yet, almost in spite of these puzzling missteps, these compilations serve as a
pair of pristine greatest hits endeavors that likely could continue for several
more engaging volumes.
Ray: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack — 
More Music from Ray —
Ray: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is available
from Amazon.com. To order, Click Here!
For Canadian orders, please Click Here!
For UK orders, please
Click Here!
More Music from Ray is available
from Amazon.com. To order, Click Here!
For Canadian orders, please Click Here!
For UK orders, please
Click Here!
48th Annual Grammy Award Winner:
Best Compilation Soundtrack Album
Ray: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
48th Annual Grammy Award Winner:
Best Score Soundtrack Album
Ray: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 2005
The Music Box
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