CRAZY-HORSE Wrote:"NO COVER ART AVAILABLE!"
RAY CHARLES "superstar series-ray charles"
an el-cheapo compilation i picked up somewhere???
im not a big fan of Ray, in fact, i think as an artist he is overrated like Stevie Wonder!...
common denominator between them...both blind, i think they get a 'feel sorry for them' and 'oh,they must be good because theyre blind' vote!
and again...i think Rolling Stones are overrated also...but you cant deny all three have influenced countless other muso's over the decades,so they have a legacy that stands up!
back to the cd...
i only bought this one because it had the full six minute plus,full version of "what'd i say"...which does,IMO, stand up as one of the finest tracks ever released on the Atlantic R+B label.
that said though, its still hard to go past his version of "georgia on my mind"...his version of this is definitive IMO
with what ive posted above above about Ray(and i stand by it), there is not a bad song on this eleven track disc, its just like, yeh,so what, i heard better versions of those songs.
all up though, not a bad album, bits of r+b,jazz and blues tinged with little hints of country...so its pretty hard to knock a multi genre-jumping muso when he does a reasonable job.
and, i cant be bothered putting links up for this one,sorry!
Rather than a tedious point-by-point refutation of these outrageous statements, I'll point to the first line of this bio: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ray-charl.../biography << He brought Black and White folks together like no one before or since. If all he ever did was Modern Sounds in Country & Western Music, Vol. 1 & 2, he'd stand high atop the Pantheon. His blending of elements and songs from Gospel (especially the call-and response part) with easily-digestible arrangements of White songs was outstanding. Modern music would be much the lesser without him. How on Earth is that overrated? If anybody need further convincing, see this fine concert with Canada's outstanding Ork-for-hire, The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RorJO2G8jwQ
I am not against a revisionist look at artists (most deserve a second-look once the hubbub dies down) but Mr. Charles well deserves the respect and accolades bestowed on him. Please let us speak no more on this subject.
ADD: Chauvinist that I am, his version of this song brings tears every time; I don't expect folks from elsewhere to be similarly provoked: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qq4oti60XY
A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind--Dr. Johnson
What he said. Amen, Bro--JazzboCR
What he said. Amen, Bro--JazzboCR