Tunes
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November 17, 2014
Blame It On The Sun (Virtually With George Michael)
Read moreAlbum: Genius And Friends, Rhino/WEA, 20 September 2005. Ray Charles laid down most of the songs used for this album at his own studio, RPM International in Los Angeles, in 1997 and 1998. Post mortem, duet parts of these tunes were dubbed in by virtual duet partners. For more production details, follow the album link, above.
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November 17, 2014
Blowing The Blues Away (The Ray Charles Orchestra)
Read moreAlbum: Ray Charles – Live In Japan, Crossover 535, July 1976 (1975). ’68 LC Fresno’75 LC Japan – Released’75 LC Mexico The band in Japan: Bob Coassin, Johnny Coles, Jack Evans – trumpets; Steve Davis, Wally Huff, Ken Tussing – trombones; Ed Pratt, Clifford Solomon – alto saxophones; James Clay, Andy Ennis – tenor saxophones; […]
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November 17, 2014
Blue Funk (With Milt Jackson)
Read moreAlbum: Soul Brothers, Atlantic 1279, June 1958. Recorded on September 12, 1957, in New York. Milt Jackson – vibraharp; Ray Charles – piano; Skeeter Best – guitar; Oscar Pettiford – bass; Connie Kaye – drums.Two other takes remain unissued; see this (or was this just an edit in 2 parts?).
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November 17, 2014
Blue Genius (With Milt Jackson)
Read moreAlbum: Soul Meeting, Atlantic 1360, February 1961 (1957 – 1958). Taped in New York City on April 10, 1958. Milt Jackson – vibraharp; Ray Charles – piano; Kenny Burrell – guitar; Percy Heath – bass; Art Taylor – drums.
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November 17, 2014
Blue Hawaii
Read moreAlbum: Genius Hits the Road, ABC/Paramount 335, July 1960. Recorded at the Capitol Studios in New York on March 25, 1960. With the RayCharles Orchestra, strings and choir. Arranged by Ralph Burns, the liner notes said, but in reality, the tune was probably charted by Al Cohn. Live:Concert souvenir brochures from 1961 to 1963 longlisted the […]
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November 17, 2014
Blue Moon Of Kentucky
Read moreAlbum: Country And Western Meets Rhythm And Blues (aka Together Again), ABC/Paramount 520, August 1965. This was one of the four Ray Charles tunes that were labeled with the ‘swingova’ rhythm’-tag. The term had been invented by arranger Sid Feller, to emphasize their hybrid swing/bossa nova style. Recorded at RPM International, Los Angeles. The musicians were not […]
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November 17, 2014
Blue Stone (The Ray Charles Septet)
Read moreUnreleased. The Ray Charles ‘Septet’ had recorded this tune in October 1960 for Hank Crawford’s album Soul Clinic (Atlantic SD 1372, 1962).As a “Band Within The Band” they (John Hunt, Phil Guilbeau, Hank Crawford, David Fathead Newman, Leroy Cooper, Edgar Willis, and only Bruno Carr replacing Milt Turner on drums) were taped live three times during the […]
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November 17, 2014
Blues (With Marian McPartland)
Read moreUnreleased. Played during the Piano Jazz episode on January 9, 1990, taped at the Manhattan Beach Studios in New York. You can listen to it here (the improvisation before Things Ain’t What They Used To Be).
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November 17, 2014
Blues Before Sunrise
Read moreSingle (A): Down Beat 178-A, 1949, b/w How Long Blues.Compilation album: The Way I Feel, Proper, 22 Oct 2007. Recorded in Los Angeles, in 1949. Maxim Trio: Ray Charles – voc, p; Gosady McKee and Mitchell ‘Tiny’ Webb – g; Ralph Hamilton – b.
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November 17, 2014
Blues For Big Scotia
Read moreSeveral performances have been issued on DVD (see below). Remarkably, The Genius never recorded this instrumental in the studio. Manufacturers of electric pianos must have loved him, though, for repeatedly demonstrating all possibilities of their gear in a live setting. Ray took Oscar Peterson’s composition, and – with his obvious consent – added an intro […]
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November 17, 2014
Blues For Nya Nya (The Ray Charles Orchestra)
Read moreUnreleased. The tune was penned by Gerald Wilson (for his pet cat). Only one live recording seems to have survived, performed at the Jazz à Juan festival in July 1985, taped for a radio broadcast. Live:’85 LC Antibes
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November 17, 2014
Blues In The Night
Read moreAlbum: Ain’t It So, Crossover/Atlantic 19251, September 1979. The Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer blues tune, raycharlesified at RPM International in Los Angeles with uncredited members of the Ray Charles Orchestra and session musicians.