The Genius of Ray Charles
| The Genius of Ray Charles | ||||
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| Studio album by Ray Charles | ||||
| Released | October 1959 | |||
| Recorded | May 6 and June 23, 1959 at 6 West Recording in New York City on Ampex 3 track. |
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| Genre | Swingin' pop,traditional pop,rhythm and blues | |||
| Length | 37:58 | |||
| Label | Atlantic | |||
| Producer | Nesuhi Ertegün, Jerry Wexler | |||
| Ray Charles chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   |
| Encyclopedia of Popular Music | |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
The Genius of Ray Charles is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Ray Charles, released in 1959 by Atlantic Records. The album eschewed the soul sound of his 1950s recordings, which fused jazz, gospel, and blues, for swinging pop with big band arrangements. It comprises a first half of big band songs and a second half of string-backed ballads.The Genius of Ray Charles sold less than 500,000 copies and charted at number 17 on the Billboard 200. "Let the Good Times Roll" and "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin'" were released as singles in 1959.
Genius marked the first time he worked within the setting of a traditional pop singer - he cut six songs with a studio big band and six with a string orchestra - and it was also his first full-length foray into the standards songbook.
The album showcased Charles' breakout from rhythm and blues and onto a broader musical stage. Atlantic Records gave him full support in production and arrangements. As originally presented, the A side of the album featured the Ray Charles band with David "Fathead" Newman supplemented by players from the Count Basie and Duke Ellington bands, and arrangements by Quincy Jones.
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