Ray Charles

180 GRAM VINYL

INCLUDES 4 BONUS TRACKS

This edition presents the long unavailable LP The Genius Hits the Road (ABCS 335), originally released in 1960 by the ABC-Paramount label. The Genius Hits the Road is a concept album of sorts with a dozen songsdevoted to various parts of the U.S., and was a transitional record built upon the success of the landmark album The Genius of Ray Charles (Atlantic, 1959).

In addition to the original masterpiece, this collector’s edition contains 4 bonus tracks: three ABC-Paramount single sides from the same period and the all-time classic “Hit the Road Jack”.

PERSONNEL:

RAY CHARLES, vocals and piano, plus:

SIDE A (2, 3 & 5), and SIDE B (2, 3, 5 & 6):
Marcus Belgrave, John Hunt (tp), Hank Crawford (ass, bs),
Leroy Cooper (bs), David “Fathead” Newman (ts), Edgar Willis (b),
Milt Turner (d). Unknown 15 pieces string section.

Recorded in New York City, March 25, 1960.

SIDE A (1, 4, & 6), and SIDE B (1 & 4):
Same personnel as above but The Raelettes (backing vocals),
added on “Carry Me Back to Old Virginny” only, and strings omitted.
Recorded in New York City, March 29. 1960.

(*) BONUS TRACKS:

SIDE A (7 & 8), and SIDE B (7):
Ray Charles (voc, p), Martin Banks, John Hunt (tp),
Hank Crawford (as, bs), Leroy Cooper (bs), David “Fathead” Newman (ts),
Edgar Willis (b), Milt Turner (d), The Raelettes (backing vocals).
Recorded in New York City, April 27, 1960.

SIDE B (8):
Ray Charles (voc, p), David “Fathead” Newman (ts), Hank Crawford (as),
Leroy Cooper (bas), Phil Guilbeau, John Hunt (tp),
Frank Rosolino, Harry Betts, Kenny Shroyer, Dick Nash (tb),
Bruno Carr (perc), Edgar Willis (b), Mel Lewis (d),
The Raelettes feat. Margie Hendricks (backing vocals).
Recorded in Los Angeles, July 5, 1961.

SIDE A

01. ALABAMY BOUND
02. GEORGIA ON MY MIND
03. BASIN STREET BLUES
04. MISSISSIPPI MUD
05. MOONLIGHT IN VERMONT
06. NEW YORK’S MY HOME
07. I WONDER (*)
08. STICKS AND STONES (*)

SIDE B

01. CALIFORNIA, HERE I COME
02. MOON OVER MIAMI
03. DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS
04. CARRY ME BACK TO OLD VIRGINNY
05. BLUE HAWAII
06. CHATTANOOGA CHOO-CHOO
07. WORRIED LIFE BLUES (*)
08. HIT THE ROAD JACK (*)