Ray Charles

ONE OF THE VERY FEW INSTRUMENTAL ALBUMS BY RAY CHARLES, SHOWCASING HIM AS A JAZZ PIANIST!

INCLUDES 9 BONUS TRACKS

Thi release presents the complete original LP "The Great Ray Charles" (Atlantic 1259), which marks Charles’ first jazz album as well as his first purely instrumental release (devoted entirely to his piano playing). The set have been completed with all other existing songs from the three sessions that produced the LP.

As a further bonus, three more instrumental sides by Ray Charles have been added, this time soloing on organ with a big band conducted by Quincy Jones.

PERSONNEL:

RAY CHARLES, piano. Plus:

[3] & [9-11]: Oscar Pettiford (b), Joe Harris (d). New York, April 30, 1956.

[1], [6-7] & [12-14]: Joe Bridgewater [out on 13], John Hunt (tp),
David "Fathead" Newman (as, ts), Emmett Dennis (bar; out on 13),
Roosevelt Sheffield (b), William Peeples (d).
New York, November 20, 1956.

[2], [4-5] & [8]: Same personnel as 1, 6-7 & 12-14.
New York, November 26, 1956.

[1-8] originally issued as The Great Ray Charles (Atlantic 1259).

[9-17] BONUS TRACKS:

(9-14): From the same sessions but not included on the original LP.
(15-17): Ray Charles (organ), Phil Guilbeau, Thad Jones, Joe Newman, Clark Terry, Snooky Young (tp), Henry Coker, Urbie Green, Al Grey, Benny Powell (tb), Marshall Royal, Frank Wess (as), Frank Foster, Billy Mitchell (ts),
Charlie Fowlkes (bar), Freddie Green (g), Eddie Jones (b), Sonny Payne (d),
Quincy Jones, Ralph Burns (arr).
New York, December 26-27, 1960.

INCLUDES 12-PAGE BOOKLET

TRACKS:

01 THE RAY
02 MY MELANCHOLY BABY
03 BLACK COFFEE
04 THERE’S NO YOU
05 DOODLIN’
06 SWEET SIXTEEN BARS
07 I SURRENDER, DEAR
08 UNDECIDED
09 DAWN RAY
10 THE MAN I LOVE
11 MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC
12 HORNFUL SOUL
13 AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’
14 JOY RIDE
15 MOANIN’
16 STRIKE UP THE BAND
17 BIRTH OF THE BLUES

Total Time: 77:30