Customer Reviews

A Portrait of Ray

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This is an album from ABC Records, originally issued in 1969, object of high desire by sensitive audiences who have treasured its vinyl through all those years. Curiously, this is not one of the most celebrated Charles' albums - I simply don't know why.

Strong personality, distinct registered mark - that's what Mr. Ray Charles has always represented to the American Song and this album shows it in all its extent and splendor, mainly in those cover tracks on well known standards like `Am I Blue' and Jerome Kern's `Yesterdays'.

A brilliantly soulful rendition of Beatles' `Eleanor Rigby' closes the original vinyl album, though CD tracks go on with some interesting bonusses, including Mr. Charles' rendition of `In The Heat of The Night', the Quincy Jones composition for the self-titled film, a rare and long time out of issue soundtrack.

Best of all for me is the second track, a sensational, deep emotional rendition of a French song `Il Est Mort Le Soleil', a long time tour-de-force for singer Nicoletta in France with original lyrics by the late Pierre Delanoé. Mr Charles sings it in its English version and it's pure fire.

One may find this CD somewhat expensive - it is an imported item from France. Quite worth the price.

It is surely one of Ray's best albums, but it's a shame it didn't get a proper remastering. Its EQ is very poor compared to the vinyl version from 1969, also a shame it's sold for downloading at 10$ with such a lo-fi sound...