Pure Genius: Complete Atlantic Recordings 52-59 [Box set]

Ray Charles | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 20, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 8
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Atlantic
• ASIN: B000A7KL7U
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,147 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #68 in Music > R&B > Classic R&B

Track Listings

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Jamie Foxx's Oscar-winning turn as Ray Charles could only touch on the musical highlights of the American musical legend's career. But for those further intrigued by Charles' savory musical roots, this seven CD/one DVD anthology of Charles' epochal career at Atlantic Records (who purchased the fledgling star's contract from a small L.A. label for $2500) is the ultimate chronicle. While the singer's recorded output for the label was typically shuffled and jumbled across a series of contemporary albums and compilations, this set offers them up chronologically as originally recorded in NYC, New Orleans and elsewhere, a gambit that allows a clearer insight into the musician's artistic growth and burgeoning confidence as a performer in the bargain. Though focused on the `fervent r&b and soul sides he cut before crossing over into country and pop in the ‘60s, Charles' Atlantic tenure also includes insightful excursions into small jazz combo work that further underscored the range of his incomparable gifts.

The final CD in the set is a treasure trove of unreleased (mostly) solo performances that range from a lengthy 1953 rehearsal tape to a handful of hotel room-recorded arrangement demos for his 1959 Genius of Ray Charles collection. The set's DVD is another welcome bonus, containing the legend's complete performance at the 1960 Newport Jazz Festival (though he'd just left Atlantic, his repertoire and band for the show are rooted in the era), capped with the modern reminisces of Atlantic founder Ahmet Ertegun. Lavishly packaged in a box that replicates a ‘50's-era 45-player and featuring a hard-bound liner book that includes reprints of the original albums' liner notes, a comprehensive sessionography and an insightful new essay from noted r&b biographer David Ritz, the collection lives up to its billing at every level: Pure genius, indeed. --Jerry McCulley

Product Description

Ray Charles is an American legend beyond compare. A ten-time Grammy-winning superstar who almost single-handedly laid the groundwork for soul music, Charles proved his mastery with countless jazz, country, R&B, and pop masterpieces as well. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame the first year they gave the honors ('86), and his extraordinary career spanned seven decades. His remarkable life was celebrated in the 2004 biopic Ray-featuring Jamie Foxx's Oscar-winning performance as the artist-and now Ray Charles' musical genius is spotlighted in this comprehensive box of his seminal Atlantic Records era, 1952-1959. As preeminent music writer David Ritz notes inside, "These are the historic years of his creative explosion, the time when he reinvented himself as a musical revolutionary. These records will live forever."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tight and Right, December 8, 2005

By 

mistersnappy (Tx) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pure Genius: Complete Atlantic Recordings 52-59 (Audio CD)

Wow. All of Ray's work on Atlantic collected in one place. I was wondering why there was little of this music available last year during the hoopla over the movie "RAY" and I think they were depriving the public of some great music by saving it for a boxed set that is very expensive. But, that is a complaint about Rhino/Atlantic, not Ray Charles or the music contained herein. That said, this music ranks with the Charlie Parker sides from '45-48, late 30's Basie, classic Ellington, Aretha on Atlantic, etc. There is no doubt that it deserves all of the accolades and AT LEAST five stars. I won't analyze all of it but, rather, point out some favorite moments.
Most important is the addition of a DVD of the 1960 Newport Jazz Festival appearance by the Ray Charles Orchestra and Raelettes. For some of us, this is the Holy Grail. You see, any additional music from that particular period and group of musicians is invaluable, especially footage. In this band you have David "Fathead" Newman, one of the finest exponents of the Texas Tenor, and Hank Crawford on alto crying the blues, both at the beginning of long solo careers at Atlantic. In fact, if you like the way this band sounds, find Crawford's first four solo records as they have this band minus Ray but with incredible stripped-down moaning blues and standards arrangements. In addition, on this DVD there is the foghorn baritone sax of Leroy "Hog" Cooper, the surprisingly bluesy John Hunt on trumpet sounding like a combination of Clark Terry and Lee Morgan and the supremely lyrical Phil Guilbeau on flugelhorn. This is THE classic Ray Charles group. Many times I wished I could hear more and see them. Finally. Ray, of course, is Ray: confident, relaxed and at his most soulful. This is an important period because they have not yet left the chitlin circuit for world tours, a big band and Vegas. They may have headed for a honky tonk right after this gig, who knows?
They are tasting real success for the first time and are still hungry. They are tight and right. Analogies? A championship-caliber baseball or basketball team on the rise, taking on all comers, knowing they've got a shot at the Ring.
Other high points in this boxed set include Ray's dirty alto solo during How Long Blues with Milt Jackson, the proto-Rap of It Should Have Been Me, the extremely drawn-out, moaning version of Drown In My Own Tears from the Atlanta concert in '59, Rockhouse Parts 1 & 2, the Quincy Jones and Ernie Wilkins-voiced arrangements from "The Great Ray Charles" album, etc. So many. Long Live Ray and the Orchestra.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Music, reasonable price, stupid people!!, April 9, 2006

By 

Robert Hildebrand "rshildebrand" (Salt Lake City, UT, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pure Genius: Complete Atlantic Recordings 52-59 (Audio CD)

This set is great as far as it goes. All of the material is typical RC: wonderful. I was surprised that there weren't more out takes, however. If you have any of the other Atlantic sets there's a fair bit of overlap. (added June 5, 2006: I've since learned that pretty near all the older Atlantic material, including alternate takes, was destroyed by a fire where the material was being stored, which explains the lack of out takes and alternate material.) This set, along with the Rhino Ray Charles country music set makes a pretty darn good overview of Ray's spectacular career.
I was really shocked that so many people don't bother to read the label on the eighth disc, which clearly is marked DVD | Video. Naturally, it won't play on CD players.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A new standard in music box sets, March 19, 2008

By 

Allan Tong (Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pure Genius: Complete Atlantic Recordings 52-59 (Audio CD)

Rhino exhausted the Atlantic vaults of its Ray Charles catalogue, added a smart hardcover book, threw in an obscure concert on DVD and packaged everything in a magnificent carry case that resembles a vintage 45-record player. The result is the ultimate tribute to one of the giants of modern music, and raises the bar in box sets.

I don't see how anyone can improve on PURE GENIUS. The 6 CDs (each averaging 78 minutes) of Ray's released music are a sheer pleasure to listen to over and over. Credit Ray but also the sequencing.

Instead of arranging the tracks by album release date (i.e. The Velvet Underground and Cream boxes), Rhino gambles by sequencing according to *recording* date. Remember that until 1967's Sgt. Pepper, pop albums were hodge-podges of songs gathered from various sessions. With Ray's albums, songs spanned entire years. Rhino's approach allows the listener to enjoy each phase of Ray's recording career, from his soul breakthrough on disc one to the big band of disc six.

Another consideration is that Ray recorded in so many genres at once: gospel-tinged soul one week, straight jazz the next and back. Rhino's sequencing highlights Ray's versatility and virtuosity, which you cannot find on any other compilation and certainly not a greatest hits package which compiles only songs. I was expecting soul vocals with the Raelettes, but was blown away by Ray's instrumental jazz, which his big hits have unjustly overshadowed.

Disc seven--of outtakes and sessions (a fire destroyed all other session tapes)--provides a glimpse of an early recording session as well as part of a later one. The disc demonstrates Ray's growing confidence in the studio. However, this disc is for Ray's hardcore fans rather than casual listeners. And for the hardcore, it's a gem.

Another bonus is disc 8: the DVD of Ray's ultra-rare 1960 concert at the Newport Jazz Festival. It's a stationery camera shooting grainy black-and-white footage, but Ray's performance is assured through nine numbers. A 20-minute interview by Taylor Hackford of Ahmet Ertegun (who signed Ray to Atlantic) is another gem.

Liner notes in the hardcover book avoid empty hype and offer insight into Ray's brilliant career at Atlantic (written by biographer David Ritz). A detailed discography is another plus.

Now, what can I say about the packaging? I own several box sets and this one takes the prize for originality. It resembles a 45-turntable. Lift the "turntable" and the book and discs rest beneath. And the handle makes it portable.

A caveat: this box ain't cheap, and it's intended for hardcore Ray fans. More casual admirers should pick up the 3-CD BIRTH OF SOUL or a greatest hits package, but those don't include Ray's magnificent jazz sides.

Obviously, PURE GENIUS was a labour of love by the folks at Rhino. Some box sets are a formulaic mix of greatest hits, a few unreleased tracks, and some live tracks. This goes one further: it places the artist's music in its proper context which makes you appreciate his overall career even more.

If you find this box, get it. I did and it's worth every penny I paid and then some. I love PURE GENIUS.