Ray!: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [SOUNDTRACK]

Ray Charles

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 19, 2004)
• Original Release Date: October 29, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Atlantic / Wea
• ASIN: B0002LE9HC
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (76 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,912 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > R&B > Classic R&B

Track Listings

1. Mess Around (Studio)

2. I Got A Woman

3. Hallelujah I Love Her So (Live)

4. Drown In My Own Tears

5. Night Time Is The Right Time (Studio)

6. Marianne (Studio)

7. Hard Times (Studio)

8. What'd I Say(Live)

9. Georgia On My Mind (Studio)

10. Hit The Road Jack (Studio)

11. Unchain My Heart (Studio)

12. I Can't Stop Loving You

13. Born To Lose (Studio)

14. Bye Bye Love (Studio)

15. You Don't Know Me (Live)

16. Let The Good Times Roll (Live)

17. Georgia On My Mind (Live)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Soul and R&B legend Ray Charles may not have lived to see the success of Hollywood's ultimate tribute to him, but director Taylor Hackford's biopic (featuring a landmark performance by Jamie Foxx as the musical legend) will further burnish his legacy as one of the cornerstones of contemporary American music. Though it stretches from 1953's ecstatic, proto-soul "Mess Around" to a sublime, bluesy live take of "Georgia on My Mind" recorded in Japan in the mid-'70s, this 17-track song-score can only be an inviting appetizer to the singer's epochal body of work. Charles's artistry may have virtually defined soul music, yet it also triumphed in genres as far afield as blues ("Nightime Is the Right Time") and country ("I Can't Stop Loving You," "Bye Bye Love") during the '60s, the impossibly rich era from which the bulk of this soundtrack is culled. Crucially, fully a third of the cuts here are live recordings--including electrifying 1965 performances of "What'd I Say," "You Don't Know Me," and "Hallelujah I Love Her So" hand-picked for the film by Charles himself--the forum in which the singer consistently operated on a whole other artistic plateau from mere mortals. -- Jerry McCulley

Product Description

This fall Universal Pictures and Walden Media will release the feature-length biopic Ray!, the never-before-told musical biographical drama of the late American legend Ray Charles. Featuring a remarkable performance from Jamie Foxx in the central role, Ray! follows the inspiring story of a one-of-a-kind genius. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Taylor Hackford (La Bamba, An Officer And A Gentleman), the film features Foxx’s uncanny lip-syncing to classic Ray Charles tracks (utilizing the artist's original master recordings). Ray! is an inspirational story about an amazing artist and human being, with Ray Charles music at the film's very core.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

101 of 104 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An essential CD to go with this film tribute to Brother Ray!, November 12, 2004

By	Matthew G. Sherwin (last seen screaming at Amazon customer service) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

Man, how Ray Charles could belt out a tune! He made it seem so easy; and the proof of that is on this CD. "Georgia On My Mind" is one of my favorite Ray Charles songs; this studio cut of Ray singing this is magnificent and very moving. No wonder it's Georgia's state song!

This CD starts out with the mischievous "Mess Around;" this song is so much fun you may replay it a few times before you even get to the rest of the CD! Hehehe! "I've Got A Woman" continues in this same way. There are some terrific live recordings here, too! Ray sings "Hallelujah I Love Her So," "What'd I Say," "You Don't Know Me," "Let The Good Times Roll," and "Georgia On My Mind" all live! I only wish I had been at one of these concerts; the electricity that so clearly is there in his performance would have blown my mind!

I especially liked the somewhat different arrangements on "You Don't Know Me" and "Let The Good Times Roll!" Very well done! The live recording of "Georgia On My Mind" is indeed very bluesy; a nice twist to a great song that is also here from a studio recording session Ray did.

Ray had a hand in the production of this film before he died; therefore this CD is also an excellent introduction or perhaps a single CD miniature compilation of some of his most famous songs. This is also a wonderful way for us all to remember the great Mr. Charles; since his performances here are dynamic, exciting, fresh and straight from the heart.

The CD comes with liner notes by Taylor Hackford. Hackford both directed and co-wrote the film "Ray."

In short, GET THIS CD! and help celebrate the life and art of the great Mr. Ray Charles! You won't regret this CD purchase! And while you're at it, why not see the movie, too? GRIN

76 of 78 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid compilation, November 1, 2004

By	Blues Bro "bluesbro" (Lakewood, Colorado USA) - See all my reviews

If you saw the movie, you know by now that Ray recorded for two record companies: Atlantic and ABC Paramaount. Usually, when you buy any 'greatest hits' compilation of Ray, is either from the Atlantic sides or the ABC sides, never both. But for this CD, you get great sides from both companies. Everything here is classic. maybe too many live tracks, but as a one CD compilation to get to know Ray Charles, you can hardly find a better one. If you saw the movie, you'll remember the scenes were these tracks were played. Highly recommended if you dont have any of the Ray Charles classic recordings of the 50's & 60's.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Entertainer of the Decades ~ Ray Charles", November 2, 2004

By	J. Lovins "Mr. Jim" (Missouri-USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Warner Music and Rhino Records presents "Ray", vintage Ray Charles from his story depicting seventeen songs that made us love this extraordinary human being ~ from the vaults of Atlantic and ABC-Paramount singles covering early '50s right up to the late '70s...classics from the git go, electrifying performances that will make the hair on the back of your neck stand on end.

Charles style is covered quite well with this collection of his long career...virtually every genre of music has its place on this compilation, he's so brilliant ~ every song here is a classic...there's nothing like listening to "MESS AROUND" [1953], from early on you knew his style would catch on..."I'VE GOT A WOMAN" [1954], "MARY ANN" [1956], "HARD TIMES (No One Knows Better Than I)" [1961], "HALLELUJAH I LOVE HER SO (Live)" [1965] and "WHAT'D I SAY (Live)" [1965], last five composed by the "Genius" himself, but you already knew that..."I CAN'T STOP LOVING YOU (Live)" [1976] and "BORN TO LOSE" [1962], are two of my favorite Country and Western tunes that Ray favored us with..."GEORGIA ON MY MIND", appears twice on the album, the 1960 studio recording and 1976 Live in Japan performance, both are truly legendary and a must have for your ever growing collection.

Was he a "Genius"...you be the judge and decide...he will be a tough act to follow encompassing an extremely broad recording career...some of the best music you'll ever hear...one of the most exceptional artists of the century ~ Ray Charles!

Total Time: 54:36 on 17 Tracks ~ Rhino Records 76540 ~ (10/19/2004)