Ray Charles renewed
Ray Charles
Genius: The Ultimate Collection
(Concord)
It’s possible you’re still dizzy. After all, the Backstreet Boys sang the National Anthem at the 2001 Super Bowl in Tampa and we’re still replenishing our sperm count. But apparently some little-known gospel/soul singer rendered “America, The Beautiful,” and if you’ve ever sought to complete your Backstreet shrine, this might be the nugget that does it.
After the film Ray, which deposited two exhaustive soundtracks, you’re forgiven for wondering “What is Concord thinking?” Well, this is a recession and the surest bets are the ones being played. This 21-track compilation offers nothing even the most catatonic Charles fan won’t have. It’s a mystery. It’s stacked (“What’d I Say,” “Georgia On My Mind,” “Unchain My Heart”), but perhaps exceptional for the songs it lacks: “Mess Around,” “The Night Time.” Nor does it have Britney Spears helping Aerosmith with “Walk This Way.”
— Steve Forstneger
This is the post-1960 ABC-Paramount stuff, no less classic than the Atlantic stuff.