Raw Ray!
Carl Johnson | Detroit, MI United States | 01/06/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Ray Charles is being (or has been) lionized and rightfully so! This collection of Ray Charles recordings dates back to 1949 before his career took off. The first track is the one from 1949 and he sounds very much in sync with the blues occurring at the time (Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Willie Dixon). But with each track you can hear the man Metamorphosis beautifully as the Father of the Rhythm & Blues as the style became known in the late fifties through the sixties. The tracks start clean and simple. And Ray builds his prowess as an arranger, writer, producer and performer. The overall feel of the CD is RAW RAY, live in the studio AND on stage and I love it! A gazillion stars!"