Tracks: 1) Let The Good Times Roll; 2) It Had To Be You; 3) Alexander’s Ragtime Band; 4) Two Years Of Torture; 5) When Your Lover Has Gone; 6) Deed I Do; 7) Just For A Thrill; 8) You Won’t Let Me Go; 9) Tell Me You’ll Wait For Me; 10) Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin’; 11) Am I Blue; 12) Come Rain Or Come Shine.
Ah, George’s good taste filter is never wrong! Right on the money with this review: I’ve always found this one underwhelming. I think Let The Good Times Roll is a good song (though I value it much more for the vocal performance), and you’re definitely right about pointing out how songs like Just A Thrill have a tinge of world weariness, but besides that, it just seems like Ray is covering the music he likes rather than doing what he does best. Indeed, this was the first sign of the many lapses in taste and quality that would follow his Atlantic era. Somehow there was an spirit that watched over everything he did at Atlantic that prevent it from ever becoming too generic, but that spirit definitely went for a drink when he was recording this one. Though, I dunno if Modern Sounds is really all that much better, having very similar defects. Anyways, always looking forward to your new reviews!
Ah, George’s good taste filter is never wrong! Right on the money with this review: I’ve always found this one underwhelming. I think Let The Good Times Roll is a good song (though I value it much more for the vocal performance), and you’re definitely right about pointing out how songs like Just A Thrill have a tinge of world weariness, but besides that, it just seems like Ray is covering the music he likes rather than doing what he does best. Indeed, this was the first sign of the many lapses in taste and quality that would follow his Atlantic era. Somehow there was an spirit that watched over everything he did at Atlantic that prevent it from ever becoming too generic, but that spirit definitely went for a drink when he was recording this one. Though, I dunno if Modern Sounds is really all that much better, having very similar defects. Anyways, always looking forward to your new reviews!
<<The Genius Of Ray Charles was a pretty controversial record — the equivalent of Metallica’s Black Album for its time, if you wish>>
Trying to visualize Ray doing Enter Sandman or Hetfield singing What'd I Say. Maybe a mashup? Mess Around with Puppets?
Ugh...time for me to hit tbe road Jack...