Ray Charles: Rare Genius: The Undiscovered Masters (CD)

Rare Genius: The Undiscovered Masters

CD

CD (Compact Disc)

Herkömmliche CD, die mit allen CD-Playern und Computerlaufwerken, aber auch mit den meisten SACD- oder Multiplayern abspielbar ist.

Ray Charles: Rare Genius: The Undiscovered Masters, CD

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Label: Concord
Erscheinungstermin: 29.10.2010

Als Ray Charles im Juni 2004 starb, verlor die Musikwelt eine ihrer schillerndsten Persönlichkeiten. Einen genialen Künstler, der im Laufe seiner Karriere zahlreiche stilistische Grenzen überschritten hatte. Am 23. September wäre Ray Charles 80 Jahre alt geworden. Und Concord Records wird den Jubiläumstag mit einem ganz besonderen Geschenk für alle Fans des "Father of Soul" feiern: mit der Veröffentlichung des Albums "Rare Genius - The Undiscovered Masters", das zehn bislang unveröffentlichte, teils seit fast 4 Jahrzehnten in Archiven schlummernden Aufnahmen von Ray Charles enthält, darunter ein einzigartiges Duett mit Johnny Cash. Es handelt sich hier um eine besonders bewegende Interpretation von Kris Kristoffersons "Why Me, Lord?". Aufgenommen von Ray Charles und Johnny Cash 1981 in Nashville. Dass dieses Juwel fast dreißig Jahre lang im Regal einer Plattenfirma Staub ansetzte, ist geradezu skandalös.

Produzent dieser CD, ist Concords A&R-Vizepräsident John Burk, unter dessen Regie die Musiklegende 2004 bereits ihr letztes Album "Genius Loves Company" aufgenommen hatte. Das Album wurde ein Jahr später mit fünf Grammys ausgezeichnet.

Rezensionen

,,Als seltenen Fall eines Allround-Genis der populären Musik präsentiert diese Kollektion Ray Charles noch einmal sechs Jahre nach seinem Tod." (stereo, 01 / 2011)

,,Da hat mal jemand im Archiv gewühlt und Feines zu Tage gefördert: ,,The Undiscovered Masters" vom grandiosen, völlig zu Recht als,,Genius" bezeichneten Ray Charles. Ein postumer Meilenstein!" (Sono, 12 / 2010)

Product Information:

Concord Records is celebrating the 80th birthday of the legendary Ray Charles with a special gift for his legions of fans: Rare Genius: The Undiscovered Masters. This treasure trove of newly discovered recordings, highlighted by a duet with fellow icon Johnny Cash, will become available on October 26th, 2010.

Culled from four decades worth of demos and other previously unreleased material, Rare Genius showcases the remarkable artistic vision, stylistic range and emotionally rich vocals that crafted Charles enduring legacy. Listening to the ten gems from the '70s, '80s and '90s that comprise this CD, fans will have no trouble envisioning the late singer rocking back and forth at the piano as he effortlessly segues between R&B/soul, pop, country and gospel. "Ray would always get inside the meaning of a lyric and make the listener believe every word," says Concord Music Group Chief Creative Officer, John Burk. "His vocals carried incredible emotion and intensity, even on demo tapes. What we have here with Rare Genius is on par with some of his greatest works."

And that's crystal clear right from the album's sparkling opener, "Love's Gonna Bite You Back." The March 1980 session track features an upbeat horn arrangement behind what Rare Genius liner notes author Bill Dahl calls "a Charles vocal that's a signature mixture of sandpaper grit and heavenly goodness." Up next is the stunning ballad "It Hurts to Be in Love," which underscores the album's main thematic focus and one of Charles' favorite subjects: the ups and down of romance. Another compelling standout is the gospel-stirred Charles and Cash duet on Kris Kristofferson's "Why Me, Lord?" Discovered in the Sony vaults, the song was produced by Billy Sherrill in Nashville and recorded in 1981 for an anticipated release on a CBS album. For unknown reasons, that didn't come to pass. What's more important, however, is the emotional charge you get listening to these two powerful voices come together in this spirited and inspired pairing. Except for "Lord," the nine other Rare Genius tracks including the soul-drenched "I Don't Want No One But You," a blues-infused cover of songwriter Hank Cochran's country classic "A Little Bitty Tear" and the joyous "I'm Gonna Keep on Singin'" were found in the vault at Charles' R. P.M. International Studios in Los Angeles. Adding a little sweetening to some of the sparse, stripped-down tracks was a team of top-notch musicians and artists: guitarists Keb' Mo' and George Doering, organist Bobby Sparks, trumpeter Gray Grant, trombonist Alan Kaplan, bassists Trey Henry and Chuck Berghofer, drummers Gregg Field and Ray Brinker and background vocalist Eric Benet.

As with its Concord predecessor, 2004's Grammy-winning Album of the Year Genius Loves Company, Rare Genius: The Undiscovered Masters is another fitting tribute to Charles, who would have turned 80 on September 23, 2010. It's a fresh, vibrant reaffirmation of the music icon's unparalleled artistry and legacy.