Ray Charles' seminal recordings for Atlantic have been boxed once before, as the triple-disc 1991 set The Birth of Soul. That box contained 53 tracks, the best moments of what is arguably the best period of Charles' career, but Rhino/Atlantic's 2005 seven-disc sequel, Pure Genius, doesn't bother with merely the highlights: as its subtitle makes clear, this is The Complete Atlantic Recordings (1952-1959).
This is undeniably a major historical release, since it gathers all of the recordings Charles made at his creative peak, not just as a leader, but as a sideman for his saxophonist David "Fathead" Newman and sides he recorded with jazz vibraphonist Milt Jackson. Also, it's not limited to studio recordings -- live sessions, later issued on the LPs Ray Charles in Person and Ray Charles at Newport, are here too. Despite the abundance of music here, there's not much that hasn't seen the light of day before. It may not seem that way at first glance, since the seventh disc contains nothing but unreleased material, but the great majority of that is devoted to a full-length rehearsal session with producer Ahmet Ertegun from 1953 -- something that is interesting to hear once, since it does give some insights into Ertegun and Charles' working relationship and how Ray acted in the studio, but even then, it's not exactly revelatory. So, apart from that rehearsal, outtakes of "(Night Time Is) The Right Time" and "Tell Me How Do You Feel" and an excellent DVD of Ray live at Newport from 1960, Pure Genius is devoted to material that has been reissued extensively during the CD era -- which is another way of saying that most fans will have this music already. Still, presented here in chronological order according to recording sessions, it's hard not to marvel at Charles' development as an artist and be astonished by his range. That is what makes this set worthwhile as something more than a library piece -- listening to the first six discs from beginning to end reveals exactly how restless and creative Ray was during this period. Most listeners will be satisfied by more concise collections of this period -- and even those who truly love the hard R&B and soul of Charles' Atlantic hits will likely find The Birth of Soul a more satisfying box, since it is devoted to that sound, whereas the rest of the music here that's not on the 1991 box is largely devoted to jazz sides and live performances -- but any serious fan or historian of American music will find this set essential.
CD ONE
01 - The Sun's Gonna Shine Again [02:38]
02 - Roll With My Baby [02:37]
03 - The Midnight Hour [03:02]
04 - Jumpin' In The Mornin' [02:48]
05 - It Should've Been Me [02:43]
06 - Losing Hand [03:14]
07 - Heartbreaker [02:53]
08 - Sinner's Prayer [03:24]
09 - Mess Around [02:42]
10 - Funny (But I Still Love You) [03:15]
11 - Feelin' Sad [02:51]
12 - I Wonder Who [02:50]
13 - Don't You Know [02:57]
14 - Nobody Cares [02:40]
15 - Ray's Blues [02:54]
16 - I Got A Break Baby [02:47]
17 - Blackjack [02:20]
18 - I've Got A Woman [02:54]
19 - Greenbacks [02:52]
20 - Come Back Baby [03:06]
21 - A Fool For You [03:03]
22 - This Little Girl Of Mine [02:33]
23 - Hard Times (No One Knows Better Than I) [02:55]
24 - Blues Hangover [02:19]
25 - Mary Ann [02:48]
26 - Drown In My Own Tears [03:21]
27 - Hallelujah I Love Her So [02:35]
28 - What Would I Do Without You [02:34]
CD TWO
01 - Dawn Ray [05:03]
02 - The Man I Love [04:28]
03 - Music, Music, Music [02:56]
04 - Black Coffee [05:32]
05 - Lonely Avenue [02:34]
06 - I Want To Know [02:11]
07 - Leave My Woman Alone [02:41]
08 - The Ray [03:59]
09 - I Surrender Dear [05:06]
10 - Bornful Soul [05:30]
11 - Ain't Misbehavin' [05:41]
12 - Joy Ride [04:39]
13 - Sweet Sixteen Bars [04:08]
14 - Doodlin' [05:53]
15 - There's No You [04:47]
16 - Undecided [03:42]
17 - My Melancholy Baby [04:22]
18 - It's All Right [02:17]
19 - Ain't That Love [02:51]
CD THREE
01 - Rockhouse Parts 1 & 2 [03:52]
02 - Get On The Right Track Baby [02:19]
03 - Swanee River Rock (Talkin' 'Bout That River) [02:17]
04 - That's Enough [02:46]
05 - Talkin' 'Bout You [02:49]
06 - What Kind Of Man Are You [02:50]
07 - I Want A Little Girl [02:56]
08 - Milt Jackson & Ray Charles / How Long Blues [09:17]
09 - Milt Jackson & Ray Charles / Cosmic Ray [05:24]
10 - The Genius After Hours [05:24]
11 - Charlesville [04:56]
12 - Milt Jackson & Ray Charles / Bags Of Blues [08:53]
13 - Milt Jackson & Ray Charles / Deed I Do [05:51]
14 - Milt Jackson & Ray Charles / Blue Funk [08:12]
15 - Milt Jackson & Ray Charles / Soul Brothers [09:33]
CD FOUR
01 - Bag's Guitar Blues (with Milt Jackson) [06:28]
02 - Yes Indeed! [02:17]
03 - I Had A Dream [02:54]
04 - You Be My Baby [02:30]
05 - Tell All The World About You [02:02]
06 - My Bonnie [02:50]
07 - Soul Meeting (with Milt Jackson) [06:05]
08 - Hallelujah, I Love Her So (with Milt Jackson) [05:31]
09 - Blue Genius (with Milt Jackson) [06:42]
10 - X-Ray Blues (with Milt Jackson) [07:07]
11 - Love On My Mind (with Milt Jackson) [03:49]
12 - The Spirit-Feel (Live, 1958) [03:46]
13 - Blues Waltz (Live, 1958) [06:24]
14 - In A Little Spanish Town (Live, 1958) [03:48]
15 - Sherry (Live, 1958) [04:26]
16 - (Night Time Is) The Right Time (Live, 1958) [04:04]
17 - A Fool For You (Live, 1958) [07:11]
CD FIVE
01 - I've Got A Woman (Live, 1958) [06:19]
02 - Talkin' Bout You (Live, 1958) [04:22]
03 - Swanee River Rock (Talkin' 'Bout That River) - (Live, 1958) [02:09]
04 - Yes Indeed! (Live, 1958) [02:40]
05 - Early In The Mornin' [02:48]
06 - (Night Time Is) The Right Time [03:26]
07 - Carrying That Load (Single Version) [02:16]
08 - Carrying That Load (LP Version) [02:24]
09 - Tell Me How Do You Feel [02:44]
10 - David Newman / Fathead [05:23]
11 - David Newman / Tin Tin Deo [05:22]
12 - David Newman / Bill For Bennie [04:17]
13 - David Newman / Hard Times [04:43]
14 - David Newman / Mean To Me [04:16]
15 - David Newman / Sweet Eyes [03:45]
16 - David Newman / Weird Beard [04:49]
17 - David Newman / Willow Weep For Me [04:59]
18 - Tell The Truth [03:06]
19 - What'd I Say Parts I & II (Mono LP Version) [05:04]
CD SIX
01 - What'd I Say Parts I & II (Stereo LP Version) [06:30]
02 - Tell Me You'll Wait For Me [03:25]
03 - Come Rain Or Come Shine [03:42]
04 - Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin' [03:46]
05 - Just For A Thrill [03:26]
06 - You Won't Let Me Go [03:22]
07 - Am I Blue [03:41]
08 - The Spirit-Feel (Live, 1959) [04:23]
09 - Frenesi (Live, 1959) [05:04]
10 - Tell The Truth (Live, 1959) [03:35]
11 - Drown In My Own Tears (Live, 1959) [06:24]
12 - (Night Time Is) The Right Time (Live, 1959) [04:05]
13 - What'd I Say (Live, 1959) [04:25]
14 - Let The Good Times Roll [02:53]
15 - Alexander's Ragtime Band [02:53]
16 - Deed I Do [02:27]
17 - When Your Lover Has Gone [02:51]
18 - Two Years Of Torture [03:25]
19 - It Had To Be You [02:45]
20 - I'm Movin' On [02:22]
21 - I Believe To My Soul [02:59]
CD SEVEN
01 - Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun - 1953) [00:21]
02 - Unknown Title (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun - 1953) [01:16]
03 - Piano Improvisation & Dialog #1 (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun - 1953) [00:31]
04 - ''Losing Hand'' & Dialog #1 (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun - 1953) [01:47]
05 - ''Little Rock Getaway'' & Dialog (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun - 1953) [01:16]
06 - Kentucky Waltz (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun - 1953) [01:23]
07 - Heartbreaker (Instrumental Version) - (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun - 1953) [02:13]
08 - ''Heartbreaker'' & Dialog (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun - 1953) [01:13]
09 - Piano Improvisation & Dialog #2 (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun - 1953) [00:42]
10 - Heartbreaker (False Starts 1 & 2) - (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun - 1953) [01:12]
11 - ''Losing Hand'' & Dialog #2 (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun - 1953) [01:20]
12 - ''Losing Hand'' & Dialog #3 (W/ Reverb) - (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun - 1953) [01:27]
13 - ''Losing Hand'' & Dialog #4 (W/ Reverb) - (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun - 1953) [04:55]
14 - Heartbreaker (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun - 1953) [02:53]
15 - ''It Should've Been Me'' & Dialog (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun - 1953) [02:56]
16 - Nobody Cares (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun - 1953) [03:57]
17 - Piano Improvisation & Dialog #3 (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun - 1953) [00:33]
18 - Mess Around (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun - 1953) [02:39]
19 - Funny (But I Still Love You) - (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun - 1953) [03:17]
20 - Sinner's Prayer (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun - 1953) [03:44]
21 - Piano Improvisation & Dialog #4 (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun - 1953) [01:01]
22 - ''Low Society'' & Dialog #1 (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun - 1953) [03:08]
23 - Boogie Woogie (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun - 1953) [01:56]
24 - ''Low Society'' & Dialog #2 (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun - 1953) [03:28]
25 - Worried Life Blues (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun - 1953) [03:01]
26 - ''Come Back Baby'' (Walter Davis Version) & Dialog (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun - 1953) [01:59]
27 - Low Society (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun - 1953) [02:56]
28 - (Night Time Is) The Right Time (Takes 1-7) & Dialog (Recording Session Outtake 1958) [08:17]
29 - Tell Me How Do You Feel (Take 1) - (Recording Session Outtake 1958) [03:21]
30 - Dialog (Ray's Arrangement Suggestions for ''The Genius Of Ray Charles'' Album 1959) [01:01]
31 - ''It Had To Be You'' & Dialog (Ray's Arrangement Suggestions for ''The Genius Of Ray Charles'' Album 1959) [01:40]
32 - ''My Buddy'' & Dialog (Ray's Arrangement Suggestions for ''The Genius Of Ray Charles'' Album 1959) [01:45]
33 - Dialog (Ray's Arrangement Suggestions for ''The Genius Of Ray Charles'' Album 1959) [00:18]
34 - ''When Your Love Has Gone'' & Dialog (Ray's Arrangement Suggestions for ''The Genius Of Ray Charles'' Album 1959) [01:50]
35 - I'm Beginning To See The Light (Ray's Arrangement Suggestions for ''The Genius Of Ray Charles'' Album 1959) [01:26]
36 - ''Let The Good Times Roll'' & Dialog (Ray's Arrangement Suggestions for ''The Genius Of Ray Charles'' Album 1959) [02:46]
