Ray Charles - Help Me Find The Atlantic Era In The Best Sound Quality!

Hi All

I have all kinds of Ray Charles CD's from the Atlantic era, including the seven CD "Pure Genius Set" from Rhino & the "Digipak Atlantic Masters" series from 2001, however I want to find the complete Atlantic era in the best sound quality I can. So far as part of my quest I have or will have after just ordering "The Birth Of Soul", the following all of which sound great......

1. The Birth of Soul (1991)
2. Soul Brothers/Soul Meeting (With Milt Jackson) Atlantic 1989
3. The Genius Sings The Blues (MFSL)
4. The Genius Of Ray Charles (MFSL)
5. The Genius After Hours (MFSL)
6. Ray Charles Live (inc Atlanta & Newport) (Atlantic 1987)

So now I have some questions......

1. Does "The Birth Of Soul" contain all the Atlantic Blues, Soul & R&B vocal recordings?
2. Do I now only need "The Great Ray Charles" & "Fat Head Ray Charles Presents" CD's
3. What are the best CD versions of the above two albums?

Any help, advice inc catalogue numbers is much appreciated!

 

Steve, is this the early version on Atlantic?....... The Great Ray Charles

I've checked the Amazon ASIN # in google and it matches up with the following catalogue numbers UPC 075678173127, EAN 0075678173127, apperently released in 1987.

 

No.

 

Thanks Steve, would you have any idea when the CD you mention was released or a catalogue number?

 

I don't have it anymore, sad to say. Wish I did... I "went vinyl" with Ray. SORRY!!!

It was on Atlantic not Rhino, that much I do remember..

 

Funny you should mention vinyl, I see there's a recent Warner/Rhino reissue LP that seems to be getting good reviews so that might be worth a shot.

 

Hi Steve,

I've got good news, the link I gave is the right one for the CD you recommended, I took a chance after noticing an Amazon market place seller had one on sale for 27 pence plus £1.25 postage, anyway it turned up today and it's the Atlantic issue with the extra tracks and NO Rhino on it, it looks the CD is incorrectly listed as being on Rhino which is not unusual with Amazon.

It was released in 1987 mastered by Elliott Fedderman and produced for reissue by Bob Porter, it has 14 songs and states that "It's Ray's first two Jazz recording Sessions complete and in chronological order", so for a grand total of £1.52 GBP ($2.40 USD) I've got a great sounding CD.

 

That's it. Congrats!

 

Thanks for the original tip off Steve, I have the modern remaster and it pales in comparison to this 1987 CD.

 

I wish I had kept mine. We tried to get the stuff for DCC and when that didn't happen I got rid of it in disgust or something. Silly.

 

Steve, here's the Amazon.com link if you want a copy.......
Genius After Hours - The Great Ray Charles

 

I've now tracked down all the Atlantic era albums on nicely mastered CD/SACD's with one exception......

It doesn't appear that there is a decent mastering of the album "Fat Head, Ray Charles Presents David Newman", all the CD versions I've seen appear to be from the 2000's onwards, which is a shame, I guess for now I'll just have to settle for the tracks included on the "Pure Genius Set".

 

Yes agreed they sound really nice indeed, I'd love to see MFSL put out some more of Ray's Atlantic era albums, or better still it would be nice if our host could get to sprinkle his magic fairy dust on them.

 

Thanks Bob that info would be good to know and should hopefully help me track down a copy.

Like you I too love the Fathead album, I've always loved horns, the playing on this particular album is superb and never fails to move me.

 

Steve mastered "Genius & Soul" for DCC which should be possible to find on Amazon, another option is the Analogue Productions release of a couple of years back, it's still readily available and mastered by Steve's original mentor Kevin Gray!

 

The MONO tape of the Newman is much better than the stereo, being the one that was "professionally" recorded with correct mic placement, etc. The stereo version is way more distorted and weird sounding, but I love it anyway.

 

Thanks for the info Bob much appreciated, I shall definitely be seeking out this 2 disc set for sure, like you I'm hoping we'll see a mono version released and hopefully it'll be done by either Steve, MOFI or AP at some point.