This album comes loaded with some bit of controversy. On the one hand, this was pretty much the last pet project Ray Charles was working on before he passed. The record company has cheesed on a bit about this album being his "last wish" and such.
On the other hand, it is suspect in its genesis, and has been widely attacked, though seemingly mostly just on general principles. Basically, these recordings were mostly made in 1997 and 1998, but half a decade later, Ray came up with the idea of turning these recordings into duets. Recording duets with a dead dude just doesn't sound legit, even if it was his idea.
So then, what to make of the actual album? Actually, it's not half bad. Some of the song selections are marginal, and most of the guests are minor figures not even vaguely in his league. Furthermore, Ray was 40 years past his prime recording this.
Yet still, he was Ray Charles. His voice was great. I wouldn't consider these the most deep and heartfelt performances of his career, but more of a happy footnote. He seemed to be enjoying the making of the record, and it's pretty listenable. I'd rate this higher than most of what I've heard from him in the last 20 years or so, anyway.
I would describe the general style of the album as fairly slick modern radio friendly mainstream r&b. To put it another way, and at the risk of damning the record with faint praise, this would be perfect fodder for a Sunday brunch program on BET.
I've got two main picks on the album that'll be going into rotation. My favorite is probably "Compared to What?" which I know from a 1969 live recording by Les McCann and Eddie Harris at the Montreaux Jazz Festival. Now, of course Ray did jazz, but he brought this forth as more of a simplified pre-funk soul groove here. Playing this for more of a hard soul groove instead of a refined jazz definitely works.
Article comments
1 - Rehan
Well, I would like to comment on one of the above lines w.r.t George Michael. His pen hasn't dried yet. Actually, people are simply not aware of his new music. His album Patience was his best solo album. This is far most the best songwriting material.
2 - cj
I have to disagree with you on the song "Imagine". I love it and think it is the best on the whole cd. I tend to listen to it over and over, instead of the other songs. Ray Charles and Ruben Studdard do an excellent job. Most of the songs on the cd are good, but "Imagine" is the best.
3 - Mark Thomas
My favorite by far is "IT ALL GOES BY SO FAST" with Mary J. Blige, which is worth the cost of the album.
I also loved Compared to Waht and Busted and a lot of the other tracks.
This is a MUCH better album than Genius and Company, where Ray was not in good voice at all. If you ask me, tha album sounded much more contrived.