such dark material as Hard Times and Drown In My Own Tears is remarkable and
it’s difficult to understand how such a fine set can have been allowed to
languish out of print for so long.

like electing someone to public office who feels just the way you feel

about things. Ray Charles was the person chosen to express all the pent-up emotions
of the human soul: the entertainer born to spread these emotions out on the
table for the whole world to see, close up and in broad daylight.

moment he’s topping everything you’ve ever heard in blues singing, and the next
moment he moves on to old standards like Hoagy Carmichael’s Georgia On My Mind.
Before you can get used to him in that vein he’s

gospel-flavouring the songs he does, like I Got A Woman. Then he’s

knee-deep in the country field or meeting Irving Berlin head on in a song that
dates back to 1911, Alexander’s Ragtime Band. And in between all these have
come other great songs we’ve tried to interpret for you here, such as Ruby,
with its lush, soft-ballad air, the almost haunting Hard Times and the ram-paging
Hit the Road Jack. ‘Reflections on Ray Charles’ greatness in the dimen-sions of
four voices – this is what we’ve tried our very best to bring you.’

exploring the early sixties pop universe with fictitious ensembles and

featured here also are the two singles by Anita & the So & So’s,
including their sweet US hit, Joey Baby.

Release Date: 13/05/2013