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There are even a few songs from live album releases which are refreshing changes from the standards. This record doesn't have all of Ray's greatest hits, but it does have most of them. If you want a one-disk collection which will keep you humming and singing along, this is a good start. If you're looking for an encyclopedic collection of Ray's works, you have other choices. If you're looking for the early songs he released on Atlantic, you won't find them. But most of the songs you heard on the radio in the 1950's and 1960's are here.
Aside from having most of his greatest hits, this album is one of the few that had "Born to Lose", one of my favorite songs. What can you say about Ray Charles other than he is great.
Also a great gift forsomeone that hasn't followed his music. Wonderful. A must have for any fan of Ray Charles.
Songs such as Georgia On My Mind, Crying Time, Cry, Here We Go Again and Born to Lose are all pure, unadaultered SAP. And his cover of Eleanor Rigby is.good, loads better than Aretha's anyway, but you're better off with the original.But the soul outweighs the sap, and Ray was a true genius at his best. At its best, this Ray Charles retrospective has some of the best stuff you're likely to hear. I am sorry. So pick this up. Listen to such classics as Hit the Road Jack, Let's Go Get Stoned, Unchain My Heart, Don't Set Me Free, I Don't Need No Doctor, Hallelujah I Love Her So, Busted, One Mint Julep, I Got a Woman, You Are My Sunshine (thankfully not delivered in the stupid traditional fashion), America the Beautiful and, of course, What'd I Say. This brings out why Ray has been dubbed "Genius".My only problem is that sometimes this collection will lapse into SAP.
"Anthology" is the most economical, all-inclusive collection of the output of one of the most important artists of the 20th century. Charles' masterful sides for ABC, Atlantic, and CBS helped change the face of popular music and this CD goes a long way towards proving the case convincingly: "Georgia On My Mind," "America The Beautiful," "Born To Lose," "Hit The Road, Jack," "What'd I Say," "One Mint Julep," have influenced most every musician alive. "Anthology" leaves the listener hungry for more from Charles' legendary "Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music" CD, but fortunately, Rhino has released that (with bonus tracks) as well.
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