Ray Charles-Genius + Soul = Jazz (1961)

 

Artist: Ray Charles

Title: Genius + Soul = Jazz

Label: Impulse

Format: LP

Cat #: A-2

Year of Release: 1961

Country and Year of Edition Issue: US 1961 Gatefold

Listed Condition: VG+/G+

Sell Date: 2/6/21

Sell Price: $5.99

Discogs Last Sold: 1/29/21 $2.00 G+/G+

Low: $2.00

Median: $23.75

High:  $56.75 NM/NM

Current low price: $3.00 G+/VG+

Current Number on Sale at Discogs: 27

Have/Want: 555/162

Where Sold:  New York, NY

Time it took to sell: 6 years

Where and When Bought: Worcester indoor flea market early aughts

Gwiz-gau Letter Grade: A-

Sad To See It Go: No

Quincy Jones big band arrangement with Ralph Burns was punctuated by Charles Hammond B-3.  This produced a big hits in "One Mint Julep" and a #4 Billboard album in the US.  Charles had a couple sessions and fleshed out his band with members from Count Basie's Orchestra.

This is an awkward hybrid in some ways.  The Atlantic years were over and Modern Sounds In Country and Western Music were a year away.  This has a bit of a "sophisticated jazz cocktail lounge" feel.  When nightclubs were nightclubs an martinis were shaken, not stirred.  Ray moves you to the Outskirts of Town with that B-3.   Ray cranked out albums in this era.

On it's own merits one could make a claim that not only is this album perfection but one of the greatest of all time.  For me, the Atlantic years have a bit more visceral impact to me than this.  Charles had crossed 30 at this point and leaving his rockin' years behind him for a more "adult" approach in the 60's.  You can't really deny something like "Stompin' Room Only" for early late evening charms.

Genius + Soul = Jazz feels like a radical departure from the Atlantic and ABC years.  The reality is it was a natural progression in an era of many albums.  That Genius + Soul = Jazz was such a massive hit tells you some things about music in 1961.  A down year for rock 'n roll.  Elvis was in the Army now with his G. I. Blues and the chart topper that year was "Tossin' and Turnin.'"  Ray Charles would soon dominate 1962 with yet another stylistic shift, Modern Sounds in Country and Western.

For me personally, I didn't have a great bond for this album.   I got a dollar copy in the early aughts with a $6 sticker on it on a flea market trip in Worcester with my old buddy John sometime in the naughty aughties.  I don't remember hearing "One Mint Julep" in my childhood or teen years even on "oldies" stations.  Such was the divide between "rock" and "easy listening" back in the 70's and 80's, this stuff was delegated to the world of Easy Listening radio and elevators.  Except maybe it was a little too "jazzy" for elevators.  In the immediate decade or two after it's day,  not weird enough for someone that would seek out Coltrane or Davis or Ayler.   Those easy listening stations would be more likely to play vocal hits like "Georgia On My Mind" or even "America The Beautiful" before they would play "One Mint Julep."  

Nowadays I can recognize the tasteful blend.