Ray Charles - The Singles Collection 1949-62 - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Ray Charles was one of the most iconic and influential artists in the annals of pop as a singer, songwriter and pianist, and while he is considered one of the godfathers and great innovators of soul music, his work transcended the worlds of jazz, blues, gospel, R&B, rock 'n' roll and country and western as well. Afflicted by blindness, he turned to music in his early life, and began recording for the Swing Time tag in 1949 as a member of The Maxim Trio. In a career spanning half a century, he racked up over 100 chart entries, with well over 40 coming in this seminal first quarter-century or so of his career. This excellent-value 125-track 5-CD collection comprises just about all his A & B sides released on the Swing Time, Atlantic, ABC-Paramount and Impulse labels during these years. It features all his 46 Pop, R&B and UK chart entries from this era, including the pop No. 1s InchGeorgia On My MindInch, InchHit The Road JackInch & InchI Can't Stop Loving YouInch and the R&B No. 1s InchI've Got A WomanInch, InchA Fool For YouInch, InchWhat'd I SayInch, InchUnchain My HeartInch, InchOne Mint JulepInch & InchYou Are My SunshineInch, encompassing his time as the pillar of the Atlantic roster and the hits from his landmark albums for ABC-Paramount InchModern Sounds In Country & Western MusicInch. It's a substantial and comprehensive overview of his chart-focused output during these years as part of a dynamic and exciting pop and R&B landscape, and a thoroughly entertaining showcase for his unique talents as singer, composer, pianist and arranger. Album Tracks 1. Confession Blues 2. I Love You, I Love You 3. Blues Before Sunrise 4. How Long Blues 5. A Sentimental Blues 6. You'll Never Miss the Water 7. Alone in This City 8. Can Anyone Ask for More 9. Let's Have a Ball (Here Am I) 10. Rockin' Chair Blues 11. If I Gave You My Love 12. The Honey Bee