Ray Sings, Basie Swings

I just got another great album:

Ray Sings, Basie Swings (with the Count Basie Orchestra)

I’m not a big Ray Charles fan. But this is really good. It’s from a recording in the 1970s that had a nearly inaudible band, but Ray’s vocals came out loud and clear. The Count Basie Orchestra (minus Basie, he’s dead, too) re-recorded the instrumentation behind him.

This is musically significant because Ray Charles was in his prime in the ’70s, and there are few recordings from this era that do him justice. His spine-tingling cover of “The Long and Winding Road” is phenomenal.

If you like swing, Ray Charles, or Count Basie, get this album. (luckily I like all three, so this one has me really stoked. I miss jazz band so much!)