Name: The Rough Guide to Ray Charles
Brand: Ray Charles

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

rgnet1356cd

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Colour

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2017-03-31

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Proper

Tax rate GB

UPC / Barcode

0605633135626

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Total Cap

1 / CD / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

Artist

Ray Charles

Genre GB

Funk / Soul

Label GB

Rough Guide

Ray Charles Robinson was born into acute poverty in rural Georgia in 1930 and had a tragic upbringing. He witnessed his brother drown as a young child, was blind from the age of seven and lost his mother when he was 15. He enjoyed some early success but it was not until he signed to Atlantic Records in 1952 that he began to develop his own style and, with the encouragement of label owner Ahmet Ertegun, moved away from his cool sound towards a more urgent and emotional approach with its roots in blues and gospel. The turning point came on 1954's <i>I Got A Woman</i>. A huge hit, the song was also highly controversial for its fusion of gospel fervour and carnal lyrics which even Charles' religious wife admitted shocked her when she first heard it. He left Atlantic at the end of the 1950s and although there were still some great records to come, few would argue that the tracks included here represent his golden period when he was the undisputed 'genius of soul'.

The Rough Guide to Ray Charles

Music GB