Genius Loves Company

Rate It! Avg: 4.5 (408 ratings)

We’re sorry. This album is unavailable for download in your country (United States) at this time.

ALBUM INFORMATION
EDITOR'S PICK

Total Tracks: 12   Total Length: 51:33

eMusic Review

Avatar Image
Don McLeese

eMusic Contributor

04.22.11
Brother Ray, meet Sister Norah…and Sister Bonnie…and Brother Van…
2004 | Label: Concord Jazz

If you can judge a genius by the company he keeps, few artists have attracted a wider range of acolytes than Brother Ray. This posthumous duets collection crosses several musical generations and categories, a fitting tribute to the pervasive influence of one of the foremost figures in American popular music. Charles soars over swelling strings with MOR godfather Johnny Mathis on "Over the Rainbow," goes to church with Gladys Knight on "Heaven Help Us All," gets bluesy with B.B. King on "Sinner's Prayer" and reflects on a life well lived with his old friend Willie Nelson on "It Was a Very Good Year." Among other highlights, Norah Jones finds a common denominator with the old master on "Here We Go Again," while Bonnie Raitt's slide guitar enhances the marked bittersweet note of "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?" Where too many duet projects find the singers phoning it in — sometimes almost literally so, sending in their tracks via computer lines — these sessions showcase the palpable chemistry Charles effortlessly establishes with his partners in song. A case in point is the live duet with Van Morrison on Morrison's own "Crazy Love," which closes the collection on a triumphantly soulful…

Write a Review29 Member Reviews

Please log in before you review a release. Log in

user avatar

Classic

coachkj

It took me back so many times as I heard these brilliant artists-in their own right_ vibing with a true master of the stage and studio.

user avatar

Kudos from the stars that were raised on Ray

EMUSIC-01E548AD

One triumphant collaboration for Ray. Singers from another generation show that there music does come from the Genius. I especially like James Taylor, Diana Krall, Van Morrison and Elton John??s cuts. You can??t go wrong with this CD!

user avatar

My coffee shop playlist

benyamen

The year I worked as a barrista won't be remembered that dearly for the job I worked, but will certainly be remembered for the great album I found and listenend to multiple times a day. There isn't a weak track on this album and is definitely worth the download.

user avatar

What are you people talkin' about!

EMUSIC-0122A28A

I've read several complaints about this album, and all I've got to say is WHAT?? This is totally awesome. Lots of great company, and unmistakeably Ray. What a memorial to a great man.

user avatar

Just Wonderful!

EclecticallyJuju

I grew up listening to Ray Charles and loving his music. He was a romantic musician, and this gem that pairs him with other new and established artists in the year 2004 proves that he not only was an enduring artist, but also a legend and an inspiration.

user avatar

Oh Yeah!

heidizherbz

Didn't know about this treasure from his last days. Love it. Genius!

user avatar

Nice anthology -

Donbmcd

Ok, so maybe a bit comercial, but this is a must have for your collection.

user avatar

"Less than talented"??

EMUSIC-019EBF56

Wow, naldini -- I don't believe I've ever heard Elton, Bonnie, BB, Natalie, Gladys, or any of the other artists here, described as "less than talented"! Hmm. (As for what he was thinking when he did this, probably not much if the description is correct in stating that it was posthumously assembled. ;D ) I sampled several tracks and put them in my 'save for later' list. I'm looking forward to adding them to my RC collection.

user avatar

absolute crap

naldini

I can't imagine what he was thinking when he did this. Nothing more than a commercial crap heap with uninspired renditions and less than talented sidekicks. I own (besides dld discs from here) 20 or more Ray CDs of all different stuff and any (and all) of them blow this away. God rest Ray, he was one of the best!

user avatar

Just fabulous!!

speedoo

One does not have to be a fan of the great RC, or the blues, or any of the wonderful artists he performs with here. One just needs to be ready to hear some fabulous music. The chemistry between each of the artists and Ray is apparant. A real gem that actually makes me tear up just listening, cuz I'm thinking that I am listening to old friends.

Recommended Albums

eMusic Features

b6d410f9de632ef64df343e94f78ff91

Teenage Graceland

By Wayne Robins

After Elvis went into the Army and before the British Invasion, the years 1958-63 were rock's forgotten years. But they were the years that shaped the musical tastes of baby boomers and of acts from the Beatles and Rolling Stones to Bruce Springsteen and the Ramones. Hear the dance sensations, the one-hit-wonders, the girl groups and doo-wop singers, surfers and rockabilly twangers, the birth of Motown, the evolution of R&B into soul and so much… more »

They Say All Media Guide

Genius Loves Company is the last studio album Ray Charles completed before his death in June 2004. Prior to this, the last studio album he released was Strong Love Affair in 1996, which was a stab at modern pop, filled with new songs and given an adult contemporary sheen. It was not one of his most distinctive efforts, even when judged against his latter-day albums, and it disappeared not long after its release. Charles left Warner and, years later, signed with Concord, who released Genius Loves Company, which had a decidedly different approach than the all-modern Strong Love Affair. As the title acknowledges with a wink, this is a duets album, which may be a little commonplace as far as latter-day superstar albums go but is still a step up from his previous studio album since it puts Ray Charles in a comfortable, relaxed situation that plays to his strengths. Instead of trying to put Charles in a modern setting, producers John Burk and Phil Ramone (Burk helmed seven of the album’s tracks, Ramone is responsible for the other five, and their work fits together seamlessly) go for a clean retro setting with a few guitars, synths, and a rhythm section, occasionally dressing it with an orchestra or some strings. In other words, apart from the glistening production, it’s not far removed from any of Charles’ crossover records from the ’60s, and he’s also given a strong set of songs, largely familiar pop classics, from “Fever” and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” to “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word” and “Crazy Love.” His duet partners are fairly predictable — classy newcomers like Norah Jones and Diana Krall, but also old stalwarts like Elton John, B.B. King, Johnny Mathis, James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, and the ubiquitous Willie Nelson (who has never sounded older than he does here on “It Was a Very Good Year”) — but they’re also reliable, never overshadowing Ray yet never shrinking in his shadow either; in short, it sounds more like a real duets album than most superstar duet records. The end result is modest, friendly, laid-back, and pleasing, one that remains faithful to Charles’ music while sounding relatively fresh. It may not be weighty enough to be a career-capping masterpiece, but it’s sweet enough to be an appropriate final album — which is far more than can be said of Strong Love Affair, or any of the other albums he cut in the ’80s or ’90s for that matter. – Stephen Thomas Erlewine

more »

Activity

  • 01.23.12 On January 23, 1986 Ray Charles was in the very first group of inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! http://t.co/5g0doe5o
  • 01.18.12 "Ray Charles is the only genius in our business." - Frank Sinatra
  • 01.16.12 In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Learn more about Ray and Dr. King's friendship here: http://t.co/MzmlGn0B
  • 01.04.12 39 Years ago today Ray Charles recorded “Without Love (There Is Nothing)” in Hollywood, CA. Preview the song here: http://t.co/wi29gIeN
  • 10.28.11 Happy Friday, Ray Fans. What's your favorite Ray Charles song to listen to on the weekend?
  • 10.13.11 Congrats to Aaron Cohen on his ASCAP Deems Taylor Award for the great article "Ray's Kind of Jazz"! To learn more visit http://t.co/TWixCMeJ
  • 10.10.11 "I never wanted to be famous. I only wanted to be great." - Ray Charles
  • 09.28.11 Thank you to all the Ray Charles fans who commented on what would have been his 81st Birthday last friday. We can't stop loving him!
  • 09.22.11 What did everyone think of the Pepsi commercial that aired during "The X Factor" tonight?!
  • 09.20.11 Keep checking the Ray Charles Facebook page at www.facebook.com/raycharles for more chances to win!
  • 09.20.11 Ray fans, for your 3 entries into today's Prize Pack drawing, click http://t.co/FCGR8hFB, http://t.co/minoEFr8, & http://t.co/9ZHRBDou!
  • 09.19.11 About 90 minutes left to get your entries in for a Ray Charles Diet Pepsi prize pack. Visit http://t.co/GmL6BLy1 for the links to enter!
  • 09.19.11 Do you know how many Super Bowl rings Joe Montana has? If so, visit http://t.co/tdK0wNR7 for a chance to win a Ray Charles Diet Pepsi prize!
  • 09.19.11 Does everyone remember the great Ray Charles Diet Pepsi ads of the 90's? Visit http://t.co/x466GGRi to watch and enter to win a prize pack!
  • 07.18.11 Check out the new retro "Uh Huh" tees available from Pepsi, Urban Outfitters, and Kitson! http://t.co/rvNtI58
  • 07.01.11 Want to play like Ray? The Ray Charles 80th Anniversary Sheet Music Collection is now available from @alfredmusic! http://t.co/ivyOM0p
  • 06.30.11 We've got the right one baby, uh huh! Do you? Get your tee here: http://t.co/5c8hmKh
  • 06.22.11 "Ray Charles America" is on the Emmy Ballot for "Outstanding Non-Fiction Special". If you're in the Academy please keep it in mind!
  • 03.10.11 Check out this beautiful Ray Charles photograph! Only 50 limited edition prints will be produced. Click to view: http://bit.ly/gy2gvl
  • 03.07.11 Limited edition Ray Charles photograph now available! Only 50 prints will be produced! Click to view: http://bit.ly/gy2gvl