Out Now: Ray Charles, The Atlantic Years – In Mono

When someone puts out a truly spectacular album, it’s easy to start throwing around the word “genius,” but in the case of Ray Charles, it’s a word that was utilized so often during his tenure on Atlantic Records that it actually became his nickname. As such, Rhino is celebrating Charles’s birthday – he would’ve been 86 today – by releasing a new vinyl box set featuring mono mixes of the seven album she recorded for Atlantic Records.

What albums will you find on THE ATLANTIC YEARS – IN MONO? Glad you asked!

RAY CHARLES (1957) THE GREAT RAY CHARLES (1957) YES, INDEED! (1958) WHAT’D I SAY (1959) THE GENIUS OF RAY CHARLES (1959) THE GENIUS AFTER HOURS (1961) THE GENIUS SINGS THE BLUES (1961)

As you’ve come to expect from us, the albums have all been pressed on 180-gram vinyl, and they’re packaged in sleeves that are replicas of the original sleeves. There’s also a bound booklet which contains photos taken during the era featured within the set, along with liner notes by Charles’s biographer, Lee Friedlander, and Grammy-winning writer David Ritz.

Everyone needs a little bit of genius in their collection, and this is an easy, great-sounding way to make sure you’re covered.

Here’s the full track listing:

RAY CHARLES: THE ATLANTIC YEARS – IN MONO

RAY CHARLES (1957)

Side One
1. “Ain’t That Love”
2. “Drown In My Own Tears”
3. “Come Back Baby”
4. “Sinner’s Prayer”
5. “Funny (But I Still Love You)”
6. “Losing Hand”
7. “A Fool For You”

Side Two
1. “Hallelujah I Love Her So”
2. “Mess Around”
3. “This Little Girl Of Mine”
4. “Mary Ann”
5. “Greenbacks”
6. “Don’t You Know”
7. “I Got A Woman”

THE GREAT RAY CHARLES (1957)

Side One
1. “The Ray”
2. “My Melancholy Baby”
3. “Black Coffee”
4. “There's No You”

Side Two
1. “Doodlin’”
2. “Sweet Sixteen Bars”
3. “I Surrender Dear”
4. “Undecided”

YES INDEED! (1958)

Side One
1. “What Would I Do Without You”
2. “It’s All Right”
3. “I Want To Know”
4. “Yes, Indeed!”
5. “Get On The Right Track Baby”
6. “Talkin’ ‘Bout You”
7. “Swanee River Rock (Talkin’ ‘Bout That River)”

Side Two
1. “Lonely Avenue”
2. “Blackjack”
3. “The Sun’s Gonna Shine Again”
4. “I Had A Dream”
5. “I Want A Little Girl”
6. “Heartbreaker”
7. “Leave My Woman Alone”

WHAT’D I SAY (1959)

Side One
1. “What’d I Say – Part I & II”
2. “Jumpin’ In The Mornin’”
3. “You Be My Baby”
4. “Tell Me How Do You Feel”
5. “What Kind Of Man Are You?”

Side Two
1. “Rockhouse – Part I & II”
2. “Roll With My Baby”
3. “Tell All The World About You”
4. “My Bonnie”
5. “That’s Enough”

THE GENIUS OF RAY CHARLES (1959)

Side One
1. “Let The Good Times Roll”
2. “It Had To Be You”
3. “Alexander’s Ragtime Band”
4. “Two Years Of Torture”
5. “When Your Lover Has Gone”
6. “Deed I Do”

Side Two
1. “Just For A Thrill”
2. “You Won’t Let Me Go”
3. “Tell Me You’ll Wait For Me”
4. “Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin'”
5. “Am I Blue”
6. “Come Rain Or Come Shine”

THE GENIUS AFTER HOURS (1961)

Side One
1. “The Genius After Hours”
2. “Ain’t Misbehavin’”
3. “Dawn Ray”
4. “Joy Ride”

Side Two
1. “Hornful Soul”
2. “The Man I Love”
3. “Charlesville”
4. “Music, Music, Music”

THE GENIUS SINGS THE BLUES (1961)

Side One
1. “Early In The Mornin’”
2. “Hard Times (No One Knows Better Than I)”
3. “The Midnight Hour”
4. “The Right Time”
5. “Feelin’ Sad”
6. “Ray’s Blues”

Side Two
1. “I’m Movin’ On”
2. “I Believe To My Soul”
3. “Nobody Cares”
4. “Mr. Charles’ Blues”
5. “Some Day Baby”
6. “I Wonder Who”