Theme albums don't always work according to plan. Don't take my word for it. Just listen to Carly Simon's "Film Noir" or k.d.lang's "Drag" and you'll catch my drift. But with the genius plotting the course, it's money in the bank you won't go astray. This album contains some of the absolute swingingest Ray Charles this side of Chattanooga. Dig Ray's heartfelt reading of Moonlight in Vermont or Georgia On My Mind. And wait until you hear him yukin' it up on Deep In the Heart of Texas and my favorite New York's My Home, where he applies just the right amount of gleeful good humor. Hit the road runnin' and pick up on this one. It's a sure fire winner.

Thank Rhino for reissuing this overlooked album. This was his first after he split from Atlantic for ABC/Paramount. People like to think that his ABC/Paramount period starts with MODERN SOUNDS, but you can see the "road" Ray's traveling with this album. Most of the orchestration is done with a lot of taste and not syrupy as might plague some later recordings. These cuts sound classic today and not dated -- well, except for the silliness over Deep in the Heart of Texas.

Enjoy this album for more than Ray's signature tune of Georgia on my Mind, Ray's solo on Moon over Miami, for example. The bonus cuts complete the experience. This album will help bridge those who only know Ray from his Atlantic years into the rest of his career - about a 40 year period!

I remember my parents playing this album frequently when I was very small and it was always one of my all-time favorites. I recently bought it on CD and it brings back great memories. Every song is a true classic, especially the song "Georgia". Despite several versions by several people, NOBODY sings it like Ray does.

I grew up with this album and I have never tired of it. Ray's versions of "Alabamy Bound" and "Mississippi Mud" are the most joyful pieces of music I can recall. Ray Charles may be our only living musical genius, and this album is a testament to his gift for soul.

After awhile, Ray Charles starts sounding like a spokesperson for 'Travel in America' as each 19 songs on this CD speak of hittin' the road and visiting, not the musical road less travelled, but the swinging nightclubs and hot spots where Steve and Eydie Gormet may be the opening act. We're reminded what a great hit single, "Hit the Road Jack", was, an explosion of anger at the heat of a romantic conflict as the vocals scream and demand in two part melody. The first twelve songs are the original tracks from his 1959 album, "The Genius of Ray Charles", and the transfer to CD has left them sounding a little hollow like Charles is singing from another room. One suspects the vocals were sung over at the time this album was compiled. The Bonus Tracks are much better but hey! did I say something negative about this cool laid-back groovy album? You have to hear the half spoken/half vocal call and response of "New York's My Home", as Charles grinds his gravelly voice over his blues/pop piano and wins any argument against New York City. "Georgis On My Mind" is also here and a less grave "Rainy Night In Georgia", where Charles even hiccups over a drink in the fade out of the vocal tracks. Now that's casual.