It's easy to take Ray Charles for granted, as it seems like he's been around forever, but you might not after listening to this. I bought this on 9-11-2002 for "America The Beautiful," as I consider this the best rendition of that song, but I was pleased with what else is on here.

"Sail Away" (wriiten by Randy Newman) is actually a wickedly ironic tune connecting the Black American expereince with slave ships (you have to listen closely to the lyrics to get the irony). "Hey Mister" deals with the problem of hunger in America while the remakes of "Abraham Martin and John," "Imagine," "Let it Be," "That Lucky Old Sun," etc. are so hauntingly soulful with Ray's aching voice and the Raylette's gospel-like phrasings that you wouldn't wanna listen to this with the lights off late at night.

Overall, this wonderful album (much of it culled from 1972's "Message for the People") will really make you appreciate Ray Charles for the genius that he is.

This CD is well worth the price for the classic Ray Charles singing America The Beautiful. His soulful versions of Randy Newman's Sail Away, John Denver's Take Me Home, Country Roads, John Lennon's Imagine (featuring the Harlem Gospel Singers), are added bonuses. He makes every one of these songs his own.

I decided to purchase this CD when I heard Ray's rockin' rendition of Lift Every Voice and Sing. Even the syrup-y strings and too-perfect background singers on Somewhere Over the Rainbow can't squelch the gritty soul when Brother Ray sings that old chestnut.

This is everything that I knew it would be. Ray Charles has a style that is unique and when he sings "America" it makes me proud to be an American. He is inspiring and evokes strong emotions with his singing.

This is a great CD. The songs are by far some of his very
best work. We enjoyed it from start to finish.

I am the typical patrotic American and I just loved this collection of Ray Charles. Everytime I hear it I get chills up an ddown my spine and a tear in my eye. I would recommend this to every and all Americans.