Ray Charles - The Genius Hits the Road

In keeping with his jazz/pop crossover ambitions, Ray Charles decided to record a concept album of sorts with a dozen songs devoted to various parts of the U.S. -- "Alabamy Bound," "Georgia on My Mind," "Moonlight in Vermont," "California, Here I Come," "Blue Hawaii," and more. The crossover vibe is further heightened by the brassy big-band arrangements, and material from the likes of Al Jolson and Hoagy Carmichael. It sounds a bit corny now, with an in-your-face gung-ho cheer. But it did what Charles wanted it to do, reaching the Top Ten of the album charts, and spinning off a big hit with "Georgia on My Mind." ]The 1997 CD reissue on Rhino adds seven bonus tracks from 1956-1972 that also had a travel/geographic theme, and the best of these are actually the highlights of the record, most notably "Hit the Road Jack," "Lonely Avenue," and his cover of Hank Snow's "I'm Movin' On."] ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

Name Credits Abbey Anna Project Assistant Ahmet Ertegun Producer Bill Belmont Project Assistant Bill Dahl Liner Notes Bill Inglot Remastering Billy Vera Liner Notes Bob Fisher Remastering Bruno Carr Percussion Chris Clough Producer Dan Hersch Remastering David "Fathead" Newman Sax (Tenor), Sax (Alto) David Gorman Project Assistant Edgar Willis Bass Frank Rosolino Trombone Hank Crawford Sax (Alto), Sax (Baritone) Harry Betts Trombone Hugh Brown Art Direction Jack Halloran Choir Vocals James Austin Reissue Coordination Jeffrey Spector Project Assistant Jennifer Peters Project Assistant Jerry Wexler Producer Jimmy Hole Reissue Package Design Joe Bridgewater Trumpet John Blain Hunt Trumpet John Burk Executive Producer John Hunt Trumpet Julee Stover Editorial Supervision Kenny Shroyer Trombone Larry Blake Project Assistant Leroy Cooper Sax (Baritone) Marcus Belgrave Trumpet Margie Hendrix Vocals (Background) Martin Banks Trumpet Mel Lewis Drums Milt Turner Drums Patrick Milligan Discographical Annotation Philip Guilbeau Trumpet Quincy Newell Project Assistant Rachel Gutek Reissue Design Ralph Burns Arranger, Conductor Ray Charles Vocals, Producer, Keyboards, Piano Richard Nash Trombone Rick Ward Liner Notes Ricky Harper Trumpet Rikka Arnold Project Assistant Roosevelt Sheffield Bass Sid Feller Producer Steve Woolard Discographical Annotation Steven Chean Editorial Supervision Teagle Fleming Drums The Cookies Vocals The Raelettes Performer, Vocals Vanessa Atkins Editorial Supervision Viceroy Cover Design William Peeples Drums