Ray Charles - Ultimate Hits Collection

James Brown may be "the hardest working man in show business," Aretha Franklin may be the Queen of Soul, but as Ultimate Hits Collection proves, the most apt nickname in all of music may belong to Ray Charles: the Genius. Forget for a moment that fitting all of Charles' hits on a mere two CDs is not remotely possible. Almost any Ray Charles greatest-hits compilation is going to be excellent, and this one is better than most, if only because it's two-discs long. Ultimate Hits Collection follows the path of Charles' work as it cruises through the genres he so richly influenced: r&b, pop, jazz, blues, and country. The standard favorites are here from Charles' repertoire, but what sets this compilation apart are the lesser-known tracks. "Mess Around" and "Hide 'Nor Hair" are certainly not as popular as "Hit the Road Jack," but they are no less enjoyable. The most welcome inclusion is Charles' version of the country classic "You Don't Know Me," which is often left off of other Charles retrospectives. Of the multitude of duets he has recorded, two appear here. "Seven Spanish Angels" with Willie Nelson and "I'll Be Good to You" with Quincy Jones and Chaka Khan are fine choices, but adding "Baby Grand" with Billy Joel could have pushed the collection from great to superb. The liner notes are lengthy and compelling, featuring some great photos, and the packaging, with each disc in its own jewel box, is functional. The sound quality is also superb, considering some of the recordings were almost 50 years old at the time of this release. ~ Mark Vanderhoff, All Music Guide

Name Credits Ahmet Ertegun Producer Al Grey Trombone Albert Johnson Sax (Tenor) Allen Hanlon Guitar Bennie Hank Crawford Sax (Baritone), Sax (Alto) Benny Carter Arranger Benny Powell Trombone Bill McElhiney Trumpet, Conductor Bill Pittman Guitar Billy Mitchell Sax (Tenor) Billy Preston Organ Billy Sanford Guitar, Gut String Guitar Billy Sherrill Producer Billy Vera Compilation Producer Bob Brookmeyer Trombone, Trombone (Valve) Bob Cranshaw Bass Bruce Swedien Drums Bud Johnson Sax (Tenor) Buddy Pearson Sax (Alto) Cecil Payne Sax (Baritone) Chaka Khan Performer, Vocals Charles Whitley Trumpet Charlie Fowlkes Sax (Baritone) Chuck Rainey Bass Clark Terry Trumpet Connie Kay Drums Creed Taylor Producer Dale Sellers Guitar (Acoustic) Dave McRae Sax (Baritone) David "Fathead" Newman Sax (Baritone), Sax (Tenor), Sax (Alto) David "Panama" Francis Drums David Paich Keyboards David Ritz Liner Notes Diane Tidwell Vocals (Background) Don Wilkerson Sax (Tenor) Doug Sax Remastering Earle Warren Sax (Alto) Eddie Jones Bass Edgar Willis Bass Edward Burke Trombone Elizabeth Pavone Editorial Coordinator Emmett Dennis Sax (Baritone) Eric Gale Guitar Ernie Royal Trumpet Eugene E. Young Trumpet Frank Foster Sax (Tenor) Frank Wess Sax (Alto) Freddie Green Guitar Freddie Hubbard Trumpet Frederick Johnson Trombone George Dorsey Sax (Alto) George Johnson Guitar, Vocals (Background) George Matthews Trombone Gerald Wilson Arranger Glenn Brooks Drums Grady Tate Drums Greg Phillinganes Keyboards Hargus "Pig" Robbins Keyboards Harold Vick Sax (Tenor) Harry Lookofsky Director, Producer Harvey Mason, Sr. Drums Haywood Henry Sax (Baritone) Henderson Chambers Trombone Henry Cocker Trombone Henry Coker Trombone Herb Abramson Producer Hershel Wigginton Vocals (Background) Hubert Laws Reeds Hugh Brown Art Direction Ian Prince Keyboards Ian Underwood Programming, Synthesizer Irving Cottler Drums Jack Halloran Choir Vocals (Background) James Austin Compilation Producer James Clay Sax (Tenor) James Ingram Vocals (Background) Jerome Richardson Reeds Jerry Wexler Producer, Tambourine Jesse Drakes Trumpet Jesse Stone Arranger Jim Gilstrap Vocals (Background) Jim Hall Guitar Jimmy Bell Bass Jimmy Cleveland Trombone Jimmy Nottingham Trumpet Joe Adams Producer Joe Benjamin Bass Joe Bridgewater Trumpet Joe Newman Trumpet Joe Wilder Trumpet John Frosk Trumpet John Hunt Trumpet Jose McElhiney Trumpet Joshua Willis Trumpet Julee Stover Editorial Supervision Julian Priester Trombone Larry Williams Programming, Synthesizer Lee Harper Trumpet Leroy Cooper Sax (Baritone) Lisa Silver Vocals (Background) Lloyd Trotman Bass Louis Dean Nunley Vocals (Background) Louis Johnson Bass, Vocals (Background) Marcus Belgrave Trumpet Margie Hendrix Vocals Marshall Royal Sax (Alto) Martin Banks Trumpet Marty Paich Arranger Michael Boddicker Synthesizer, Programming Michael Johnson Compilation Producer Mickey Baker Guitar Milt Turner Drums Nesuhi Ertegun Producer Oliver Beener Trumpet Paul E. West Bass Percival "Sonny" Payne Drums Pete Bordonali Gut String Guitar, Guitar Pete Drake Guitar (Steel), Guitar Phil Perry Vocals (Background) Philip Guilbeau Trumpet Quincy Jones Producer, Arranger, Performer Rachel Gutek Design Ralph Burns Arranger Ray Brown Bass Ray Charles Piano (Electric), Piano, Producer, Vocals, Arranger, Organ Renald Richard Vocals Riley Webb Trumpet Robert Thomas Wray Bass Roosevelt Sheffield Bass Roy Haynes Drums Rudy Powell Sax (Alto) Sam "The Man" Taylor Sax (Tenor) Sam Herman Guitar Seldon Powell Sax (Tenor) Sid Feller Arranger, Producer, Director Siedah Garrett Vocals (Background) Snooky Young Trumpet Steve Porcaro Programming, Synthesizer Syreeta Wright Vocals (Background) Terry Howard Digital Transfers, Remastering Terry McMillan Harmonica Thad Jones Trumpet The A-Strings Strings The Cookies Vocals (Background) The Raelettes Vocals (Background) Todd Sommer Drums Toots Thielemans Guitar TRC Producer Urbie Green Trombone Wallace Davenport Trumpet Wendell Marshall Bass Wesley Jackson Guitar Wilbert G.T. Hogan Drums William Peeples Drums Willie Nelson Performer, Vocals