Kentucky Waltz

Album: Pure Genius, Atlantic/WEA, 20 September 2005.

Captured during the rehearsal session with Ahmet Ertegun in 1953, in New York City.

Ray Charles loved to reminisce about his earliest endeavors in country music. Shortly after his 17th birthday, in 1947, he landed a gig with The Florida Playboys. In Michael Lydon's biography, Ray Charles - Man And Music, the story is that "[o]ne audition convinced the Playboys that RC could play country music with a genuine flavor, and they hired him, no questions asked about race. For several months he gigged with the band, playing current country hits like Kentucky Waltz in white honky-tonks in and around Tampa, learning to yodel, and singing Waiting For You as his featured number. [...]." Read more here.

A Bit of Soul (aka Blues Hangover)

Single (A): Atlantic 2094, February 1961, b/w Early In The Morning.
Compilation album: Pure Genius: The Complete Atlantic Recordings ["Remastered LP version"], Atlantic, 2005 (1952-1959).

Recorded in Miami on 23 April 1955 with Joe Bridgewater, Riley Webb - tp; David Newman - as, bs; Don Wilkerson - ts; William Peebles - ds; Roosevelt Sheffield - b.

The erroneous title A Bit Of Soul and Ray's authorship were probably, ignorantly, attributed to this Lloyd Glenn tune by the people at Atlantic.



Live:
In a 1968 concert souvenir booklet this tune was longlisted as being part of the band's live repertoire. 

Bag's Guitar Blues (With Milt Jackson)

Compilation album: Pure Genius: The Complete Atlantic Recordings, Atlantic, 2005 (1952-1959).

Recorded on 12 September 1957, in New York.

Milt Jackson - guitar, Ray Charles - piano; Billy Mitchell - tenor saxophone; Skeeter Best - guitar; Oscar Pettiford - bass; Connie Kaye - drums.

Boogie Woogie

Compilation album: Pure Genius: The Complete Atlantic Recordings, Atlantic, 2005 (1952-1959), Disk 7.

From the rehearsal session with Ahmet Ertegun, on 10 May 1953.

Carryin' That Load

Single (B): Atlantic 2174, December 1962, b/w Feelin' Sad.
Compilation album: Pure Genius: The Complete Atlantic Recordings, Atlantic, 2005 (1952-1959).

Marcus Belgrave, John Hunt - trumpets; David Newman - tenor saxophone (solo); Bennie Crawford - baritone saxophone; Edgar Willis - bass; Teagle Fleming - drums; The Raelettes.

I Ain't Got Nobody

Compilation album: Pure Genius: The Complete Atlantic Recordings, Atlantic, 2005 (1952-1959).

From the rehearsal session with Ahmet Ertegun, on 10 May 1953, in New York.

I'm Beginning To See The Light

Compilation album: Pure Genius: The Complete Atlantic Recordings, Atlantic/WEA, 20 September 2005.

Undated arrangement briefing for Quincy Jones. The song was not produced.

Lil' Darlin' (With The Ray Charles Septet)

Compilation album: Pure Genius: The Complete Atlantic Recordings, Atlantic/WEA, 20 September 2005 (DVD with Newport 1960 concert).

"An unusually slow instrumental from the Basie Book", warned Willis Connover in his introduction to the 1960 performance of the tune.

With Ray Charles - piano; Phil Guilbeau - trumpet, John Hunt - flugelhorn; Hank Crawford - alto saxophone; David Fathead Newman - tenor saxophone; Leroy Cooper - baritone saxophone; Edgar Willis - bass; Milton Turner - drums.
Solos by Ray Charles - p, John Hunt - flh, Phil Guilbeau - tp, David Newman - ts, Hank Crawford - as.

The same line-up (with only Milt Turner replaced by Brono Carr) performed the tune as brilliantly at all four concerts in Antibes, in July 1961. It's still a riddle to me how the camera men succeeded in missing it all four times.

Newport 1960:


Live:
'60 LC Newport - Released
'61 LC Antibes - 4x

Little Rock Getaway

Compilation album: Pure Genius: The Complete Atlantic Recordings, Atlantic, 2005 (1952-1959), Disk 7.

From the rehearsal session with Ahmet Ertegun, on 10 May 1953, in New York.

Low Society Blues

Compilation album: Pure Genius: The Complete Atlantic Recordings, Atlantic, 2005 (1952-1959).

From the rehearsal session with Ahmet Ertegun, on 10 May 1953. Released on Disk 7 (3 tracks) of the Pure Genius box set (titled Low Society).

Ray knew the tune from Lowell Fulson, probably by performing it with him in the period they toured together.

Piano Improvisations (Not Titled)

Compilation album: Pure Genius: The Complete Atlantic Recordings, Atlantic, 2005 (1952-1959), Disk 7 (4 tracks).

From the rehearsal session with Ahmet Ertegun, on 10 May 1953, in New York.

Swanee River Rock (Talkin' 'Bout That River)

Ad from Billboard, 
7 October 1957. 

Single (A): Atlantic 1154, August 1957 b/w I Want A Little Girl.
Compilation (studio and Newport versions): Pure Genius, Atlantic/WEA, 20 September 2005.

Recorded on 28 May 1957 in New York with Joe Bridgewater, Ricky Harper - tp; David Newman - as, ts; Emmett Dennis - bs; William Peeples - d; Edgar Willis - b. Mary Ann Fisher, The Cookies - background vocals.

Ad from New York
Amsterdam News, Nov. '57.

The song was also recorded at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1958. It was not included in the eponymous live album, but - in an edited form - was added to the Yes Indeed elpee.

Live:
According to concert souvenir booklets from the late Sixties, this number was also part of the live repertoire at that time, but no recordings with the band from this period have surfaced.

'58 LC Newport - Original unreleased; edited version on album Yes Indeed, Atlantic 8025, October 1958.
'86 TV Fats (with Jerry Lee Lewis & Fats Domino ) - Released

Studio 1957 / Newport 1958 (edited):
 

The Story (With Ray Charles Septet)

Compilation album (DVD): Pure Genius: The Complete Atlantic Recordings, Atlantic/WEA, 20 September 2005.


The tune was written by tenor saxophonist James Moody and arranged by Ray Charles. The small band first played it at the 1960 Newport Festival. Hank Crawford played it on his first album, More Soul, played with the small band ex Ray. In 1961 they showcased it twice during the Antibes festival.
Much later, they performed it again with the reunited small band for the Saturday Night Live special in 1977, Ray taking the solo on alto sax.

Newport July 1960 line-up (not on Pure Genius DVD!):
Ray Charles - piano; Phil Guilbeau - trumpet; John Hunt - flugelhorn; Hank Crawford - alto saxophone; David Fathead Newman - tenor saxophone; Leroy Cooper - baritone saxophone; Edgar Willis - bass; Milt Turner - drums.

More Soul October 1960 line-up:
Phil Guilbeau; John Hunt - trumpets; Hank Crawford - alto saxophone, piano; David Fathead Newman - tenor saxophone; Leroy Cooper - baritone saxophone; Edgar Willis - bass; Milt Turner - drums.

Antibes 1961 line-up:
Ray Charles - piano; Phil Guilbeau; John Hunt - trumpets; Hank Crawford - alto saxophone;  David Fathead Newman - tenor saxophone; Leroy Cooper - baritone saxophone; Edgar Willis - bass; Bruno Carr - drums.

SNL 1977 line-up:
Ray Charles - piano, alto saxophone; Phil Guilbeau; Marcus Belgrave - trumpets; Hank Crawford - alto saxophone; David Newman - tenor saxophone; Leroy Cooper - baritone saxophone; Unidentified player nicknamed "Hounddog" - guitar; Steve Beskrone - bass, Gregg Field - drums;

From Hank Crawford, More Soul, Atlantic 1356, 1961; recorded on 7 October 1960:


Antibes 1961 (first version starts at 0:56):


Live:
'60 LC Newport
'61 LC Antibes - 2x
'77 TV Saturday

Unfinished Song

Compilation album: Pure Genius, Atlantic/WEA, 20 September 2005.

Named "Unknown Title" in Pure Genius' liner notes. Just a few slivers of lyrics and some chords; probably an unfinished original song. From the rehearsal session with Ahmet Ertegun (New York, 1953).

Worried Life Blues (Someday Baby)

Single (B): ABC 10118, May 1960, b/w Sticks And Stones.
Compilation album: Pure Genius, Atlantic/WEA, 20 September 2005.
Compilation album: Singular Genius, Concord Records, 15 November 2011.

Worried Life Blues is one of the most 'waxed' blues songs of all time, first recorded by Major "Big Maceo" Merriweather in 1941 (Bluebird 8827). It was inspired by Someday Baby Blues, recorded by Sleepy John Estes in 1935 (Decca 7279). Over the years the differences between the numbers blurred into something new through various cover versions, which - in the best tradition of the blues - used elements from both, often with new lyrics and variations in the music.
Ray knew the song well. His interpretation was first only known because he put it out as a B-side to his hit single Sticks And Stones, which in 1961 scored #40 on the Billboard Pop Chart, and #2 on the R&B chart. When Atlantic in 2005 compiled Pure Genius, and added a few early rehearsal files to that box set, it became clear that he had already played (with) it in 1953.

The (talking) voice in the ABC version was producer Sid Feller's (also see comments).

ABC (Los Angeles, 1960):


Atlantic (New York 1953):


Live:
According to a concert souvenir booklet from c. 1962, this number was part of the live repertoire then, but no recordings have surfaced.

Pure Genius: The Complete Atlantic Recordings (1952-1959)

DISC 1

1. The Sun's Gonna Shine Again (Remastered LP Version)
2. Roll With My Baby (Remastered LP Version)
3. The Midnight Hour (Remastered LP Version)
4. Jumpin' In The Morning (Remastered LP Version)
5. It Should've Been Me (Remastered Version)
6. Losing Hand (Remastered Version)
7. Heartbreaker (Remastered LP Version)
8. Sinner's Prayer (Remastered LP Version)
9. Mess Around (Remastered Version)
10. Funny (But I Still Love You) (Remastered LP Version)
11. Feelin' Sad (Remastered LP Version)
12. I Wonder Who (Remastered LP Version)
13. Don't You Know (Remastered Version)
14. Nobody Cares (Remastered LP Version)
15. Ray's Blues (Remastered LP Version)
16. I Got A Break Baby (aka Mr. Charles' Blues; remastered LP Version)
17. Blackjack (Remastered Version)
18. I've Got A Woman (Remastered Version)
19. Greenbacks (Remastered Version)
20. Come Back Baby (Remastered LP Version)
21. A Fool For You (Remastered Version)
22. This Little Girl Of Mine (Remastered Version)
23. Hard Times (No One Knows Better Than I) (Remastered Version)
24. Blues Hangover (aka A Bit Of Soul) (Remastered LP Version)
25. Mary Ann (Remastered Version)
26. Drown In My Own Tears (Remastered Version)
27. Hallelujah I Love Her So (Remastered Version)
28. What Would I Do Without You (Remastered Version)

DISC 2

1. Dawn Ray (Remastered LP Version)
2. The Man I Love (Remastered LP Version)
3. Music, Music, Music (Remastered LP Version)
4. Black Coffee (Remastered LP Version)
5. Lonely Avenue (Remastered Version)
6. I Want To Know (Remastered Single/LP Version)
7. Leave My Woman Alone (Remastered Version)
8. The Ray (Remastered LP Version)
9. I Surrender Dear (Remastered LP Version)
10. Hornful Soul (Remastered LP Version)
11. Ain't Misbehavin' (Remastered LP Version)
12. Joy Ride (Remastered LP Version)
13. Sweet Sixteen Bars (Remastered LP Version)
14. Doodlin' (Remastered LP Version)
15. There's No You (Remastered LP Version)
16. Undecided (Remastered LP Version)
17. My Melancholy Baby (Remastered LP Version)
18. It's Alright (Remastered Version)
19. Ain't That Love (Remastered Version)

DISC 3

1. Rockhouse (Parts 1 & 2) (Remastered Version)
2. Get On The Right Track Baby (Remastered Single/LP Version)
3. Swanee River Rock (Talkin' 'Bout That River) (Remastered Version)
4. That's Enough (Remastered Version)
5. Talkin' About You (Remastered Single/LP Version)
6. What Kind Of Man Are You (Remastered Single/LP Version)
7. I Want A Little Girl (Remastered Single/LP Version)
8. How Long Blues (with Milt Jackson) (Remastered LP Version)
9. Cosmic Ray (with Milt Jackson) (Remastered LP Version)
10. The Genius After Hours (with Milt Jackson) (Remastered Album Version)
11. Charlesville (with Milt Jackson) (Remastered LP Version)
12. Bags Of Blues (with Milt Jackson) (Remastered LP Version)
13. 'Deed I Do (with Milt Jackson) (Remastered LP Version)
14. Blue Funk (with Milt Jackson) (Remastered LP Version)
15. Soul Brothers (with Milt Jackson) (Remastered LP Version)

DISC 4

1. Bag's Guitar Blues (with Milt Jackson) (Remastered Mono LP Version)
2. Yes Indeed! (Remastered Single/LP Version)
3. I Had A Dream (Remastered Single/LP Version)
4. You Be My Baby (Remastered Single/LP Version)
5. Tell All The World About You (Remastered Single/LP Version)
6. My Bonnie (Remastered Single/LP Version)
7. Soul Meeting (Remastered LP Version)
8. Hallelujah I Love Her So (with Milt Jackson) (Remastered LP Version)
9. Blue Genius (with Milt Jackson) (Remastered LP Version)
10. X-Ray Blues (with Milt Jackson) (Remastered Version)
11. Love On My Mind (with Milt Jackson) (Remastered LP Version)
12. The Spirit - Feel (Remastered Live At Newport Jazz)
13. Blues Waltz (Remastered Live At Newport Jazz)
14. In A Little Spanish Town (Remastered Live At Newport Jazz)
15. Sherry (Remastered Live At Newport Jazz; Edit)
16. Night Time Is The Right Time (Remastered Live at Newport Jazz)
17. A Fool For You (Remastered Live At Newport Jazz)

DISC 5

1. I've Got A Woman (Remastered Live At Newport Jazz)
2. Talkin' 'Bout You (Remastered Live At Newport Jazz)
3. Swanee River Rock (Remastered Live At Newport Jazz)
4. Yes Indeed! (Remastered Live at Newport Jazz Version)
5. Early In The Morning (Remastered Single/LP Version)
6. Night Time Is The Right Time (Remastered LP Version)
7. Carryin' That Load (Remastered Single Version)
8. Carryin' That Load (Remastered LP Version)
9. Tell Me How Do You Feel (Remastered LP Version)
10. Fathead (with David 'Fathead' Newman) (Remastered LP Version)
11. Tin Tin Deo (with David 'Fathead' Newman) (Remastered LP Version)
12. Bill For Bennie (with David 'Fathead' Newman) (Remastered LP Version)
13. Hard Times (with David 'Fathead' Newman) (Remastered LP Version)
14. Mean To Me (with David 'Fathead' Newman) (Remastered LP Version)
15. Sweet Eyes (with David 'Fathead' Newman) (Remastered LP Version)
16. Weird Beard (with David 'Fathead' Newman) (Remastered LP Version)
17. Willow Weep For Me (with David 'Fathead' Newman) (Remastered LP Version)
18. Tell The Truth (Remastered Version)
19. What'd I Say Parts I & II (Remastered Mono LP Version)

DISC 6

1. What'd I Say, Parts I & II (Remastered Stereo LP Version)
2. Tell Me You'll Wait For Me (Remastered LP Version)
3. Come Rain Or Come Shine (Remastered LP Version)
4. Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying (Remastered Version)
5. Just For A Thrill (Remastered Version)
6. You Won't Let Me Go (Remastered LP Version)
7. Am I Blue (Remastered LP Version)
8. The Spirit - Feel (Remastered Live, 1959)
9. Frenesi (Remastered Live, 1959) 
10. Tell The Truth (Remastered Live, 1959)
11. Drown In My Own Tears (Remastered Live, 1959)
12. Night Time Is The Right Time (Remastered Live, 1959)
13. What I'd Say (Remastered Live, 1959)
14. Let The Good Times Roll (Remastered Version)
15. Alexander's Ragtime Band (Remastered LP Version)
16. 'Deed I Do (Remastered LP Version)
17. When Your Lover Has Gone (Remastered LP Version)
18. Two Years Of Torture (Remastered LP Version)
19. It Had To Be You (Remastered LP Version)
20. I'm Movin' On (Remastered Version)
21. I Believe To My Soul (Remastered Version) 

DISC 7*

1. Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun, 1953)
2. Unknown Title (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun, 1953)
3. Piano Improvisation & Dialog #1 (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun, 1953)
4. Losing Hand & Dialog #1 (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun, 1953)
5. Little Rock Getaway & Dialog (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun, 1953)
6. Kentucky Waltz (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun, 1953)
7. Heartbreaker (Instrumental Version) (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun, 1953)
8. Heartbreaker & Dialog (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun, 1953)
9. Piano Improvisation & Dialog #2 (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun, 1953)
10. Heartbreaker (False Starts 1-2) (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun, 1953)
11. Losing Hand & Dialog #2 (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun, 1953)
12. Losing Hand & Dialog #3 (w/reverb) (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun, 1953)
13. Losing Hand & Dialog #4 (w/reverb) (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun, 1953)
14. Heartbreaker (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun, 1953)
15. It Should've Been Me & Dialog (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun, 1953)
16. I Ain't Got Nobody (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun, 1953)
17. Piano Improvisation & Dialog #3 (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun, 1953)
18. Mess Around (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun, 1953)
19. Funny (But I Still Love You) (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun, 1953)
20. Sinner's Prayer (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun, 1953)
21. Piano Improvisation & Dialog #4 (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun, 1953)
22. Low Society & Dialog #1 (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun, 1953)
23. Boogie Woogie (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun, 1953)
24. Low Society & Dialog #2 (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun, 1953)
25. Worried Life Blues (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun, 1953)
26. Come Back Baby & Dialog (Walter Davis Version) (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun, 1953)
27. Low Society (Rehearsal Session with Ahmet Ertegun, 1953)
28. Night Time Is The Right Time (Takes 1-7 Recording Session, 1958) & Dialog
29. Tell Me How Do You Feel (Take 1 Recording Session, 1958)
30. Dialog (Ray's Arrangement Suggestions)
31. It Had To Be You & Dialog (Ray's Arrangement Suggestions)
32. My Buddy & Dialog (Ray's Arrangement Suggestions)
33. Dialog (Ray's Arrangement Suggestions)
34. When Your Lover Has Gone & Dialog (Ray's Arrangement Suggestions)
35. I'm Beginning to See The Light (Ray's Arrangement Suggestions)
36. Let The Good Times Roll & Dialog (Ray's Arrangement Suggestions)

DVD

1. Lil' Darlin' (Live At The Newport Jazz Festival, 1960) (Video)
2. Blues Waltz (Live At Newport Jazz) (Video)
3. Let The Good Times Roll (Live At The Newport Jazz Festival, 1960) (Video)
4. Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying (Live At The Newport Jazz Festival, 1960) (Video)
5. Sticks And Stones (Live At The Newport Jazz Festival, 1960) (Video)
6. My Baby! (I Love Her, Yes I Do) (Live At The Newport Jazz Festival, 1960) (Video)
7. Drown In My Own Tears (Live At The Newport Jazz Festival, 1960) (Video)
8. What'd I Say (Live at the Newport Jazz Festival, 1960) (Video)
9. I Believe To My Soul (Live at The Newport Jazz Festival, 1960) (Video)

• Interview with Ahmet Ertegun 

Seven takes of Night Time Is The Right Time (Disk 7, #28):

Read this for the story on how a copy of the outtakes survived in Jerry Wexler's private collection.

Boxset: Atlantic/WEA, 20 September 2005, ASIN: B000A7KL7U.

* On 16 July 2004, in memory of Ray, rock historian Ed Ward gave a guided tour of the Ray Charles studio rehearsal tapes on WHYY:

Michael Johnson, co-reissue producer of The Complete Country And Western Recordings 1959 - 1986, wrote: 

I remember meeting Ray Charles on a Saturday morning at his RPM International studio on Washington Blvd.The previous day I had taken possession of Ray's complete master reels from the Atlantic tape library, which were sent from Manhattan. It was my great responsibility and honor to deliver these reels, which were to be incorporated into Ray's personal tape vault.I arrived and pushed the backdoor buzzer, when, to my surprise, it was Ray himself who appeared at the door, in his stocking feet. After carefully hoofing the boxes up the steep stairs, around a few tight turns, it became rather obvious the only folks in the building were Ray and myself. I recall it being a warm day and the studio air was stuffy. I thought to myself, that's why he wasn't wearing shoes.Ray returned to stand behind the massive mixing board in the center of the room, with his coffee cup (a large beer stein) set exactly where he had left it, as I unloaded the reels.I somewhat nervously began a conversation with him. "What happened to your shoes, Ray?"Without missing a beat, he replied, "Man, don't you know nothin' 'bout recording?!" Then, almost whispering, his mouth curled with his trademark grin, he said "I don't want the sound of my shoes hitting the floor to be heard on the tape.""Now, what do you have there?"I begin to read song titles off the tape boxes -- familiar titles that we shared like a common friend we both knew and loved -- when I come across a label dated 5/10/53. Ray said, "Hand that to me." He slid down into his office chair and rolled backwards, snagging the box from me. He pulled out the tape and spooled it on a reel-to-reel machine behind him in seconds flat.There was a moment of silence as the leader passed over the playback head. Then, we were transported back in time, to a rehearsal session with Ahmet Ertegun in New York forty-six years earlier.What can I say? It was a thrilling moment, certainly a life-long memory, underscored only by the incredible joy of watching and listening to Ray sing along.As I later read aloud more song titles, we came across an Atlantic “45 RPM comp” tape of Ray and other label artists grafted onto a 12-inch reel, I mentioned a song title there by LaVern Baker. Ray began to sing a couple verses and the chorus of Tweedlee Dee.