Ray Charles
The Very Best Of

"It is exactly 5:00 PM, the sky is dark outside, the temperature is low, and the only thing I can see from the window is a leafless tree. The rain is pouring down while the wind blows the plants on the balcony back and forth. I'm drinking yet another cup of chocolate and my mood is in the dumps. I start browsing through my father's CDs and find 'The best of Ray Charles', I put it in the stereo and start listening to it."

"I've got a woman": it is a very carefree track, it lifts my spirits a bit. Those background trumpets add an extra touch of cheerfulness to this sad day. The lyrics, if I'm not mistaken, say 'I've got a woman and she gives me money when I need it', and lucky you, Ray. I wish I could find a woman like that. I must say that this song brings a smile to my face. Unfortunately, the song lasts less than 3 minutes.

"I down the third cup of chocolate and turn off the lights to create more atmosphere. This musical harmony manages to detach me from the usual hard daily routine. The phone rings, I have no idea who it could be, maybe it's my friend calling to invite me over to his place to play, but I don't feel like answering. Today, I don't want to be available for anyone, and in the meantime, the second song begins..."

"A Fool For You": damn, I love this music so much it relaxes me to no end. How sweet this song is, everything seems superfluous now. I'm focused on that undulating series of notes that captivate my mind. I understand why they call Ray Charles "The Genius." I want to close my eyes and rest, an extremely relaxing song, unfortunately, this song also ends.

"I look at the CD cover for a bit, now there should be a song called 'Drown My Tears'. Meanwhile, I start to look at her pictures, she's really cute, and this music manages to make everything sweeter. Please, I don't want all of this to end. What started as a rainy day is turning into a relaxing day written just for me. In fact, I don't want to be disturbed by anyone, and I even unplug the phone."

"Drown My Tears": dry my tears, yes dry my tears. Finding someone who dries your tears in life must be wonderful, always having someone who says 'don't worry, I'm here' would be a miracle, as is this song: sweet and slow, the trumpets speak to me gently and put me in a deep state of harmony, a very well-paced and very particular song. Guys, the rain doesn't stop pouring, I'll need Ray Charles a lot today."

"So now 'Hallelujah I Love Her So' starts, speaking of Love my phone is ringing, I forgot to turn it off. It's her, I won't answer tonight, I want to be consistent, tonight I want to be just for me. I know we'll argue tomorrow, but I let the phone ring, no more chocolate, I'm going to make myself a hot coffee while 'Hallelujah I Love Her So' plays."

"Hallelujah I Love Her So": this song is very joyful and happy, Ray's playful side comes out, a cheerful and carefree song that makes me immediately forget that I didn't answer her call. It seems like Ray wants to laugh and have fun, this series of cheerful notes accompanies each other arm in arm until they are lost in my eardrums, a truly beautiful song that clashes with the gloomy sky outside. Phew, let's hope the weather isn't like this tomorrow as well."

"Here is my steaming coffee, ah the aroma of coffee... delicious, here comes another song, let's see this time what dreamy dimension Ray Charles's genius will take me to."

"(Night Time) The Right Time": what a beautiful song, these female choruses are very relaxing, and then the atmosphere created by trumpets and percussion makes me think of a 40s nightclub. I believe the combination of Ray Charles and a good coffee is the best one can do on a rainy day, another wonderful song, it's my first time listening to Ray Charles, and I'm being blown away, let's move on."

"Outside, the cars rush frantically in the traffic, and I, in the face of all those who rush and hurry taken by routine, too immersed in their affairs to stop for a moment and admire this wonderful world, I feel 'What'd I Say'"

"What'd I Say": damn it, this song with its fast and cheerful drum rhythm makes me think of traffic, and the piano reminds me of the 'plin plin' of raindrops. This song is a perfect picture of what's happening tonight on the streets, very beautiful and truly exceptional. I think I'll lean out the window finishing sipping this delicious coffee that's almost gone."

"I decide to give my stomach a break from drinking one beverage after another. I stop to think about everything happening to me these days, I start thinking about her, about my band, and caught up in this torment of thoughts, I don't realize it has become completely dark"

"Sticks and Stones": this song starts very quickly, new harmonies and new emotions pervade me, the piano manages to perform small musical miracles, and these female choirs are truly beautiful and heavenly. Now the only light in the room is what comes from outside, one couldn't wish for a better atmosphere.

"But I know this one, it's 'Georgia On My Mind', apologies, but here, influenced by this magic and this pathos, I have to stop to look at her eyes in this photo, what a beautiful girl and what harmonies of sounds with this song, today only I in the city am living this magic"

"Georgia On My Mind": simply celestial, a song that needs no comments, Ray's masterpiece

"Angel wings surround me now while an intoxicating and subtle scent captivates me, I close my eyes and enjoy 'Hit The Road Jack'.

"Hit The Road Jack": damn, what a song, it's beautiful, pure blues, those choirs then captivate me, beautiful, I want to listen to it again, oh God, but it is truly beautiful, the winds manage to create a New York bar atmosphere from the late 40s, and the atmosphere now illuminates everything with a dark blue."

"I sit for a moment and fixate on an empty point in the room, what a special period, I've met a wonderful girl, I'm on perfect terms with my family, school is going well, to think that until October my life was something pathetic and now everything is so beautiful, it's about to start 'Unchain My Heart', I've heard it in Joe Cocker's version, but I'm curious to hear it sung by Ray"

"Unchain My Heart": I bow to the genius of Soul and Blues Ray Charles, what heavenly harmonies and sounds, this sax and these trumpets that provide me a cloud to sit on and enjoy this yet another wonder, I'm sorry this song must end because it is poetry in music."

"The wind has calmed, but the tree in front of me continues to sway under the last spirals of breeze while Jim Morrison looks at me dreamily from the poster, the rain has flooded the entire street, but I'm too busy dreaming now to think about the fact that tomorrow morning the garage will be flooded along with my entire drum set"

"I Can't Stop Loving You": I can't stop loving you, I haven't said this phrase to her yet, I write it down on a slip of paper and listen to this wonderful song. If I'm not mistaken, it was included in a commercial, anyway, it's beautiful, it enlightens my mind, these notes merge together forming one big light, I enlighten myself immensely (I don't recall who wrote this poetry), what a beautiful song with these so seraphic choirs, very beautiful, I must remember to download it to mp3."

"Unfortunately, only 4 songs are left till the end, this dream is about to end, a note on the computer reminds me I need to buy new parts for my Fender Stratocaster tomorrow, and that in a few days I'll have my chemistry exam, damn routine follows me everywhere, but luckily there's my Ray to relax me"

"You're My Sunshine": the harmonious series of notes produced by Mr. Charles instantly enters my ears and is perfect, in this case as well it is a sensation of light that opens my mind, how beautiful, one of the best of the whole collection, now yes, I close my eyes for a moment and relax."

"Guys, I am so tired, I open the black shirt I bought some time ago, it's 7:00; I should have gone to William's house to play by now, but I don't care, this CD is about to end and I don't want to miss a single song, I'm too happy"

"Busted": oh, here the trumpets begin to sound wonderful notes, the drums blend with all the music, the song is catchy and enchanting, I'm really liking it, it too is very carefree and doesn't suit this rainy day, what a show, what a beautiful song."

"How long has it been since I read a book? Perhaps months, it's time then to start one right away, I've always been curious about 'Tolkien', now I almost start reading it and while browsing the yellow pages, a new harmonious musical poem begins"

"Let's Go Get Stoned": again, there's not much to say, what a beautiful track, it sounds like an anthem to life with its clear and limpid sounds, then there's a female voice with Ray that sings beautifully. I lie down on the little couch and start losing myself again in my beloved dreamscapes."

"I start formulating philosophical questions in my head like, who are we? Why do we live? But in the end, I realize that even if I had the answers, it wouldn’t change a damn thing, and life would go on normally, the last song is about to end the dream"

"Seven Spanish Angels": a beautiful guitar intro introduces me to the last track of the CD, a song that doesn't decline in the least, a grandiose album, a song with country and very folk tones, I enjoy it to the last note."

"The dream is over, the magician has finished, I reconnect the phones, button up my shirt, and smile happily having enjoyed all of this."

I apologize to DeBaser if the review is not to your liking, but I preferred to tell the story of a Ray Charles album this way, considering it completely redundant to state how beautiful his songs are and how great Ray is. I recounted a snippet of my day and also included my small thought on a beautiful album. I hope you like it. Greetings to everyone and W Ray Charles