Ray Charles' complete Atlantic recs. due out 9/20

[J.A.W.]

Just saw this on another board:

Rhino will release an 8CD-set with Ray Charles' entire Atlantic Records catalog on September 20, to commemorate what would have been his 75th birthday. The title of the box is Ray Charles Pure Genius: The Complete Atlantic Recordings (1952-1959) and it includes nearly nine hours of music and 165 tracks, highlighted by a disc of 27 unreleased or rare cuts.

CDUniverse has a tracklisting. Their pre-ordering price is $111.47.

According to CDUniverse "PURE GENIUS comes packaged in a '50s-inspired record-player case and contains a bonus DVD featuring live concert footage and an exclusive interview with producer Ahmet Ertegun. Liner Note Authors: Ahmet Ertegun; David Ritz. Recording information: 1952 - 1959."

[Big Wheel]

Holy crap!

$111 is still a lot, though...almost Mosaic-box expense. I wonder if other places will have the set for a bit less.

[Edward]

Just under $14.00 per disc is probably the best price that you are going to get until after Christmas. One can hope that after Christmas this set becomes available through BMG Music Club and/or YourMusic.com.

Thanks for posting this, Hans.

[Chuck Nessa]

Thanks for posting this, Hans.

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Great news indeed. Thanks.

[brownie]

The best Ray Charles was on Atlantic. This box looks mighty tempting!

[Adam]

Huzzah!

Edited August 14, 2005 by Adam

[Noj]

How much different will this be from the Birth Of Soul Atlantic box?

[J.A.W.]

How much different will this be from the Birth Of Soul Atlantic box?

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The Birth of Soul box only included Charles' R&B sides, the new box will include everything he recorded for Atlantic, such as the jazz sides.

[Noj]

Thanks Hans. Figures, I just bought the Birth Of Soul box a few months ago. Sigh.

[Guy Berger]

Question: how much of this stuff is available separately, and on how many discs?

2nd question: how much of the "essential" stuff is available separately, and on how many discs?

Just trying to figure out whether getting the box is the best route in this case.

Guy

[JSngry]

How much different will this be from the Birth Of Soul Atlantic box?

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The Birth of Soul box only included Charles' R&B sides, the new box will include everything he recorded for Atlantic, such as the jazz sides.

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Well, not everything. Ray returned to the lable for four albums in the 1970s. I have the first three. They're all a mixed bag, but when they're good, they're very good. The first one, True To Life, is easily the strongest (there's a version of "How Long Has This Been Going On" on there that is Sesert Island Material). The following two are much more variable/erratic, and by the tiem the fourth one came out, I decided to pass.

[Harold_Z]

Also - the two live lps didn't make "The Birth Of Soul" box.

[Harold_Z]

I'm referring to

"In Person" Atlantic 1039. This contains the classic live Drown In My Own tears cut.

"At Newport" Atlantic 1289 with the equally classic A Fool For You.

[jazzbo]

Guy, an awful lot of the material IS out on cd, if you don't have it though, it's worth considering this box set as the compacting of sides will mean LESS cds overall to buy, some of which are really only available as imports. . . .

An amazing body of work!

[jazzbo]

I would really rather see these done differently though, along the lines of the EXCELLENT Crown lp reissue series that Ace is doing of the B.B. King Crown and Kent and RPM material. That way you'd have original lp covers, etc.

[Jim Alfredson]

Guess what I'm asking my wife as a gift for Christmas?

Great news!

[paul secor]

Good news. It does piss me off that record companies sell the same stuff over and over, just adding some extras each time. That said, it's our choice whether to buy or not.

[Guy Berger]

Guy, an awful lot of the material IS out on cd, if you don't have it though, it's worth considering this box set as the compacting of sides will mean LESS cds overall to buy, some of which are really only available as imports. . . .

That's my main consideration -- 8 CDs implies at least a dozen albums, so I'm guessing the box is a better value. Thanks Lon.

Guy

[J.A.W.]

How much different will this be from the Birth Of Soul Atlantic box?

←

The Birth of Soul box only included Charles' R&B sides, the new box will include everything he recorded for Atlantic, such as the jazz sides.

←

Well, not everything. Ray returned to the lable for four albums in the 1970s. I have the first three. They're all a mixed bag, but when they're good, they're very good. The first one, True To Life, is easily the strongest (there's a version of "How Long Has This Been Going On" on there that is Sesert Island Material). The following two are much more variable/erratic, and by the tiem the fourth one came out, I decided to pass.

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I meant everything in the 1952-1959 period mentioned in my first post. Apparently that wasn't clear.

[J.A.W.]

Also -  the two live lps didn't make "The Birth Of Soul" box.

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OK, I guess I should have mentioned that. The Birth of Soul box includes mostly studio recordings.

[Jazzmoose]

The cool thing about this box for me is that my other half loves Ray at least as much as I do...so we'll probably team up on this one. I'll get it for half price!

[John L]

I would really rather see these done differently though, along the lines of the EXCELLENT  Crown lp reissue series that Ace is doing of the B.B. King Crown and Kent and RPM material.  That way you'd have original lp covers, etc.

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Lon: I started buying into the BB King series, but then got too confused to continue. I have a number of the Crown LPs and about 5 of the new CDs. Now, when I see all the covers of the new CDs in the stores, my head spins around. Do I already have it on CD, or maybe on LP, or maybe it is just that the cover is very familiar from seeing it for so many years?

I've never had that problem before and I don't like carrying around "want lists" or "already have lists" with me in record stores. If it gets to that point, I figure that it is just not worth continuing to buy.

[jazzbo]

Well, I don't know who's fault THAT is. . . they're using the original covers on the series which is what I would/do want them to do. . . .

What's kept me straight I guess is that I have been buying them as they come out, and on the top back left each says "The ***th in the series of reissues of the Crown LPs. . ." of some such phrase. They have released eight so far, and there is one more to come. An excellent series covering an incredible period in B. B.'s recording career.

Also. . . I have some of the lps too. . .they sound like warmed over crap compared to these cds!

Edited August 15, 2005 by jazzbo

[king ubu]

This is great news, indeed! (But with that Jelly Roll, it will be quite hard...)

...

The first one, True To Life, is easily the strongest (there's a version of "How Long Has This Been Going On" on there that is Sesert Island Material). ...

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I hear ya! I heard a live version of this one, with Johnny Coles soloing... WHOAH! From 1976, I think. Pity I just sent the Maupin...

[Jazzmoose]

I've never had that problem before and I don't like carrying around "want lists" or "already have lists" with me in record stores.  If it gets to that point, I figure that it is just not worth continuing to buy.   

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I felt that way too, until I hit my midforties...