Concord to develop & reissue Ray Charles' post-60s

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Just saw this when I visited the Concord site for BFT purposes. Been there since Christmas Eve.

Ray's Spirited Christmas

24 DEC 08 CHRIS SLAWECKIThe first fruit of Concord's exclusive agreement to develop and re-release Ray Charles' post-1960s catalog is the digital-only re-release of his 1985 holiday postcard The Spirit of Christmas.

Perhaps it's no surprise, but the slow burning grooves of Christmas suit Brother Ray just fine. Songs like "Christmas Time" and the contemplative "This Time of Year" nicely match the pain and sweetness in his rough yet tender voice -- the breathy, hushed but no less satisfying sound of appreciating the good times because you've lived through plenty bad.

"That Spirit of Christmas" features not only a great vocal but also a great vocal arrangement, with the chorus' harmonies complementing Charles' longing, yearning voice. "Winter Wonderland" is probably his best vocal on the whole set, accompanied only by (what else?) sleigh bells. His gift for communicating hurt and hope glows brightly through his voice in "Christmas in My Heart."

"The Little Drummer Boy" snapshots Charles' unique blend of gospel and blues, with background pedal steel echoing his famous country and western sound, plus repeated jazzy vamps on the closing line. "Baby, It's Cold Outside," from a great album Charles recorded with Betty Carter, swings the finale jazzy and blue -- brassy, sassy, and fun.

Spirit will be made available in traditional CD outlets in time for your 2009 Christmas.

I'd like to see a twofer of "Jazz 2" and "My kind of jazz 3", for a start. There are other goodies as well, though I don't think I'm terribly fussed over the Christmas album.

MG

[king ubu]

I'd like to see the third Coltrane box... sorry, off-topic, but generally I'm still decidedly pissed at what Concord does with the Fantasy holdings.

[Bill B]

I'd like to see the third Coltrane box... sorry, off-topic, but generally I'm still decidedly pissed at what Concord does with the Fantasy holdings.

Ubu, Concord will be releasing that box in the spring so they tell me. Email in mid-January for more details. Certainly the sessions with Red Garland Nov/Dec 1957 will be included.

[John L]

Good news. There are some real gems tucked away in Ray's later output.

[JSngry]

There was a song, "One Drop Of Love" off of some '90s(?) album that was a perennial favorite of this DJ who played on the push dance gigs I used to work. A gem, just a real gem, although it took a few spins for it to really sink in how much of one it really was.

That DJ had damn good taste, actually, as did the dancers. I learned a lot from all of them, actually.

[JSngry]

Oh, btw, just what are the parameters here? The second Atlantic run (talk about finding some real gems...), Columbia, what all is going to be targeted?

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Concord say nowt more than I posted. Ray owned all his post Atlantic material. But I guess the sixties material has long been signed over to Rhino, who've been bringing (some of) it out.

MG

[medjuck]

I guess "The Genius hits the Road" is pre-1960." First Lp ever stolen from me. I always loved it but don't think I've seen it on cd even though I think it included Georgia on my Mind.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

I guess "The Genius hits the Road" is pre-1960." First Lp ever stolen from me. I always loved it but don't think I've seen it on cd even though I think it included Georgia on my Mind.

Rhino issued it on CD with several bonus tracks (all with a hitting the road title theme: "Sentimental journey"; "Hit the road, Jack"; "Blue moon of Kentucky"; "Rainy night in Georgia"; "I'm movin' on"; "Swanee River rock"; "Lonely Avenue"; which you've got to admit is an inventive set of bonus cuts) as part of the Ray Charles 50th Anniversary celebration. It's out of priont now, but you can get one not too expensive from Amazon UK here

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Genius-Hits-Road-R...1111&sr=1-1

MG

[JSngry]

Still I'm confused (like, what else is new? )

Are we talking about post-Atlantic stuff here, or post-ABC, what Concord will be dealing with?

Or do we just not yet know?

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Still I'm confused (like, what else is new? )

Are we talking about post-Atlantic stuff here, or post-ABC, what Concord will be dealing with?

Or do we just not yet know?

All we know is what Concord have said. They've reissued (or will reissue - that's not clear, either) his 1985 Christmas LP, with I think came out on Columbia.

Watch this space.

MG