Hard as it is to go wrong when shopping for a Brother Ray package, some career-spanning compilations bundle the decades better than others. Count this one, true to its title, among the very best. The track sequencing is straight-up chronological, opening with 1954's groundbreaking blues and gospel mingling "I've Got a Woman." From there it charges through the late-'50s Atlantic era, rounding up classic singles like "Hallelujah (I Love Her So)," "(Night Time Is) The Right Time," and "What'd I Say." By the time the disc lands us in the '60s, the Genius has saddled up to explore his country side, turning in such popular-music-altering hits as "Georgia on My Mind" and "I Can't Stop Loving You." A final cut jumps into the '80s for the Willie Nelson duet "Seven Spanish Angels," leaving the listener with a solid--and deeply satisfying--sense of Charles' bold artistic wanderings. All that's missing is his soul-dunked rendition of "America the Beautiful." -Tammy La Gorce

~Amazon :
I have always admired Ray Charles. What a towering, soulful voice the man had, not to mention his brilliant keyboard playing. And, of course, all those great hit songs. But it wasn't until I saw the movie about Charles' life, simply called "Ray," that it dawned on me what a true innovator Charles was also. He really did lay down the blueprint for many soul acts to follow, doing things with the musical form that no one else had done before. This CD, "The Very Best Of Ray Charles," is a brilliant overview of Ray's most beloved work. These are fabulous songs, all of them, including classics like "I Got A Woman," "Hallelujah I Love Her So," "(Night Time Is) The Right Time" (a winning blues-popper featuring Margie Hendricks on co-lead vocals), "Hit The Road Jack," and the full-length version of the call-and-response smash "What I'd Say," with a brilliant performance from Charles on vocals and on his newly-acquired Wurlitzer keyboard. But it doesn't stop there---there's also the lovely ballads "Georgia On My Mind" and "I Can't Stop Loving You," an amazing soul re-working of the standard "You Are My Sunshine," the sultry "Unchain My Heart," the lyrically-daring "Let's Go Get Stoned," and a hot instrumental showcase for Charles, "One Mint Julep," with a scorching performance on organ. If you're new to Ray Charles' music, "The Very Best Of Ray Charles" is the perfect CD to start your collection with. God bless you, Brother Ray.

Tracklist:

CD1
01. Hallelujah I Love Her So
02. Iâ??ve Got A Woman
03. Mess Around
04. Heartbreaker
05. It Shouldâ??ve Been Me
06. Donâ??t You Know
07. Blackjack
08. This Litte Girl Of Mine
09. Drown In My Own Tears
10. Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand
11. Kissa Me Baby
12. Back Home (Instrumental)
13. Let Me Hear You Call My Name
14. Hey Now
15. Baby Wonâ??t You Please Come Home
16. Why Did You Go?
17. Walkinâ?? And Talkinâ??
18. Iâ??m Glad For Your Sake
19. The Ego Song
20. The Snow Is Falling

CD2
01. See See Rider
02. Iâ??ve Had My Fun
03. What Have I Done?
04. Honey Honey
05. Sheâ??s on the Ball
06. Ainâ??t That Fine
07. Donâ??t Put All Your Dreams into One Basket
08. How Long Blues
09. Youâ??ll Never Miss the Water (Until the Wellâ??s Gone Dry)
10. Iâ??ll Do Anything But Work
11. Misery in My Heart
12. Blues Before Sunrise
13. A Sentimental Blues
14. If I Give You My Love
15. Canâ??t You See My Darling
16. This Love of Mine
17. Letâ??s Have a Ball
18. Alone in This City
19. Confession Blues
20. Sittinâ?? on Top of the World