Last Albums: Ray Charles - Genius Loves Company (2004)

When the final Ray Charles album, Genius Loves Company, was released the duets album by Frank Sinatra immediately came to mind, and because I was disappointed with his effort I wasn't all that excited about Charles's new album.

These kind of projects always seemed like gimmicks to me, especially when I learned that on Sinatra's album the guest vocalists were not in the studio with him when they added their voices to a song. It was obvious why the results were stilted and lacked emotion. Genius Loves Company is very different. Apparently, duetting with Charles live in the studio was quite a privilege so each guest poured their hearts and souls into every note they shared with him.

Michael McDonald possesses a voice I have never cared for but he delivered a surprisingly restrained performance on "Hey Girl." Together, B.B. King and his long-time girlfriend, Lucille, helped out on the appropriately bluesy "Sinners Prayer." Charles and James Taylor turned the latter's "Sweet Potato Pie" into a jazz tune with a full brass section, and the album closed with a live version of Van Morrison's "Crazy Love." Both singers sounded as if they worked together all of their lives.

Johnny Mathis provided a smooth counterpoint to the host's gruff lines on "Over The Rainbow," a song not everybody should sing. Willie Nelson sounded tired on Sinatra's "It Was A Very Good Year," but then, the Red Headed Stranger never does work up a sweat.

On Elton John's "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" Charles's soulful voice makes the song even sadder. Legendary producer Phil Ramone wrote in his autobiography that the most rewarding part of the recording sessions was this duet. Charles said it was the only song he wanted to sing with the British star because he loved singing it previously at a NAMM tribute to John. According to Ramone, the rocker was visibly moved after completing the track's second take. John told him that, "This is one of the most meaningful moments of my recording career." 

Best of all are the five female singers who are perfect on every single one of their contributions. The CD opens with Norah Jones - an outstanding interpreter of other people's songs - alternating lead vocals with the host on "Here We Go Again." (Be sure to catch Billy Preston's B-3 on this one). Diana Krall is her usual sultry self on "You Don't Know Me" and Bonnie Raitt brings both her voice and slide guitar to a perfect take of "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?" Appropriately, Gladys Knight takes a gospel turn with Charles on "Heaven Help Us All," and finally, there is Natalie Cole's upbeat interpretation of "Fever."

According to Ramone, Charles was in very poor health. Shortly before recording began the star was diagnosed with advanced liver disease. The treatments made him very frail, but this didn't stop "Brother Ray" from diving head first into the project.

Charles died just a little over three months after completing Genius Loves Company, and it was released just two months after his passing. The Mathis/Charles take on "Over the Rainbow" was played at the hall-of-famer's funeral.

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Last Albums discusses music that was recorded as new material and intended to be released to the public as a complete album but not necessarily the last one. Live albums, greatest hits or "best of" collections and compilations do not count, nor do posthumous releases of leftover tracks cobbled together to make a final album.

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