Ray Charles – Ray Sings Basie Swings (CD) Grassroots California Label: Mercury Nashville

Label: Mercury Nashville

best known for his work with edgy rockers and hip-hop acts

leaning instead into orchestral arrangements

Battery (5:12)

stands as one of the greatest live rock albums ever recorded—capturing the Allman Brothers Band at absolute peak power during March 1971 performances at Bill Graham's legendary New York venue

Ray Charles – Ray Sings Basie Swings (CD) Grassroots California Label: Mercury NashvilleThe pairing makes complete sense in retrospect: Ray Charles and Count Basie shared a deep roots in blues, swing, and the Black American musical tradition that ran straight through Kansas City and into the soul era. These 1973 vocal sessions sat in the vault for over three decades before finally finding their instrumental counterpart, a reminder that Charles was still operating at the peak of his powers well into that decade. CD reissue of this 2006