CHARLES, RAY - The Great Ray Charles (Sealed) (LP)

Ray Charles' 1957 album The Great Ray Charles is his second long player for the legendary Atlantic Records. An instrumental jazz album, it was released 2 years before Charles became an international superstar with the hit recording "What'd I Say". Though Charles was already nearly a decade deep into his recording career he'd yet to have a massive hit and was a difficult artist to pin down as his tastes ranged from jazz to pop to R&B. Featuring longtime band member David "Fathead" Newman and with help from the arranging and songwriting genius Quincy Jones, this is a beautiful, swinging, and laid-back jazz album necessary for any fans of Ray.