The Masterâ„¢

Before his untimely death earlier this year, Ray Charles was doing an album of duets with a whole host of different musicians...

Don't suppose anyone knows anything about it, or when it might be due for release??? All I seem to be able to find is a "Best of..." album recently released...

Any info would be gratefully received...

Ray Charles will live on as long as Jazz, Blues and (proper) R and B continues to be played!!!

Foxbat

I'm sure that his death will mean a surge of re-releases so you will probably find the album eventually.

While you're looking, BB King released a similar type of album a while back (Deuces High) with many famous musicians and so did John Lee Hooker (The Healer) both these are crammed with music of the highest quality.

R&B will always be Rythmn and Blues to me. I've asked about why this new style is called R&B and have yet to receive a satisfactory answer.

Kids nowadays - they don't know what real music is .......Oh No! I'm starting to sound like my Dad

The Masterâ„¢

As a Dad, I fully appreciate where you are coming from... Some sad wannabe decided to use the R'n'B to try and make a quick buck... But you are right "Rythmn and Blues" can only be the music styling that came through the 40's onwards... Today's R'n'B is just a (not so) glorified rap/hip hop style... No true feeling!!!!

I'll look out for the BB King, J L Hooker ones and there might be a few others too... Are they any good??? Are they classic songs re-done or are they new songs (like Santana did for Supernatural)???

Foxbat

There are some classics on the BB album. There's also a fantastic instrumental on this one called 'Paul's Birthday Boogie' and it features Jools Holland on the old ivories!

JL's tends to be newer compositions (with Santana on board amongst others).

dwndrgn

I heard them talking about it on the radio, but I only heard a bit of it and I got the sense that it has already been released. Maybe it had just been distributed to the radio stations as they played some of them. Cool stuff.

__________________
Some days you're the bug...some days you're the windshield...

McMurphy

I can't help you in the quest for information in regards to a Ray Charles duet album, but I do know of some interesting news about the musician.

There is a film entitled, The Ray, coming out about his life and influence on the music world. Already, the movie is getting Oscar buzz. Here is a link to a page at www.empiremovies.com for more information and, I believe, a place hosting a downloadable version of the trailer.

I hope this is of your interest.