#210 Ray Charles, 'The Birth of Soul: The Complete Atlantic Rhythm and Blues Recordings' (1991)

‘The Birth Of Soul’ is a definitive collection including singles and B-Sides released on Atlantic Records between 1952 and 1959. I’m a massive fan of Ray Charles, but one again, a two and a half hour boxset is too much. There’s just so much to pack in, though. As the title suggests, Ray Charles was responsible for the birth of Soul music. Fusing Blues, Jazz, RnB and Gospel, he managed to create a sound so unique and so groundbreaking. It was filled with the essence of life, something so otherworldly, there was nothing else to call it but Soul.