The man who blended country, blues, funk, and gospel with secular anthems is in fine form in this dozen-song 1981 Canadian concert, in which the late Ray Charles is joined by the Edmonton Symphony. Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and stereo, the performances here run the gamut of Charles' career, including an angelic take on "I Can't Stop Loving You," the aching soul of "Take These Chains from My Heart," and a jumpy cover of reggae hit "I Can See Clearly Now." Of course, there's also a lot of fun with Charles' playful, stream-of-consciousness funk riffing on one if his signature tunes, "What'd I Say," and a remarkable rendition of "America the Beautiful," serving up an emotionally complex testament about the nature of the United States. A terrific show, though played to a somewhat reserved audience, this is highly recommended. [Note: given the recent theatrical release of the biopic Ray (starring Jamie Foxx), libraries might also want to have on hand Ray Charles: Live at the Montreux Jazz Festival (VL-7/02) and Ray Charles in Concert (VL-5/01)]. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh)
Ray Charles Live
(1981) 42 min. DVD: $11.98. Eagle Vision (avail. from most distributors). Color cover. Volume 19, Issue 6
Ray Charles Live
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