Was Googling Ella & Louis' version of Summertime (best ver. there is I think) and stumbled across this...
I love Ray's comments at the end.
From Acoustic Sounds' site:
This is a flat-out killer and a must-own. Ray Charles is in top form on this famous version that was supposed to have Gladys Knight singing the part of Bess. Gladys, having just had the hit "Midnight Train To Georgia," was not available for the part after her management insisted to Ray that she own the master tapes. If you know much about Ray Charles' story, you know that he always owned his own masters. So, Ray's next choice was Cleo Laine, who did a beautiful job of singing the part.
This two-LP set was mastered from the original analog tapes.
"I have to tell you man. In listening to sound, I guess what I'm after is the closest thing that I can get to reality. Now, I know it's not going to be reality, cause the thing gotta go through wires and gotta go through filters and this and that. I understand all that. But what I really like is to get as close to the natural sound of the instruments as possible. That's why I like analog as opposed to digital. Because I don't give a shit what anybody tells you man, I know what you guys are going to tell me...'Oh yeah, but it's clean Ray!' Well it's clean but it don't got no balls!!!" - 1999 interview with Ray Charles by Michael Hobson of Classic Records
I love Ray's comments at the end.
From Acoustic Sounds' site:
This is a flat-out killer and a must-own. Ray Charles is in top form on this famous version that was supposed to have Gladys Knight singing the part of Bess. Gladys, having just had the hit "Midnight Train To Georgia," was not available for the part after her management insisted to Ray that she own the master tapes. If you know much about Ray Charles' story, you know that he always owned his own masters. So, Ray's next choice was Cleo Laine, who did a beautiful job of singing the part.
This two-LP set was mastered from the original analog tapes.
"I have to tell you man. In listening to sound, I guess what I'm after is the closest thing that I can get to reality. Now, I know it's not going to be reality, cause the thing gotta go through wires and gotta go through filters and this and that. I understand all that. But what I really like is to get as close to the natural sound of the instruments as possible. That's why I like analog as opposed to digital. Because I don't give a shit what anybody tells you man, I know what you guys are going to tell me...'Oh yeah, but it's clean Ray!' Well it's clean but it don't got no balls!!!" - 1999 interview with Ray Charles by Michael Hobson of Classic Records
