My World is an album by the American musician Ray Charles, released in 1993.[2][3] Charles incorporated elements of gospel, funk, and New jack swing.[4]

The album peaked at No. 145 on the Billboard 200.[5] "A Song for You" won a Grammy Award, in the "Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male" category.[6]

Production

The album was produced by Richard Perry.[7] Charles covered Leon Russell's "A Song for You" and Paul Simon's "Still Crazy After All These Years".[8] Mavis Staples duetted with Charles on "Love Has a Mind of Its Own".[9] Billy Preston, Eric Clapton, Abe Laboriel, Brenda Russell, Jeff Porcaro, Paulinho Da Costa, Randy Waldman, Steve Gadd and Vinnie Colaiuta also contributed to My World.[10][11]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[12]
Chicago Tribune[13]
Robert Christgau(dud)[14]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[15]
Entertainment WeeklyB−[9]
Rolling Stone[16]

Rolling Stone wrote: "Over the years, a benign, grandfatherly quality has crept into Charles's singing. In bringing this amused overview to 'Still Crazy', Charles turns the Simon gem into a jubilant, frisky declaration of independence by a proud eccentric."[16] Ebony stated that Charles "continues to infuse his music with social messages, smooth productions and rhythmic funk."[17]

The Chicago Tribune noted that "producer Richard Perry inexplicably insists on separating the Genius from his keyboards; that's a cardinal sin."[13] Newsday called the album "surprisingly potent, awash in rhythms and production techniques not even imagined when Ray first entered a studio."[18] The Baltimore Sun concluded that "what Brother Ray needs first and foremost are songs, and when you hear how much he makes of a classic, Paul Simon's 'Still Crazy After All These Years', it suddenly becomes obvious how cut-rate the rest of the writing here is."[19]

AllMusic wrote that the album "marked an attempt to somewhat 'modernize' Ray Charles by incorporating elements of hip-hop and New Jack swing into his trademark sound."[12]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."My World"4:01
2."A Song for You"4:12
3."None of Us Are Free"4:59
4."So Help Me God"3:59
5."Let Me Take Over"5:25
6."One Drop of Love"4:22
7."If I Could"4:52
8."Love Has a Mind of Its Own"4:06
9."I'll Be There"3:48
10."Still Crazy After All These Years"4:58

References

  1. ^ "Ray Charles Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  2. ^ Pareles, Jon (August 4, 1993). "Review/Music; Plumbing the Soul of Jazz" – via NYTimes.com.
  3. ^ Thompson, Clifford (October 7, 2020). "Contemporary World Musicians". Routledge – via Google Books.
  4. ^ Pareles, Jon (4 Apr 1993). "From Two Great Voices, a New Message". The New York Times. p. A32.
  5. ^ "Ray Charles". Billboard.
  6. ^ "All GRAMMY Awards and Nominations for Ray Charles". Recording Academy. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  7. ^ Saxberg, Lynn (10 Apr 1993). "Legends live up to expectations". Ottawa Citizen. p. E3.
  8. ^ "Popular music - My World by Ray Charles". Stereo Review. 58 (8): 83. Aug 1993.
  9. ^ a b "My World". EW.com.
  10. ^ "Ray Charles sings 'My World' to show concern for families and peace". Jet. 84 (1): 54. May 3, 1993.
  11. ^ "My World". AllMusic.com.
  12. ^ a b "My World - Ray Charles | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  13. ^ a b Dahl, Bill (15 Apr 1993). "Recordings". Chicago Tribune. Tempo. p. 7.
  14. ^ "Robert Christgau: CG: Ray Charles". www.robertchristgau.com.
  15. ^ Larkin, Colin (May 27, 2011). "The Encyclopedia of Popular Music". Omnibus Press – via Google Books.
  16. ^ a b Holden, Stephen (May 13, 1993). "My World". Rolling Stone.
  17. ^ Norment, Lynn (Jun 1993). "Sounding Off". Ebony. 48 (8): 18.
  18. ^ Tamarkin, Jeff (30 July 1993). "The Genius on CD: A Selected Guide". Newsday. Weekend. p. 69.
  19. ^ Considine, J.D. (19 Mar 1993). "Quality is in the voice, not material on Ray Charles' latest". The Baltimore Sun. Features. p. 5.
Allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_World_(Ray_Charles_album)
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