The Genius Hits The Road  by Ray Charles

In 1960, Ray Charles had the idea to present his own version of twelve songs concerning twelve different places in the United States of America. Thus, he entered the studio on March 25, 1960, and four days later the album The Genius Hits The Road was ready.

The Genius Hits The Road is an album full of rhythm 'n' blues and soul melodies, while the music of Big Bands is strongly present. Ray Charles's voice is at its best and leaves little room for questioning the artist. Ray Charles sings compositions and great hits from the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. However, the oldest composition that Charles includes in his album is Carry Me Back To Old Virginny, which was written by James Alan Bland around 1878. This song was the official anthem of the State of Virginia from 1940 to 1997 (!)

From this album came Ray Charles's great hit Georgia On My Mind, which accompanied him throughout the rest of his career. The Genius Hits The Road reached No. 9 on the Billboard and was the album that inaugurated the artist's collaboration with ABC Records.