Genius + Soul = Jazz (1960)

About this title: One of the best early-'60s examples of soul/jazz crossover, this record, like several of his dates from the period, featured big-band arrangements (played by the Count Basie band). This fared better than some of Charles' similar outings, however, if only because it muted some of his straight pop aspirations in favor of some pretty mean and lean, cut-to-the-heart-of-the-matter B-3 Hammond organ licks. Most of the album is instrumental and swings pretty vivaciously, although Charles does take a couple of vocals with "I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town" and "I've Got News for You." Yet one ... read more

Tracks:

1. From the Heart [Charles]
2. I've Got News for You [Alfred]
3. Moanin' [Timmons]
4. Let's Go [Charles]
5. One Mint Julep [Toombs]
6. I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town [Razaf/Weldon/Jacobs]
7. Stompin' Room Only [Marks]
8. Mister C. [Charles]
9. Strike Up the Band [Gershwin/Gershwin]
10. Birth of the Blues [Brown/DeSylva/Hende]
11. Alabamy Bound [DeSylva/Green/Hende]
12. Basin Street Blues [Williams]
13. New York's My Home [Jenkins]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.