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Contains 2 LPs on 1 CD. RAY CHARLES & BETTY CARTER: Personnel includes: Ray Charles (piano, vocals); Betty Carter (vocals); Marty Paich (arranger, conductor); Bill Pittman (guitar); Hank Crawford (alto saxophone); David "Fathead" Newman (tenor saxophone); Leroy Cooper (baritone saxophone); Edgar Willis (bass); Mel Lewis, Bruno Carr (drums); The Jack Halloran Singers (background vocals). Producer: Sid Feller. Recorded at United Studios, Hollywood, California on June 13-14, 1961. Originally released on ABC-Paramount (385). Includes original liner notes by Sid Feller. DEDICATED TO YOU: Personnel includes: Ray Charles (piano, vocals); Marty Paich (arranger, conductor); Bill Pittman (guitar); Hank Crawford (alto saxophone); David "Fathead" Newman (tenor saxophone); Leroy Cooper (baritone saxophone); Martin Banks, John Hunt (trumpet); Edgar Willis (bass); Irving Cottler (drums.) Producer: Sid Feller. Recorded at United Studios, Hollywood, California on August 23-24, 1960. Originally released on ABC-Paramount (355). Includes original liner notes by Rick Ward. Reissue producers: James Austin, Michael Johnson. Includes liner notes by Alan Swyer. Digitally remastered by Doug Sax & Terry Howard (The Mastering Lab). One of the most beloved of all vocal albums, 1961's RAY CHARLES AND BETTY CARTER, has been reissued on one disc with the lesser-known solo Charles effort DEDICATED TO YOU from the same year. The famous Ray and Betty duets are welcome no matter what the format. Charles was never so slyly romantic in any of his subsequent recordings. For her part, jazz singer Betty Carter has rarely been as accessible as she is here; her considerable vocal gifts simply dazzle on "Cocktails For Two" and "Alone Together." The two lovebirds outdo themselves on their definitive "Baby, It's Cold Outside." The arts of seduction have seldom been rendered with as much wit (or truth.) Marty Paich's apt arrangements--alternating between punchy brass and lush strings--support the singers perfectly. DEDICATED is a set of tunes with a girl's name in each title, a concept which allows Charles to try his hand at "Nancy," "Stella By Starlight," "Sweet Georgia Brown," and "Ruby," this last a well-deserved hit. Again Paich's fresh charts provide skillful backup.
