Rare Genius: The Undiscovered Masters, an incredible collection of newly discovered Ray Charles recordings. The tracks embody the remarkable breadth of musical styles that were synonymous with this classic American artist. In 2009, after six months of sifting and sorting through four decades worth of demos and other previously unissued material at Charles' R.P.M. International studios on Los Angeles' Washington Boulevard, Concord Music Group's executive vice president of A&R, John Burk, emerged with a handful of startling recordings from the '70s, '80s and '90s that reaffirm the vast scope of Charles' artistic vision and stylistic range. In addition to the tracks culled from R.P.M. International, the set also includes a surprise from the Sony vaults - a stirring rendition of Kris Kristofferson's "Why Me, Lord?" a gospel flavored duet with Johnny Cash produced by Billy Sherrill in Nashville, recorded in 1981. This one-of-a-kind pearl has gone unheard by the public until now. Contrary to correspondence between Charles and Cash anticipating the release of the song on CBS, the track never saw the light of day for three decades for reasons that remain unknown. Cash takes the lead vocal, while Charles hangs back slightly and delivers hefty backup vocals and equally compelling piano lines. Some of the tracks which emerged from the R.P.M. vault in sparse, stripped-down form - have been sonically enhanced ever-so-slightly by a crew of top-notch artists: guitarists Keb' Mo' and George Doering, organist Bobby Sparks, trumpeter Gray Grant, trombonist Alan Kaplan, bassists Trey Henry and Chuck Berghofer, drummers Gregg Field and Ray Brinker, and background vocalist Eric Benet.

Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Love's Gonna Bite You Back
2. It Hurts to Be In Love
3. Wheel of Fortune
4. I'm Gonna Keep On Singin'
5. There'll Be Some Changes Made
6. Isn't It Wonderful
7. I Don't Want No One But You
8. A Little Bitty Tear
9. She's Gone
10. Why Me Lord?