From Lost Tapes to Timeless Magic: The Fascinating Story Behind "Ray Sings, Basie Swings"
How technology back in 2006 brought together two jazz legends for an unforgettable posthumous collaboration. Imagine if it was today.
“Ray Sings, Basie Swings” is a unique and innovative album released on October 3, 2006, that posthumously brings together the legendary vocals of Ray Charles with the contemporary Count Basie Orchestra.
The album stands out not only for its musical excellence but also for the remarkable story and technology behind its production.
Discovery of Ray Charles’ Vocals
The genesis of the album began with the discovery of previously unreleased Ray Charles vocal recordings from the mid-1970s.
Producer Gregg Field, who had worked with both Ray Charles and the Count Basie Orchestra, uncovered these tapes while searching through the archives.
The original recordings featured Ray Charles performing live, but the audio quality was compromised by crowd noise and suboptimal instrumental balance, making them initially unsuitable for direct release or remixing.
Isolating the Vocals
To overcome these technical challenges, the production team employed advanced audio separation techniques.
Using cutting-edge software and processes such as "De-mix"—a technology capable of isolating specific elements from mono or stereo mixes—the engineers were able to extract Ray Charles' vocals from the noisy live recordings.
This process allowed them to remove most of the background instruments and crowd noise, leaving a clean vocal track suitable for new arrangements.
Recording with the Count Basie Orchestra
Once the isolated vocals were prepared, the next step was to create fresh instrumental tracks.
The current incarnation of the Count Basie Orchestra was brought into the studio in Los Angeles between February and May 2006 to record new big band arrangements specifically tailored to Ray Charles' vocal performances.
The orchestra played along to the isolated Ray Charles vocals, ensuring that the new music was synchronized with his original phrasing and energy.
Overdubbing and Integration
The technique used to combine Ray Charles’ vocals with the new orchestral recordings is known as overdubbing.
Overdubbing is a process where new audio tracks are recorded on top of existing ones, allowing producers to blend performances from different times and places.
In this case, Ray Charles’ vocals—originally recorded decades earlier—were seamlessly integrated with the modern Count Basie Orchestra tracks, creating the illusion of a live collaboration.
Production Team and Supervision
The album was produced by Gregg Field, a Grammy-winning producer and drummer with a deep history in jazz and pop music.
Field’s expertise was crucial in both the technical and musical aspects of the project, ensuring the final product honored the legacies of both Ray Charles and Count Basie.
The production also involved a team of engineers and arrangers who meticulously crafted the orchestral parts to complement Charles’ vocals while preserving the swing and soul characteristic of both artists.
Check the making of here:
Wrapping Up
“Ray Sings, Basie Swings” is a testament to the possibilities of modern audio technology and the vision of its producers.
By extracting Ray Charles’ vintage vocals and pairing them with new recordings by the Count Basie Orchestra, the album bridges generations and genres.
The result is a vibrant, swinging collection that feels both classic and contemporary, made possible by sophisticated production techniques and a deep respect for musical heritage.
If a similar project were undertaken today, the process would likely be significantly more streamlined thanks to advancements in AI-powered audio separation technology.
Modern machine learning algorithms and neural networks have revolutionized the field of audio processing, making it possible to isolate vocals and instruments from mixed recordings with unprecedented clarity and precision.
Tools like RipX DeepRemix, iZotope RX 10, and various AI-powered stems separators can now accomplish in minutes what took weeks of painstaking work in 2006.
However, the artistry and care that went into crafting "Ray Sings, Basie Swings" remains a testament to the dedication of its production team.
I hope you have a great time listening to it.
Personal Note: The album's rendition of "The Long and Winding Road" stands as one of the most emotionally powerful recordings I've ever encountered. Ray Charles completely transforms the Beatles classic, making it entirely his own. The Count Basie Orchestra's accompaniment flows perfectly beneath his soulful voice, creating what I consider to be an absolute masterpiece of musical interpretation. The way Charles bends and shapes each phrase, supported by the Orchestra's masterful dynamics and arrangement, elevates this version to a transcendent level that never fails to move me deeply.
All the best,
Billy.