The Genius Hits the Road

The Genius Hits the Road is a 1960 album by Ray Charles. It is a concept album of sorts with the theme revolving around various parts of the U.S. The album peaked at #9 on the pop album charts and produced the hit single Georgia on My Mind.

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Warr.org	[2]

Original LP release

1. "Alabamy Bound" (DeSylva, Green, Henderson) – 1:55
2. "Georgia on My Mind" (Carmichael, Gorrell) – 3:35
3. "Basin Street Blues" (Williams) – 2:46
4. "Mississippi Mud" (Barris, Cavanaugh) – 3:24
5. "Moonlight In Vermont" (Blackburn, Suessdorf) – 3:02
6. "New York's My Home" (Jenkins) – 3:05
7. "California, Here I Come" (DeSylva, Jolson, Meyer) – 2:10
8. "Moon Over Miami" (Burke, Leslie) – 3:20
9. "Deep in the Heart of Texas" (Hershey, Swander) – 2:28
10. "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny" (Bland) – 2:02
11. "Blue Hawaii" (Rainger, Robin) – 2:58
12. "Chattanooga Choo Choo" (Gordon, Warren) – 3:05

1997 Rhino CD re-issue bonus tracks

13. "Sentimental Journey" (Brown, Green, Homer) – 2:58
14. "Hit The Road Jack" (Mayfield) – 2:00
15. "Blue Moon of Kentucky" (Monroe) – 2:12
16. "Rainy Night in Georgia" (White) – 6:16
17. "I'm Movin' On" (Snow) – 2:29
18. "Swanee River Rock (Talkin' 'Bout That River)" (Charles)– 2:20
19. "Lonely Avenue" (Pomus) – 2:34

2009 Concord CD re-issue bonus tracks

13. "Hit The Road Jack" (Mayfield) – 2:00
14. "Sentimental Journey" (Brown, Green, Homer) – 2:58
15. "Blue Moon of Kentucky" (Monroe) – 2:13
16. "Rainy Night in Georgia" (White) – 6:16
17. "The Long and Winding Road" (Lennon, McCartney) - 3:14
18. "I Was on Georgia Time" (Charles) - 3:28
19. "Take Me Home, Country Roads" (Danoff, Denver, Nivert) - 3:34

• Ray Charles – piano, vocals
• Edgar Willis – bass
• Milt Turner – drums
• David 'Fathead' Newman – tenor saxophone
• Hank Crawford – alto saxophone, baritone saxophone
• Leroy Cooper – baritone saxophone
• John Hunt – trumpet
• Marcus Belgrave – trumpet
• Ralph Burns – arranger, conductor
• Sid Feller – producer

1997 Rhino CD re-issue bonus track personnel

• Ray Charles – piano, vocals
• Edgar Willis – bass (tracks 14, 17, 18)
• Roosevelt Sheffield – bass (track 19)
• Mel Lewis – drums (track 14)
• Teagle Fleming – drums (tracks 17)
• William Peeples – drums (tracks 18, 19)
• David 'Fathead' Newman – tenor saxophone (tracks 14, 17 to 19), alto saxophone (tracks 18, 19)
• Hank Crawford – alto saxophone (tracks 14, 17), baritone saxophone (track 17)
• Leroy Cooper – baritone saxophone (track 14)
• Emmet Dennis – baritone saxophone (tracks 18, 19)
• John Hunt – trumpet (tracks 14, 17, 19)
• Marcus Belgrave – trumpet (track 17)
• Joe Bridgewater – trumpet (tracks: 18, 19)
• The Raelettes – vocals (tracks 15, 17, 19)
• The Jack Halloran singers – vocals (track 15)
• The Cookies – vocals (track 19)
• Frank Rosolino – trombone (track 14)
• Harry Betts – trombone (track 14)
• Kenny Shroyer – trombone (track 14)
• Richard Nash – trombone (track 14)
• Bruno Carr – percussion (track 14)
• Ahmet Ertegun – producer (tracks 17, 18 19)
• Jerry Wexler – producer (tracks 17, 18 19) ^[3]

• ABC-Paramount 335
• Allmusic.com link