First, we need to make it clear that this is not the more familiar Ray Charles, beloved R&B star and subject of the movie "Ray." This Ray Charles had spent the 15 years previous to recording "Something Special" with his 25 singers as a singer and arranger with Perry Como, particularly for the popular "Perry Como Show." Second, this is all heavily accompanied material. That said, from the first few tunes, covers of "This Could Be the Start of Something," "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" and "More," we can't remember hearing an ensemble this bright, smooth, sincere upbeat and downright entertaining as Ray's 25 mixed voices. "There! I've Said It Again," "Dominique," "Hello, Dolly," "Love Me with All Your Heart" (their hit single), "Charade" and "What Kind of Fool am I." A quote from Charles is telling: "All songs are really poems set to music. If you don't believe in a lyric, you'd better keep your mouth shut and just hum." His Singers sing their tails off on every song and believe in every lyric, and so do we!

Listen to There! I've Said It Again in RealAudio.