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Critic's Review
Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Rhino's 2006 double-disc set The Definitive Soul Collection is the latest in a long list of Ray Charles compilations from Rhino, and it covers much of the same territory as the others: namely, it's a selection of highlights from his classic Atlantic recordings from the '50s. Since it doesn't have any of Ray's ABC sides of the '60s, it can't quite be called definitive, but it is an excellent overview of Charles' timeless Atlantic hits, including "Mess Around," "I've Got a Woman," "This Little Girl of Mine," "Drown in My Own Tears," "Hallelujah I Love Her So," "Lonely Avenue," and of course, "What I'd Say." There are more comprehensive collections of this material -- such as the highly recommended three-disc set The Birth of Soul -- and there are superb single-disc comps that would act as a good introduction, but for those listeners who want something between those two extremes, this is an excellent choice.
