Released in 1959, What’d I Say brings together singles and forgotten B-sides from Ray Charles’ electric 1950s run—and marks the dawn of the singer’s crossover era. By the late 1950s, Charles’ unforced groove and instantly recognisable voice had coalesced into a seductive signature sound, but full-on pop stardom had eluded him. That would change with “What’d I Say”, a simmering, salacious track that’s carried by a jangling, Latin-tinged groove and a spicy call-and-response. A sensation on stage, “What’d I Say” retains its bright, live energy in its studio version—which became a smash on the US charts, and remains one of Charles’ most beloved hits. The other tracks collected on What’d I Say cover a wide swath of Charles’ favoured sounds; his roots in boogie-woogie, gospel and jazz are laid out side by side, synthesised more often than not. He’s joined here by a familiar cast of star instrumentalists—including saxophonist David “Fathead” Newman and trumpet player Marcus Belgrave—who add to the fluid, timeless quality of each track, and help expand Charles’ classic Southern blues into every possible musical direction. From the unhurried love song “That’s Enough” to the jazzy instrumental jam “Rockhouse, Pts. 1 & 2” to his improbably hip-swiveling rendition of the traditional Scottish folk song “My Bonnie”, What’d I Say spotlights Charles at the height of his powers—with his gently loping orchestra’s flawless, earthy big-band sounds supporting him all the way through.