At the Olympia 2000

R&B / Soul · 2004 · 14 tracks

At the Olympia 2000

November 22, 2004 · Lab 344

At the Olympia 2000 is the sound of a legend taking a well-deserved victory lap.

Recorded just four years before his passing, Ray Charles remains a formidable force of nature, his voice weathered into a fine grit that only adds more emotional weight to his classic repertoire.

The atmosphere is one of profound mutual respect between the artist and a sophisticated Parisian audience, resulting in a performance that feels both grand and surprisingly intimate. The big band behind him provides a lush, swinging foundation that allows Ray to lean into his jazz and blues roots with effortless grace.

Tracklist · 14 Tracks

01

Blues for Big Scotia

1:14

02

Just the Way You Look Tonight

7:05

03

Route 66

4:51

04

Song for You

6:14

05

Hallelujah I Love Her So

3:09

06

Georgia on My Mind

6:12

07

Stranger in My Own Home Town

4:45

08

Angelina

5:52

09

I’ve Got a Woman

5:50

10

Hey Girl

5:36

11

Almost Like Being in Love Again

2:17

12

Just for a Thrill

5:18

13

It Had to Be You

5:27

14

What’d I Say

6:01

Moments Worth Listening For

The explosive brass entry on 'What'd I Say' that brings the Paris crowd to their feet with immediate recognition

Ray's tender, solo piano intro to 'Georgia on My Mind' before the full band swells into the iconic melody

The tight vocal interplay between Ray and the Raelettes during the high-energy climax of 'I Got a Woman'

Reviews

Also reviewed byAllMusic

Where This Album Departs

How does At the Olympia 2000 sound next to the rest of Ray Charles's catalogue?

This album stays in step with the catalogue across the board — no axis departs enough to be worth its own note. Hover the dots to see where each one sits.

Cassette uses generative AI to enrich its catalog. How we use AI →