New from Ray Charles, Tift Merritt, Steve Earle and more.

RAY CHARLES "Genius Loves Company" (Concord) 3 { stars

Ray Charles left too soon. Way too soon. His final CD, finished just before he died, automatically becomes one of the season's most anticipated recordings and could easily rank as Charles' best-selling album.

"Genius Loves Company" is only the beginning. Coming next: Ray, the upcoming Universal biopic starring Jamie Foxx as Charles. It's Foxx's bid for Oscar gold.

And this CD seems a lock to net Charles Grammy gold. "Genius Loves Company" is a beautifully orchestrated disc featuring the singer-pianist paired with Diana Krall, Bonnie Raitt, Van Morrison, Michael McDonald and others. Brother Ray is in strong voice and, at 73, remarkably, sounds as he always had: gritty, expressive, spirited.

Compare this duets project with Frank Sinatra's two duets albums of 1993-`94, also his final recorded work, and the difference is striking. Sinatra's "Duets," both volumes, were artificial and his voice sounded awful. Sinatra tarnished his legacy; Charles buffed his brighter.

Not that everything here is masterful. James Taylor sounds self-conscious singing his jovial "Sweet Potato Pie." Willie Nelson hits more bum notes than usual on an otherwise gorgeous "It Was a Very Good Year" and "Heaven Help Us All," a gospel number with a testifying Gladys Knight, is a bit much.

But the highs are plentiful. Elton John's "Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word" has never sounded this soulful. Natalie Cole plays off her partner well on a frisky "Fever" and young Norah Jones proves she's mature enough to swap lines with Charles on the opening "Here We Go Again."