Ray Charles - Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music

"RAY CHARLES"- Modern Sounds

On the very best list of 1962 and 1960's albums, Ray Charles'"Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music" has to be on a top and prominent place on that distinguished list. The main jewels of that royal crown are "I Can't Stop Loving You" definitely the top hit song of 1962, played and played not only for that entire year but subsequently. The others top hits in that album were "Born to Lose" originally the flip side on the former 45 rpm single version and "You Don't Know Me". Bonus tracks were added on this great compilation. Perhaps the only missing Ray Charles musical jewel in this great musical compilation is "Georgia On My Mind". If they would've added that song to this fabulous album, it would've been an unprecedented collector's item and best seller. April 28, 2008

A trail-blazing LP that stll plucks an emotional chord...

Mr. Charles knew good lyrics when he heard them, and he didn't think the message of a song had to be confined to the style in which it was originally composed. Back in 1961, when much of the country still considered rhythm and blues artists to be makers of "race records" and even more of the nation thought that "country music" could only be created by Southern whites, Ray took a bunch of the best songs he could find from country artists, added an orchestra, a backing vocal group, and his "soul" sensibilities and produced this record. My sister bought it, and I was a senior in high school and wore it out. I already knew most of the tunes because I was a country fan, albeit living in New Jersey. Although "backing vocals" and "orchestral accompaniment" are terms that have largely disappeared from the labels of Top Forty singles, they work on this album better than on most from the era. Not every track here is a masterpiece, but about half of them bear up to repeated play, even continuous play, quite well. "You Don't Know Me" and "Born to Lose" and "Worried Mind" and "You Win Again" and "I Can't Stop Loving You" brought black and white artists and songwriters and fans a lot closer to the mainstream market. Rock and Roll was still young in '62, and the "Nashville Sound" was just getting off the ground. Thanks to Ray, bridges were built, friendships were cemented, and genres were combined in a way that benefitted music lovers around the world. I had not heard this album in about 40 years until I bought the CD version last week. It is good to have an old friend back in my home.
February 4, 2008

Modern Sounds in Country & Western Music

Can anyone say anything negative about Ray Charles? Not me either. A fine recording. March 16, 2007

Ray's C&W

This is one of Ray's best. He brings his special brand of jazz, r&b to country-western. If you like Ray Charles, or Country-Western music, you should own this CD. January 10, 2007

RAY COULD DO IT "ALL"

I mean ALL!! He did Country & Western just as good - or should I say better - than the Country/Western Singers!! The "High Priest" (as he was known in the 60's)...no matter what he sang....He did it BETTER than the REST!! Sad to lose him - May He Rest In Peace!! I can hear him now... in Heaven's Choir!! January 10, 2007

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