Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music

For me, this album highlighted the limitations of a one-day challenge and of a lot of online music writing, in which context is reduced to the decade of release, the instrumentation and the country of origin. I don't think that even the very best music can fully transcend the context in which it was made. I could say I liked it, but I don't think that's any more worthwhile than listicles that rank the Holy Bible as a Britpop album, or the 1001 Album Club podcast, which I gave up on after half an episode because they described Ian Dury as "British whimsy bullshit" that reminded them of a "more up-tempo Syd Barrett." This has sent me down a bit of a rabbit-hole, thinking about which aspects of culture we pass on, which we forget and why. I might like it even more if I understood it better, but I won't understand it without wider reading and listening into the social context, Ray's career to date and contemporary country, and I'm not sure I like it enough to make that commitment. But that's no criticism of Ray Charles; it's a ridiculously high bar for anyone to vault, and I appreciate there must be very good reasons that this music has lasted and will continue to last better than the vast majority of stuff I love.

I tend to like Ray Charles but I didn't care too much for this album. I didn't make it all the way through, maybe it was a lack of interest or maybe it was too many horns??

Fine.

Not as pleasant as a previous more jazzy Ray Charles album so slightly disappointing on that measure. A bit hum-drum, lacking pizazz. Had to wait until well into the album to hear any nice piano soloing. Low 3 because it is still pleasant.

It is not music I would go to myself, but I can enjoy it

Doesn't really seem very country but enjoyable enough.

Not his best

Doesn't this feel very distant from the modern renderings of country music, be it pop, outlaw or whatever stripe you care to name. Yet despite the lush arrangements and lack of shorthand country signifiers, this is a bold and interesting take on the genre. 'I Can't Stop Loving You' and 'Careless Love' are stupendous. Country music in a big band format? Works for me - especially when interpreted by Charles. Just a guy I love to hear sing!

Some pretty good jams on here and let's be honest: if all country and western music sounded like this we'd probably be better off for it. Still though, the stuff that resonates the most with me is when those big band horns hit and that don't sound like no country at all, gawdammit. I might prefer the version of "Bye Bye Love" in ALL THAT JAZZ a tad more, but this one swings, cat. Might not be the record I reach for when I think of listening to Ray Charles, but perfectly good white folk dinner party background music.

Innovative for the time, still sublime for any time, Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music provided a blueprint that showcased that it was okay for black musicians to dip their toes in other facets of music, music that was (and, in some cases, still is) closed to them. And, as always, Ray Charles displays magnificent singing efforts towards some of the most melancholic material lain upon him and he does them justice. A recommended album for those who want to experience not just the brilliance of Ray but the often neglected stories in the songs.

2nd listen. Some true classics. Great sound and style. 3/5

Classic Ray Charles. His voice is so emotive, and when he lets loose on the piano his note choice is immaculate. Probably the greatest album of this kind of tune.

Very good.

Reminded me of times singing with my mum

Soul, simpelt, lækkert klaver

A bit too long for my taste. The songs were also a bit too bland and the panning of the audio was unbearable

За ощущение, будто посмотрел "Том и Джерри", поставлю 4 звёздочки. Как фон для лакшери застолья пойдёт.

Wow! What can I say?! It’s Ray Charles! Music doesn’t get any better than this! An absolute gem!

This is more poppy. More 50s pop, early 60s pop, right before the Beatles pop. Maybe it's this R&B kinda guy doing late 50s/early 60s pop music. This blind pianist with a soulful voice doing non-soulful versions of soulful country songs. It works.

Okay, can respect the talent but not my style

I love Ray Charles and his sound. This album was a great listen but I felt it was a bit disjointed - going from popular music of the time and then to "cowboy" music and back again. I feel like it would have flowed better as two separate albums but I enjoyed listening nonetheless!

This album is nice easy listening I suppose but nothing really stands out, and if you want true Ray Charles I feel like this isn’t it.

His music definitely has a time and place, like a wedding or cocktail party. Otherwise, the album had no flow to it and most tunes uneventful. I wanted more piano!

It's disappointing that this list contains two albums of the genius that Ray Charles is. The Genius Of Ray Charles: an album with big band and singing pop arrangements and the other: Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music with country and folk songs. That is not who Ray Charles is. He is the man that almost singlehandedly invented soul as a music genre combining gospel and blues in songs like "I Got a Woman". Why is a fantastic album like Ray Charles - Ray Charles (1957) not on this list containing the genre he defined. It is a Shame, Shame, Shame (I know that is not a Ray Charles song, but it is more Ray Charles than the two albums on this list). Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music is still a good album, but it's not one of his best.

This was a very nice album honestly. Wouldn't say many recognized hits though, save maybe for "I Can't Stop Loving You". 7/10.

If you wanted an entire album that sounds like a bunch of songs from classic Disney movies but is all about the dudes girlfriend/lover or whatever cheating/leaving blah blah than this album is for you. Nothing groundbreaking. Album gets stale quickly. All songs sound the same. Vocals and some of the instrumentation are ok but I was glad when this album was over

The songs seems sort of dated now but Ray Charles really knocks them out of the park anyway.

Pretty decent. Liked it enough but don’t see myself reaching for this album every often.

* You Don’t Know Me * Born to Lose * Don’t Tell Me Your Troubles

It is Ray Charles, so... good to the ears.

8/10

While I do appreciate its intentions, I felt this was mainly carried by the faster tunes rather than the slower ones, which unfortunately became to common for a good portion. Favorites: "Bye Bye Love", "You Don't Know Me", "Hey, Good Lookin'"

Pretty great

so good.

Q: This is "Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music" by "the Genius" Ray Charles. Bringing in not only the typical rhythm and blues, jazz, and soul elements of the time's pop sounds, it also integrated country music and big band music as well. It created an irresistible set of love songs that captured the hearts of people regardless of race. Released in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement, this album once again showed that music unites! So, would you like to listen to forty minutes worth of generic (but not bad) '60s love songs? A: I won't mind I guess. I grew up listening to these kinds of songs in the radio every Sunday anyway.

GOAT

ulubione you don't know me I love you so much it hurts just a little lovin' (will go a long way)

Beautiful songs

Not really a fan of musicians interpreting music genres that are not their usual forte and in this case Ray Charles' modern take of country and western. Don't get me wrong, he doesn't put on a cowboy hat and strum an acoustic guitar, instead it gets the grandiose treatment with horns and strings. At times, it's a bit overdone and hard to listen to after a while, but overall his treatment of the songs and his performance makes it a worthwhile listen.

Good album, full of beautiful Charles blues ballads.

Great

Solid

Even though this isn’t the kind of music I normally listen to, I loved it! Especially the interesting arrangements for songs that I knew from elsewhere (I guess these are the country and western music songs the title refers to?). I’ll add that It’s gems such as this, about which existence I formerly wasn’t aware of, that brought me here. Pity these are so rare.

Maybe it's just because I got this early December but Ray doing his take on country just sounds like Christmas songs.

Shines in comparison to the last few albums that have been lazy 80s mumblecore. The heat and the passion and the excitement here sell the album. Ray is damn good. There's a definite country western thing here (duh) but my boy Ray plays that piano so damn good that I can ignore it. And then it gets to the second disc and it's just not very good. First disc is a 4, second is a 2 so let's call it a 3. Goods - Just a Little Loving Girl (Will go a long way), Hey Good Lookin' Bads - the second disc is weaker. Art - Classic. The bold colours and thick lettering give it a solid impression. Ray is mid song, the passion clear in his expression.

7/10 enjoyable but nothing special

8/10. This was quite good, a relisten might even bump up my score by one.

Didn’t really think of this as country which I guess goes to show that what I dislike most about the genre are the vocals. Fun but not too engaging listen. 7/10

Was originally going to give this a 2, but according to Wikipedia it goes for 39min, not 75. This pushes it up to a 3 - it's super dated and I really shouldn't try and judge it too much, but it definitely gets its point across loooong before it finishes. 3/5.

no

Buena voz para un gran intérprete de aquella época. No me transmite, aunque es innegable su calidad

Very good

Prolly 3.5 but I'll Give it a 3 cause there is no in-between...

So, so good.

Love the voice, don't care for the songs.

Ray Charles is timeless and classic. A great listen, but listening to this album in its entirety I realized most of his songs follow the same "I love you, you hurt me" motif and generally have the same sound and feel. The man definitely knew what he was about.

I feel relaxed and happy because of ray's voice, despite the fact he's singing about losing a lover and wanting to die? I don't hear much western, but its got a healthy mix of country, swing, and blues - later note, maybe I'm thinking of the wild west genre and there was a different name for this that we either lost or changed? His voice is amazing and smooth Prime example of some of the best that the black community has brought to the table for music. Really genuine emotion in the singing I can't shake the feeling of christmas music in all of this...

Seems like a big inspiration for a lot of artists. The word "Classic" comes to mind a lot and I get a lot of Sinatra vibes. Overall very good.

Really good listen to for a feelgood song, Ray Charles voice is pretty damn good and making me feel good

Great opening. The romance. Really enjoyed Volume 1. All blended into one towards the 2nd volume.

Country drugi dan za redom. Moze ray, moze big band, daj reube daj signale. Super album, super pjesme, te ne smeta patetika u rijecima

Gospodin 🎹😎

Makes me want to listen to old country but RC rules so fuck that ol white man music

Sweet

Wow. Orchestral C&W sung in a sort of jazz/soul style by Ray Charles. I don’t know what I expected but it wasn’t all the strings. Very ‘40s easy listening? Is it possible to even rate this? Not something I’d listen to on the regular, but I’m glad it exists.

Don't enjoy the string and choral arrangements, but his voice and piano and stunning.

Overall isn't bad, I do like the era of music mainly because of how simple it is. Rays vocals are good on the album(I mean its ray charles). Don't hate the album i'm just finding it bland. Just doesn't feel like his best work. Good set of songs just can't go higher than a 3 personally. Just not my style

Good album, a little slow. Love Rays voice always

Sunday vibes

Enjoyed listening to this. Very calming bit upbeat

I enjoyed some of the songs in the album. I wouldn't say that the album was a banger. It felt a bit out of my taste but still nice.

Was nice!

great way to wind down at the end of the day, so easy to listen to

Didn’t finish. Pretty good though

Too samey and I prefer Charles with some energy not commercial tunes from A Christmas Story

lush strings and i can see how it was well received in 62, but it's a bit...boring now. 3

love Ray Charles!

If only we got country music like this nowadays instead of "Fancy Like"...

10/10 Ray Charles is the GOAT it had such a fun, warm sound hearing those songs bring such a calming but happy atmosphere

An enlightening sound, though not what I’m accustomed to. Really good energy.

A near perfect dinner party album. I love the brassy big band arrangements, the lush string arrangements, not so much, but the fact that he makes it all work is a testament to his talent 4 stars

I feel I've undermarked this because it's an amazing album with a real crossover that paved the way for so much. But I can't help but feel Ray Charles is at his bets with blues. This whitebread album could easily be for Sinatra which I guess is the point. It opened doors and is very good. But you know he's got more in him.

27th October 2021 Actually listened on the 28th on the living room speaker while working with jen in the kitchen. Didn't listen on the 27th as I was listening to Fontaines DC before seeing them at ally pally with Gareth. I love Ray Charles, but this is a covers album. I prefer the less swoony numbers that don't have the fuzzy backing vocals, but definite class all the way.

One of the great cross genre records

// Favs: – Score: Light 4

Not my usual genres, but Ray Charles has a very smooth voice that can carry a song. Combined with smooth jazzy, country and pop instrumentals the whole collection is a friendly listen with short songs.

There’s a shop down the road in Mandurah where, for retail purposes, it’s Christmas all year. It’s part cave of wonders, part externalised visual migraine – each of its 30 corners housing a differently themed interpretation of what a Christmas celebration can be: the nativity, funny Santa, fatherly Santa, knowingly adult Santa, Disney, Disney nativity, under the sea, Australiana, Americana, rule Britannia, white, pink, gold, blue, goth. There a bauble for every emotion, every tendency, every christmassy feeling no matter how fleeting. I suppose of all the places a shop like that might be, the deep south of the Perth metropolitan area makes good sense. For an increasing number of the British diaspora (and who knows, maybe beyond?) it’s Christmas here twice a year now; the convergence of homesickness and cold weather demanding a festive celebration wth all the trimmings in July as well as December. I didn’t notice a Ray Charles Christmas corner on my last visit. On the strength of this record, that’s a miss. That feeling of cosy, near enough somnambulant fugue that’s the result of excess-mass gorging is a close cousin of my mental state engaging with Ray for an hour and a quarter. Lulling, calming, wistful-making. Unfortunately, though, no cracker.

lots of classics that my parents + grandparents would play while cleaning the house. grows a bit stale and musty by the time the 2nd volume swings along. 3/5

Qué bonito madre mía. Me lo guardo para ocasiones especiales.

Genius at work - great arrangements, fabulous band, and every vocal OWNS the song.

Love songs op jazz en R&B. Soms swingend en soms wiegend.

Pretty great. Didn't get a chance to listen to all of it, but will definitely go back.

Very pleasant. Ok I am being churlish, it's god though!!

A few of the songs were good, but for the most part this album seemed pretty bland to me. A lot of the songs sound the same and I become bored towards the end of it.

Beautiful songs, beautiful voice, beautiful arrangements!

Great LP! Had some of this on a charity shop cd I got recently Ray Charles greatest country and western hits…

Not for me

Well..... The songs are little bit boring but Ray..... He is awesome. So chill

I am a hugh Ray Charles fan so any time I have an opportunity to buy some of his music I jump at it. This two volume CD was everything I hoped for and more! The content is awsome and the quality of the CD, the case and art work was pristine. I plan to buy another one as a Christmas gift for one of my brothers who enjoys a good music CD as much as I do. Overall, the purchase of this CD was 10, I am very pleased with this purchase on all levels.

very classic Ray Charles. Loved that the album is actually like a vinyl and has two "sides" Wouldn't go out of my way to listen to it again, it's slow, but it's very good

Doesn’t sound very modern to me

Lush - can hear how Amy was influenced

Ray Friggin Charles. Such a soulful voice. Digital remastered cleaned it up so nice.... 4 stars

I love stuff like this. Always been a big fan of the singers of the 50s and 60s. Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole. This might just be another 5 for me. It gets a little samey, especially in terms of lyrics, after the 1 hour-mark, but the thing is that it's good music so it doesen't really matter.

I get the premise of the album and appreciate its importance to the genre. It's also always a pleasure to listen to Ray Charles. That said, this album is very much of another time and some listeners will find it drags, especially in the middle. The best part about the album is Charles himself. His vocals are perfect as is his piano playing. Unfortunately, the big band horn and string arrangements and old backup vocals feel more than a little dated. I enjoyed the back end of the album best, like from "It Makes No Difference Now" to the end. "Careless Love" and "You Win Again" are flawless and "I Can't Stop Loving You" is a classic. Fave songs: You Win Again, Careless Love, You Don't Know Me

Very enjoyable and easy listening. Nothing that stands out on this album, but solid all around.

What a fucking achievement this album was. Best track: Bye Bye Love

60's music is fantastic, and this one really delivers. It makes you feel what it wants you to feel. The orchestra was lively when it felt like it and somber when it wanted to make you feel nostalgic. My only gripe was that the songs could've been taken to more extremes - that is, the highs can be higher and the lows can be lower. Favorite track: I Love You So Much It Hurts

Honestly, this is a weaker Ray Charles album. I would probably rate it at a 2, but I want the 1950s to stop being my favorite decade on this website.

This is such a weird album. Ray Charles tried to straddle between country and soul but in my opinion didn't fully succeed in any of those genres. Because of that it's a very mixed bag of songs that are neither painful nor really exciting to listen to.

A really sweet, comfy album. Ray sounds amazing on this one!

This is one of those albums on this list where my rating gets influenced by reading more about the album and its history, but even that didn't really change how I felt. Incredibly groundbreaking with a huge variety of genres that shine through in songs. Love the background singers/choruses, especially when they introduce the song with its title, often at the start of the song. Got a little longwinded and repetitive, enough to make this not quite a 5, but the spotify version has more songs than the original album, so not too many points off. Even with the repetitiveness, I rarely got bored Saved: Bye Bye Love, You Don’t Know Me, I Can't Stop Loving You; Oh, Lonesome Me*

Saved Prior: None Off Rip: Bye Bye Love; Born to Lose; Hey, Good Lookin' Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: Certainly one of the greatest albums of all time from an importance and quality standpoint. Subjectively I thought it was pretty good.

Really like this album, little bit old timey but it's got a nostalgic grand parents feeling that leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. Ray Charles vocals are on point

Was a different take on Ray Charles, but I loved it nonetheless. Man was a national treasure.

He's a genius. I love him. Great arrangements on some country songs. (8/10) Favourite Tracks: Careless Love, I Can't Stop Loving You, You Are My Sunshine

hi guys i'm back. lost my URL but I'm here now. this was fine just not rly my jam

Another artist I have not listened to much at least deliberately listened to but wanted to because of his name and how well regarded he is but just never did yet the album immediately transports me to a particular point in time that I was not alive for and to a part of america I have never been which is pretty ammazing thing to do. I love how charles sings the part of a saxaphone in parts Just too many love songs or songs about love more accurately. hey good lookin, not a huge fan of this version but the song holds a place in my heart from it being in GTA but I do like hearing it in this style so it is interesting at least compared to the rest of the album which for me was quite dull. 2 - not for me but doesn't hurt my ears

Hard to hate a big band sound. Haven’t given this artist much time in the past, but he isn’t a million miles away from the standard of Sinatra. Listening on Spotify dilutes some of the purity here and I feel it would be better on vinyl. Some excellent songs here and I “see” many reasons to listen to his other albums if it’s as good as this one. Double album was probably a bit much but can really see that Jamie Foxxxxxx nailed him in the movie.

Ya got me with the title. It's jazzy and early soul. Best seller and massively influential with sharp vocals and big band instrumentals that would help define pop music to come. Some classic songs but otherwise it's just an album of Ray Charles being himself.

Come in altre occasioni, questi album mi trasmettono un forte senso di nostalgia ma allo stesso tempo di non appartenenza. Ci tante ballate tra le tracce, tra cui la famosissima "I Can't stop loving you", che rendono l'ascolto un po' lento. Alla fine comunque non riesco a sbilanciarmi più di tanto.

Well done

not my thing

Really like this! Ray sounds great with a big band behind him. Great arrangements on some classic songs

I can't really say I would put any track here on again, but I also can't ignore the quality of the instrumentals. It might be unfair to judge an almost 60 year old record by today's standards, but most tracks just sounded the same to me. 2/5.

Talented musician singing other talented musician's songs

Incredibly enjoyable. I'd listened to some Ray Charles before, but the album is sonically very enjoyable - almost every song utilises backing singers in a really pleasing way!

Yum.

Nope, not my favorite from Ray.

Very nice

Feels like some good old album, a banger for people that enjoy this genre. Not my style but I can appreciate the quality

Iconic and nothing less.

L'album qui a traumatisé Ray Charles.

In Conclusione: onestamente m'ha parecchio annoiato. Oserei dire che sono quelle che all'epoca i miei nonni avrebbero chiamato canzonette. Sono praticamente fatte con lo stampino, l'equivalente delle hit estive di oggi. Ovviamente i musicisti erano tutti molto più bravi per carità, però il contenuto artistico secondo me è poco.

Mi piace lo stile e il modo di Ray Charles però poi trovo la sua musica troppo piaciona e poco divertente. Alcuni brani sono troppo natalizi, lo risentirò tra l'8 dicembre e il 6 gennaio.

this is long but hey it's music i'm kinda into so i'm good. on song 2 and it seems like it's going to be pretty varied. 'i love you so much it hurts' perfectly captured the feeling of falling in love. songs so far are just lovely. my soul feels soothed. i'm afraid i got bored about 8 tracks in but it's still super pleasant music lol. it's good background music i imagine they played this at like fancy restaurants and events lol. i didn't dig as much the tracks that lean more heavily into country territory. but it's whatever, not the worst thing ever. adds more variety at least. the heavenly choir started to get a little annoying somewhere in between 'i'll never stand in your way' and 'make believe' lol. thank god it was about to end. in smaller doses and w/o paying it my utmost attention, this is gorgeous music. as most almost 2 hour long albums, it'd be better if it was 40 minutes long with just the best songs lol. 3.5.

THIS IS ABBA - REVIVAL

Álbum de corno 1920 but cool... Meio longuinho, fica um pouco repetitivo e cansa.

Sounds like something very experimental and not really a great body of work. Still enjoyed some songs though!

Can see why it was called Modern Sounds, the big band feel, makes it bright, sharp and punchy. None of these tracks sound like Country and Western songs, so I'm assuming they are standards/classics in C&W which makes Charles reinterpretation of them so striking, he's placing a big band aesthetic over them, making them feel new and impactful. Charles has great phrasing, he can stretch and hold a note so well. Not many words in some of the lyrics, but he lets them float over the music. He also hold and bend notes so well, to fit to fill the phrasing and tempo of each song. More a fan of the uptempo numbers, but the slower ones show off the versatility of Ray’s voice/tone.

Like a trip to another time. I struggled with some of the songs subjects tho, a little too much love lost and ‘I won’t stand in your way if you love another’ for my tastes. I actually struggled to tell some of the songs apart from one another! Musically rich with big band instruments and clearly talented Apparently Ray Charles became one of the first Black musicians to be granted artistic control by a mainstream record company, ABC. Reading up on him, he had 12 children with ten different women and was addicted to Weed and Heroin. How he had time to record any music I don’t know...

Short review well I wouldn’t normally chose a country and western album but Ray Charles at heart has a strong sense of being an R&B star. He is renowned for both his work in jazz and soul too so this album was a shot in the dark and the hybrid musical mastermind created a country record - but this was a success by every meaning of the word. I wouldn’t rush to listen again but you must respect this talent.

Honestly. It didn't rock my boat. I don't think I'd play it at a BBQ, which is the litmus test.

Glad i listened to this Ray Charles album, he has a great voice. But I dont think I eill listen to it again!! 2 stars

teilweise sehr cheesy, teilweise recht netter swing

genius, pure & Simple

Bluesy lyrics over sweet melodies

tres long, trop long, Ray est neammoins un eleve appliqué, 3/5

Très charmant mais aussi répétitif

Good music, great voice. The music does sound extremely old though and not all of it has aged particularly well. I enjoyed the "big sound" more swingy and soul-heavy tracks a lot more than the softer lounge-y or balladesque tracks. I won't actively listen to it again, but a good one-time experience.

The upbeat songs make me want to dance, and the slower ones have such an old school Disney vibe between the strings and the choir. Really into this. And the cultural importance of the album truly solidified the 5 for me

I'm getting behind - lots to catch up on! I really enjoyed this to start with, then it got a bit samey and boring...

Niet veel van gedraaid!

Mooie film van hem gemaakt en een paar liedjes, maar dit is toch te oudbollig voor mij.

Vooruit, ik ben in een goede bui en vond dit nog best te doen.

Leuke versie van ‘Bye bye love’, verder had het wat energieker gekund.

3.5/5 I liked it but it wasn't my favorite RC album

Nice enough to listen to whilst working from home. Nothing made me really sit up and take notice. Its Nice and nothing more. 3/5

Ciezko o bardziej trafny tytul albumu, nie ma co wiecej pisac, bo wszystko co nalezy wiedziec o tej plycie jest juz zawarte na okladce

I hated this. I was expecting more bluesy versions, not that horrible big band stuff.

Christmas style strings. Beautiful instruments all around. And a voice that strikes so deeply. Not super substantial, but beautiful and easy to listen to.

These are great interpretations, but the likelihood of me listening to this again is minimal

One of the best albums of all time. Period.

3 - kann man schon geben

3.5 | Es muy posible que le pierda mucho a poder apreciar este disco debido a que casi todos son estándares principalmente de country que yo realmente no conozco (solo conocía bien Hey Good Looking). Pareciera más que fue un disco que es importante porque fue lo que le dio a Ray Charles el éxito masivo con la gente blanca tal como ya lo tenía con la gente negra (lo cual es más impresionante cuando recordamos que en ese momento seguimos enfrascados a mitad de lucha de derechos civiles en EE.UU.). Musicalmente el disco es muy bueno, bajando un poco el ritmo de lo que estaba acostumbrado casi todo el disco es de baladas, apenas con una canción con un sonido medio big band; a pesar de esto el disco no se siente cansado y la voz, el sentimiento y los arreglos son impecables. El disco obviamente es importante, las canciones muy bien hechas a pesar de que quizá soy más partidario de ese Ray Charles un poco más movido y mas... "comercial?" En algun momento decía Ray Charles que el blues y el country eran muy similares en su honestidad y en ser llanos de lenguaje y quizá hacer un disco de este tipo es un gran ejemplo de cuánta razón tenía.

Damn awesome execution of this idea. Ray Charles voice is timeless, and though some of the strings and background vocals are a bit overdone, the blues approach to country/western is very cool.

El viejo mote 'viejitas pero bonitas' hecho disco. Canciones que para el momento de grabar este disco ya tenían 10-15 años de existencia y que puedo catalogar en dos grandes grupos: las calmadas y las movidas. Las calmadas: muy muy lentas, muchas cuerdas, muy sufridas, casi todas. Las movidas: big band, más metales, menos sufridas, sólo 2. Todas hablan de amor. En su mayoría canciones lentas y tristes, es un disco lindo si estás en el momento de oírlo, porque si no es bastante pesado. Se agradece montones cerrar 38 minutos de sufrimiento con Hey Good Lookin! Songs: Just a Little Lovin', Hey Good Lookin', I Can't Stop Loving You.

I respect this but don’t particularly like it.

Surprising, fun, glad I listened all the way through. This is now officially my favorite country album

I'm cool with the big band sound in some of this, and do like Ray Charles' voice, but right now wasn't into it.

I'm surprised I didn't love this album. Just didn't resonate with me like I figured it would. Just felt old-timey and not in a good way

That was well good

Este álbum tiene un background muy interesante. Creo que para nosotros, después de TANTOS años es difícil apreciar su importancia, pero aprecio la influencia que tuvo en: - La emancipación de la raza afroamericana - La difusión de la música country En cuanto al aspecto musical, pues sí, definitivamente tiene el estilo de Ray Charles (incluso mi mamá lo pudo reconocer, por alguna canción que estaba escuchando), pero creo que me daría flojerita volverlo a escuchar todo.

No sé si lo hizo a propósito pero hay una rola movida y una calmada intercaladas en todo el disco. Que se le puede reprochar a este señor? Darse el lujo de hacer un doble de covers y reinventarnos

Qué disco tan más a gusto. De inicio no tenía idea de que fueran puros covers, e incluso de las rolas que identifiqué, llegué a pensar que era al revés y la versión de Ray era la original. De cualquier manera, me encantan los arreglos que hizo Ray en casi todas las canciones y quizá ya luego con más tiempo me gustaría escuchar las originales y comparar. Por otro lado, la parte que no me encanta son los arreglos de voces exageradamente melosos en algunas de las canciones.

Talented, yes. Kinda boring by today’s standards, also yes. Music from the 50s/60s just moved at a slower pace. His blues/jazz is great tho.

I knew who Ray Charles was of course, but I don't think I knew what to expect of his music. It's much jazzier (and less country than the title lead me to believe). Love the snazzy horn section.

not for me

So much orchestra. More of this in the world please

Striimaus ja MP3 maailmassa elämään tottunut mies ei osaa arvostaa tuplalevyjä. Turhan pitkä teos ja pelkästään parhailla biiseillä olis ollut ihan jees, mutta kokonaisuus puudutti. Kaksi tähteä.

When I was much younger, I remember encountering an album entitled "The Shape of Punk to Come" by Refused and thinking, "Boy, they sure think a lot of themselves. That might be the ballsiest album title I've ever heard." Well, it turns out Ray Charles beat them to it. A black man in '62 claiming he's got the key to modern Country & Western was all balls. He backs it up with this album, though. It's real damn good. It's clearly country but also clearly not. The combination of styles coupled with his clear appreciation for the source material make it really hard to deny how damn good the album is. I mean, I don't even like country and I'm digging this record. I can see why it has been hailed as not just a great album but for breaking down racial walls in the music industry.

Hyvän fiiliksen levy

We get these songs produced so slickly, with such stereotypically grand string and horn arrangements, that the connection to the titular country and western music is subtle. I enjoyed the sharing of vocal duties at points. If it weren't for the title and historical context, I wouldn't have picked up on the source of the material until You Are My Sunshine. Charles's voice is the standout stylistic feature as he blends perfectly with the production and delivers the lyrics comfortably.