Reviews (page 5 of 12)
Ray Charles doing country music for an hour and a bit. He's a phenomenal musician with a very talented gallery of musicians behind him. We have yet to receive a soul album on here that wasn't a pleasure to listen to. I do feel that because they are covers that the 'soul' of the album doesn't resonate with me as much as the previous Charles album we reviewed. The instrumentals here more than make up for it, each instrument here is arranged wonderfully and sounds off just when it needs to.
soooooo good. 4.5
I admittedly only got halfway through this album; not because I didn't like it, but because it was rather long. I loved everything I heard. No notes.
His vocal performance is a strong 5. The album is beautiful too. At the end some songs gave me a feeling that it’d be a pity to not include them, but they just won’t contribute much to the album. But overall it’s still a very pleasant listen.
Any reason to listen to Ray Charles is good enough for me. Really interesting to hear his style applied to some classic songs, in some cases making them better. Length is a little bit of a drawback, but otherwise, this was a very enjoyable album and exactly what I was hoping for.
This is how your supposed to do a cover album! Take existing songs a put a twist on them. You're not supposed to make them sound identical to the original (looking at you Weezer's version of Africa). You should only realize halfway through a song that you actually know it. That's what happens here a few times. The big band sound is great, and Ray is perfect. My only complaint is the length of the album. It begins to feel a little repetitive by the end of it.
I’m not convinced Stevie Wonder is actually blind. Ray Charles, however, this guy is absolutely blind. This album emits such a warm vibe. The soulful vocals and big band instrumentation bring such vibrancy to these country/western songs. Favorites were Half As Much, Just A Little Lovin’, Careless Love, and Hey Good Lookin’.
Remarkable set of songs that catapulted his legacy. Requires a few more listens to fully appreciate it, in a calm setting. Excellent execution.
Throughly enjoyed this one. Hard to believe these were country songs. Ray charles is so soulful in his singing, breathing fresh new life into the songs. Slightly long/repetitive over the two discs but a near 5.
1/1001 Great way to start off this journey. Amazing album. Ray’s vocals are strong, powerful, warm, and so uniquely Ray. His piano playing is also fantastic. The hybrid of blues, country, western, gospel, and early rock n roll all meld together perfectly. The album has so many great songs, but the arrangement is a bit off, going from a songs that makes you want to dance to a slower and lighter moods from track to track. The overall length becomes a bit tiresome towards the end. Better arrangement and cutting 2-3 song could make this album a 5.
⠗⠁⠽ ⠊ ⠋⠺ ⠽⠕⠥⠗ ⠍⠥⠎⠊⠉ ⠓⠑⠁⠧⠽ ⠞⠺⠊⠝
OH YEEEESSSSSSSSSSS Fave Songs: VOL 1 Bye Bye Love ❤️ Half As Much ❤️ Just A Little Lovin' ❤️ Worried Mind (god the piano bridge with the strings oofffff) It Makes No Difference Now Careless Love Hey, Good Lookin VOL 2 You Are My Sunshine Midnight ❤️ Oh, Lonesome Me ❤️ Take These Chains From My Heart ❤️
I never thought there's a way for me to enjoy country songs as much as I did here. Ray literally put soul in these songs. Ray's voice sounds so good, the whole band does too. The overall production on this is great. Some of the songs do sound a bit dated, so do some of the choral vocals. That's the reason it's getting 4 out of 5. But all in all this is a great record and a very enjoyable listen.
Ray Charles fixed country music by making it not country. Seriously, what a baller of an album title.
Цей альбом це справжня класика, що тут ще скажеш. Одна із найвизначніших робіт, що має колосальний вплив на усю поп музику, що виходила потім. На ньому ми чуємо приємний R&B, Soul та Jazz, що представлений, здебільшого, у вигляді чутливих та меланхолійних балад про нерозділену любов. Голос Чарлза - звісно ж неперевершений, його експресивність та емоційність вражала тоді і не перестає вражати зараз. Проте окрім чудового вокалу, особливими тут є також самі аранжування. Альбом не просто так має слово «country» у своїй назві. В дитинстві, Рей ріс під цю музику, і ніколи не розумів сегрегацію блюзу та кантрі, як музики для чорних та для білих. Він завжди вважав, що жанри дуже схожі в тому, якою мовою вони спілкуються зі слухачем. Обидва жанри, на його думку, були максимально приземленими та щирими і показували речі такими як вони є, без зайвих прикрас. Тож для цього альбому, Рей вирішив записати саме кантрі пісні. І це в часи активної расової сегрегації. Його не підтримували в цьому не інші музиканти, ні лейбл, проте останні, все ж, погодилися піти на цей експеримент. Для створення цього альбому використовувалися вже існуючі кантрі пісні. Проте Чарльз вирішив зробити їх на свій лад, намагаючись показати, що у кантрі та блюзу більше спільного ніж здається. Аранжування тут зроблені просто шикарні, і кантрі треки, справді, зазвучали як щось абсолютно нове, проте у свій основі, лишалися тими самими піснями. В цьому, певно, майстерність Чарльза виражається найбільше. Адже тільки справжній геній може переграти пісні так, щоб вони залишили свій дух та «неповторність», і водночас звучали, по «блюзовому вишукано» - так як це бачив Рей. Загалом можна було б ще багато написати про те, «як гарно альбом скомпонований», але якось не має особливо сил та бажання розводити цю нудистику. Цей альбом визнаний, певно що всіма, як найкращий альбом Чарльза. І я із радістю з цим погоджуюсь. Дійсно шикарна робота.
Not entirely modern but I guess that's a risk if you let more than 60 years go by. This album is a worthy entry on this list, a landmark work as well as an absolute treat. Standouts: Bye Bye Love, I can't Stop Loving You, Hey Good Lookin', and You Are My Sunshine. Apparently I like my country to sound like a horny swing band. In any case, full props to Ray "The Genius" Charles for a fun romp.
4.5
not the kind of music i listen to often but i can appreciate it. beautiful mix of soul and country from front to back, and the versatility of Ray's voice is definitely showcased here. only thing i don't "like" is how long this album is. with 24 tracks in total, i don't think i'd listen to this in full often unless played in the background.
Really enjoyed just about every song on this one!
This is a great album. I was sad when it ended.
I admit I did not receive what I thought I would be given with this album. This was not covers of well known Country and Western songs, but rather a reimagining of Country and Westerns as performed through a Big Band prism. I don't often agree with Robert Christgau about anything, and even though it is painful to admit it, I think he got the rating of this album right. It is a banger through and through. In a weird dichotomy the album feels fresh without sacrificing the timelessness of the original song material. Love the string, choral, and big band arrangements. It is easy to go over the top with big band arrangements, but Ray Charles and collaborators managed to the toe the line but never leave the pocket. After a week of mediocre Brit rock shit, this was the palette cleanser I needed.
Good album, a bit long and a few tracks that weren't at the standard. I liked how retro it was and also how varied.
Yeah I liked this. Great music to work with.
A voice as smooth as silk - a bit dated but still sounds great.
A little long, but classic and comfortable. Like a cloud.
👍
I think Ray Charles is great and he did a great job on this album. There is a fundamental problem though and that's that I find the original songs pretty dull and uninspiring, so however well done they are, this album can only scrape a four from me.
A true classic.
There is something just so warm and welcoming when it comes to this sound. Of course the actual production does feel dated as that is pretty inevitable, however, it didn't take away from the listening experience for me at all. From the big band, to the backing vocals and of course with Ray Charles and his amazing voice as the cherry on top, you can't help but have a smile on your face or to sway your body depending on the song. With the amount of songs it did feel like it was dragging near the end but overall the switch between upbeat and slow was dynamic enough to keep me engaged. Beautiful and seamless blend of genres that deserves all the praise.
7/10
Charles’ poignant and soulful singing on this record is mindblowing. 4.5/5
Great listen and something I’d probably go back to. I haven’t sat down to listen to Ray before despite hearing many of his songs over the years so this was a super nice experience. It’s also so crazy how you don’t realise each song is a rendition of a country one at first - just a testament to Ray’s artistry and talent!
Heck yes. Nothing wrong with this.
Good
Actually enjoyed this! 4/5 for me
Generational vocal talent.
objektiv cool aber ka wie oft i's hören werd
Long
Hit em with the reverse Elvis. Ray is the GOAT
What a sound. And so much packed in.
It says on the cover that it's volume 1 and 2! So no, it's not too long. By all means listen to both volumes - the one included in the book plus the follow up released later that year following it's success - but don't then criticise two albums for being the length of two albums. Anyway yeah, very enjoyable, obviously.
really nice. maybe i’ll listen again when i feel like i need a break from music i love. even though i really like this, it felt super long. like when is this going to end?
****A wonderful, versatile album. Easy listening, great vocals and instrumental
Lyrics are very basic, but the piano playing and band are phenomenal.
That was fun to listen to. Put it on when I was making out with my girlfriend last night and then listen to it again at work today.
Some bangers on here, could listen to ray all day. High 4.
Such a warm and cozy album, perfect for Christmastime! While some songs were a bit too slow or “old fashioned” for me I still think this is a great album
Fantastic album. Just goes to show you how closely related these genres are. Ray did it way before Beyonce.
Kedvenc/Favourite: Bye Bye Love Elképesztő tehetség és hozzáértés érződött minden dalon, érzelmes és könnyed volt, de egyértelműen magas színvonalon kivitelezve. Érdekes volt country dalokat ebben a formában hallani, nekem nagyon megtetszett a koncepció. Igazán ki tudtam kapcsolni, és csak a zenére koncentrálni, vissza fogok még térni ehhez az albumhoz, azt hiszem (bár ici-picit háttérzenés érzésem lett egy idő után). There was amazing talent and skill in every song, it was emotional and light, but clearly executed to a high standard. It was interesting to hear country songs in this way, I really liked the concept. I was able to really switch off and just concentrate on the music, I'll be returning to this album again I think (although I did get a tiny bit of a background music vibe after a while).
I give it a 4 for musicality and influencing. Sounds like Mancini meets C&W.
It’s a real fun album when it drives. It does have too many slow spots. A lot of the middle of the album is missing the energy of “I’ve Got a Woman”. But when it’s on, it’s on! I’d have no idea this was originally country music if it wasn’t in the album title.
- immense background vocals
Nice 8/10
This album is smooth and easy, but it’s got guts. It takes classic sounds and flips them into something fresh. It’s warm, confident, and timeless.
First listen. Pretty good.
A little over the top at times but I'd listen to this one again.
Great voice put to good use. Very good album.
нормуль, приятная музычка
Still need to listen fully! A bit conservative
I only ever had the greatest hits of Ray Charles growing up buy some of my favorite tracks on that CD are apparently on this record (you don't know me, I can't stop loving you, take these chains from my heart). The whole record just feels like a new deeper cut version of that record. A really fun concept of taking country standards and doing them in his own style.
Foundational record. Ray Charles was a legend.
It's a little slick for my taste, but it's a fantastic reimagining of the source material.
This is pretty great. It's bluesy, jazzy and soulful. Ray Charles' voice is sensational. I'm not a 60s country and western aficionado, so I don't recognise most of the standards here, and can't really speak to the album's social impact, but it's enjoyable music regardless.
Good music
Classic songs, Ray and his voice
4/5
Needs another listen but it seems incredible as I fell asleep.
The Good: An album title that tells it like it is! The Bad: that the modern sound is dated… The Ugly: That we are talking about C&W… Yeehaw… There isn’t much to say about an album for which much has been said already, except that I agree. The album is awesome. Ray Charles is the GOAT. The background singers are dated. It feels like you are listening to the soundtrack to a Disney movie. etc… Today was my maiden voyage listening to this album. I had seen the title here and there, but as I am not a C&W fan, and stupid, I never bothered to listen to it… and boy was I knocked on my socks. This album is awesome, and Ray Charles is the GOAT, and the background singers are dated, and it does feel like I you are listening to the soundtrack of a Disney movie, and it all makes sense… The only downside to this album is, you guessed it, a couple of songs too long… Soooooooooooooo close to 5*
i think there's a lot of positive things to say about this album. charles's voice is smooth as silk, and the background vocals help transport back to a much simpler time. a lot of the lyrics were the same, but overall it's a great listen.
Enjoyed this one. Great singing and arrangements, lots of fun. You don't really get a sense of the historical/racial significance while it plays, it goes down easily.
это тоже наш кротяра
If this is what country music sounded like maybe I would like it!
I was not familiar with Ray Charles (except for a few massive hits) and I was intrigued by the title. As it turns out, it is NOT a country album(or at least not a modern country album), which is a great turn. And the production on the album is spectacular. Like it basically sounds like an old school movie soundtrack cause the orchestra and instrumentation on this album is like butter on hot pancakes, it is silky smooth. Overall I wasn’t sure what to expect which I think helped the album, but ultimately it is truly a one in a million album even if it’s not chalk full of hit songs. Truly loved relaxing with this album and a nice joint.
After the movie “Ray” came out, I bought a “best of” Ray Charles CD, and have really enjoyed it over the years, although it has been quite a while since I have listened to it…well this album is better! Even though I would normally find the production, orchestration and backing vocals a bit over the top, I think it really works here. I will definitely listen to this one again. If I could, I would give it 4.5 stars.
Fav: You Don’t Know Me Least Fav: Hey, Good Lookin’ He made a really nice blues album, and that’s an achievement in itself
7/10 - they all sound the same. Sometimes he is sad and sometimes he is happy but the music is the same
Pretty long and not too much variety, but consistently solid. Pretty enjoyable listen
Ha ha country and western, that’s funny Ray. You can certainly hear where some 60’s singers borrowed from him - looking at you Joe Cocker. This is great stuff by a legend.
My first thought upon getting this was - I didn't know Ray Charles did a country record. After listening it's clear that he didn't. He used the lyrics from country songs and did them in his own style, and I can respect that. This is a nice album, but not something I would seek out personally. Listening through the second time I came to the realization that a lot of these songs sound like they could be in an old Disney movie and now I can't hear them any other way.
4 stars
I know most of these sound better than the originals. The background vocals are creepy sometimes though. 4.4.
This is how I would like all the CnW you keep serving me, served please.
Smooth and elegant with rich vocals and dignified renditions of classic songs
This is very nice. Probably not something I would want to listen to often but very well done
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. 4⭐️
Knew who Ray Charles was but didn’t understand his significance. Now I do. Great album but I feel disadvantaged because I don’t really know the original songs that he reworked. My only gripe is that it does seem to slow towards the end. Nonetheless would happily listen again.
Some of these renditions are fantastic, particularly because they’re so different than the “usual” versions (“You are my sunshine” being the obvious/well-known example, but also “Born to Lose” and “your cheatin’ heart” - both of which I loved). Cool idea and excellent execution, but the relevance is lost on me and I struggle to find when I’d listen to this? But man, Ray, dude’s so good.
I could listen to Ray read the phonebook. The band and recording sounds terrific. A lot of these are "standards" but done incredibly well and with Ray's own twist at the peak of his powers.
Consistently solid sound throughout the album. The second side seemed a lot more down than the first side and definitely got stale by the end. Overall, a great album.
I like a bit of Charlie Parker and Louis Armstrong so this fits in this vibe nicely. Nice listening, love the sound of the recordings from this period to. Gives them lots of warmth. Also all the song titles could be Taylor Swift song titles (just an observation).
I had to interrupt my classic FM Christmas listening for this but I was not disappointed. Nice sounds, lovely jazzy feel.
Cozy and warm inside lovely songs take pride on the radio and in my ears easy listening without fears So sweet and lovely waves Not music for raves Really a true genius walked among us
I was surprised how much I liked this.
I actually really like this! Surprised.
arrangements carry this, but jamie foxx sounds really old her e
Man county music has changed and Ray is a legend
This one is all about the voice for me. Great early morning or late night listen.
Quite enjoyed it.
Love the sound of Ray's voice. Obviously these are some hits. 4/5
You can hear the smile on Ray Charles' face as he sings. This album is mislabelled, as I didn't hear much county here. It's basically Ray Charles with a big band and it's really good! I didn't like the strings and Ray Coniff-like backing singers. Other than that, it was very enjoyable. Liked Songs Added: It Makes No Difference Now You Are My Sunshine
I’m trying to judge each album as standalone, but when the algorithm gives me two Ray albums in quick succession, it’s hard not to compare them. The Genius of Ray Charles, released three years before this, somehow feels more contemporary. That said, this is still a very good album, and I’m starting to suspect I might be a fan of Mr. Charles. His voice and delivery are as superb as ever. However, the backing choir on this record has a dated sound that didn’t work for me personally, which held it back slightly. Standout Track: I Can’t Stop Loving You Score: 4/5
It's kinda crazy how much you can change the arrangement of a song and keep it indentifiable, interesting and also extremely original sounding.
Для воспоминаний о временах в которых никогда не бывал
An interesting first Ray Charles album to get here. There is so much more than the typical rhythm and blues that many would come to expect. Plenty of crooning songs with country and western standards, (as referenced to by the album name of course), or just blue covers of said country songs. You almost forget that these are covers after all. It's a well-recorded production and a bit of a bold concept given the era that this was released in and the artist at the center of things.
Several classics here from a bygone era.
Great album. I'd like to think Ray was like I'm going to take these white boys music, make it better and get paid. The only thing that kept this from five stars for me is that it was too long. I don't know why that is a thing with me. Some albums are as long as they need to be and others just a song or two too much. Either way I hope Ray got paid and he did arrange these songs exceptionally well.
Cool vibes. Felt a bit festive
Ray Charles playing country standards sounded like a horrible idea and I was pleasantly surprised by how wrong I was.
Felt like a Xmas album
Good. Well played, good voice. Decent songs. I don't think it's very relevant to current music anymore, but it doesn't have to be. Too many similar bonus tracks, as is often the case with reissues. Favorite song: hey good looking.
Great album. The peculiar atmosphere of the 60’ with that rich and elegant sound, the strings, the brass, the choirs, everything here is well written. Of course the songwriting is also stunning and very versatile. Thanks for the advice.
This is great. Smooth. Classy. Jazzy. It's that kind of old-timey vibe that feels like Christmas. I think I will revisit, but perhaps just half of it, as it does feel over-long and I checked out more in the second half.
Really good
Can't really fault it. Absolutely beautiful songs, get you right in the feels.
Fan of Ray Charles but this album is kind of hit and miss. Some good songs on here but not his best
Old sounds that feel like they come from the era of Christmas classics. Perfect for November
very satisfying, he has a beautiful voice
Superb R&B with a few misses but solid 4/5.
What a timeless classic. Loved the background singers and Arrangements...not overdone and came in just at the right times. What a big production for 1962. Ray could sing the phone book and sell records!
i really liked this…i guess i don’t know too much about ray charles cos i didn’t realize how much of a sad boy he is….almost all of these songs are about getting left at home alone by his gf! get up ray!
I don't have too many thoughts about this I guess. I listened to it while I was working and it made me productive. It was also really pretty :D
Great.
Classic from beginning to end. Familiar songs given an unfamiliar feel. I prefer his more swinging selections, but great to hear this take on Country standards. One to play frequently.
It's tempting to give this five stars after the first few bars of Bye Bye Love. Ray Charles, a Phil and Don cover, WINNER! The rest of the two discs didn't disappoint. Ray's voice and choice of covers are the perfect match. The crossover between country, soul and good old rock 'n' roll somehow works. I was left toe tapping and GRINNING.
Not so much sounds of country and western as songs from country and western performed by Ray Charles. But they're great, and Ready proves they're great songs without the jangly stringed instruments the title would suggest.
It gets a bit sappy at times with all the strings and the background choir, but it's influence is undeniable
Nice
I love everything Ray Charles. This is such an easy listen start to finish.
Love Ray Charles and very much enjoyed this. My only complaint is that it doesnt really fit the album template, its just a collection of really good standards by a good singer and arranger.
I'm at something of a split on this album style-wise. I loved the gospel-y numbers like You are my Sunshine most of all. Then the more schmaltzy sentimental ones like Teardrops in my Heart. The more up-tempo, swinging big band songs like Bye Bye Love aren't my thing. On balance this was a really nice album, even if a chunk of it isn't my style. Album cover: (C) Pretty boilerplate for the time period.
Really great but too long. I love the sound and Ray Charles is so smooth here. Sure, it gets a bit samey towards the end, but it didn’t diminish the album for me
Really good vibe, nice to listen to in the background. Real soft headbangers type music, just bobbing the head feeling the vibe. Really nice songs. Amazing to listen to while smoking.
The back up singers killed it for me. The vocalizations sound so... dated to me. I want this work to be more timeless, and ... gah. Having said that, one of the songs had a very interesting bit, and that was "I've Got A Tiger By The Tail". I thought the song itself, obviously a country classic, really changed with their singing. Even with that, I still enjoyed it a good deal, but you can tell this was done almost 60 (!!) years ago, Top tracks: "I've Got A Tiger By The Tail," "Light Out Of Darkness," "Blue Moon Of Kentucky"
I think for the most part, you wouldn't know these are country standards (Born to Lose shows its stripes). Ray takes them and makes them his own, in a swinging jazz-infused style. It's upbeat at times (e.g., Bye Bye Love, Hey Good Lookin) but mostly emotional and soaring (e.g., You Don't Know Me, I Love You So Much it Hurts, Worried Mind). I realize it's still not my style, but I enjoyed it. So apologies for not giving it a 5. I liked it but I didn't need to repeat it over and over. Might come back to it when I need this vibe but ready for other listening experiences now.
Muy buen disco. El sello de Ray Charles va a estar siempre. Por ahí este es más melódico y slow y tiene demasiadas canciones.
bye bye love harde start han d version vode everly brothers lieber aber jo trz cute you don't know me ultraaa schön warm halbtax (half as much) I love you so much it hurts isch so melodramatisch aber ich LIIIEEBS hmm vlt bin ich z fest verliebt in elvis aber can't stop loving you ohni ihn het für mich weniger flair...trz ischs guet gmacht jaaa han jz geg de schluss abgschalte aber es isch uhuere schön und mega warm
4++
A lot of fun songs
Good album. Ray Charles has a voice that is easy to listen to and steals the whole show. The instrumentals were quite enjoyable as well. 'You Are My Sunshine' wins my fave slot.
Great album, joyous! That rich voice is everything. Loved it
What a voice.
Great stuff. Short album.
This album felt like it went on a long time but I really dug the music and really dug ray Charles. I also really enjoyed reading about the history of this album, which I think made me appreciate it more. I don't think I would listen to this album cover to cover again but I'd be happy listening to a small sample from this album for sure. And man, does this one make me want to play Fallout as well.
A unique flavor on mixing country songs with a dash of big band and jazz. Interesting but not my favorite. Would definitely like to see more of Ray Charles’ body of work
I looked for the full ride of 24 tracks and was glad I did. This was like a time capsule that transported me to another time and place. Very well done and Ray is a very versatile and talented artist. A long way from Rays’s Music Exchange…
The link to listen originally brought me to a version with only 6 or so songs. After searching I was able to find that this was actually 2 separate albums recorded in 2 separate sessions, each totaling 12 songs for a total of 24 songs. Pretty incredible that the recording sessions for each were only 3 days apiece. And with an 18+ member orchestra too. Yes the orchestral and background singing is quite dated, and of that Lawrence Welk time period. But to hear the re-interpreting of these old C&W classics into a more jazz big band style is pretty cool, and never really tiresome…even with 24 songs. Timeless indeed. No doubt due to Ray’s voice which clearly drives the show here.
Seems like it’s as trendy as ever for artists to dip their toes into Country music. But Ray does it so seamlessly that you wouldn’t know it wasn’t what he was mostly known for. Beautiful album, will revisit.
Really enjoyed this album. Nice easy listen and had it on in the background a couple times over the weekend. Def sounds old but not outdated (if that makes sense).
Fun to have in the same week an album that aged horrendously (Digital Underground) and this album that aged liked a fine one. A pleasurable listen over the weekend, but doesn’t rise to the level of 5* IMO. Maybe my rating would be higher if I fully grasped the significance/influence if the album… 4/5
Lovely. A timeless fusion of swing,blues and country showcasing this amazing voice. Brilliant
I've heard of this album but had never listened to it. not familiar with most of the tracks in the country genre, so can't compare what Ray does to the originals. overall I enjoyed the listen-he's got a great ear and ability to style music and tell stories. only down sides are the fact it's a double album (gets a little long with about 5 tracks to go), and the "doowop" sound backing vocals on a couple tracks detract from his vocals
A nice mellow vibe, though sounds a bit dated with the background strings in every song. Charles has a voice that could sooth a rabid honey badger into a cooing compliance.
This was short but sweet. I always like some Ray Charles
Didnt finish but very doowop era foxtrot music. Not my style but it was cool to see lines ive heard in rap songs
8.5/10
I liked it way more than I thought I would. Not my thing but undeniably good music.
Pretty nice collection from Ray.
Groundbreaking it may have been at the time, but it reads a bit schmaltzy now, when the strings and horns get heavy-handed (as on the otherwiste great "You Don't Know Me." But RC's delivery and phrasing – the sheer soulfulness of them – are excellent throughough and transcend the shortcomings (including iffy backing vocals on a few cuts). The formula works best with "Careless Love" and "Born to Lose" and "Someday," with their understated instrumentation and controlled tempos. "You Are My Sunshine" swings soulfully and has integrated, rather than ornamental, backing vocals) (noting that it might be a bonus cut). And as with other RC records, the singer seems a full notch better than some of the songs ("Hey Good Lookin'"); sure, these were hits and so, one supposes, what the peolpe wanted, but serving those fickle tastes isn't exactly a surefire path to the artistic pantheon. Bonus points in that one realizes now where one's father got one of the standard songs ("I Love You So Much") that he used to sing to us at bedtime, in the bath, etc.
“modern sounds in country and western music” has a weirdly nostalgic sound to it, despite me never hearing it before. the ornate backing vocalist and string section give this record an almost christmassy feel, one that warms the listener. charles’ voice is instantly soothing, and makes this album a very easy listen. i should like to here more of his work along this challenge, and hope to revisit this record.
The man had an amazing voice, and the big band music behind it makes it even better.
I was today years old when I learned Social Distortion did not write that song
if you're in the mood for it. it's a 5/5 imo
Pretty good and soulful.
Bye Bye Love 4 You Don't Know Me 3.8 Half as Much 3.7 I Love You So Much It Hurts 3.8 Just a Little Lovin' (Will Go a Long Way) 3.8 Born to Lose 3.6 Worried Mind 3.5 It Makes No Difference Now 3.7 You Win Again 3.4 Careless Love 3.5 I Can't Stop Loving You 3.7 Hey, Good Lookin' 3.6 Score: 3.675
Ray was in his bag here.
Finally something a little different this week. I am loving the vibe of this album - it reminds me of a sad Christmas, if that makes sense.
This is a fantastic album--to have the foresight to pull a scoffed at genre and open it up to jazz sensibilities is next level. This might be the swingingest country album ever.
goddamn i gotta get deeper into r&b 8/10
I skipped the second disc as only the first seems to be the original album. From what I can gather it is a historical significant album, but knowing none of that, it's a tight 39 minutes of reworking that holds up amazingly well. Ray's voice was impeccable as you'd expect, the song selection was nice and varied and the big band sounded great. Definitely will see a few tracks entering my weekend breakfast rotation.
Simply amazing.
Great album! Some soulful tunes in here
Really good
Muito bom!!!!
Für mich ist das ein sehr ungewöhnliches Album von Ray Charles. Viele ruhige Orchester Nummern, durchaus am Rande des Kitsches, aber sehr gut arrangiert und gesungen. Coverversionen sind gelungen.
Normally, I wouldn't like music like this because it's quite boring and repetitive, like all the music from those times. But with Ray Charles it's something different. He just captivates me somehow. I liked this a lot!
Kende dit album nog niet en eerlijk gezegd ken ik Ray Charles, buiten zijn hits, niet zo fantastisch goed. Maar damn, wijs album! Dikke 4 sterren hiervoor.
Wonderful music. This man just exudes music out of him.
Ray was a bit before my time, but I am lucky to have several kids who play orchestra. One is a trumpet player and one is piano. So I have come to appreciate jazz and R&B. My first impression looking at the cover was that I had missed something historically where Ray Charles invented country music. But digging in I can compare it to Postmodern Jukebox where popular hits are performed in a distinctive period style. If done well and with exceptional performers this concept works. Ray and his orchestra certainly fill the bill. After many decades that is where this album lands. As a period piece. A novelty. No matter how much raw energy and swing a genius like Ray Charles can muster to mix oil and water it will ultimately separate. Unlike Elvis who created something transformative that has stood the test of time this attempt to cast country in a an R&B mold produced a beautiful but ultimately dated result. An artifact. A curiosity. I enjoyed it though.
Enjoyable
Favourite tracks: bye bye love: you're cheating heart; born to lose; hey good looking
me gusta el genero musical y su voz es genial pero si escucho mucho me cansa
Great kusic
This album was great. While it’s hard to truly gauge these songs originally as “country and western” they do make a seamless tradition to R&B/Soul.
I’d never heard most of these songs and had no idea that they were originally country songs. The only one I was familiar with was the opening track, “Bye Bye Love” from the Everly Brothers version (and it never really would have occurred to me to consider it a country song). I tried to listen to the originals for comparison and couldn’t get through most of them. Country just isn’t my genre. With the exception of the opening track (of which I’d say Charles’ version is tied with the Everly Brothers for me), I vastly prefer the Ray Charles versions. His reimagining of the songs as blues/jazz/r&b songs greatly elevates them, at least in my opinion. It must have taken balls at the time, too, for a Black man to put out an album covering beloved country songs. There’s also something delightfully subversive about a Black man in the early 60s singing a country song with the lyric, Why don't you put your arms around me? And I'll be your slave 'Cause just a little lovin', baby Will go a long way I haven’t listened to much Ray Charles, but I really enjoyed this album. His voice is very smooth and soothing. The lush orchestration and choral accompaniments give this album a very old-Hollywood vibe — though it does get to be a bit much occasionally, it works well most of the time. It’s great to hear Charles break out the piano chops on songs like “Worried Mind” and “It Makes No Difference Now.” If there’s one downside to this album, I’d say it’s that some of the songs sound very similar, but that’s more the fault of the originals. 4/5
Day 37 - July 8th, 2024 Wonderful background music. 4/5
A bit long and one-note, but good.
Nice but long
bardzo przyjemne i uniwersalne
Of course his voice is amazing, of course the players on this record are all very skilled. Of course I enjoyed it. Really incredible. Enjoyed it the whole time. I would say though that its not music that I would listen at all times since it is indeed relaxing. Either way a great record. One of the things I enjoyed the most was the use of strings and the beautiful choir that would acompany the slower songs.
Very enjoyable. Ray’s sound is unique but his style brings a new life to these tunes.
Solid, some blues, not very country but good.
Enjoyed it! Didn't really feel like an Album, more like a series of great songs but I guess that's what an album is :') 4
Classic songs, bit of a bummer
4
Slow but good
Incredible vocals. Great big band chorus harmonies.
Warm gorgeous songs of love.
Wow this was great. I feel like we’ve been waiting for this one. Some classic renditions that overall reminded me of Sinatra and some old country singers. Not every song kept me but plenty stood out. This is a fantastic album.
Damn, actually a ton of hits on here. Ray Charles doing mostly (if not all) covers, including plenty of songs we know and love. Not sure how much this is really "country and western music," but it's 1962, who am I to judge? Regardless, great collection of great songs, Ray was the man. Favorite tracks: Bye Bye Love, Half as Much, Born to Lose, Worried Mind, Hey Good Lookin, Don't Tell Me Your Troubles, Oh Lonesome Me. Album art: Just a picture of Ray on a red background, with text describing the album. Again, 1962, so I'll give some grace, but it's certainly not memorable. 4/5
I don't usually listen to the 60s much but this album has surprised me by how calm and cozy it is. As the album is two albums in one, it is a lot of songs. I will give this a low 4/5 as the album does start to feel a bit long near the end.
Good but you knew that, didn’t you?
Ray Charles lowkey goated for this, I didn't know that any of these songs were originally country since they sound so good in the blues style. I really like from this genre of music since it this tends to be very melodious and of course the strings are always beautiful. It was all super pleasant, I could definitely love this more if I was in the mood and had more time to just relax and soak in the vibe for a while. Had many favourites including You Don't Know Me, I Love You So Much It Hurts, Born To Lose, You Win Again, I Can't Stop Loving You, Someday (You'll Want Me To Want You), Don't Tell Me Your Troubles, Take These Chains From My Heart, Your Cheatin' Heart, and Teardrops In My Heart, making this a 4 from me
The 1960s version of the Pop Goes Punk compilations. Ray Charles just being an absolute boss and reworking country songs into whatever genre he sees fit, making them catchy and characterful the whole time. Vols I and II have a combined running time of about 80 minutes but it honestly flew by. No songs in particular really stood out but the whole thing was smooth as hell
More songs in here that I knew than I expected. Possibly some due to samples. Like that some were short eg 2 minutes, whereas some songs can be too long. Classics.
This album was great all the way through. Finally an album with cultural significance that is also an incredible work of musical achievement, adapting these songs to a jazz/r and b style just brought them so much character. That being said, the style was very specific and I honestly would have liked to see more variety in the interpretations so for that it’s A teir
I do love listening to Ray Charles. It was a strong start to the album with Bye Bye Love and You Don't Know Me. Remained a strong album and a soothing listen.
I can’t help but wonder how many country music fans in the early 60s picked this up expecting something different. The rearrangement of old country standards must have put more than a few of them on edge. But this is a great work and a pleasure to listen to, although occasionally jarring to hear him refer to himself as a slave (albeit to love) and as having “once” been blind.
Some really good stuff on this one. I'd like most of the songs with the chorus better without the chorus. Some of the songs he chose to cover have some pretty corny lyrics, too, but those were probably typical of the time and genre. I'd probably like it better if it was a single album of just the stongest material. All told, still excellent.
Ray Charles is a legend and this double album has a ton of classics. Such a soothing voice
usual music preference towards metal, classical, electronic, and rap. 5. Ray Charles - Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music: Listened to this while playing Elden Ring swinging around a greatsword. Ray Charles is great, I loved his bit in Blues Brothers. 8/10. I grew up with some of my parents Motown records and soul music scratches that same itch.
An enjoyable album of Ray Charles singing standards and classics
1. Liked Moss Garden as reminder of time in Japan. V Schneider my favorite. Surprised so much instrumental as I usually love Bowie’s sultry voice. Wanted to enjoy Neuköln for the German tie-in, but didn’t 😔 2. Not much of the piano I’m used to in conjunction with Ray Charles, but really impressed with his fine vocals and these country songs didn’t seem twangy to me. Enjoyed more than expected. Especially liked the first selection on volume 1, You Don’t Know Me.
It's just great music.
I feel like a lot of people can thank Ray Charles for getting a lot of sex over the last 60 odd years
I loved this! I haven’t ever listened to Ray Charles and did not expect this. Maybe his biggest hits that I would’ve heard are different? Like maybe the song selection here just worked for me? Not sure, but another very pleasant surprise.
This was a fun album to listen to and a very interesting album to read about. It basically consists of covers and reworks of country songs through a soul and R&B lens. What I find really impressive is that some of these songs even got radio play on country and western stations. Thanks to this album generator, I never would have listened to this album on my own, so I'm really excited to say that I enjoyed it and will definitely listen to it again in the future.
You Don't Know Me Born to Lose I Can't Stop Loving You
Country Soul, rhythm and blues, traditional pop. I'll say it straight up, did not like this album at all on first listen. I was very bored by it and could not wait for it to end. But I have it another shot the next day and turned a complete 180 on my opinion. It's sultry and beautiful, passionate and romantic. It's so smooth and powerful. Even the songs of longing and loneliness hit hard. Ray Charles has some pipes on him for sure. The more modern take on country classics was something I didn't like at first but I find the beauty in now. I don't know what happened but this album rules. Probably will revisit. 4/5
Pretty nice? I really didn't understand why this album was called this because I never thought that Ray Charles was country. That he was doing classic country songs in an R&B format makes so much more sense now.
Enjoyed this album! Love his voice and the vibes. A classic 4 ⭐️
unbelievably soothing and beautiful music that really encompasses the big band sound. Ranges from slow and emotional to high energy charleston type sounds.
Ray is a treasure and this album certainly shows why. He took old standards and gave the SOUL.
Objectively very good. The arrangements, performance, and recording quality is exceptional. I've discovered while doing this project, I tend to struggle to dig in and enjoy any form of vocal jazz or big band albums. So I recognize the importance and quality of this album but I have a hard time feeling drawn to it if that makes any sense.
Really enjoyed this, Ray is a bit of a genius and will listen to again, probably when the in laws are staying. Had a bit of everything and thank god it wasn't proper country music because that sucks.
Ray Charles has a great voice and these are gold standard American songs. Easy 4 stars.
A mix of good and great
Candle light, a good wine with you lover, possibly in a winter night....and Ray Charles music in the air.... That's how I feel about this album.... 4/5
smooth and finger waggin
I liked it but it was slightly disappointing because I was hoping more of the album would be jazzy big band like the first song. But other than that, fantastic album, his voice is incredible, it's obvious why he's one of the goats. Favorite Song: Bye Bye Love 8/10
Groovin! Love some oldies. Ray has a great voice, and I like the background chorus too. Y'all know I love some brass and strings. I feel like I'm in an old Disney movie. Top songs: You don't know me I love you so much it hurts Born to lose
I love me some Ray, though I do prefer his later stuff. This is still so good and such smooth riding.
Love this one - sad songs really were done best in this era. Smooth, easy listening, love the use of horns throughout.
Vinyl-worthy
great album with killer arrangements. It’s honestly a vibe. Just too much of the same vibe if you ask me.
Herrlich
Great arrangements. Ray is the Man.
Ray Charles has a marvellous voice and his command of the piano is on full display here. Whilst listening to the full two volumes in one sitting is perhaps a bit much, I have no doubt that one would thoroughly enjoy themselves sitting down and listening to these songs.
Great big band arrangements and inventive songwriting.
Some interesting adaptations
Great album.
cool
The charming voice of Ray Charles is basically half of the job done for the album. Add in some great music in the mix and we have an excellent record. Music heritage.
- Excellent! - Great for walking on my walking pad
Just good vibes here, great for a drive in the sun or late at night
Good background music
Una espectacular colección de canciones clásicas de country reinterpretadas con códigos de blues, jazz y R&B. La espectacular voz y carisma de Ray Charles transpira a través de cada una de las pistas de este LP doble, con una producción envidiable incluso para la época que pre-data incluso a The Beatles. Sumamente inspirador, relajando y recomendable.
Ray deciding to cover country western songs in 1962 is badass. Recently, we listened to Stardust by Willie Nelson where he did what he wanted by covering old standards (including Georgia on my Mind by Ray) instead of country as expected from him. Ray pulled off this move 16 years earlier - doing whatever he wanted to, pushing the boundaries and breaking down expectations. Love it. You don’t know me and You are my sunshine where my fav tracks.
What a legend and man is this just chock full of bangers featured in various movies. I think most of my Ray Charles listening comes from movie soundtracks. This was great.
I'd heard of Ray Charles, but never really actually listened to him. I understand why he was so popular and made a big impact on music in general.
Es muy buen disco, aunque no pude terminarlo.
Incredible stuff, but a little too much of it for me,
Great album, but loses a star for length.
I enjoyed. I’ll be listening to this more and I’m sure I’ll enjoy it more as I listen.
Soaring melodies and backing music that fit Ray’s vocals perfectly
Sounds good but a little corny at points.
Blind guy getting wanked off for the 1st time is a crazy cover picture.
pleasant
Kind of feels blasphemous to give Ray Charles something this low. His voice is timeless and his contributions are so much more than this album, which I enjoyed but didn't stick as much as I hoped it would. 3.5/5
Pretty cool album, some of it felt pretty Christmas-y. A lot of big band style swing. Would be fun to learn some of these songs
solid tunes feels like you could dance with someone’s marj to every song on this album that bloke knows how to play a saxophone banger
Þetta fannst mér skemmtileg plata jafnvel þótt hún væri tvöföld og þar af leiðandi frekar löng þá missti maður aldrei fílinginn eða þreyttist á að hlusta. Algjör negla sem fer pottþétt aftur á fóninn.
# Playlist track - You Are My Sunshine # Notes - Ray Charles is super brave to go on and declare what the "modern sounds" are. - I'm by no means a music historian, but it does look like he was right. I never heard this album before, but I kind of recognize it. - Super interesting piece of history! - Album is a bit repetitive after 24 tracks. Taking one star out.
8/10
I'm no music critic but I can see why this album made the list. I'll give my thoughts. Good: - This album sounds really good, especially considering it was made in the 1960s. It may just be my earbuds but it sounds like Ray is singing right in front of you. It's beautiful. - You can truly feel the emotion in Ray Charles singing. Throughout the entire album. - The orchestration is beautiful in every song. Bad: - It is a little repetitive. I really like this genre of music though so not that bad.
Ray‘s here to deliver the chill vibes.
Really rather good.
Although the compositions might not be as intriguing today, one must admit that it is quite incredible to release this in 1962. Truly groundbreaking with awesome vocals and piano from Ray Charles - as is expected.
An incredible selection of songs modernized by an incredible talent. The arrangements are beautiful and though it may not seem as revolutionary today, you can still easily get lost in the voice of Ray Charles.
#6 Ray Charles - Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (1962) Country Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Traditional Pop Big Band, Swing, Countrypolitan Never listened to Ray Charles beforehand, damn. I can see why he's so influential. This album was before the likes of Pet Sounds and Rubber Soul so it does feel more like a collection of hits than a cohesive statement... but man do those hits HIT. It's like a bridge between the music of the 50s and 60s. Favourite Track: Hey, Good Lookin' Least Favourite Track: Half as Much
Post Modern Jukebox before Post Modern Jukebox; Scary Pockets before Scary Pockets. A ton of great old country songs redone marvelously in a big band setting. I love old country songs and this album gives us another way to enjoy these classic songs
Great classic tunes by Ray. A stuff you listen and dance with loved ones.
Another classic.
favourite: A02, A05, A10, A12, B02, B04, B09, B11, B12 least favourite: A04, B05 notable tracks: - A10: really like the more minimal instrumental, allows the vocals to shine here - B04: great sonic change from the rest of the album, backing vocals add a lot here half the songs on vol 1 sound the same, wish it was a bit shorter - that being said, they all sound great so not a huge issue vol 2 has a lot more variety and generally more interesting songs think the backing vocals are overused a lot, could have been just ray charles on most of these songs mayb 7/10
*(Notes are only for the first volume) Ray Charles has an undeniably recognizable voice, and this album is certainly proof of that. The orchestra and big band do a great job in complimenting his voice, and the covers of country songs work much better than expected for the most part. Admittedly I think it is rather front loaded as the back half of it has some of the weakest tracks, in particular It Makes No Difference Now and Careless Love. "Well you know I once was blind; but I'm so glad, so glad I see"
Rate Charles was something special!
Good album I think I’d listen to it a lot more if I grew up during the 50’s
Can't go wrong with Ray, even when he's covering country and Western songs.
I very much enjoyed this one. 4.5
Well, this was a lie. This album is neither modern, country, or western. Anyways, this is a very groundbreaking, albeit fairly middle-of-the-road in terms of quality, album. I'll start with my biggest complaint, one that has been repeated for various older albums at this point. It's kind of repetitive. Most songs feel the same, which is kind of to be expected. However, when the album is fairly short and the quality of the songs is as high as it is, it isn't as big of a deal as it is with other album. The sound is great. While it doesn't really feel like country, which may be good or bad depending on who you ask, you can still feel the emotions that come with the best, most honest country music. Ray Charles, of course, was a great singer. The instrumentation elevates his singing to create a very high quality album. The main reason why this album deserves to be on this list is more so about the cultural significance rather than the actual album itself. This thing, as stated earlier, was groundbreaking. It's kind of funny since a lot of popular music in the 50s was white men covering songs made by black men, while this album is the complete opposite of that. How neat! This album broke racial boundaries and is considered an important album for a good reason. So, with every thing in mind, I think this album deserves a light 4/5.
Swingin'!! 4
This isn't country and western at all. Big band sound but he does it so well. It makes me smile😊
This is a good one.
music great. sound quality medium.
# 166 : Noice! I just love songs and albums you can sing along too. How good is that! Country songs done a different bluesey way. Funky. BYE BYE LOVE
Timeless Also listen to this in Puerto Rico. Very enjoyable. Highlights: Half as Much Worries Mind You Win Again - such a classic I can’t stop loving you
Schöner Soulkitsch, mag ich ja
This was a nice listen, it felt very nostalgic. I personally wouldn't go out of my way to listen to this on the daily, but as a vinyl to play in the background I think I would really enjoy it.
An intriguing blend of country, blues and soul.
lots of classics
Es ist gute Musik, auf jeden Fall. Schade, dass RC Streicher braucht, um auf den Massengeschmack zu treffen. Seine reduzierteren (Blues-/Jazz-)Alben sind auch allererste Sahne. Daher hier einen Punkt Abzug.
Enjoyed this. Also, the Making Believe song - had no idea that the Social Distortion version was a cover. Really like that song.
The horns go crazy. Charles' vocals are amazing but pretty much every song gives off christmas and the horns and string instuments is constantly assosciated with the holiday season. great album though. November dinner party album.
la calidez y calidad
Magnificient voice
6 / 10 Sonido Big Band de la época, con Ray Charles fuera del Blues.
Enjoyed this a lot, country songs reworked as big-band and choral arrangements, amusing but well done and done with affection and interest in the material.
Very enjoyable, I love this era of music. It is so earnest and wholesome. This was exactly what I needed to get started on a Monday morning. It is exactly what I expect out of this style of music and it did not disappoint. 4 stars
Awww sweet and nostalgic. :)
Day17 - amazing what a great song interpreter can do with already great songs
ray charles is great, but i sort of swing back and forth on his music. his up-tempo r&b stuff is great and i love that, but the more slow, ballad style of songs he does sort of leaves me a little cold. not that it's bad, but just not my thing. this album is mostly the latter, not the former, so for me it was not the most exciting album, although the quality of the album was high. still an enjoyable listen for a monday morning.