Reviews (page 5 of 13)
"I once was blind" bro tu não és cego???? Muito bom, foi um album facil de ouvir
Ovo je baš pozitivno iznenađenje s obzirom da me prošli Ray Charles nije oduševio, ovo je super da se malo osjećam sofisticirano i napredno.
Not to diminish what must have been a massive crossover hit, but this would have went hard if I was playing Fallout: New Vegas I only listened to Volume 1, hope that's okay. Might come back to the rest as I did enjoy this, went down very smooth
Nothing bad but nothing too notable either, not sure I could name a single song with it now off. Definitely good music to just have on in the background and I may come back to it for that reason Despite this I can understand why this album is on here and how influential this album was, but I’m rating these for my current feelings and enjoyment of it rather than impact it had and how “good” the album is 3
This is quality hip hop. Love the energy and the cleanliness and clarity of the rapping.
Ray Charles and Country and Western music. Two things that are relatively unknown to me. It is hard to know where one starts and the other ends. One thing I can say for sure is that I didn't need a double album of this, maybe I would have liked it a little more if it was just the first volume. That being said I didn't dislike it, it just dragged a little. And the lyrics, oh my god, get over it man, there's plenty more fish in the see. The one about being scared to go to sleep may be one of the worst things I've ever heard.
Classic album
Awesome
While Ray Charles is certainly an iconic performer and all time great, I didn’t dislike the album but it’s definitely not my style. I think it could be good background music but not something I would actively listen to. A lot of the songs started sounding the same to me, which is likely just because I don’t appreciate the various nuances of this style.
Fun, he sounds great, but it got repetitive for me by the end
Loved how he used country songs and adds a soulful, jazzy, R&M twist to them
Very pleasant - soul, country, swing, show. It's all included.
Very good
It gets boring halfway in. I liked the first part tho
This album was pretty good. Ray Charles sounded great. I really liked his delivery of the songs. There was a mix of upbeat songs with a big band and slower songs with string arrangements and a choir. I preferred the upbeat songs. The slow songs weren’t bad or anything but I’m not really into the choir sound for these songs. It’s extremely old timey sounding and kind of dull. It made me feel like I was listening to those old Christmas songs arrangements, which is fine sometimes but I wasn’t in the mood for. I only listened to Volume 1 which, is the original track listing for this list, but I may check out Volume 2.
Feels bloated and is hard to get through because of it but enjoyable. Thank you kayne for discovering this guy, very cool.
pretty great stuff here, some of it kind of sleepy but overall Ray Charles is amazing as usual
Solid songs. Fantastic arrangements. Probably not "modern" sounding even back when it was released, but this album is great. I'm reminded of an old joke/non-sequitur from growing up in the 70s/80s: "God is Love. Love is Blind. Ray Charles is blind. Ray Charles is God?" This album certainly makes a better case. Maybe not "the" God, but "A" God, to be sure. 5 stars.
Not on Amazon Music
I have a tendency to overrate things that surprise me, and goddammit, the fact that this ISN'T actually country and western music get a full star or happiness and relief.
very EH. not something i’d usually listen to, but it was good for my first album with this genre !! i’d give it a 6/10 honestly. Only a few songs i’ve added to my main playlist and none to my fire.
Fue relajante.
never listened before -most of these are very short and simple, but still nice -i really like his voice and the choir in the background, these songs sound like they're from an old disney film only listened to half but it was good 3/5
dis vibey you dont know me real wish men would still sing and write like this so damn avoidant every song about being madly in love is making me deeply uncomfortable very grand i like his voice not something i would listen to alone
everything from this era just reminds me of fallout music or the background to Christmas movies (this is not a bad thing)
It’s good, not my favourite
Cojonudo. Lo que me mola a mí.
Was planning on making a "both kinds of music" quip only to be surprised by this not actually being very country! I actually think is a very cool concept for an album of this time period and really well executed, lovely arrangements.
I like Ray Charles but I really don't like this. Big band swing, not my cup of tea at all and I'm not convinced by his singing. So many songs almost identical, same chords, poor man's Georgia.
Good music, great arrangements, but suffers from the same problem as Ella Fitzgerald's Gershwin Songbooks. At least Ella's album had way more variety in terms of arrangements. Ray Charles is more of a singles artist, I guess?
This didn’t sound like country to me, but it was really gorgeous music! Ray Charles has a beautiful voice and I enjoyed that classic big band sound.
Fun listen lots of great songs. Interesting how old/traditional r&b it is, guess I don’t really know Ray Charles that much.
Not a fan of slow songs
A fine collection of songs sung smoothly and with great instrumentation with great backing vocals. Many Hank Willians songs and a few by Jimmie Davis.
Wonderful singing and production. Very long. Some elements are nostalgic and didn't age as well.
That's nice
I love his voice but all in all there were too many strings and corny backup singers for me on this.
fire
Super
Poker muzak
I understand it is historically and culturally significant, but it's not for me. For all these songs, there are components I think are good. Ray and the backing chorus have great voices, of course. Instruments are also played well. The technique itself seems fine, but the substance being delivered by that technique does not hit the mark at times. Slower pacing and less variation in style/intonation can make for monotonous listening. There are some songs that introduce more instruments, are more fast-paced, or have more interesting/jazzy elements. These feel like breaths of fresh air, but having reprieves from monotony does not save the whole album. For subsequent listenings - assuming I'm targeting enjoyability - I would probably cut it down to a subset with the more interesting gems. Unless/until I get a better appreciation for the historical progression of music, I don't think I'd get much out of the remainder.
I will always give my people a 10/10
Actually pretty chill,100% stereotypical 60s music, a lot of it sounds the same, I like the layered vocals, overall pretty good listen
i hadn't heard of this specific album before, but i know ray charles ofc and it was very much what i expected. if they didn't sing the title of each song as the first thing in literally every track i probably couldn't tell them apart bc they're very similar - not necessarily a bad thing, but i probably won't relisten to this on my own. best case i'd put it on in the background if i had it on vinyl. that said, ofc this is a good album; they're good songs, but not exactly the stuff i usually listen to. objectively this is at least a 4/5, but i suspect that's the case for most of these albums so i'm gonna try rating them based on how i personally feel
Of course, it's more like "Country and Western Music in Modern Sounds", but at least for a brief a moment in 1962 it's kind of remarkable Ray Charles set a template for what popular music could be like across multiple genres. I will say the Vol. 1 LP has done serious business on my turntable but Vol. 2 hasn't as much, regardless of which volume is your favorite you gotta admire just how much this man openly defined the scope of pop music.
Classic - calming
Sedate jazz
Ray Charles the goat, you feel really posh having this is your background music while eating or studying, but nothing I'm crazy about. Seeing videos of him performing live is crazy tho, you see the energy flowing through him, something music close to your heart makes you feel, and I can vibe with that.
heartbreaking... painful, beautiful, whimsical...
loving the instrumentals emotional lyrics executed beautifully favorite song- worried mind
4/5 -- kinda feels like christmas music, but not?
I respect his life and work, but this album was rather idle, that is, almost all the songs sound the same, melodically and thematically :)
Classic and always a go to
The first part of the album was fun. Got a little bored towards the end. Would give a 2.5 if I could.
Interesting album that I’ve never got around to listening to before. Great vibes but it feels a bit like it’s neither fish nor fowl and ends up sounding like big band swing for much of the time. Pleasant listen and has the sound of the time but a bit below expectation given the praise it receives from critics.
This album fucks
I'm really not a fan of crooning music, Sinatra, Bing Crosy, ect. There are parts here that give me that cringe, but there are also moments with depth and beauty I don't hear in the Vegas crooners. When the country or jazz or soul comes through a little stronger there are moments that I love. Ultimately I would rather listen to a full on country or jazz album and leave this as an interesting album that I don't revisit in full.
didn’t listen to all of it
This was wonderful!! I didn’t get a chance to listen to the whole thing, it was very long and so it loses a star for that, but oh how I love his voice 🤩 and I love this style of music. So easy to listen to and so full of emotion.
Will be swaying to this
Sweet
Awesome to hear it from a different perspective
i love ray charles
This was disappointing. I'd heard a few Ray Charles songs before and liked the R&B and blues aspects of his music. This is 50s style country that is monotonous and basic. I don't think his voice goes well with the style either, I'd rather listen to Arthur Alexander.
Good songs, cool idea!!
nice to feel sentimental for some music i never heard before
YESSSS I LITERALLY SCREAMED WHEN I GOT THIS IM SO HAPPY. incredible album loved almost every track. Great morning energy. Gets a bit slow in the second half.
Lowkey Kind of a Sad Album from Mr. Ray Charles. The man's vocals are stellar, though.
What a great album to listen to while cooking NYE dinner!
Great collection of songs - although too long. I would have enjoyed it more if the track list were at least cut in half
I love Ray Charles and I dig these interpretations a lot. However - I don't need this to be a double record.
Very nice album, Sunday morning background music vibes, I liked You Don’t Know Me A little repetitive but I think all music like this sounds the same Overall 3.5/5
Not for me, songs about love, blugh! Some songs have a jazz feel and are quite funky, but mostly love songs.
Good album with a classic sound. Great voice by Ray Charles, of course, but also amazing instrumentals and lovely backup singers. Songs get a bit repetitive, especially with such a large album, but definitely worth relistening
Superbly nostalgic and meticulously crafted. Ray Charles leads a richly produced ensemble over a couple dozen Country and Western standards. There's very little to dislike about this record, with my only gripe being that listening to both volumes in a sitting is a touch too time-consuming. Best Tracks: - I Can't Stop Loving You - Don't Tell Me Your Troubles - Bye Bye Love Worst Tracks: N/A Rating: 8.5/10
Great, Love
Sounds good but not my genre of music and also gets repetitive and kinda boring
Not what I was expecting. It's like crossing fundamental country lyrics and melodies with Ray's silky vocals and a big band kind of vibe. It's got a classic feel to it in that sense, well produced early '60s music for everyone. And this time in the albums generator journey, it's appropriation of a white American standard for the benefit of anybody willing to listen. I feel like Seth McFarlane must love this. I'm not quite enchanted with the compositions or the history of the era. I'm more swayed by the amazing instrumental sections that collect behind and in between the lyrics. 3.2/5
It’s nice background music - I think a lot of it belongs in Disney films to be honest. For me it is very repetitive and samey but maybe I just don’t understand the genre. I don’t mind it I would turn it off but I wouldn’t choose to listen to it.
Completely fine, nothing I would listen too but overall everything is skillful
Album 1002 of 1089 Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music - Ray Charles (1962) Rating : 2.5 / 5 I’ll start with the obvious: I always love hearing Ray Charles sing. His voice alone can carry just about anything, and this album is no exception. He takes familiar country and western songs and makes them his own, smoothing them out with soul, class, and that unmistakable Ray Charles touch. Most of the tracks were recognizable, and listening to them felt like stepping back in time a bit. Whether it’s real memory or just the feeling the music gives off, I couldn’t help but think of my grandfather and the kind of records that might’ve been playing back then. There’s a strong sense of nostalgia wrapped up in this one, and that’s part of its charm. That said, while it’s very enjoyable, it didn’t really bring anything new or earth-shattering for me. It’s Ray Charles singing good songs and doing it well - which, honestly, is never a bad thing. The album’s strength lies more in its warmth and familiarity than in surprise or reinvention. In the end, this is a solid, comfortable listen. Ray’s voice elevates everything, the arrangements are tasteful, and the whole thing goes down easy. It may not knock you over, but it’s a pleasant reminder of why Ray Charles remains one of the greats.
I have always been a casual Ray Charles fan. This is a three star album.
It was good but started to blend together after a while. Easy listening, it's tough to go wrong with Ray Charles
29/1089 2.9673* I didn't realize Ray Charles was from the Big Band era. Such a distinctive voice, it makes me smile when he sings. Very soulful album and shows why he's been a musical fixture for more than 65 years. Hits...you don't know me, bye bye love.
was this album title ironic 65 years ago? this is very pleasant but its such grandma music
It’s a good album, there’s something about musicians doing covers of music outside of their genre in their style that I enjoy, like Willie Nelson’s Stardust.
a landmark album that if one were to rate solely on consideration of sociopolitical impacts particularly in the american context could very easily make the case for being one of the most important albums in the last 100 years, but you already know that. it's ray charles for crying out loud. that said, as always i rate media based on my personal enjoyment which is the subjective experience of Myself in My particular modern context, and this album is very Of The Times. charles has an incredible voice and it's no surprise why people lost their shit at hearing a bunch of classics covered in such a strong way, but it doesn't quite land for me with the same impact.
Wow can't believe they made fallout soundtracks all the way back in 1962. This was alright, but it was a little slow at points. If you're willing to dig, there's definitely some gems in here. Generally the more big band inspired and orchestral it gets, the more I tend like the songs on here, which I've definitely heard more of in other Ray Charles albums. You are my Sunshine and Don't Tell Me Your Troubles sounds great on here. Both Discs start really well but begin to fall off towards the end, so it isn't the most consistent. In the polar opposite to the Grunge yesterday, I have a real soft spot for this type of music that makes me really want to give this a 4 even though its very borderline. This site doesn't allow half stars, so just know if it did I'd go 3 1/2 stars.
I like Ray Charles. However there wasn't that much memorable songs in this album for me.
Not my cup of tea.
The more up tempo songs are pretty catchy and energetic but the slower songs aren't really getting to me too much. I'm finding more country that I like but I realize the slower love, almost gospel, country songs aren't my forte.
It's not bad but I rarely listen to it
Really liked the second part, I own the first album on vinyl, and never heard the other one.
Pretty good. Kinda sad
Classic, cool Ray
I enjoyed this a lot overall. Don't tell me your troubles sounds like the songs they do at the end of whose line is it anyway.
* fave song - you don’t know me * ray charles has a very good voice, no song in the album that i disliked i could listen to all of these, feels like the soundtrack to falling in love idk, i liked it! a little slow and dragged on at some points but i would listen again.
Cool weil man sich sehr aus der zeit gefallen fühlt aber bisschen zu monoton
☆☆ The album reminded me of Christmas songs. And I didn't finish listening to it because I just didn't want to
Good artist. Great voice. Made it in country and contemporary music. Also, heck of a piano player.
This was such a slog. Pretty sure I heard the same song about 9 times. Would be higher rated if it was cut in half, but far too much of the same stuff for me to enjoy it.
Another enjoyable listen. Not my first choice, if I was to look for something to listen to but I liked it.
Only Ray Charles could take classic country songs and make them even more depressing.
Pretty slick that he even made this album, but I really only dug the upbeat ditties…which there wasn’t a ton of. I am only 34, not 95, this is not my bag baby. I feel quite sick.
It’s repetitive but there are far worse repetitive albums. I wish more artists would have orchestra’s backing them.
Absolute banger. Love music like this. Have never listened to a Ray Charles album before (probably very few songs) and this was wonderful
It's always nice to listen to Ray Charles. Good stuff.
Excellent crony gospel inspired big band goodness.
So good.
Interestingly I wasn't as crazy for this album as I usually am for most of this old stuff. I really vibe with Bye Bye Love and Hey Good Lookin' though.
I respect its historical significance, and I love a lot of Ray's stuff, but much like The Genius of Ray Charles, I just don't consistently love this album. Although he sounds amazing as always, his voice and piano playing too often get overshadowed by the string and choral arrangements, and it's ultimately a bit of a sleepy affair for me. I hadn't listened to this album in about 10 years, but I remember listening to it a bunch trying to "get it" in my teens and early twenties; it appears I'm still not there on a subjective level, despite understanding why it's as revered as it is. 3/5
Soul, very powerful voice
Detached as I am from this album and its significance, I can tell Ray Charles can back up his claim in the album’s named. Not the type of music I usually listen to but I enjoyed this album. The sound is very vibrant and Charles really nails this vibe.
Also a lovely album which makes me want to listen to more jazz!!
9.3
This was more diverse than I expected. Lovely, just too long. 3.5
Modern it is not. Funny to think that once it was. Great vocals and cosy big band vibes.
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music I’ve heard plenty about this album, but have never listened to it before. I wish I had, as it's pretty great. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but the skillful pop-r’n’b-pop-big band-easy listening take on Country is excellent, tracing the common, pre-WW2 American musical roots of those genres. His voice is excellent as you would expect, as is his choice of songs and interpretation. Occasionally the strings can get a bit syrupy, as on You Win Again, but his voice never does, there’s tenderness and rasp and an overall sense of sincerity and appreciation of the songs coursing through all of it. The arrangements are generally great as well, outside the occasional syrupyness or boominess of the percussion, as on Bye Bye Love, but it has a nice sense of space and restraint The lower tempo, more introspective, sadder songs are my favourites, You Don’t Know Me, I Love You So Much it Hurts, Worried Mind and I Can’t Stop Loving you. Half as Much is also great. I really enjoyed this, and enjoyed reading about it too, and it has a case as an early concept album, or at least an early thematically cohesive album along with those Sinatra albums we’ve had. I’ll go high 4. 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ Playlist submission: Worried Mind
Funny to consider these were once modern sounds. Because today it feels like a rich, warm blanket of standards. 'You Don't Know Me' is surely one of the most effective unrequited love songs ever written, and I can't help but think of Bill Murray and Andy MacDowell having a fleeting romance in a snow covered park. But can't all be timeless classics. 'I Love You So Much It Hurts' feels pedestrian amongst such esteemed company. There is a big-band 'swing' element to much of it which doesn't float my boat nor holds up to the ballads. The ballads may be variations on a theme, but these are all excellent bar none. 'Worried Mind' has honky-tonk piano amongst strings and exposed vocal. 'You Don't Know Me' is surely one of the most effective unrequited love songs ever written, and I can't help but think of Bill Murray and Andy MacDowell having a fleeting romance in a snow covered park. The best reinterpretation of originals I've heard since 'In the Wee Small Hours'. It doesn't have the consistent mood of that album, and I'm a sucker for the non-big-band tunes, but clearly this is at least excellent.
Never listened to much Ray Charles. There was a lot of very danceable and fun tracks on this one.
This was fun, a twist on some western hits
My second
Fun. Uncomplicated. Not really my thing, but very pleasant. I have a feeling I will be drowning in 3s at the end of this project, which I suppose makes sense.
Last year I read Ray Charles’ book Brother Ray, where he talked about his sojourn into country music in the 1960s. Naturally, I was excited to see what Country Ray Charles would sound like. What I discovered: this ain’t country or western, this is vocal jazz. This actually is not much different than anything he put up prior to this. The album was well produced and has some good songs, but he literally just took the lyrics from country western songs, and then he applied it to a full vocal jazz orchestra. There are some good tracks on here, such as You Are My Sunshine, which was upbeat and fun. Sadly, it’s one of the only upbeat songs that’s not a dreamy meander. This one’s hard to rank. So I’m gonna do it like this. Historical since he may have been the first black artist to sing some of these songs: 4; quality: 3; modern influence/relevance: 2. Him sleeping with like twenty woman during the recording of just this album: he’s pretty fly for a blind guy!
Random thoughts: * This was way more like jazz standards than anything country and western. Were these all considered country covers? * Several of the songs were about heartbreak so maybe they were all country songs. * Hearing Ray Charles sing "I was blind but now I see". Who decided on that?!? I did chuckle when hearing that. * It was smooth listening overall but I probably won't pick this one out again. It was alright. Ray is great but I just found this meh.
Knew some of this music going in but was kind of mid on it. Got completely turned around. These reinterpretations take the songs (many of which are very good) to a whole other level. Absolutely fantastic Sunday morning music. (Have no idea why the book double-dips these two records; five stars is for the first one, which I think is a lot stronger and is the one most people think of when they think of this project)
Not something I usually listen to, but beautiful all the same.
I liked this and I don't have a lot to say about it! Classic early 60s sound, all the songs are pretty short which is interesting. His voice is great though 8/10
Elevator music about a guy who is really struggling to get laid. The repetitive nature of the songs gets pretty grating, so didn't enjoy this album much. Most of the songs by themselves are alright and I wouldn't mind having to hear them while going up 20 floors, the one exception being Careless Love - made me feel like I was going crazy because there's like 6 lines and he repeats each for an entire verse. God awful. Not saving any of these songs to my playlists.
6/10 - It's Ray Charles, nice to have on in the background
It's quite mesmerising. I quite like it.
3.5
uhhh only listen to like half a song i knew i wouldn't like it from just reading the title.
baldezh
Un sound che, come da titolo, è moderno ancora oggi
To my surprise I managed to finish the whole (2 discs) album, although, most of songs I even cannot recall.
Eternally beautiful.
C'était super. pas besoin de plus je pense
sympa
Can recognise that this is a beautiful album, Ray is the star of it obviously, but the strings and backing vocals are a little too treacly for me to really enjoy fully.
Adds a real class to the country music. Actually makes country music listenable!
A great album starts with a great title, and this one has a great title. I can't believe some hipster band hasn't ironically borrowed it, like when Galaxie 500 took Ornette Coleman's This Is Our Music. This may be the only '[singer] does country' album where the musician doesn't try to play country music but rather rings country songs in his own, 'regular' style, and it's much the better for it. One of the better Ray Charles I've heard, though I would have liked it better as a single album v double.
What a strange album, and what a genius Ray Charles was in putting his own spin on a completely different genre than what he was most famous for. I'll admit that the most eye-opening aspect of this album is how many tunes on this album were considered "country" standards, as even the originals don't really correspond to what I think of as country/western (shows how much I know). I'm not really a big fan of the big band sound, so I'm not a great judge of this album, although I *did* feel like several tracks--"Just a little lovin'", "It makes no difference now", "Hey, good lookin'" and the bonus "You are my sunshine" from Vol. 2--are probably the most impressive transformations of slow and often boring tunes into fun and virtually unrecognizable covers by Charles and his (big) band. It was also fascinating to read how controversial this concept was, and how successful Charles was not only in executing it, but in also gaining an even larger following, and simultaneously elevated country's profile too (at least the Nashville scene). It feels like the Wikipedia entry likely overstates the impact of this album and Charles' fusion approach to influence the civil rights movement and achieve some degree of racial harmony, but that doesn't diminish the power of Charles' vision to interpret two different genres into a single form.
Gloriously outdated with soaring strings and chorale, still Ray Charles is Ray Charles and I'll take it. The robotic chorus on "Bye Bye Love" is horror-movie worthy: one pictures something dreadful happening as the chorus chants "I think I'm gonna die" over and over
a classic for sure.
Love me some Ray
I hope ray got over the woman he was singing about. His voice is so soothing and he touches on heartbreak in a perfect way
A little slow, but really did shape a generation of music.
Nice, easy-listening album, I particularly enjoyed the more 'jazzy' songs, 'Bye Bye Love' and 'Just A Little Lovin'' 74/100
Very nice. Particularly a fan of the jazz parts. Favourite track - I Can't Stop Loving You
en vrai, c'est bien mais en tant qu'album je peux pas mettre plsu que 2
1. very fun start 2. much more mellow but i love his voice very christmasy 3. good but not as good as first 2 4. i like liked the album but was doing other things while listening so couldn’t distinguish tracks and truly listen critically but it was very enjoyable to play in the background
I just don't see it
Did not listen, but I have heard this before. It's good stuff. Just not my genre, really.
Ray’s cheeky smile shines through on every song
Great tunes. Some recognizable. Others not. Ray is legendary.
I was actually quite looking forward to this as an album I’d been meaning to check out. In my head it was going to be Ray doing a sort of country-got-soul thing with the potential to be mint. In reality it’s him ruining a bunch of Hank Williams and other tunes with schmaltzy big band nonsense, and only a couple of decent take aways.
6/0
In anyone else's voice, I wouldn't love this nearly as much as I do.
Rating early albums is challenging given the format of "albun" then -- that said, Ray Charles impressed here with his delivery and infectious energy.
Pretty decent
Very nice, cool vibes
I like Ray Charles, but I find myself conflicted when it comes to this album. If you look at it from an historical perspective, weighing its impact on pop music, then, sure, "Modern Sounds" is worth a listen; but if you consider the quality of the songs and their production, then the album falls way short of the best that Ray Charles has to offer. It might be the case of right artist, wrong album.
As a fellow blind person, I liked this a lot
It's real sad romance hours
Nice break-up story.
:)
Music genres are funny things and often used as gatekeeping barriers for reasons completely unrelated to the actual music. Not that long ago there was much clutching of pearls (and other, viler, reactions) in the Country music establishment when Beyoncé released her Cowboy Carter album. However, such genre crossing is nothing new as today’s 1962 album from the legendary Ray Charles demonstrates. He takes a fine selection of country classics and adds a soulful, jazzy, bluesy twist to them that works perfectly. It just goes to show that for all of their cultural differences C&W and the blues have common roots in the folk songs and traditions of the Mississippi delta and rural America. After all, songs like Your Cheatin’ Heart by Hank Williams speak to common human experiences of heartache as well finding joy in the simple pleasures of life. This really is an album to wallow in, and if it gets R&B fans to listen to more Country (and vice versa) then the world is all the better for it!
Way too dated for me to like. The orchestral and choir sounds are just soooo old sounding. His voice is great and so is his piano when you can hear it.
Good, pleasant listening.
Talented artist however the similar intros to each song does wear thin after awhile.
Who hurt you, Ray Charles Best Song: I Love You So Much it Hurts Rating: 8/10 Stars: 4
Great jazz but dang this was a hard listen! Some seriously gloomy relational subject matter and distressing vocals that I'd have a difficult time repeating in the future. Almost want to give this full stars but I just can't bring myself to put this in the same category as the more uplifting albums I've heard thus far.
Indiferente. Esperava mais de um nome como Ray Charles, mas ao todo achei um disco entediante.
Nice hearing Rays voice in different songs
The “French sex comedies” of ubiquitous thrift store records. I like Ray Charles. I like country music, at least the era of it he is mining. I like modern sounds! A deficit of the sum of its parts.
I pressed play on this feeling excited to hear a Black artist recontextualize the almost uniformly white genres of country and western music. ”The album's integration of soul and country challenged racial barriers in popular music at the height of the Civil Rights Movement,” as its Wikipedia entry reads — and Amen to that. The problem I have with it is how unsoulful it sounds, thanks mostly to the overwhelming and cloying production flourishes with the string section and the lily-white backing choir. It’s good when it’s actually soulful, such as on “Bye Bye Love” and “Half As Much.” Too bad so much of it sounds like 1940s radio drama theme songs or Vegas showtunes.
Its not particularly country by my standards, and it has that Frank Sinatra style overproduction typical of records from the era. But I mostly liked it.
Snooze fest.
This hybrid of soul and country by Ray Charles works really well. It's very American in the best way. I do miss some highlights here and there and think that big band and strings could've harmonised better here and there.
Amazing, but a bit repetitive
These songs all sound kind of the same and I don't enjoy the ballads. Ray Charles has a better voice than I expected though.
My knowledge of Ray Charles is from a couple of hits, his appearance in the Blues Brothers, and the movie, Ray. This is not what I expected, and this was a disappointment. Sorry Ray, this one only gets 2 stars, and one of them is because I know you can do better.
This was a cool old school album, I liked that he took old country and made it his own!
I wouldn’t mind putting this album on in the background this winter to soundtrack a snowy night out. This albums historical significance is undeniable, and the quality is there as well. While almost nothing on these two volumes was remarkable, it’s still a very pleasant listen.
loved the large variety of instruments on this and ray charles sounded brilliant on it as well, very good music
I rarely have time or mood for a music like this, but when I have I listen to Ray. He was really good!
Just too slow for my tastes. And seriously; an album of cover songs is on this list?
I was a bit nervous when I saw country and western music, but nothing like that all. I had a lot of horns, more like jazz or swing.
Meh, a little too mellow. I appreciate his contribution but not really my style.
Lost some of the groundbreaking nature of a soul musician doing country songs 60 years later but still sounds good.
Ray Charles' fine voice shines through every time.
Far from today's country and a really ground breaking album. Great voice. Dated and boring production.
This did sound like country and western to me. More like Christmas music without lyrics about Christmas.
The singing is pretty good but unfortunately this is just not really my type of music
I know I should love this, "Ray Charles" and all that, but honestly... I can't stand the over-the-top horn and violin arrangements - this hasn't aged well for me. Sure, Ray Charles is a great singer but this is covers album, I don't rate him as an artist. Covers albums never score very high for me, and I'm not very much of a Big Band guy in the first place. But yeah, he's a good singer and some of the songs are alright.
jazzy and great orchestration, ts js so tuff
super
85
More Ray Charles please, less dad prog-rock and weird punk records nobody remembers.
Great stuff, timeless listening.
This was a struggle. It had its moments, but really didn’t do anything to surprise me or make me sit up and take notice. I respect Ray Charles as an artist, but this really isn’t for me. At over an hour also, this was a bloated, difficult listen.
I smile
First of all, for me, “Modern Sounds...” is THE popular jazz album par excellence, laying the foundation for pretty much everything that came after it. This is due both to the great song selection and the high-quality performance and production, which easily meets today's standards even without most of the technology available today. Furthermore, this album is rightly considered a milestone in all the musical styles that Ray Charles incorporates during the recordings. Together with Ray Charles' power of integration and the associated social significance for the civil rights movement of the 1960s, “Modern Sounds...” is one of the few albums whose importance cannot be overestimated – legendary++ or 12/10.
Nah
Great voice and generally lovely songs. Just those parrot backing vocals are SO JARRING. I agree with others that it sounds dated and like Disney music and it's not good for an album like this.
Unless covers are transformative, I get bored pretty quickly. Luckily Ray Charles is a singular presence, so even the straightforward songs on this have something extra. But I can't stand the syrupy backup vocals in songs like "I Love You So Much It Hurts," "You Win Again," "I Can't Stop Loving You," etc. They're the opposite of how the book characterizes the string arrangements, "just to the right side of cloying." I find a fair amount of this cloying, but they can't all be "You Don't Know Me."
It is rather schmaltzy but if anyone enjoys some well done schmaltz I think it's me. Who have I become. This is a fascinating album historically and I know because I watched all 16 hours of the Ken Burns Country Music documentary. AMA.
Great songs + Great Singer = Great lp.
2.5. Hørbart, men lite givende
Some great stuff on here, but way too much sheen. Stings, horns, swing arrangements, barbershop harmonies — just too much.
Enjoyed it but nothing too special
Ray Charles goes country. Or rather, does country songs but retains his R&B-stylings, resulting in a unique and sophisticated blend of genres. Considering the still on-going difficult relationship between the Country Music establishment and African-American artists, I'm guessing this album was met with more than a few raised eyebrows back in the day.
Sure, old Ray can sing, but these songs are the pits and I’m not sure what I hate most out of the big band backing, the hymnal choristers or the strings.
Fantastic classic. First time I’ve heard and will continue listening.
mostly romance, lots of smooth and controlled vocals and really nice instrument tones. Very enjoyable overall
Doesn't sound much like country or western to me, but this 1962 classic has a certain feel-good nostalgic appeal. The strings on I Love You So Much It Hurts are beautiful alongside Ray's clear voice and the backing choir. Tracks like Born to Lose and Worried Mind hit a lot of the same notes, not to mention I Can't Stop Loving You. So this subverted expectations, but I do like it. Feels festive somehow. Really not my style, which caps the rating, but I can't go less than ***.
Iconic voice, just don't love the music as much.
Not at all what I expected from a Ray Charles album - it's really a big band/crooner style album. Not my bag. Far too much schmalzy strings and 1940s big band stuff.
In the right setting I could see how this would be lovely. But on a Monday morning at work its kinda dull.
It's pretty remarkable. The sound is fantastic, first of all. Ray Charles as a vocalist is a force of nature. For me, he has become a symbol and and an example- you know Richard Emanuel, he has a Ray quality in him. I think the country sound really suits him well. Especially when you consider the many styles captured here. He's shifting effortlessly between bangers and ballads, his soft and powerful moment are incredible at the same level. The beauty and perfection of his voice is outstanding, while being very emotional and human at the same time. Other elements are just as strong. The arrangements and playing is fantastic. Very lively. The chorus vocals are, at the right moment, simply divine. Bless you king Ray, you can make a non believer like me pray! I feel like a 5 today.
I'm not a country and western music fan, but I did enjoy Ray Charles' renditions of those songs.
Ray Charles’s voice and skills are great; no doubt about it. This album just felt like such a chore to get through. It really dragged on for a lot. The mood is very pleasant, but the experience just gets boring after a few songs in most of the listen was one long lull. Nothing very surprising about it, but I can appreciate the sweetness.
I've never listened to this album, but I knew one or two songs (6). No one does it like Ray Charles, but for a double album there are not enough bangers on this one.
Vraiment pas fan de ray Charles
Easy, smooth listening. Lovely arrangements, and nice piano and singing. Interesting history behind it as well, never would've guessed the background.
not bad! pretty chill actually
Me animó el día que flipas. Hay temas que suenan a las puertas del cielo. De repente te hittea un último agudo y dices qué cabrón. Fantásticas vibes.
No tiene las mejores de Ray. Está bien de fondo.
Okay. He's a good musician. Longish album (a double). Not sure all the songs exactly fit together, felt like a collection of random pieces.
I don’t have much to say here. Just so good, so many classics, so many great nonpopular tracks, bangers. It’s all songbook stuff and I’m not gonna lie and say I’d go out of my way to listen to it but this is a high four. Just good music.
what a beautiful bluesy big band type album. Charles' voice is just... immaculate, and the songs with the huge string sections too just make my heart feel so fuzzy inside. A LITTLE too long tho, the same vibes for 75 mins sometimes rocks but if there was maybe 2-3 songs less this might be one of the greatest albums i've heard on here.
Beautiful album, Charles's so smooth and rounded voice backed by a stunning arrangement makes music to my ears. It was such a nice album that I had to listen to the second volume.
The concept of this album is fairly unique, taking country and making it jazz/blues. I do think it's a little long.
Good and consistent across the board, nothing too memorable. The album doesn’t feel country western sonically, though it does have the genre’s lyricism. Production leans toward a big brass sound.
1. Bye Bye Love - 10 What a monumental track! The background singers add so much flavour before Ray's absolutely stunning vocals. Lyrically it's brilliant and the big band jazz sound is so excellent. Massive enjoyment throughout this track. 2. You Don't Know Me - 8 Lyrically superb, it's a brilliant slow moving love song. Ray's vocals on this track are incredible. 3. Half As Much - 7 Lyrically it's very good and Ray sounds fantastic on it. It's not a track that will blow you away but it is still a very good one. 4. I Love You So Much It Hurts - 6 It's a decent song but it's a bit like a lullaby and it's definitely not as strong as the opening three tracks. 5. Just A Little Lovin' (Will Go A Long Way) - 7 Good track with some awesome brass in between Ray's excellent vocals. Lyrically it's very good as well. 6. Born to Lose - 5 This would be the pass over track on the album. It's not bad but it's really nothing phenomenal. There are definitely better love songs on the album. 7. Worried Mind - 10 There's a lot of similarities between the way this sounds on the strings and in the background vocals and I Can't Stop Loving You. Having said that, what an incredible piano solo in the middle of the track. This is so enjoyable. So incredibly enjoyable. Phenomenal track. 8. It Makes No Difference Now - 8 Superb track with some awesome lyrics. It's very very slow but the lower pitch of Ray's voice is excellent at keeping you pinned during the slower moments interrupted by only some excellent big band style brass. 9. You Win Again - 6 Strings are good on it as are the vocals, I'm just not a huge fan of the lyrics or the way the outro vocals come in. The song should have closed with Ray. 10. Careless Love - 5 Not a great track despite some incredibly strong vocals from Ray. You really get to hear the full range he had on this track very well. It's just not anything lyrically or instrumentally fantastic. It's the pass over track on the B side. 11. I Can't Stop Loving You - 12 One of the best songs ever written. Period. This song is just a masterpiece; a complete and total masterpiece. When the Metropolis anime movie used this track in it, that was the first time I had heard it. It fit so well in the movie, it fits so well on the album, and it fits in any top songs collection. It's supremely moving, aided by the best strings on the album and guided through the peaks and troughs of Ray's voice. Incredible track. 12. Hey, Good Looking - 10 Brilliant swing type track. Excellent brass on the track really help the fun loving vibes of Ray's voice and the brilliant lyrics that make the song a very enjoyable track. Average Rating: 7.83 Adjusted to 5-Point Scale: 3.92 Rounded Up: 4 Stars
Maybe my favorite so far
Volume 1 Damn...I am a happy guy now. This is a killer. And I'm singing every song. 5 stars. Can't wait for Volume 2, coming up! Volume 2 As good if not better. My only "complaint": Neither volume was long enough. I could've enjoyed an hour or more. Truly a classic.
Very enjoyable. What a voice.
Enjoyable
It's good. Very "oldies playing next door while there's a fire crackling in the fireplace and a snow storm outside".
Понравилось. Мой музыкальный кругозор ещё расширился. 6,5 из 10.
C'est bon, mais un peu long. Et un peu répétitif quand même.
Genre is meaningless, but it's hard to find the country and western (or Ray Charles for that matter) under all that Big Band. But you can see how these could be good songs if they just let the guy sing them.
Quality. Loads of standards and versions of tunes I hadn't heard before.
JESUSSSSS CHRISTTT?!?!?!
I was not familiar with your game
So incredibly bland
“Oh that’s where that’s from” experience. Not bad
Soul / Blues / Swing. Here in 2025 this album is a window into another time. Beautiful songs and arrangements. Ray Charles vocals are silky smooth. His piano playing marvellous. Timeless.
Amazing.
I think I mentioned on the Stevie Wonder album I listened to that he had the greatest voice, maybe greatest love song voice idk, but Ray has THE best voice period. It's so distinct, and rich, and soulful that it elevates any song he sings. What is it with blind pianists sounding beautiful? Candidly when I saw how long the album was u was concerned, but my lord it flew by and I hardly checked the time. I listened to a Heaven 17 album recently that felt endless, this was longer and felt shorter. Goes to show making a good album with good songs matters (and being Ray Charles). Great stuff, solid 4
It's all the same.
the title seems missleading? I‘d call this jazz I think. Lots of classics and Ray Charles sounds fantastic.
I guess this is good but to me it was monotonous. I liked the movie 20 years ago though!
my introduction to ray charles was a pepsi commercial but this is a bigger artistic sell out
Now this is some damn good Fallout-core (you cannot stop me from identifying songs that are Fallout-core), especially songs like Half As Much. Not a ton to say about this album, but reworking country/western songs in the classic R&B, soul, and jazz styles is great.
Love the horns
Great recording. I'm sure the cultural impact of this one in its time was significant, though to today's ears hearing an artist in a different genre or style is more the norm. Doesn't take away from my enjoyment on this one. Just a fantastic, easy listening release from an American icon
Ray Charles is such a joy. Very few musicians can radiate soul the way he does. Although I do prefer the bluesier side of Ray this compilation was very enjoyable. The big band sound applied to classic songs works and works well. I hope to see Ray on this list again.
It was a nice, easy listen. I could see myself putting it on in the background while working.
Great ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- bombastic intro damn - can kinda hear the you are my sunshine riff in there (bye bye love) - song already sounds like a time capsule smoooth - old disney movie love story vibes really nice - man instrumentals were something else back in the day - very cozy - that saxophone is *chefs kiss* - perfect winter album from these songs so far, so nostalgic and warm - whole album is so romantic, so much yearning very sweet album, brings me to another place and time. i was expecting country but am pleasantly surprised! how can you not love something as sweet as this?
Golden oldies, not really the sort of Ray Charles tunes I like overly much but fine in the background 2.5 ⭐⭐⭐
Said it in the last review but how did Ray Charles get soooooooo many women to fornicate with him? Like how does spitting game work when you can't see?
Think it might be my first Ray Charles album on here. 2cds, 75 mins, let’s go… Musically it’s very pleasing to listen to. Nice arrangements and a whole lot of soul and heart. More of a background, almost Christmas, feel to it and sending me a bit sleepy! Didn’t listen to it all (3.5)
3/5 stars (5/10) Good background noise in my opinion, therefore no "good" or "bad" songs, may change if I do another listen.
classic
Ray Charles is such a delight and relaxes the body from negativity. Having this album being 2 disks on Spotify, I had a wonderful morning.
I don't think I stopped moving the whole time this album was playing.
Phenomenal. Nobody does it like Ray
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1001 ALBUMS- # 91 Interpolation of Country & Western Music… I take exception to artists that record music released under their name they did not write, as it seems uninspired to reimagine others creativity regardless of how unique they spin it. Perhaps I am quibbling here, however I respect originality over performative entertainment (which account for the majority of the pop tarts). There is no disputing the beauty of Mr. Charles voice nor the talent of his musicianship, as these reworked ballads certainly have his signature stamp on them, which I’m sure felt much more modern for the time in which this was released. 🎧 Classic Track: I Can’t Stop Loving You 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Midnight 🎧 Personal Favorite: It Makes No Difference Now 🚫 Skip Track: Half As Much This album was a bold move: a Black soul artist interpreting white Southern country standards during a time of deep racial division in the U.S. It became one of the most important albums in American music history. Ray Charles set the stage for the genre-mixing we see in country music today: He showed that country isn’t defined by race, region, or even instrumentation—it’s about emotion, storytelling, and soul. His work directly influenced artists like Willie Nelson, Chris Stapleton, and Kane Brown, who aren’t afraid to push genre boundaries. Many modern country artists now incorporate soulful vocals, horn sections, and R&B rhythms, a legacy of Charles’ innovative style. 🖼️ Album Artwork: Missed opportunity for pure originality Ray Charles’ voice is the soul of the album. His phrasing turns even the most familiar songs into emotional revelations. The split between orchestral ballads and brassy swing numbers, while musically satisfying, makes the album feel like two projects fused into one. The tone swings dramatically, sometimes jarringly, between melancholy and cheerful—a strength to some listeners, but to others, it undermines emotional continuity. At times, particularly in the string-heavy arrangements, the album borders on over-sentimental or even saccharine. The high drama of “I Can’t Stop Loving You” works—but lesser-known tracks risk veering into easy listening or adult contemporary territory. Charles chose songs that were already classics, often with conventional or even conservative lyrics. He did not challenge country music’s ideological content—he simply reframed it sonically. This limits the album’s potential to fully interrogate or redefine country music’s deeper cultural narratives.
Nice
Maravilhoso
Cowboy Carter of its era
It's really good, especially in its uptempo moments. A few too many slow ones for me but it's still a pleasurable listen
Meh.
As my trumpet-playing friend would say, so tight, so smooth. I'm not a huge fan of the strings and chorus, but the songs are so well done.
The finale to Ray Charles. It's been a good minute since my last album of his - I listened to The Genius of Ray Charles a little over 150 albums ago. That album was interesting on account of being one of the very first entries on the list, though I don't remember much about it beyond that. I'm not a jazz guy, what can I say? I'm expecting this album to be more of the same, though that isn't necessarily a bad thing. These kinds of pleasing, accessible jazz albums are more to my liking than all of the avant-garde shite. This was a bit of a surprise. The Genius of Ray Charles was quite sentimental and reserved from what I recall, whereas this album has more of a showbiz feel to it. It reminds me of the production music from Ren & Stimpy, which is a style of music I enjoy dipping into whenever I'm feeling cartoony. Anyways, this is pretty decent. There were times where my attention faltered, though for the most part it's a pretty solid collection of fun, relaxing tunes. Ray Charles brings his A-game with the vocals (they're much better than what I remember on Genius), and there's a decent level of variety on these songs, too. The "whatchu say" on "Bye Bye Love" made me do a double take. I recognise it from "Hit The Road Jack", which is also by Charles. Is that like his catchphrase or something? "You Don't Know Me" is an interesting tune. I can't decide whether I've listened to it previously or if it's just five songs I've heard before smashed into one package. Either way, it's pretty decent. The strings are always a good addition to this style of music, and I appreciate the contributions from the background singers. Ray Charles' singing is pretty adept, too. "I Love You So Much It Hurts" is another good cut. It falls into that perfect niche of being relaxed and engaging at the same time. Again, the strings are very nice, and Charles' vocals are quite possibly at their best. Book time. Chart-topper for fourteen weeks. Wikipedia reveals that this album blends genres and is regarded as Charles' best work. Yeah, this seems like a solid pick. I cosign the inclusion.
10/10!
It wasn't for me, but that's not the point.
All of these songs brought me back to my childhood. Used to listen to a lot of Ray Charles in the car with my grandpa. Definitely still holds up
A 4 or 5
Nice to hear ray do western
I’m having trouble rating this one. On the one hand, each song is really beautiful and Charles reimagined a lot of these songs in really creative ways. I didn’t see him being so jazzy, I’m used to his R&B or soul hits. I wonder about the crossover power of this album and its importance to race in the 60s. I think this is a great album, but I think I like his uptempo stuff more.
Historisch wichtig, aber musikalisch zu gleichförmig. Trotz Ray Charles’ starker Stimme fehlt es dem Album an Abwechslung.
The heart break songs made me cry, a bit too close to the bone. But he has a classic sound.
Smooth. Enjoyable. Love the blues. Would listen again. Honestly reminds me of the Elvis Christmas album
Picture this: It's a cold November morning, the intersection between autumn and winter. There's a chill in the air and frost on the leaves but it's still pleasant in a refreshing sort of way. You step outside and inhale a deep lungful of crisp, clean air. You see your breath plume as you exhale. The sun is shining through the trees and a mist lies in the air. You step inside and put on the kettle. You hit play on the speaker and this comes on. It is the perfect album for this mood. It is crisp, and refreshing, and smooth. You make yourself a cup of tea, look out the window and observe the morning frost turn to dew, and listen. You feel joy and contentment. In this moment, life is good.
Yeah this was fine. Ray Charles is super talented. I just didn't vibe with it too much during my listen.
a "fusion" album that covers traditional country songs with blues. Fantastic album to get you in the winter/holiday mood. Favorite track: I can't stop loving you other picks: you don't know me, worried mind, your cheating heart
A classic for a reason, though I prefer the live version of You Don't Know Me.
It’s old and dated, it’s very long, and it’s very similar from top to bottom. But, man is it still pretty good despite all of that. Ray has an amazing voice and absolutely carries each and every song on this album. It doesn’t matter how old it is, this is always going to be just straight up good music. Not a lot I can say about it that hasn’t already been said. Picking a favorite is also hard because there are so many songs on the album. I’m sure each one is someone’s favorite, and they’re all valid. Naming the album “Country and Western Music” is also just inherently funny, and must have been pretty risky as a Black man in the 60’s. Mad respect for being one of the first shit-posters. Game respects game. At the end of the day, I think my favorite song on the album was "Oh, Lonesome Me." But there are a ton of good ones to pick from.
(Duplicate) I wasn’t familiar with most of these standards, but when I was, I was amazed at how much Charles made these songs his own. An excellent themed album that manages not to feel like a gimmick.
Second time this one came up but the review remains the same. Love it, just about every second
A few weeks ago I had a Ray Charles album, and once again, Ray Charles kicks ass. I've listened through twice and every track is really solid to outstanding. Especially when Ray cuts loose with a piano solo. Two full albums recorded over 5 days, that is pro.
Very of its time, but in a good way. My biggest knock is that the album is way too long and can't quite support itself with the tracks.
107/1001 Ray Charles - Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ❓ It's undoubtedly a beautiful set of songs from Charles's voice, to the harmonies, to the string arrangements. However, it does end up feeling a bit samey and one note for my liking. Enjoyable enough.
It says its country but its not really. Anyhow, I liked it.
Some of the arrangements are dated and a little corny (especially some of the background vocals) but my god, Ray Charles's vocals are just amazing. He really knew how to make a song his own. Favorites: Bye Bye Love, Just a Little Lovin' Would I listen to it again: Yes