Modern Sounds in Country & Western Music

... but I suppose we have to live with them since everyone is entitled to his/her opinion in a free society. The thing is, one gave it 1 star because the listing didn't say whether or not the tracks were in stereo, while a 2-star review professes a dislike for "schmaltzy" Country music. Didn't that person clue in from the title? But the original 1962 album from ABC- Paramount (ABCS-410), containing tracks 1 to 12 in this Rhino volume, was voted the # 104 position in Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest albums of all-time. So it's safe to say some learned people thought it was anything but "schmaltz."It's also significant to note that, in an era when the single hit was the goal of most artists (not to mention their recording labels) in light of the profits if nothing else, that this album produced four such hits on the Billboard Pop Hot 100, two of which also scored on the R&B listings and, in addition, did well on the Adult Contemporary (AC) charts. And to show it was no fluke, the follow-up Volume 2 (ABCS-435) produced another 4. One of those is added here by Rhino as bonus track 13, while 14 and 15 were hits in late 1963/early 1964 and 1967 respectively (see Comments below).The AAD stereo sound here is excellent, and the insert contains two pages of background notes written originally in July 1988 by Todd Everett. As for the "Country schamltz" angle, perhaps Ray's own words describe this effort best. In a 1972 interview with radio host (and Country artist) Wink Martindale (see track 11 of the Ray Charles CD "I Chose To Sing The Blues"), he says, in reference to this original album " ... these Country songs ... so many of them are so much like real people ... you know ... wherein, say, your other songs ... they tend to have lyrics that are solid sugar-coated, if you know what I mean ... sweeten up a little bit, you know ... but with Country music, it's very common-place ... and the situations very earthy."Having chosen to sing the songs of one who many claim is the "poet laureate of America" - Hank Williams - not to mention another pretty fair lyricist, Don Gibson, tells you that Ray chose well.Some may wonder why those Pop/R&B/AC hits never scored on the Country charts at the time. Likely it had to do with the fact that the C&W network at the time was still almost exclusively a white-only domain (Charlie Pride was still 4 years away), and they - the buying public and disc-jockeys - weren't quite sure what to make of the albums and the singles that followed. Racial tensions were still very much in evidence at the time, especially in the South where C&W was king. That, of course, would change when Ray hit the Country charts 13 times in the 1980s, several of them culled from his album Friendship in which he sang with some of the top Country stars of the day, among them Willie Nelson, George Jones and Hank Williams, Jr. Another great album.

I guess as usual the outer case is cracked. I haven’t played the cd yet; it may be ok. Still, wish they’d come thru not broken. I may return it.

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

There's nothing left to say about the music in this album. I listen to rock, mostly. And I was inspired on buying this one when I saw that anime movie METROPOLIS. Not dissapointed at all. Great tunes.Now, the vinyl record sounds good to me. The only bad thing about it is that it is not 180g vinyl. But almost none are, so no big deal. However, despite being remastered, you could hear a lot of hiss when you pump the volume on this. Something that does not happen on my other vinyls, at least not that much. Good news is that I did not notice any compression excess, so to sum it all up: it's good.

My parents had the vinyl album when I was younger. It sounds just as good now as it did to me then. A little overproduced, but that was the '60s. The man's soul still shines through; he has an instinctual feel for the melding of music and lyrics that has seldom been equaled. A great listen, especially for background while you're drinking a beer and playing cards with friends.

Bought the vinyl when it was released and had not heard these songs for 30 plus years- I had forgotten how wonderful Ray had covered these tunes!!! I play this CD more than any in my collection every week. Some of my favorites did not get radio play back in the day- so glad I ordered this to refresh my memory regarding this masterpiece in Rays library!!!! awesome production and orchestration

This album is a classic. Ray Charles is a treasure. Listen to this on vinyl as originally intended. The end.The following review is for the actual vinyl LP purchased. Bought as a gift, and very excited to add it to my friend's expanding collection. Listed as used, very good+ condition. Vinyl and jacket were both in very good condition. Seller included a free 45 (Ray Charles "One Mint Julep", "Crying Time"), nice surprise when I opened the package. Seller took the time to package everything securely in bubble wrap to ensure safe shipping. To BobbyZRecords, a HUGE thank you!

The sound quality is okay but not great which is why I gave it 4 stars. But it's Ray Charles!!! Which is why I gave it 4 stars.

レイチャールズといえば、「ハレルヤ・アイ・ラヴ・ハー・ソー」や「ホワッド・アイ・セイ」などのＲ＆Ｂを代表するようなイメージが強いが、一方でカントリーミュージックも盛んに吹き込んでいる。本作はそれを代表する１枚である。ブラックミュージックファンは敬遠しがちな部分であるが、聴いているうちにそこにソウルを感じることができるのがレイの素晴らしいところ。食わず嫌いせずに1度聞いてみてください。

Yes indeed!-Ray's innovative pleading and yearning for love like no other then imbued spiritualised deep soul into Country and Western Music with unrivalled tracks such as <It Makes No Difference>,<You Win Again >and the immortal <I Can't Stop Loving You >.Only Jim Reeves before him lay a foundation for him to do so.

An excellent CD featuring lots of songs that have become backgrounds to so many people. You only have to look at the track list ( too many to list here )and you will see why you need to have this in your CD collection.Timeless music,that's all i need to say.

Ray's classic interpretations of country classics. Great!

one of the all time great singers of blues, jazz, hip hop , wonderful voice