Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music

Ray Charles! I liked the tracks like "It Makes No Difference Now" that were mainly him singing with a horn section, and the others with him on piano. As we all already know from other stuff he recorded, he was an incredibly gifted musician.

However, I just couldn't deal with the strings and backup singers on a number of the songs. If I had a higher tolerance for the droopy music of the 50s and early 60s I'd give it 4 stars for the songs and its importance in the context of the period, but what can I say.

So, 3 stars. Looking forward to other records by him.

Chill Ray is the best Ray. I just wish those kinds of songs were more frequent. Favorite track: You Don't Know Me

I liked this a lot. I’ve only ever heard Mess Around by Ray Charles because of Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, and liked that one a lot but I never listened to more. I’m glad I did because this was a cool album

'Afraid and shy, I let my chance go by / A chance that you might love me too.' Tho there's so much more of this record that's essential not just for the learning of it but the pleasure of it, that line, as Ray sings it, is, for me, one of the great moments of the American arts. Perhaps it's that I'd never have thought to describe his voice as 'afraid' or 'shy,' tho it may be exactly that: the way he pulls and pushes, toils and invents, evinces the elements of fear and introversion. In other words, soul, even at its most upbeat and extroverted, is the cry of inwardness achieving innerness. Ray didn't just possess the power to reinvent country and western music as black art: he changed music. The liminality of the human voice now had its expression.

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

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.

Poker muzak

I love Ray Charles and I dig these interpretations a lot. However - I don't need this to be a double record.

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

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

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)

Talented artist however the similar intros to each song does wear thin after awhile.

Meh, a little too mellow. I appreciate his contribution but not really my style.

Great stuff, timeless listening.

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.

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.

Great songs + Great Singer = Great lp.

So incredibly bland

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.

Phenomenal. Nobody does it like Ray