Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music

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.

Oh boy, this draaaaaags. I don't have time for an album of country song covers that's so antique and out of touch with modern sensibilities. Ray's voice isn't suited for this style, the playing is repetitive, the lyrics are downright dreary.

I can't find any possible reason anyone would want to listen to this, unless you're 60+

Pladen var nem at høre og stilen var lige præcis hvad jeg forventede af den her plade.

A bit to adult contemporary for me...I like the more upbeat Ray Charles. 1.5/5

I did not enjoy listening to this album. 1.25 hours of the same love some repeated over and over. Ray has limitless talent but it didn't shine through on this album. 1/5

Favourite songs: "Oh, Lonesome Me", "Hey, Good Lookin'", Bye Bye Love, You Are My Sunshine, Don't Tell Me Your Troubles, I Can't Stop Loving You, Worried Mind, Just a Little Lovin' (Will Go a Long Way), Take These Chains From My Heart, Your Cheatin' Heart, Born to Lose, It Makes No Difference Now, You Don't Know Me, You Win Again, Careless Love, Half as Much, I'll Never Stand In Your Way, Hang Your Head in Shame

Least favourite songs: Midnight

5/5

Oooohh hmmm. Really wanted to like this but the big symphonic swells and background (FOREGROUND) vocals left me feeling … betrayed. Ray Charles is amazing though.

Great songs, great voice. Quietly slipped by in the background whilst I was working which is not a bad thing at all.

HL: "Worried Mind", "I Can't Stop Loving You", "Bye Bye Love", "You Don't Know Me"

I will have to meditate on why the lush, almost cloying arrangements tickle my eardrums in all the right ways.
Of course Ray Charles could sing the label on a shampoo bottle and make it sound heavenly

September 9, 2023

Will compliment this today with Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music Volume 2

I own each of these volumes on vinyl. I think it’s technically two albums and this is just them “packaged” together. I enjoy these records and liked this relisten. Ray Charles is one of the all time greats, obviously, and his fantastic singing is especially on display here. I do prefer his more rock and roll piano driven recordings.

There's a couple of good songs on here, but it's not great. It's not bad, either.

Ray Charles is strangely a gap for me, so I'm pleased to sit with this one. With RC's singing and piano at the center of a selection of mostly ballads, this oscilattes between genres depending on the accompaniment from upbeat Swing & Jazz with horns (bye bye love, half as much, just a little loving, don't tell me your troubles) to slow-burning Scmaltz with strings (you don't know me, born to lose, I love you so much it hurts).

It's as if the album was constructed to demonstrate how much better one style is than the other. The schmaltzy stuff is really pretty dire - as good as RC's vocals are they only rarely (I Can't Stop Loving You, I'll Never Stand in Your Way) elevate this tedious plodding chintzy 50s crooner crap. The horns songs really rip though, punctuating the vocal performance with jazz riffs, the odd solo, and lots of energy to go with the walking bass and swinging drums - providing the classic counter-part to the lovelorn ballads. "Worried Mind" brings the two sides together into a cool blues with strings supporting a jazzy piano-forward arrangement.

In a nod to the album's title, "You Win Again" brings a country-inflected gospel sound to support another unbelieveable vocal performance. Another Hank Williams Classic, "Hey Good Looking" is re-invented as a really lively big-band swing, while the childish "You Are My Sunshine" becomes a fully adult motown soul track. His "You're Cheating Heart" is less successful: it's slowed way down and uses swelling strings and thick harmony from the backing singers that takes too much of the honkytonk life and cheekiness out of the original.

No surprise, but the singing really is the star here - reaching and tender but always in control - we hear hints at the latent virtuosity, but always delivered in service of the song.

Wanted to like this more than I did, strong moments but I found the whole thing a bit cloying

Just some nice music to have on in the background but I wouldn't listen to it otherwise

It's not legally allowed rate this album with less than 4 stars, even if it is not being so great as I expected and sounds a little bit old-fashioned for modern sensibilities.

Ray Charles is not my favorite singer, but his importance cannot be forgotten.

Ray!!!

I like the concept. Country tunes in a big studio orchestra style. Worried Mind is a good one. Hey Good Looking is also great.

Enjoyed this interesting album with different takes on songs. Worth your time and effort.

Learning about the historical influence of this was interesting, and I can imagine how shocking it was in 1962 to hear this mix. Obviously it sounds much more passe in 2022 in a "Seinfeld is unfunny" kind of way but I can appreciate it.

Classic. No notes.