Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, Ray Charles, 1962, :39
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
A fantastic concept, executed brilliantly. Country songs dressed up in pop, R&B, and jazz. Since country is just the white man's blues, it's a natural fit, but maybe only a titan like Charles could have made the crossover. Most of the songs are about heartbreak and tears in my beer. I know I should probably rate this classsic higher, but while the high points are exceptionally high, I’m not enamored of every track. The Hank Williams tune "You Win Again" is just a little too sleepy a rendition for my taste, although it is true that everything Charles sings is in some way enticing. I'm also not a huge fan of the bright choruses that echo the main singer line by line, as was the style at the time. On the other hand, the version of "Careless Love" here is slow, but builds up to something powerful and emotional. There's a hint of heartbreak and/or menace in that languid singing. Favorite tracks: "Bye Bye Love," "Just a Little Lovin' (Will Go a Long Way)," "Hey Good Lookin'."
