Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, Ray Charles

Currently doing one album for each year, 1960-2020. Today: 1962.

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'."

Ben and "Sweets", Ben Webster & Harry "Sweets" Edison / Twelfth, Old 97’s

Ben and "Sweets", Ben Webster & Harry "Sweets" Edison, 1962, :39

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Tenor sax and trumpet veterans jam. Sound like they’re having fun, like on the eight-minute "Kitty," a lost Bond theme that never was. Swinging and rolling. Very pleasant and sometimes they even get close to something like a bop. Nothing that blows your mind or drops your jaw but all very professional, skilled, and melodic. Wynton Marsalis said this is music for "grown folks" and if you don’t like it you need to stay home sucking your thumb and playing video games. That kind of sounds like fun, too, though.  Favorite tracks: "Better Go," "Kitty."

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Twelfth, Old 97’s, 2020, :43

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

The first artist to be featured here three times is, yep, the Old 97's. This is their new album. Possibly their best since Too Far To Care. Maybe sometime in the future I'll think it's five stars. Some truly genius songs on this one. If I tried to quote the good lines I'd just end up listing the lyrics to the whole song. Oh what the hell. “I like you better than a six pack of beer / And that’s the perfect amount / To make my vision unclear.” Classic. "It's safe to say we're in a real bad way / Mama used to try, now all she does is pray." Got some Magnetic Fields-esque lyrics, a Yo la Tengo melody, fast rhythms and lyrical callbacks. That last part sounds like an Old 97's line! What rhymes with callbacks? Ball sacks! This thing writes itself. I'll add that, with all due respect to "West TX Teardrops" and other terrific Murry tunes, his contributions to this album aren't really up there with his finest efforts.  Favorite tracks: "Confessional Boxing," "The Dropouts," "I Like You Better."