Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music
Tangerine, 2024
9/10
Listen to Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music
This 1962 album sure did take people by surprise, as Ray Charles brought his soul ideas into country music, where several tunes from Hank Williams are interpreted in Charles’ unique vision.
The animated brass of “Bye Bye Love” opens the listen with flowing backing vocals that suit Charles’ lively pipes in a swingin’ climate, and “You Don’t Know Me” follows with soaring strings in the sublime balladry of the Eddy Arnold hit.
In the middle, “Just A Little Lovin’” benefits much from the thumping drums and a tenor sax solo thanks to David ‘Fathead’ Newman, while “It Makes No Difference Now” showcases Charles’ meticulous keys amid a Big Band appearance at the end.
Further still, “Careless Love” offers new lyrics on the old folk melody that puts even more intimacy into the powerful delivery, and “Hey, Good Lookin’” is a frisky exit that shuffles and swings with much adventurousness in the Williams classic.
This was the first country album ever recorded by a Black artist, and became one of the best-selling albums of all time, topping the Billboard Pop Album Chart for a month and spawning four hit singles. It’s remastered here and sounds excellent all these decades later.
Travels well with: Ray Charles- Country And Western Meets Rhythm And Blues;