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Music > Reviews > Ray Charles Ray CharlesThe Complete Country & Western Recordings 1959-1986By Sarah ZupkoPopMatters Editor & Publisher Ray Charles is one of those rare artists that can convincingly traffic in virtually any genre of music and make it sound thoroughly his own. Whether he’s working with soul, gospel, pop, or country, he manages to be a complete original and never derivative. Therefore, it’s not surprising that, while Charles is known primarily for his R&B work, some of the best country music of the 1960s comes from this enormous talent. This new Rhino collection combines Charles’ seminal releases Modern Sounds In Country & Western Music and its follow up Volume 2, with tracks recorded throughout his long career. Charles was known to go through hundred of country songs to find the one or two he could make his own. What is so impressive about Charles’ work is that he always managed to completely personalize and funkify, through his brave interpretations, songs already strongly associated with other artists, such as Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire”, Bill Monroe’s “Blue Moon of Kentucky”, Buck Owens’ “I’ve Got a Tiger by the Tail”, and Hank Williams’ “Hey, Good Lookin’”. 15 October 1999Related Articles
Ray Charles: The Spirit of ChristmasBy Mike Schiller18.Nov.09 It's hard to imagine a better album for a dimly lit December evening indoors with eggnog and a roaring fire.
Ray Charles: The Genius Hits the RoadBy Bill Holmes12.Nov.09 Another expanded edition of Brother Ray’s 1960 album of themed travel songs. Like most journeys, highs and lows abound.
Ray Charles: Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music Volumes 1 & 2By Tom Useted21.Aug.09 He made better country records a few years later, but these are the ones that broke new ground.
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