Major events are converging that prompted Concord to re-issue the iconic Ray Charles’ Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music Volumes 1 & 2. First, it is Black History Month. Secondly, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will host a panel discussion on February 23rd on the importance of Charles’ impact on country music. One of the panelists is John Burk, Concord Records president and producer of Charles’ multi-Grammy award winning album Genius Loves Company. Thirdly, Charles was honored by the Grand Ole Opry, with performances celebrating these albums and his contribution this past fall. He was also inducted into both the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame and the Downbeat Jazz Hall of Fame.
The importance of Black History Month is the renewed focus on civil rights. Charles’ original brought America together and Charles became one of the first recording artists to have ownership and complete control of the masters. The album, as most of you know, has long been recognized as one the greatest of all time, along with the Beatles, Dylan, Motown, Springsteen, Hendrix and the Beach Boys. So, this is not a review in the typical sense.
The two volumes are merged onto one CD and are being made available for the first time on streaming platforms. Volume I will be released on vinyl for the first times since 2012, with a deluxe version containing both in 180g vinyl. Avid Charles fans and collectors will certainly have this music. Note – Rhino issued a 4 disc box set – The Complete Country & Western Recordings 1959-1986. So, even after these two volumes were done, Charles would record country tunes for another 25 years, most notably with the duets in the ‘80s with George Jones, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, and others.
Volume 1 became an instant classic when released in 1962 on ABC- Paramount, the idea being to record some of country music’s most popular songs from the past twenty years. It was totally Ray Charles’ idea. He brought the concept to the record company and was not pushed in this direction by any of label executives. In fact, they were taking a fair risk that proved incredibly successful. Four singles topped the charts: “Born to Lose, “Careless Love,” “You Don’t Know Me,” and “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” the latter especially monstrous. The success of Volume 1 lead to Volume 2 which had one side by the Ray Charles Big band with the Raelettes, and the other with a strong section and the Jack Halloran Singers. In 1999, Volume 1 was inducted into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame for “historical significance.” “I Can’t Stop Loving You” followed as the single with an induction in 2001.
Charles became and maybe still is the most successful genre-crossing artist ever. His impact was felt in blues, jazz, gospel, rock, pop and country music. In his words, “I’m not a country singer. I’m a singer who sings country songs. I’m not a blues singer, but I can sing the blues. I’m not really a crooner, but I can sing love songs. I’m not a specialist, but I’m a pretty good utility man. I can play first base, second base, shortstop. I can catch and maybe even pitch a little.”
There are extensive notes, including the original from Rick Ward and Sid Feller, who did the recording. The CD of both volumes presents 24 tracks as does the Deluxe LP version, with the heavily weighted to Hank Williams and don Gibson material. By varying tempos, producing big band and/or string arrangements and having other powerful voices like that of Raelette Margie Hendrix on “You Are My Sunshine,” these were radical transformations of familiar tunes. Journalist Bill Dahl quotes Sid Feller in 2009 – “He created more things with his voice than any other singer I ever knew in my life, or ever heard of. To me, creating itself is the genius part.”
Listen to Charles’ phrasing and his emotional depth on some of these tunes that aren’t quite as familiar like Elton Britt’s “Someday (You’ll Want Me to Want You)” on Volume 2 or the string-laden “I’ll Never Stand In Your Way” from Volume 2, or Eddy Arnold’s “It Makes No Difference Now” from Volume 1. There will never be another Ray Charles. He sounds just as amazing now as he did 55-56 years ago. This is music one can’t revisit too often.
