Album Review #94: Greatest Country And Western Hits (Ray Charles)

RAY CHARLES
GREATEST COUNTRY & WESTERN HITS
1988-DCC
VARIOUS PRODUCERS

1. Your Cheating Heart
2. Hey Good Lookin'
3. Take These Chains From My Heart
4. Don't Tell Me Your Troubles
5. I Can't Stop Loving You
6. Just A Little Lovin' (Will Go A Long Way)
7. It Makes No Difference Now
8. You Don't Know Me
9. You Are My Sunshine
10. I'll Never Stand In Your Way
11. Someday (You'll Want Me To Want You)
12. I Love You So Much It Hurts
13. Careless Love
14. Oh, Lonesome Me
15. Hang Your Head In Shame'
16. Midnight
17. No Letter Today
18. Crying Time
19. Together Again
20. Don't Let Her Know

Between 1962 and 1966, Ray Charles recorded, his own way, a large number of country songs. Most of these are from the albums Modern Sounds In Country & Western Music Vol 1 & 2, with the last 3 tracks being from other albums. This may actually be Ray at his best. Taking songs by Hank Williams, Buck Owens, Don Gibson, and others and turning them into soul music was pure genius, and Charles is up to the task. These are 20 of the best sides recorded in the 60's, period. Charles fills these songs with so much soul and makes them completely his own. An easy one to rate a full blown classic....simply Ray Charles at his best.

The compilation was remixed by Charles himself, after the tapes had sat unused for 25 years. This is great, historic stuff. Buy it.

This is album #94 in an ongoing series.