For those unaware, today, Ray Charles’ Tangerine Records releases remastered reissues of the icon’s classic albums Country And Western Meets Rhythm And Blues and Crying Time, out now on vinyl, CD and all streaming platforms.

This marks the first time the two albums have been available on vinyl since their original pressing, part of a rollout of five albums from Charles’ catalog this fall, celebrating his impact on country music.

Following the recent reissues of Charles’ groundbreaking Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music and Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music Vol. 2 and capped off by the new Best of Country & Western compilation on November 15th, 2024, this series celebrates his profound influence in country music.

Country And Western Meets Rhythm And Blues

The success of the Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music albums paved the way for Charles’ creative freedom as an artist. In 1965, he continued to show his deep affinity for country music with Country & Western Meets Rhythm & Blues, a.k.a. Together Again, which features his unforgettable version of the Buck Owens staple “Together Again.”

This album also holds the distinction of being the first album Charles recorded in his own RPM International recording studio.

The album opens on the sweeping Together Again and the low slung finger snapper I Like to Hear It Sometime, and then we get brought forth the dutifully harmonized I’ve Got a Tiger by the Tail (Swingova), the veritably cinematic (and rightly so) Please Forgive and Forget, and the country-hued both I Don’t Care and the loud swing-styled Next Door to the Blues.

Along next is his rousing, yet cultured rendition of Blue Moon of Kentucky (Swingova) and the all-embracing ballad Light Out of Darkness, which are in turn backed by the joyfully upbeat swing of Maybe It’s Nothing at All, the ornately elegant All Night Long, the album rounding out on the melodious Don’t Let Her Know, closing on the big band beauty Watch It Baby.

1. Together Again 2. I Like to Hear It Sometime 3. I’ve Got a Tiger by the Tail (Swingova) 4. Please Forgive and Forget 5. I Don’t Care 6. Next Door to the Blues 7. Blue Moon of Kentucky (Swingova) 8. Light Out of Darkness 9. Maybe It’s Nothing at All 10. All Night Long 11. Don’t Let Her Know 12. Watch It Baby

Official Country And Western Meets Rhythm And Blues Purchase Links

Crying Time

On 1966’s Crying Time album, Charles delivers the definitive version of that Buck Owens classic, and it earned him the GRAMMY for Best Rhythm & Blues Solo Vocal Performance Male, and recognition as Producer of Best Rhythm & Blues Recording by The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

As if that weren’t enough, the album also boasts Charles #1 R&B Billboard smash “Let’s Go Get Stoned.”

The album opens on a lonesome yearn within Crying Time and the reaching ballad No Use Crying, and then comes the Gospel-raised Let’s Go Get Stoned, the beautiful piano piece Going Down Slow, and both the triumphantly emboldened Peace Of Mind and the sweeping elegance of Tears.

Along next is the piano-driven delights shown driving the emotional ballad Drifting Blues and the emphatic big band tune We Don’t See Eye To Eye, and they are in turn followed by the melodic gossamer of You’re In For A Big Surprise, the gently funky, grooved You’re Just About To Lose Your Clown, the album rounding out on the stylish Don’t You Think I Ought To Know, closing on the big band-driven rhythms of You’ve Got A Problem.

1. Crying Time 2. No Use Crying 3. Let’s Go Get Stoned 4. Going Down Slow 5. Peace Of Mind 6. Tears 7. Drifting Blues 8. We Don’t See Eye To Eye 9. You’re In For A Big Surprise 10. You’re Just About To Lose Your Clown 11. Don’t You Think I Ought To Know 12. You’ve Got A Problem

Official Crying Time Purchase Links

Best Of Country & Western

The new Best Of Country & Western album features a tracklist of iconic songs hand-picked to tell the story of Charles’ impact on the genre. With thoughtful attention to detail, this collection showcases Ray’s unparalleled interpretations of country classics.

“These are the recordings that established Ray Charles as the Genius of Country, a legend who’s been enshrined in the Country Music Hall of Fame and whose influence can still be heard at the top of the country charts as artists continue to walk through the doors he opened and channel his singular sound” says Exceleration Music Co-Founder John Burk, who produced Charles’ GRAMMY-winning final studio album Genius Loves Company.

“These albums tell the story of how Ray single-handedly reshaped country music, expanded its audience and, in the process, transformed himself from artist to icon.”

The album opens on the endearing Here We Go Again and the righteous glory of Together Again, and then we get the emphatically-sculpted You Are My Sunshine, the truly romantic You Don’t Know Me, and both the souled out Gospel of Crying Time and a pining crave that threads throughout Your Cheatin’ Heart.

Along next is the Gospel-imbibed Take These Chains From My Heart and then the strings and arrangements that sell Born to Lose are impeccable, and they are in turn backed by the timeless masterpiece I Can’t Stop Loving You, the humbling, slow-cooked blues of That Lucky Old Sun, the album rounding out on a simply spinechilling rendition of Do I Ever Cross Your Mind, a quite breathtaking, low key rendition of Ring of Fire, and the mariachi souled Gospel of Seven Spanish Angels (with Willie Nelson).

1. Here We Go Again 2. Together Again 3. You Are My Sunshine 4. You Don’t Know Me 5. Crying Time 6. Your Cheatin’ Heart 7. Take These Chains From My Heart 8. Born to Lose 9. I Can’t Stop Loving You 10. That Lucky Old Sun 11. Do I Ever Cross Your Mind 12. Ring of Fire 13. Seven Spanish Angels (with Willie Nelson)

Official Best Of Country & Western Purchase Links

Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music

Originally released in 1962, the groundbreaking Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music changed the course of popular music and led Willie Nelson to remark, “Ray Charles did more for country music than any other artist.”

It quickly became the best-selling of all country albums. This first installment spawned four hit singles, including the #1 Billboard Hot 100 smash “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” which won Best Rhythm & Blues Recording at the fifth annual GRAMMY Awards.

Charles remains the first and only artist to earn a GRAMMY Award and a #1 Billboard pop chart hit with a country song.

The album opens on the heavy-grooved finger-snapper Bye Bye Love and the sweeping You Don’t Know Me, and they are followed by the joyfully elegant Half as Much, the organically sumptuous I Love You So Much It Hurts, and then we get the playfully flirtatious Just a Little Lovin’ and the quietly far-reaching Born to Lose.

Along next is the graceful Worried Mind and the gloriously piano-led It Makes No Difference Now, and they are in turn backed seamlessly by the harmonized You Win Again, the low-grooved balladry of Careless Love, the album rounding out on a stunningly ambient, cultured I Can’t Stop Loving You, closing on the percussion-fused, rousingly electric Hey, Good Lookin’

1. Bye Bye Love 2. You Don’t Know Me 3. Half as Much 4. I Love You So Much It Hurts 5. Just a Little Lovin’ 6. Born to Lose 7. Worried Mind 8. It Makes No Difference Now 9. You Win Again 10. Careless Love 11. I Can’t Stop Loving You 12. Hey, Good Lookin’

Official Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music Links

Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music, Volume 2

Volume 2 followed its predecessor by just six months, and is widely regarded as just as strong, if not stronger than the first - the second made with the confidence that this formula of country & soul works.

With three hit singles on both the R&B and Pop charts, including the #1 hit You Are My Sunshine, both volumes changed the course of popular music and remain a testament to the genius of Ray Charles.

The last of the remastered reissues opens on the classy You Are My Sunshine and the low slung No Letter Today, and they are followed by the aching ballad Someday (You’ll Want Me to Want You), the sparkling Don’t Tell Me Your Troubles, the atmospheric Midnight, and then the gently frenetic Oh, Lonesome Me is brought forth.

Then comes the dutifully Gospel-hued Take These Chains from My Heart and the proudly sophisticated Your Cheating Heart, and they are in turn backed by the harmoniously lush I’ll Never Stand in Your Way, the richly grand Making Believe, the album rounding out on the sleek Teardrops in My Heart, coming to a close on the royally refined Hang Your Head in Shame.

1. You Are My Sunshine 2. No Letter Today 3. Someday (You’ll Want Me to Want You) 4. Don’t Tell Me Your Troubles 5. Midnight 6. Oh, Lonesome Me 7. Take These Chains from My Heart 8. Your Cheating Heart 9. I’ll Never Stand in Your Way 10. Making Believe 11. Teardrops in My Heart 12. Hang Your Head in Shame

Official Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music, Volume 2 Links