20 Country Albums Every Rock Fan Should Listen To
17. Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music - Ray Charles
As a whole, Ray Charles doesn't sound like someone who belongs in the same area code as country music. Taking the dirty sounds of the blues and providing his distinct layer of soul and R&B, some of Charles' best tunes had a massive influence on the seedier side of rock and roll, with everyone from Jerry Lee Lewis to The Beatles citing him as an influence. Even though songs like What'd I Say took him to the top, the real quality came when Charles ventured out of his comfort zone.
With none of these songs written by Charles himself, these sessions are the culmination of the blind singer getting acclimatized to the rustic sounds of country music, as he takes on songs like You Win Again and Careless Love. As opposed to the more sultry voice he has on his usual material, the way that Charles inhabits songs by Hank Williams and old American traditionals makes you feel like he has found a kindred spirit in this music.
The best of the bunch is when Charles gets to take on the more soft spoken material, as he lets his rustic voice croon over songs like Bye Bye Love, which will rip your heart right out of your chest. Along with the soul, R&B, rock, and blues in his repertoire, feel free to add country music to the list of things that Ray Charles played better than pretty much anyone else.