Ray Charles – Modern Sounds In Country and Western Music Vol. 2 – Vinyl LP

The iconic, game changing Modern Sounds in Country And Western albums, combined into a single release for CD in the 2000s, will be restored and released individually, as originally intended – The significance of these records cannot be overlooked – They are proof that great country music is malleable, and open to interpretation.

Volume 1 quickly became one of the best-selling albums recorded by a Black musician of the time, as well as one of the best-selling country albums. It topped the Billboard Pop Album Chart of a month, and spawned four hit singles, including “I Can’t Stop Loving” which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, R&B, and the Adult Contemporary Charts, was nominated for Record Of The Year, and won the GRAMMY for Best Rhythm & Blues Recording at the 5th Annual Grammy Awards in 1963. “You Don’t Know Me” met with similar success. Ray Charles remains the first and only Black performer to earn a GRAMMY Award and a #1 Billboard Pop Chart Hit with a country and western song as he did with “l Can’t Stop Loving You.”

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 or 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.

Side A
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

Side B
1 Take These Chains From My Heart
2 Your Cheating Heart
3 I’ll Never Stand In Your Way
4 Making Believe
5 Teardrops In My Heart
6 Hang Your Head In Shame