Ray Charles Masterpiece ‘Modern Sounds in Country’ to Finally Be Reissued

If you didn’t have a physical copy, or perhaps matured during the streaming era of music, then you’ve possibly never experienced what is considered one of the greatest works in country music history—Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music by Ray Charles. Recorded in February of 1962 and released in April of that year, it found the classic R&B singer contributing his renditions of country music classics such as “You Win Again” and “Hey, Good Lookin'” by Hank Williams, Don Gibson’s “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” and Eddy Arnold’s “You Don’t Know Me.”

The recording has become so revered over the years, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and has been given credit for being one of the most influential records in history, especially for spreading the love of country music throughout popular culture. Far from the “crossover” records of today, Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music caught popular R&B performer Ray Charles showing reverence for country music as opposed to piggy-backing off of it for his own fame. “I’m not a country singer,” Ray Charles would say. “I’m a singer who sings country songs.”

Nonetheless, the record would start off a long relationship with country music for Ray Charles, including subsequent country releases, and legendary collaborations with Willie Nelson and others. But nothing has withstood the test of time like Modern Sounds in Country, even though the record has basically been out-of-print for recent memory.

That will all change on February 22nd, 2019, when Concord Record will re-issue the album as Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, Vols. 1 & 2 . It will be released digitally, to streaming outlets, on CD, vinyl, as well as a 180-gram deluxe vinyl edition. It will also be expanded to include some of the bonus tracks that have appeared on later editions of the record, including renditions of “You Are My Sunshine,” “Oh, Lonesome Me” and “Your Cheating Heart.” 24 total tracks will be included on the new album.

Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, Vols. 1 & 2 is now available for pre-order.

TRACK LIST:

1. Bye Bye Love [as made famous by The Everly Brothers]
2. You Don’t Know Me [as made famous by Eddy Arnold]
3. Half as Much [as made famous by Hank Williams]
4. I Love You So Much It Hurts [as made famous by Tennessee Earl Ford and later Patsy Cline]
5. Just a Little Lovin’ [as made famous by Hank Williams]
6. Born to Lose [as made famous by Don Gibson and later Johnny Cash]
7. Worried Mind [as made famous by Ted Daffan’s Texans]
8. It Makes No Difference Now [as made famous by Eddy Arnold]
9. You Win Again [as made famous by Hank Williams]
10. Careless Love [Jazz standard, as made famous by Eddy Arnold]
11. I Can’t Stop Loving You [as made famous by Don Gibson]
12. Hey, Good Lookin’ [as made famous by Hank Williams]
13. You Are My Sunshine [as made famous by Gene Autry]
14. No Letter Today [as made famous by Ted Daffan]
15. Someday (You’ll Want Me to Want You) [as made famous by Elton Britt]
16. Don’t Tell Me Your Troubles [as made famous by Don Gibson]
17. Midnight [as made famous by Chet Atkins]
18. Oh, Lonesome Me [as made famous by Don Gibson]
19. Take These Chains from My Heart [as made famous by Hank Williams]
20. Your Cheatin’ Heart [as made famous by Hank Williams]
21. I’ll Never Stand in Your Way [as made famous by Joni James and later Kitty Kallen]
22. Making Believe [as made famous by Jimmy Work and later Kitty Wells]
23. Teardrops in My Heart [as made famous by Sons of the Pioneers and later Jim Reeves]
24. Hang Your Head in Shame [as made famous by Foy Willing and His Riders of the Purple Sage and later Red Foley]

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