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

www.raycharles.com