Unknown Ray Charles Country Album

Glenn Suchan · Post by **Glenn Suchan** » 4 Nov 2007 9:02 pm

Has anyone ever heard the Ray Charles album titled "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind"? If so, what do you think of it? I have an opportunity to buy a copy from a local source. It seems like it should be a great album, but I've never heard of it before. Which surprises me since I consider myself somewhat of a Ray Charles audiophile. It's got me wondering if it's a case of a recording not being as good as it should be. For those unfamiliar with it (like me), it's a 1984 release on Columbia Records and features the following players:

Fred Newell, Bucky Barrett, Phil Baugh, and Jimmy Capps: guitar; Terry McMillan: harmonica; Hoot Hester, and Buddy Spicher: Fiddle; Matt Morris: bass; James Gatson: drums; And Buddy Emmons.

Songs are: "I Had It All", "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind", "Woman Senuous Woman", "Then I'll Be Over You", "(All I Wanna Do Is) Lay Around And Love On You", "Love Of My Life", "They Call It Love", "If I Were You", "Workin' Man's Woman", and "I Was On Georgia Time".

Once again, if you're familiar with this album let me know what you think of it.

Maybe Buddy Emmons will see this post and shed some light on it.

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 4 Nov 2007 11:33 pm

I've got that LP. It's ok...but it's not a groundbreaking, chock full of classics record like Modern Sounds In Country Music.

Not that I think Mr C. could ever put out a bad record...

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 5 Nov 2007 7:04 am

Did this come out around the same time as 'Volcanic Action of My Soul'?

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 5 Nov 2007 8:56 am

Jim

'Volcanic....' was released in 1971.

The non-release/availability of Ray Charles' catalogue is very frustrating to me. It was all very well for him to gain control of all his masters (an almost unique situation in those days), but the result seems to be an endless, and unsatisfactory, succession of compilations with some glaring omissions.

I'd hoped for a systematic reissue of all his ABC/Tangerine albums in their entirety (I hate the thought of some corporate 'suit' deciding which of his old tracks are good for me!) yet, even since his death, nothing has changed.

He made a series of pop-orientated albums that had some definitive versions of other folks' hits on them. This might be a scary formula for most artistes, but I don't believe Ray ever made a bad record, and there are some gems on these LPs (I recall his wonderful version of the Everly's "Problems" on one album).

I live in hope that one day I'll get to collect his complete works on CD. A good friend of mine made a disc of 'Volcanic...' for me, so at least I have that one!

RR
PS: I don't know the album in question, though.

Bo Borland · Post by **Bo Borland** » 5 Nov 2007 9:25 am

I have a copy but haven't listened to it in a while.. it was very good but not a classic like Modern Sounds.. the production was excellant, and of course the session guys were awesome.

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 5 Nov 2007 12:48 pm

And Buddy Emmons.

that's really all you need to know.

oh, and the fact that Ray Charles is singing.

get it.
NOW.

Glenn Suchan · Post by **Glenn Suchan** » 6 Nov 2007 7:54 am

I decided to purchase the LP.

First impression (after one listening):

Ray and company all live up to their legendary reputations in the studio. However, the mastering seemed to be slightly over-compressed. As a result, the recording has kind of a "trying-to-breath-in-a-closet" sort of sound. It doesn't have an open, "lively" sound that should come from a really good mastering job.

Regarding the the differences between this recording and Ray's Modern Sounds In Country Music: As Skip has said, this album isn't a collection of classic country songs. With exception of "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind", "Woman Sensuous Woman", and "Workin' Man's Woman", I wouldn't consider this a collection of traditional country songs, at all. In fact, most songs sound more like fairly mediocre, 80's pop country. However, a very interesting comparison between the two albums is the arranging. On Modern Sounds Ray selected popular (now classic) country songs and arranged them using his orchestra. The result is country songs ala "The Ray Charles Sound" On this album, Ray has reversed the situation. He's taken songs which, for the most part, aren't really country and arranged them for a conventional country ensemble (guitars, fiddles and steel guitar). No brass or strings. Modern Sounds is a "landmark" recording, as it is. However, it might have been legendary in the history of country music if Ray had arranged like, and employed country musicians of the callibre of this album.

All in all, I'm glad I bought the album. It appears to be quite rare and my copy is in pristine condition. But I'd give it three stars out of five, because of the less-than-interesting song choices and the album mastering.

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn

Brint Hannay · Post by **Brint Hannay** » 6 Nov 2007 11:57 am

I have the LP (got it back when it came out), and I agree with the assessments already stated. In my opinion the highlight of the album is definitely "Woman, Sensuous Woman". A very cool arrangement, IMO.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 6 Nov 2007 3:35 pm

In fact, most songs sound more like fairly mediocre, 80's pop country.

I never cared much for Ray's "country" sound. To me, he was a truly great singer and musician, but far more pop and R&B than country. Even "Nashville's best" couldn't make him a country singer!

Though Buddy does appear on some of Ray's country-song releases, there's very little steel there - not enough of him on any of Ray's cuts to make an Emmons fan buy the album.

Of course, if you're really into Ray, you've got nothing to lose.

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 6 Nov 2007 4:04 pm

Ray was one of Big E's biggest fans.

the fact that he gave Buddy the solo on "Feel So Bad", one of his signature tunes speaks volumes.

Ray truly redefined a lot of great country songs, and opened so many ears to country music throughout his career. Ray could take any song and make it all his own. truly the best friend a song ever had.

Glenn Suchan · Post by **Glenn Suchan** » 7 Nov 2007 5:50 am

Donny, when I stated the sound of some songs as "mediocre 80's pop country" I was referring to the compositions, not the arranging. On those songs any redeeming aspects would be attributed to Ray's arrangements and the excellent musicianship. And as Brint said "Woman Sensuous Woman" is great. "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" and "Workin' Man's Woman" are true to the traditions of country honky-tonk, also.

As Scott said

Ray truly redefined a lot of great country songs, and opened so many ears to country music throughout his career. Ray could take any song and make it all his own. truly the best friend a song ever had.

I'll add, regardless of what Ray chose to sing, he ALWAYS found the heart and soul of the song (my caveat would be "Seven Spanish Angels". That song makes me cringe when ever I hear it, but necessarily because of Ray. IMO it's probably the worst song Ray ever sang on.)

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn