Ray Charles’ Tangerine Records releases Best of Country & Western, a new compilation album featuring a tracklist of Charles’ most iconic country songs that tell the story of his indelible impact on the genre. Best of Country & Western caps off a five-album rollout of remastered reissues from Charles’ catalog, celebrating his profound influence in country music. All five releases are now available on vinyl, CD and streaming platforms.
This definitive Best of Country & Western collection brings together Charles’ most beloved country recordings, including his chart-topping, renditions of “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” “You Are My Sunshine,” “That Lucky Old Sun,” and the unforgettable Willie Nelson duet “Seven Spanish Angels.” Every track has been lovingly remastered by multi-GRAMMY Award-winning engineer Michael Graves, breathing new life into these groundbreaking recordings that helped bridge the worlds of country and soul music. From the raw emotion of “Ring of Fire” to the heartfelt poetry of his greatest crossover hits, Best of Country & Western showcases why Ray Charles remains one of music’s most influential boundary-breaking artists.
This series showcases Charles’ unparalleled interpretations of country classics and serves as a timely reminder of his role as a cultural pioneer who helped bridge racial and genre divides through the universal language of music.
Dubbed by Frank Sinatra as the only “True Genius” in music, Charles’ staggering achievements over a 58-year career include 17 GRAMMY Awards; induction into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Country Music Hall of Fame; a Lifetime Achievement and the President’s Merit Award from The Recording Academy; the Presidential Medal for the Arts; France’s Legion of Honor; the Kennedy Center Honors; the NAACP Image Awards’ “Hall of Fame Award”; and numerous other music Halls of Fame, including those for Jazz and Rhythm & Blues, all testament to his enormous influence.
Best of Country & Western:
SIDE 1
1. Here We Go Again
2. Together Again
3. You Are My Sunshine
4. You Don’t Know Me
5. Crying Time
6. Your Cheatin’ Heart
7. Take These Chains From My Heart
SIDE 2
1. Born To Lose
2. I Can’t Stop Loving You
3. That Lucky Old Sun
4. Do I Ever Cross Your Mind
5. Ring Of Fire
6. Seven Spanish Angels (with Willie Nelson)
