Ray Charles:

Modern Sounds In Country and Western Music:(1962)

Modern Sounds In Country and Western Music Volume 2:(1962)

Sweet & Sour Tears:(1964)

I don't own enough Ray Charles records. Period. There are days when I feel like the voice of god must sound like Ray Charles when he's singing. The man was impeccable in his tone, phrasing, and delivery, even in the live recordings where he is clearly smacked out of his gourd.  Now, since I have the two volumes of Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music listed here, let's talk about there impact. I mean, the boldness to tackle the Country genre as a black man in the early sixties? That's risk, that's balls, that's genius. It's things like that that make it impossible for me to not see how Rock'n'Roll Ray Charles was. Certainly Johnny Rotten never attempted anything so bold. And Ray did it with such confidence, and sincerity that he pulled it off like a champ. For this and so many other reasons Ray Charles is one of the best that ever has been or will be. 

Now, if I had to pick a favorite Ray Charles song, while not on any of these albums, today I'd probably go with Drown In My Own Tears. Come back tomorrow, and I'll probably pick a different one.