Ray Charles is the Genius of Soul, but he’s consistently had a bit of country boy in him, too. Between arena hillbilly piano back he was a kid and landing several duets on the country archive in the ’80s, Charles appear this 1962 classic, demography 12 country standards and proving that abundant songs can abide great, no amount what the setting. Behind arrant assumption and blood-tingling strings, Brother Ray transforms “Hey, Good Lookin’” and “Bye Bye Love” into big-band swing; “You Win Again” into the Nashville Sound; and “I Love You So Much It Hurts” into the best affected of pop. “I Can’t Stop Loving You” was the big hit, but aggregate abroad actuality is aloof as around-the-clock and beautiful.

In the ’50s he invented body by bond the angelic and abusive of atramentous music: R & B and gospel. In 1962 he went absolutely crazy, interpreting archetypal country. It was one of his finest moments. From the alpha the almanac is an oddity. A big bandage pumps, changeable accomplishments singers rip through a choir of “Bye Bye Love,” and Ray brings aerial activity to the Everly Bros. teeny-bop lyrics. Some songs ache from dank choir and cord arrangements, but Ray is consistently there to set things straight. He gives country some funk, and erases, for a day, all questions of atramentous and white.