Ray Charles — The Complete Country & Western Recordings 1959-1986 (1998)

When Ray Charles signed his precedent-shattering contract with ABC-Paramount in 1959, he was determined to make good on an early ambition to be the most versatile recording artist the music business had ever known. Charles got to work at his new label right away, producing hits like "Georgia On My Mind" and "Hit the Road Jack" along with the classic duet album with Betty Carter in 1961. But it wasn't till 1962's MODERN SOUNDS IN COUNTRY AND WESTERN MUSIC VOLS. 1 & 2 that Charles surpassed industry expectations.
This four-CD anthology includes both of the classic MODERN SOUNDS albums as well as every country song recorded during Charles' subsequent career, including various raffish '80s duets with such legends as Hank Williams Jr., George Jones and Willie Nelson. Looking back, the most remarkable thing about Charles' country output wasn't that a southern soul artist would have a winning way with a country tune. Rather, it was that Charles popularized "pure" country music for the nation at large, black and white alike.
All tracks have been digitally remastered.

Tracklisting:

CD1
1. Bye Bye Love
2. You Don't Know Me
3. Half as Much
4. I Love You So Much It Hurts
5. Just a Little Lovin' (Will Go a Long Way)
6. Born to Lose
7. Worried Mind
8. It Makes No Difference Now
9. You Win Again
10. Careless Love
11. I Can't Stop Loving You
12. Hey, Good Lookin'
13. You Are My Sunshine
14. No Letter Today
15. Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You)
16. Don't Tell Me Your Troubles
17. Midnight
18. Oh, Lonesome Me
19. Take These Chains from My Heart
20. Your Cheatin' Heart
21. I'll Never Stand in Your Way
22. Making Believe
23. Teardrops in My Heart
24. Hang Your Head in Shame

CD2
1. I'm Movin' On
2. Busted
3. No One to Cry To
4. Move It on Over
5. Love's Gonna Live Here (Swingova)
6. I'm a Fool to Care
7. Crying Time
8. Together Again
9. I Don't Care
10. Blue Moon of Kentucky (Swingova)
11. Don't Let Her Know
12. Please Say You're Fooling
13. She's Lonesome Again
14. Born Loser
15. Girl I Used to Know
16. Here We Go Again
17. When I Stop Dreamin'
18. If You Were Mine
19. Your Love Is So Doggone Good
20. Don't Change on Me
21. Till I Can't Take It Anymore
22. You've Still Got a Place in My Heart
23. I Keep It Hid
24. Sweet Memories
25. Good Morning Dear

CD3
1. Ring of Fire
2. What Am I Living For?
3. Three Bells
4. All I Ever Need Is You
5. Wichita Lineman
6. Down in the Valley
7. Take Me Home, Country Roads
8. Never Ending Song of Love
9. Come Live With Me
10. Sunshine
11. We Had It All
12. (Turn Out the Light And) Love Me Tonight
13. I Wish You Were Here Tonight
14. Ain't Your Memory Got No Pride at All
15. Born to Love Me
16. I Don't Want No Stranger Sleepin' in My Bed
17. Let Your Love Flow
18. You Feel Good All Over
19. You've Got the Longest Leaving Act in Town
20. String Bean

CD4
1. 3/4 Time
2. Shakin' Your Head
3. I Had It All
4. Do I Ever Cross Your Mind
5. Woman (Sensuous Woman)
6. Then I'll Be over You
7. If I Were You
8. Workin' Man's Woman
9. Two Old Cats Like Us - Ray Charles, Hank Williams, Jr.
10. This Old Heart (Is Gonna Rise Again) - Ray Charles, The Oak Ridge Boys
11. We Didn't See a Thing - Chet Atkins, Ray Charles, George Jones
12. Who Cares - Ray Charles, Janie Fricke
13. Friendship - Ray Charles, Ricky Skaggs
14. It Ain't Gonna Worry My Mind - Ray Charles, Mickey Gilley
15. Little Hotel Room - Ray Charles, Merle Haggard
16. Crazy Old Soldier - Johnny Cash, Ray Charles
17. Seven Spanish Angels - Ray Charles, Willie Nelson
18. Pages of My Mind
19. Slip Away
20. Anybody With the Blues
21. Little Bit of Heaven
22. Dixie Moon