Used Vinyl-- Ray Charles -- Love Country Style

     Why review a Ray Charles album?

     Although pretty much anybody over the age of five knows that Ray is an American genius and would be close to the top of most critics list of most influencial artists of the 20th century, after the mid 1960's Ray's catalog becomes a confusing maze of hits, near misses and all around bad ideas.  He had climbed to the top of the mountain earlier in his career by mixing gospel and country into his own brand of R&B, but as time went by, Ray headed right to the middle of the road.  Production picked up strings and big vocal choruses and more and more, the music lacked some of that essential spark that made Ray's music so vital. 

     Fast forward to 1970.  Love Country Style really has very little to do with the genre of country music and is certainly nothing like his wild big band version of country music he served up in the early 60's.  Be forwarned, there is plenty of smaltz on this platter.  The arrangements are flat out goofy in spots, but underlying all of the music is a surprising amount of funkiness brought on by some solid bass playing (uncredited) as well as some great guitar picking on a few songs (also not credited).

     The album kicks off with two great tunes "If You Were Mine" and a sultry version of "Ring of Fire" that turns this Johnny Cash classic on its ear.  Unfortunately  this platter gets weaker as it goes on.  By the middle of the second side, big strings are gobbling up everything in their path until the final track "Show Me the Sunshine" hints at Ray's gospel roots and ends the album with a strong vocal. 

    While this record will never inhabit the rarefied air of classics like "Hallelujah, I Just Love Her So" or "Let's Go Get Stoned", the Cat Daddy says keep this one around for when the kittens come over.  It certainley has the makings of a lost make-out classic.

Used Vinyl -- Richie Furay -- I Got a Reason

     Richie Furay can lay legitimate claims to being a founding father of the Country-Rock subgenre of popular music.  Of course if you hate the Eagles like many people do, you might not consider that a good thing.  For me however, I enjoy that style of music and all of its sometimes woolly  incarnations.  Richie is one of the founding members of Buffalo Spingfield and Poco and his signature song is "Kind Woman" a simple, direct ballad that has stood up to changing musical tastes and endures even today. After struggling for years for popularity and recognision, Richie quit the band Poco and started down his own path which included a conversion to Christianity that pushed his music into new lyrical directions. 

     His first solo album, "I Got a Reason" leaves some of the country-rock leanings behind in favor of a more polished bass, guitar and drum format.  What Richie does keep firmly in place is his knack for a catchy melody and some sweet musical hooks.  Most of the songs stay withing the range of 3-5 minutes and only when he tries to jam out, such as the disastrous "Over and Over Again" does Richie and bands start to sound like a light rock Emerson Lake and Palmer (not a good idea or sound on any level).

     Any fan of 70's country rock or singer songwriters would be well served checking this record out, there is a high ratio of great tunes to clunkers and Richie's tenor voice is always a pleasure to listen to.  Don't be scared by the fact he is a Christian...the songs are not from the mind of some newly converted Jesus Freak, they just hint at a spiritual awakening.  Isn't that what most music is about anyway?  File this one under:  Catnip for your ears.