Search - Ray Charles :: Ray Charles & Friends: Super Hits

Reissue of country duets album

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 09/30/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Most of the albums in the Super hits series of albums are greatest hits collections, but this is a straight re-issue of Ray's 1984 album of duets with country singers, originally titled Friendship. It was originally released on vinyl, then later on CD with the same artwork. That version of the CD was replaced by this album, but the title Super hits is very confusing. (More recently, the album has been re-issued again, this time with the original artwork and title but re-mastered and with two bonus tracks.)



It is fitting that Ray should have recorded this album - after all, he recorded R+B versions of country songs back in the sixties and took them high in the pop charts including I can't stop loving you, a number one in Britain and America. Those records didn't sound country, but twenty years later, here is Ray singing country and having a great time doing it.



The big hit here (a country number one) is Seven Spanish angels, the duet with Willie Nelson that closes the album. I love all the songs but I particularly like Who cares (with Janie Fricke, the only female singer featured), Two old cats like us (with Hank Williams Junior) and We didn't see a thing (with George Jones and Chet Atkins). Other guests include Johnny Cash, B J Thomas, Ricky Skaggs, Merle Haggard and the Oak ridge boys.



This is an upbeat country album that shows just how talented Ray Charles was - one of the few singers equally brilliant in several different genres of music."

Seven Spanish Angels Worth the Price of the Entire CD

Peter Durward Harris | 07/19/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I remember in my youthful drinking days that the bartenders knew when to start calling the cabs...it was the 7th chorus of Seven Spanish Angels.
Hearing that song again sung by the Genius Charles and the master Nelson brought back so many memories. They make it a beautiful wondrous song once again."

AWESOME CD

Peter Durward Harris | 10/30/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is one of the best CD's I've ever purchased. If you're a Ray Charles fan, it's a must for your collection. Also, it's extremely hard to find in stores."