Customer Reviews

Friendship

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Back in the 1980's, Ray Charles recorded an album that featured him doing duets with some of the popular acts of the time. The exception would be Tony Bennett. But there are a lot of artists who are on this CD with Ray Charles.

The disc starts off with a duet with Hank Williams Jr. called "Two Old Cats Like Us." Another fun song is the hit single "We Didn't See A Thing" with George Jones. It's about two guys who are stepping out on their wives. And even though they see one another, they swear that they don't know anything about the whereabouts of each other. There's also the duet that Ray does with Billy Joel on the song "Baby Grand." It also includes Rays hit single "Seven Spanish Angels."

And since the passing of Ray Charles, this collection of songs seems even more meaningful and fun to listen to. This album is primarily country, so you may want to keep that in mind if you decide to purchase it.

And if you do choose to get this CD, make sure that you get the one that is NOT copy protected if you plan on playing it in a computer/laptop or your car. Some players don't like copy protected CD's and will refuse to play them.

I loved the CD Friendship! Have always loved Ray Charles music and this one was unique by having the other artists join in.

I bought this just for the song "Baby Grand". Love, love the melody and interpretation of Ray Charles and Billy Joel on piano.

Ray Charles could sing anything, and was especially interested in the country music genre. With the exception of the bonus tracks by Bennett and Joel added years later on CD, each song was a duet recorded with a popular country performer of the era - 1984. The album charted at #1, and four of the cuts were top 20 hits., but each and every cut got a great deal of airplay on country stations. Who else but Ray could land performers like Hank williams, Jr., Willie Nelson, George Jones, Johnny Cash, and (kneeling here) Merle Haggard? My favorite cut is "I Didn't See a Thing" with George Jones...ironic title...incredible performance. Totally inspired, fabulous, and unique. This album is a must for any fan of Ray's OR country music!

I bought this CD for my husband for Valentine's. He particularly like the song Seven Spanish Angels with Ray & Willie Nelson. So it was a pleasant surprise to him. The whole CD is an easy listening CD.

This was one of the very first "collaboration" records long before they became a fad. On this record, Ray Charles demonstrates why he was one of a kind as he seamlessly moves into the country genre with an album full

of duets (the one with the Oak Ridge Boys being the exception). The songs are terrific and Ray's terrific singing voice helps raise the bar for everyone else on the record. My personal favorites are the tracks with Hank Williams, Jr., George Jones, and B.J. Thomas, although there's no a bad track here. In fact, most are standouts

and the record as a whole ranks as one of the best country albums I own.

I've listened to this recording off and on since the 80's and consider this one to be my favorite of all Ray Charles' works because of all the fun. The vocal exchange with his recording buddies sounds natural and genuine and after all these years, I still find myself grinning as I sing along with them. By this time, the words are all memorized, of course. If you're in the mood to unravel the kinks in your mind, body and soul, put this one on and forget your troubles.