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Crying Time
R&B / Soul · 1966

Crying Time

Ray Charles

Lush orchestral strings meet the raw grit of gospel-infused vocals. A sophisticated exploration of heartbreak where country standards are reborn as deep soul ballads.

1966 · ABC-Paramount

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Crying Time is the sound of a man who has mastered the art of the crossover, blending the high-gloss sophistication of 1960s orchestral pop with the unyielding soul of the American South. It feels like a late-night confession, where every string swell is a sigh and every piano chord is a prayer. The album is defined by its remarkable ability to take the simple, direct storytelling of country music and elevate it into something grand, cinematic, and deeply spiritual. Ray Charles moves through these tracks with a weary grace, his voice acting as the weathered anchor against a sea of polished violins and punchy brass.

Moments Worth Listening For
The moment in Crying Time where the strings swell and Ray's voice cracks on the word goodbye
The gospel-infused piano intro of Together Again that bridges the gap between the church and the honky-tonk
The sharp, punchy brass stabs that punctuate the mid-tempo groove of Let's Go Get Stoned
The way the Raelettes' harmonies provide a soft, ethereal cushion for Ray's most gravelly vocal runs
Where This Album DepartsEach spoke is a trait. The orange shape shows where this album pulls away from — or holds to — the rest of the artist’s catalogue. Tap for more.

How does Crying Time sound next to the rest of Ray Charles's catalogue?

Melancholic+1.6σ

Melancholic saturates this record notably more than the artist's norm.

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