This was written and originally recorded by a country singer named Don Gibson in 1958. His version was released as the B-side of his #7 hit "Oh Lonesome Me," which he wrote the same day.
Charles was known as a gospel and R&B singer, but he defied convention and decided to record an album of country and western songs. His producer, Sid Feller, put together tapes containing about 150 classic country songs so Charles could choose which ones to record. Included on the tapes was "I Can't Stop Loving You," which Charles remembered from when he would listen to The Grand Ole Opry. Ray Charles recorded the album at United Western Recorders in Los Angeles, which is where Brian Wilson later recorded the Beach Boys Pet Sounds album. Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music was recorded live to a 2-track recorder with the room providing the reverb. Bill Putnam, who owned the studio, was the engineer on the session and helped Charles coax a rich, warm sound out of the equipment. Recording live eliminated any distortion that could appear when mixing a song, which was a problem at the time.
The Ray Charles version is noted for his saying the words before the last five lines of the song on the final chorus: "Sing the Song, Children". Choral backing was provided by The Randy Van Horne Singers. It was ranked No. 164 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and No. 49 on CMT's "100 Greatest Songs in Country Music".
This was written and originally [recorded](https://hooktube.com/watch?v=wdSeO6HywQc) by a country singer named Don Gibson in 1958. His version was released as the B-side of his #7 hit "[Oh Lonesome Me](https://hooktube.com/watch?v=Xc-2eO8FJzk)," which he wrote the same day.
Charles was known as a gospel and R&B singer, but he defied convention and decided to record an album of country and western songs. His producer, Sid Feller, put together tapes containing about 150 classic country songs so Charles could choose which ones to record. Included on the tapes was "I Can't Stop Loving You," which Charles remembered from when he would listen to The Grand Ole Opry. Ray Charles recorded the album at United Western Recorders in Los Angeles, which is where Brian Wilson later recorded the Beach Boys Pet Sounds album. Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music was recorded live to a 2-track recorder with the room providing the reverb. Bill Putnam, who owned the studio, was the engineer on the session and helped Charles coax a rich, warm sound out of the equipment. Recording live eliminated any distortion that could appear when mixing a song, which was a problem at the time.
The Ray Charles version is noted for his saying the words before the last five lines of the song on the final chorus: "Sing the Song, Children". Choral backing was provided by The Randy Van Horne Singers. It was ranked No. 164 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and No. 49 on CMT's "100 Greatest Songs in Country Music".
This was written and originally recorded by a country singer named Don Gibson in 1958. His version was released as the B-side of his #7 hit "Oh Lonesome Me," which he wrote the same day.
Charles was known as a gospel and R&B singer, but he defied convention and decided to record an album of country and western songs. His producer, Sid Feller, put together tapes containing about 150 classic country songs so Charles could choose which ones to record. Included on the tapes was "I Can't Stop Loving You," which Charles remembered from when he would listen to The Grand Ole Opry. Ray Charles recorded the album at United Western Recorders in Los Angeles, which is where Brian Wilson later recorded the Beach Boys Pet Sounds album. Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music was recorded live to a 2-track recorder with the room providing the reverb. Bill Putnam, who owned the studio, was the engineer on the session and helped Charles coax a rich, warm sound out of the equipment. Recording live eliminated any distortion that could appear when mixing a song, which was a problem at the time.
The Ray Charles version is noted for his saying the words before the last five lines of the song on the final chorus: "Sing the Song, Children". Choral backing was provided by The Randy Van Horne Singers. It was ranked No. 164 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and No. 49 on CMT's "100 Greatest Songs in Country Music".