Search - Ray Stevens :: Even Stevens

Howie W. (Otheriver)
Reviewed on 8/20/2016...

This is the album that made me a Ray Stevens fan. I always hoped he would do more of this. While he did later have a big hit with "Everything is Beautiful," the songs on the album it came from were not all Ray Stevens originals. The closest that he ever came to this again was his 1970 album "Unreal" with only two songs on it not written by Ray.

No hiding behind the mask of a clown stuff on this one. The late 60s middle class suburban man does some soul searching and has a little talk with himself. Forget the novelty songs, this is the real deal.

This is Ray's masterpiece.

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

WORTH SEARCHING OUT

Terry Copeland | Romeoville, Illinois | 02/29/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This release is not widely availabe- I looked around a lot before finding it. I'm glad I did. While all the songs are worthehile, there is one stand-out, knock-you-off-your-feet track- "Funny Man", which I suspect is autobiographical. "Funny Man" is a re-working of one of his earlier Mercury songs. Unbelievably powerful! Much like his revamping of "Misty", you'd never believe a cute little novelty song could be transformed into this big, moving powerful ballad. Ray is in fine voice throughout and strikes the perfect balance between his comic persona and his serious side. A very spirtiual, but never preacy, offering from one of country's best!"

I Like The Serious Ray Stevens Better

G. T. Arkhew | New York | 04/01/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are probably two good reasons for loving Ray Stevens. One is minutely important - "The Streak" may be the funniest recording ever made. The second, and most significant however, is this "album". The songs capture a moment when doo-wop met rock & roll and were filtered through a singer with, egads, country sensibilities. The hits, though at the time minor (not unlike Credence Clearwater Revival never having a #1 song), are unique expressions of the era - "Mr. Businessman", "Unwind", and "The Great Escape". But the greatness of this album lies in the incredible quality of the other songs. "Funny Man", "Say Cheese", "For He's A Jolly Good Fellow", and "Face The Music" are unrequited-love classics. And give a listen to "Isn't It Lonely Together" - it might make you think. If you come to the realization that Ray Sevens may have wasted his abilities on comedy songs, you probably have a keen sense of what the sixties meant to music."