Ray Stevens - Ray Stevens AllTime Greatest Hits (23 tracks) +Album Reviews

Whoops...

Zub | Forks Twp., PA | 12/09/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Though best remembered for his novelty tunes, Ray Stevens placed more than two dozen songs, serious as well as novelty, of several genres on the charts over a two-decade period. This collection from Varese Vintage contains many of his most successful tunes but is limited to his Monument and Barnaby recordings. And herein lies the rub - three of his Mercury-era tunes including his first top-10 hit, "Ahab The Arab" are included here but they are not the original singles. These versions are rerecordings done for a much later Monument album. This being the case, this CD's title "All Time Greatest Hits" loses its grip. The only indication evident on the outside of the package to the prospective purchaser is a small footnote to these tunes indicating that they have been lifted from Monument albums. Unless you're exceptionally knowledgeable, this alone is hardly enough to clue you in. While there is nothing particularly wrong with these rerecordings, and some purchasers may not even care, the higher road would have been to license those original Mercury recordings for this collection. And since Varese has a reputation for top-quality reissues, this is more disappointing here than had it come from some other not-so-reliable label. Beyond this disturbance, the remainder of the collection admirably makes it way through Stevens' Monument and Barnaby recordings but again quits before grabbing any of his Warner Brothers material. Another strike against the title and purported purpose of this CD though this could be considered somewhat minor. Of the material included, most tracks exhibit good sound quality although a few tracks are noisy needle drops and are noted as such in the credits. A few of the other early tracks are noticably hissy but not particularly objectionable. This is probably as good as this material is available. The eight-page liner notes booklet contains info on Stevens' musical career focused on the period of the included recordings. Had this included the appropriate Mercury and WB tracks or titled itself "Monument and Barnaby recordings" or the like, it would have garnered four stars at least."

An incredible collection!

DanD | 08/10/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ray Stevens is a comedian. He's a songwriter. He's a singer. He's a great performer--whether telling a joke, or provoking the conscience of upper-class America. He has a rich, full-ranged voice, and great piano playing skills. Not to mention some of the funniest voices in music. Who can beat his camel noise?

This album came as a surprise to me. I knew Stevens could be a serious singer ("Everything Is Beautiful" is an incredible song) but I hadn't expected this CD to contain so many serious numbers. I was a bit disappointed at first...then I realized that Stevens had something: serious singing/songwriting talent. I mean SERIOUS. This album just proves that Ray Stevens is one of music's best.

He made a name for himself through such comedic novelty hits as "Ahab the Arab," "Gitarzan," and "The Streak;" and to be true, he's a very funny man. But his serious side deserves a mention...and maybe first prize. "Mr. Businessman" is probably the best, most well-written song on here ("Let's have your autograph/Endorse your epitaph") about upper-class people (and those from the lower classes to, of course) who put fame and fortune before humanity. There's "Isn't It Lonley, Together", a heart-wrenching look at a couple gone wrong. "Funny Man" is absolutely stunning, a number about how even the most outgoing of people have tearful secrets. The 1970 song "America, Communicate With Me" deals with the problems concerning Vietnam; "Misty," while not too serious, is an upbeat, chared, blue-grass love song. "Indian Love Call," in the same vein as "Misty," has a steady, listenable groove. And Stevens was the first to record Kris Kristofferson's legendary "Sunday Morning Coming Down." His voice fits the song wonderfully, though the production leaves a bit to be desired.

An incredible collection, an incredible performer. Ray Stevens is one of music's most-overlooked singer/songwriters. That's probably because people take him as a joke--after all, he made his career through comedic songs. But this album with show you that he has a serious side, too, and it is much better than those of many other performers of his era. Ray Stevens may not have legendary status, but he has legendary skill, and that's all it takes."

Timeless songs from a true original

Pieter | Johannesburg | 10/10/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have always loved both the comedy hits and the serious ballads, and the fact that two tracks are not the oiginal recordings is of no concern to me. Songs like Unwind, Mr Businesman and Isn't It Lonely Together reveal lyrical depth and demonstrates his skillful vocal style, while his version of Kristofferson's Sunday Morning Coming Down stands out as one of the most beautiful amongst thousands of interpretations of this classic tune. Everything Is Beautiful wih its children's choir is inspiring and uplifting, America Communicate With Me is impressive and his country version of Misty (1976) is poignant and moving. My favorites amongst the comedy tracks include the energetic little pop opera Bridget The Midget (UK top ten in 1971), The Streak from 1974, and of course the old classics like Ahab, Harry, Gitarzan and Along Came Jones. This collection confirms this singer's originality, his versatility and his considerable songwriting skills. The album will please all those who enjoy literate pop music performed with feeling."

Nice hits/singles overview of talented novelty/pop artist

hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 05/06/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Novelty songs regularly find their way onto the pop charts, but are rarely followed by a second trip to the top-40. Stretching humor into a successful musical career is something few have accomplished. Spike Jones, "Weird" Al Yankovic, and, of course, Ray Stevens spring immediately to mind. In Stevens' case, what's even more impressive is how smoothly he's been able to move from novelty to straight-ahead pop (and back!), hitting the charts in both categories, and recording several innovative LPs.His early efforts ("Ahab the Arab," "Gitarzan") drew heavily from the Coasters (to whom he paid tribute with his hit cover of Leiber & Stoller's "Along Came Jones"). His Southern roots showed through in the horn-heavy arrangements and swamp-blues influences. His music was somewhat ahead of the curve, with songs like "Harry the Hairy Ape" anticipating the good time tunes of Jim Croce and storytelling riffs of Arlo Guthrie's "Alice's Restaurant."As he built his early career on novelty hits, his albums included impressive straight-pop ballads like "Funny Man" and the work-a-day "Unwind." His productions, especially those from the 1968 LP "Even Stevens," were sophisticated, bringing to mind the works of Joe South, B.J. Thomas, and Ron Dante's work with Barry Manilow.After scoring with his early novelties, Stevens climbed into the top-100 and top-40 charts with "Unwind" and "Mr. Businessman" (the latter sounding like the socially conscious side of Billy Joel) in '68. He returned to novelties with "Gitarzan" and "Along Came Jones" in '69, a year that also saw the release of his "Have a Little Talk With Myself" LP. The album featured the first recorded version of Kris Kristofferson's "Sunday Mornin' Comin Down," two years before Kristofferson's own debut, and Johnny Cash's hit. Not only was he able to write both serious and comic hits, but he had an ear for the songwriting talent of others.In 1970, Stevens finally grabbed the top-spot on the chart with his gospel-influenced "Everything is Beautiful." His ode to tolerance, sounding perhaps a bit naive in the retrospective glare of 30 years passed, is filled with a sentiment that is still strikingly forceful. As a crowning achievement to one's career, it's a potent piece of punctuation.But the #1 hit wasn't a full-stop in his hit-making. Throughout the 70s he continued to make the charts, reaching the top-100 with continued pleas for understanding ("America, Communicate With Me"), hauntingly produced ballads ("All My Trials"), gospel ("Turn Your Radio On"), country ("Nashville" "Everybody Needs a Rainbow"), and even more novelties ("Bridget the Midget").In 1974 he returned to the top of the charts with one of his most successful novelties, "The Streak," forever capturing a moment of popular culture with his song. Like most event-based novelties, this one sounds dated (wonderfully so, in a way) as the distance to the event grows long. Its reach isn't as broad and its sentiments aren't as universal as songs that capture a mood (such as "Everything is Beautiful"), but the flash photo of a mid-70s craze is still vivid.This collection finishes out with Stevens' mid-70s recastings of pop standards, including a reworking of Erroll Garner's "Misty" in a country/bluegrass vein, "Indian Love Call" as doo-wop, and "Young Love" as a Righteous Brothers/Hall & Oates styled blue-eyed soul ballad. In many ways these are a perfect encapsulation of Stevens' career: superb musicianship and production wedded to an original idea, all executed with more than a touch of whimsy.Varese's collection includes the high points of Stevens' singles career through the end of his association with Andy Williams' Barnaby label in the mid-70s. His later work for Warner Brothers ("In the Mood" "I Need Your Help Barry Manilow"), RCA ("Shriner's Convention") and MCA ("Mississippi Squirrel Revival"), can be picked up on other collections, such as Rhino's "The Best of Ray Stevens," though you'll also pick up a lot of duplicate tracks."

For the fans.

Miss Hayley Young | Sydney, Australia | 07/01/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"All the hits are here, both the comical and the serious.Great listening. Quality sound."

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