All-Time Greatest Hits

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Customer reviews

review by: Pete the music fan date: 2005-04-02 rating:
Great introduction to Ray's music
Ray originally tried to establish himself as a serious singer but he met without success until he started recording comic material. The best of his comic songs from the sixties and seventies are here including Ahab the Arab, Gitarzan, Along came Jones, Bridget the midget and The streak.

Having established himself as a comic singer, Ray eventually had some success with more serious songs including Mr Businessman, Sunday morning coming down, Everything is beautiful and Turn your radio on.

One of Ray's best recordings is his cover of Misty. Johnny Mathis recorded this song in the fifties as a tender ballad with lush orchestration, but Ray interprets it as an up-tempo country song.

As the seventies progressed, Ray's fortunes declined. He did a very strange cover of Glenn Miller's In the mood (not included here), in which he posed as a group of chickens. After some quiet years, he had some success with comic songs in the eighties but is you must look elsewhere for Shriner's convention, Mississippi squirrel revival, The haircut song, It's me again Margaret and his other songs from the period.

This serves as a wonderful introduction to Ray's music.


review by: Toypom date: 2002-10-12 rating:
Quality mix of the comic and the serious
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 with 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.

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