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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
This is vintage Ray Stevens!,
By A Customer
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: All-Time Hits (Audio CD)
Like Weird Al, Ray Stevens was in the 60s & 70s the musical commentator on various cultural oddities-- his parody "Butch Barbarian" was a hilarious take-off on a popular beer ad campaign. And he achieves several hilarious take-offs on teen angst songs. You just have to be sure you are up-to-date on some of the cultural references. Ray Stevens did for entertainment what Spike Jones and others did before him-- and if that type of humor is your particular cup of tea, this is some of the best. In later years, Ray Stevens achieved even greater comedic heights with The Streak-- but don't EVER forget that this artist has a whole stack of wonderful SERIOUS music, including a gospel album that is the best anywhere. But laugh along with him on the selections contained in this CD. Love ya Ray!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
classic ray stevens,
This review is from: All-Time Hits (Audio CD)
although Ray released an album in 1993 called 'Classic Ray Stevens', that title only was a reference to the classical CD cover. on this 1996 CD called 'All-Time Hits', we hear actual classic songs by Ray Stevens. These are not the famed remakes he did for Monument or Barnaby in the late '60s and early '70s. The songs on 'All-Time Hits' are original versions. Eight of the eleven songs were recorded for Mercury during 1961-1963 and three others are from 1980, 1981, and 1983.Ray Stevens was NOT a country singer and he wasn't a novelty artist in the beginning. He was a pop/R&B singer who sung in a voice/cadence closely associated with numerous R&B singers of the late '50s. What many might not know is that Ray was a piano player and a trumpet player on MANY sessions coming out of Nashville. Ray played trumpet on several Elvis sessions in the mid '60s. But, this CD contains songs chosen at random from Mercury and RCA. "Ahab the Arab" is presented in it's full length. A third verse had been edited out of the 45 RPM commercial version in 1962 and hadn't been in print in some time but the original is on this CD. "Funny Man" and "Furthermore" are the two serious hits from the early '60s. On "Funny Man" he delivers the lines in a Roy Orbison or Frankie Valli style. Ray's first hit, 1961's "Jeremiah Peabody", is also on here. "My Dad", a beautiful ballad from 1983, is track number 6 and words can't describe what it does to me. That arrangement, i guess? I love that arrangement and that must explain why i LOVE the songs of Barry Manilow!Ray's career has been a cycle of artistic changes. At first he was a pop/R&B singer in the late '50s; then he became known for novelty songs; then he hopped onto the protest-era of the late '60s with topical songs before releasing a few gospel songs in the early '70s; then he started recording a mix of pop and country; then he started to record with multiple vocal over-dubs and adopt a MOR sound like Barry Manilow; then he became known as a country artist in the late '70s; latched onto the Urban Cowboy image in the early '80s with a bluesy-country sound, and since the mid '80s he's been known as a country comedian.This CD represents eight of his early '60s Mercury material. There are other low-budget CD's on the Polygram label that also spotlight the early '60s era of his career but this is the only one i can find that's still in-print. In addition to 1983's "My Dad", the two other songs from that era on this CD are 1980's "Shriner's Convention" and 1981's "One More Last Chance". I think it's a shame and disgrace that Warner Brothers or RCA are so stingy with Ray's songs. There have been MANY compilations of Ray's songs through the years but for some reason, RCA and Warner Brothers are stingy and don't have his music in print. i don't know why? The reason i bring this up is because "One More Last Chance" is a rare find these days. If the 1985 RCA album 'Collectors Series' is still available, that's the ONLY place except this CD that you'll find his 1981 hit. Unless you have the vinyl album from 1981 like i do, "One More Last Chance" just isn't put on compilations. It has something to do with RCA, and Warner Brothers isn't any better when it comes to keeping Ray's material in print.Anyway, for those of you who've never heard the early Ray Stevens and only know of him for his home videos or his all-comedy image, get this CD and discover all the sides to Ray Stevens.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Trust me, you won't get burned on this one!,
By
This review is from: All-Time Hits (Audio CD)
If you've ever tried to find an essential Ray Stevens Greatest Hits album on CD, as I have, this is definitely the ONLY one to buy. And at $6.98 it's an absolute steal! You'll understand why I say that when you read the rest of what I have to say about this terrific CD.First of all (and to me this is the most important thing), not one of these is a re-recording. These are all the original versions that you heard and remember from hearing on the radio. I've wasted more money than I care to tell you on CD's that claimed to be original Ray Stevens material. I now use those CD's as coasters under heavy furniture. You should too, if you have any of them. In my opinion, there is only one flaw in this collection. The version of "Ahab, The Arab" is the original version that Ray Stevens recorded, not the radio version. It's a little longer (not by much) and it includes an additional verse that I personaly feel is unneccesary and doesn't really add much to the storyline. I like the radio version better. But I doubt that Mr. Stevens would agree. After all, he did write it that way. I only have one final nagging thought, and that's the title of the second song on this CD. It's listed as "Butch Barbarian". Is that a typo? Shouldn't it be "Butch Bavarian"? Call me crazy, but isn't it supposed to be a take-off on the beer that was very popular at the time -- Busch Bavarian? This is easily one of the funniest songs on the album, and one which rivals some of Stan Freberg's best parodies in its perplexities and voice characterisations. "Harry The Hairy Ape" is Ray Stevens at his best. It's rare indeed to find this song, even on comedy compilation discs. It may sound a little dated, but only if you've forgotten how to do the "mashed potatoes". And what can I say about "Santy Claus Is Watching You". Probably the best-known song Ray Stevens ever wrote. And deservedly so. It wouldn't seem like Christmas without hearing "He's everywhere! He's everywhere!" Of course,I'm only giving you my opinion. But isn't that why you're reading this?
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