Customer Reviews

Best Of Terry Stafford

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The first time I listened to Terry Stafford's version of, Suspicion, I took it for granted that it was a new song by Elvis Presley. It was the mid 60s and well..... being a huge Elvis fan I was so excited and as I have always done with music that I like or love; I went directly to the music store and asked for that song. The music store is where I found out that Terry sang it. I said Terry WHO? I was in disbelief to say the least! After I got back home and listened to it a few times I could tell it was not Elvis and from a fans musical point of view: like Elvis: Terry has been a part of my life ever since. To this day I still have his music on 45s and have for years. Though none of Terry's other tunes ever peaked like, Suspicion, he still had some nice ones like, I'll Touch A Star, and, Amarillo By Morning, ( a huge song for George Strait ) among others. Amarillo By Morning, is not on this CD {Darnet} but, I'll Touch A Star, is.
I have had people to ask me if I thought Terry was a Elvis imitater and I have always had the same answer.....No. If I would have been lucky enough to have that kind of gifted vocal talent I would have made use of it too. I have and will always have the utmost admiration and respect for Elvis Presley AND Terry Stafford. Both were great !

This is not the "best" Terry has recorded, but it still rates a 5 star, the worst song he every recorded was great. His voice not only reminds a person of Elvis, but it has a tinge of Orbison, Buddy Holly, Rick Nelson and Ral Donner in it, which makes his voice very unique. Like Orbison (Crying), no one can sing Suspicion the way he did it. I recommend any and all songs by this singer.

I've been a fan of Terry Stafford ever since he did the
original release of "Amarillo By Morning" back in 1973.
Therefore, I was rather disappointed to see that this
song -- and really, any of his country genre songs --
was not included on this "Best-Of" album.

If you are a fan in search of Terry's country works,
including Amarillo By Morning, you will find them on
the LP, "Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose?"
However, this album has not (so far) made it to CD
format (a gentle nudge to the record companies).

Stafford's "Best-Of" CD is okay, but lacking the
aforementioned songs, I could only give it three stars.

Terry Stafford, I'm sure, was a very nice fellow and his version of "Suspicion" outshines the unenthusiastic version by Elvis Presley on Elvis' Pot Luck album. Terry's follow-up "I'll Touch A Star" was a well-done song but was not the smash "Suspicion" was. Both songs conjured up images of a generic Elvis who himself was facing competition from the British Invasion, groups with an edgier fresher sound. Whatever this artist did thereafter, he had to be remembered as basically a one-hit wonder. It probably would be unfair to include "Amarillo by Morning" here which he co-wrote and had a regional hit (only) with as his main thrust was in this Elvis genre, not country. As I recall he also wrote "Big in Vegas" which Buck Owens recorded. Maybe he was overshadowed by Ral(ph) Donner who recorded in an Elvis voice and narrated (as Elvis) the "This is Elvis" movie. In any event, Terry Stafford cast his lot as an Elvis soundalike and never found real success beyond that. He passed away from liver problems in 1996 in Amarillo. But the song "Suspicion" will forever belong to him alone.

This man is my cousin, and I absolutely loved him. His voice was very unique. AMARILLO BY MORNING and SUSPICION will live forever. I remember Terry as a humble man that very much was a gentleman. Terry loved his family back in Amarillo, Tx and we suffered much at his lose. As you listen to his music you can almost believe he is alive and well. Enjoy this CD.

The problem with Terry Stafford was all timing, as he embarked upon his solo singing career just at the height of the British Invasion which, before it had run its course, had shoved aside all but the most notable North American artists. And, with all due respect to Terry, he was not exactly notable.

Born in Hollis, Oklahoma and raised in Amarillo, Texas, he began his musical career as a member of the Eugene Nelson combo before moving to California in 1960 where he hooked up with, first, the Lively Ones, and then The Surfmen.

His big break came in 1964 when he cut a cover of an Elvis LP offering, Suspicion, for the fledgling Crusader label, and saw it go to # 3 Billboard Pop Hot 100 in April b/w Judy (not here). A couple of months later his second release, I'll Touch A Star peaked at # 4 Adult Contemporary (AC)/# 25 Hot 100 b/w Playing With Fire (also omitted), but by this time he, like other North American artists such as Len Barry, Jewel Akens, Mel Carter. etc., were up against the likes of The Rolling Stones, Beatles, Herman's Hermits, The Byrds, The Dave Clark Five, and a horde of others from Britannia's shores.

When nothing else worked he turned his hand to writing Country music and in 1969 Buck Owens had a hit with Terry's Big In Vegas, taking it to # 5 Country and # 100 Hot 100. Four years later he himself re-emerged as a pure Country singer on the Atlantic label with a double-sided hit.

The A-side, which he also wrote, was Amarillo By Morning and it made it to # 31 Country in February 1974 [George Strait would have an even bigger hit with it in 1983, taking it to # 4). The B-side was Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose which actually charted first, going to # 35 Country in November 1973 (Dawn, with Tony Orlando, had the pop hit). In May he then had his last charter, Captured, which topped out at # 24 Country.

None of the Country cuts are in this compilation, which is one reason why I gave it just 3 stars. The other is the fact that, with just two Pop hits to his credit, any "best of" should include both sides as a matter of routine.

Terry, who passed away on March 17, 1996, appeared in the 1992 documentary Wild Wheels, directed by Harrod Blank. Covering the whackiest vehicles ever to appear on North American roads and highways, it is one of the funniest such films you will ever see. If you can find a copy.

This is not the "best" Terry has recorded, but it still rates a 5 star, the worst song he every recorded was great. His voice not only reminds a person of Elvis, but it has a tinge of Orbison, Buddy Holly, Rick Nelson and Ral Donner in it, which makes is voice very unique. Like Orbison (Crying), no one can sing Suspicion the way he did it. I recommend any and all songs by this singer.

Terry Stafford had other hits on various labels such as Big in Vegas and Roadhouse Country Singer but I am unable to find these songs or the LP. What a loss!

This Artist brings meaning to the word music. Slight resemblance to Elvis.........but at the same time he is unique.A must for Classic Collections.

I don't feel that Terry Stafford sounds that much like Elvis, and it's a plus with me. Just didn't get the recognition. The radio stations have been cheating listeners out of a lot of good songs by playing the same one. Never Knew Terry Stafford had anything other than "Suspicion". It's a great cd, and one of my favorites.