Customer Reviews

Great Johnnie Ray

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

 

 

You can almost feel the joy that Johnnie must have felt being back in a recording studio after so many years away. The band swings hard and even makes the old Johnnie standards (Cry, Walking My Baby Back Home,etc.) feel newer. It is somewhat strange to hear songs like "It's Impossible" and "Tie a Yellow Ribon..." by Johnnie, but it is also refreshing to hear him do something so different than most of his other recordings and to recognize he gives them his personal touch. Johnnie maintained his "star status" in England until his last days and, those we enjoy his music, will be glad that this british label issued this recording which was made in 1976. I wish there were more tracks available so more CD's may be issued. This is a "must buy" for any Johnnie Ray fan.

I really liked this cd and would recommend it to anyone who was unaware of johnnie ray's unique treatment of a familiar lyric to make it his alone. I particularly liked the medley, "If You Go Away/Until It's Time For You To Go". His style is timeless and underappreciated. Buy this cd

I also like this CD a lot. The voice may have changed some, but his style and energy are the same. 90% of the songs are new to me, and I have been listening to them a lot. I am a big Johnnie Ray fan and I want to hear all of his songs whether they were recorded when he was 25 or 50. I especially liked the medley If You Go Way/Until Its Time For You To Go. I also really like Its Impossible. Buy this CD - I think you will like it to.

Ray's voice was becoming ragged when these tracks were cut in 1976; it had a acquired a harshness at odds with the shivery whispers that were a large part of his style in the '50s. Complicating things are the bombastic '70s arrangements that only inspire Johnnie to push harder, in some cases with mediocre material like "Tie A Yellow Ribbon" (ick!). This will be a tough one for most contemporary listeners to slog through and will give a false impression of Ray's true talents to those not familiar with his best work.