Ray Stevens Greatest Hits

Ray Stevens | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mca
• ASIN: B000002O3Q
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #103,244 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. The Streak

2. Shriner's Convention

3. It's Me Again Margaret

4. Turn Your Radio On

5. Misty

6. The Mississippi Squirrel Revival

7. Gitarzan

8. Ahab The Arab

9. Along Came Jones

10. Everything Is Beautiful

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the one (and only) one, May 31, 2000

By 

John A. Kuczma "RogueUlfric" (Marietta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ray Stevens Greatest Hits (Audio CD)

Of Ray Steven's several "Greatest Hits/Best of" collections, this is far and away the best. It includes all but one of his Top 20 hits (Hairy the Harry Ape DID make his escape!) and several cuts that were strong on the country charts but didn't fare too well on the pop side.

The two biggies are "Everything is Beautiful" and "The Streak", both of which reached number one. The country entries are the hilarious "Shriner's Convention" and "Mississippi Squirrel Revival." Ray's one true pop cut, "Misty", is included.

A bit disappointing is the treatment afforded to three of Ray's classics: "Gitarzan", "Ahab the Arab" and "Along Came Jones." All of these cuts were originally released by Mercury Records but, on this collection are credited to Barnaby. A careful listen verifies that they are indeed re-recordings. However, all three have been recorded so many different times that you may find these versions preferable to whatever you remember as the original. That will be strictly a personal preference.

The mastering is a bit weak, as much of the material is taken from analog tape and some hiss is noticeable.

All that notwithstanding, Ray Stevens' Greatest Hits is an outstanding collection, filled with gentle smiles, downright belly laughs and fond memories. It will be a welcomed addition to any collection.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the best songs of the funniest music artist of all time, January 25, 2003

By 

"grandiloquos" (Winnipeg, Mb Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ray Stevens Greatest Hits (Audio CD)

Ray Stevens has to be the funniest music artist of all time. He has been recording songs since the '50's and has to his credit some of the most hilarious songs in both the pop and country and western genres. And yet the only 2 Grammy awards he ever received (as of 2002) were for serious songs: his inspirational and uplifting "Everything Is Beautiful", and his bluegrass rendition of "Misty", both of which are featured on this Greatest Hits album (in audio cassette form they comprise the final song on sides A and B). This album contains his very best, beginning with "The Streak" which is perhaps his best known song. Side B of the cassette version begins with my person favorite "The Mississipi Squirrel Revival", a song which I remember being played almost on a daily basis back in the mid '80's on the country station I listened to growing up. This album is the first Ray Stevens album I ever listened to my mother having bought my dad a copy of the cassette version back when it first came out in '87. I own both the cassette and cd version myself, and out of all the Ray Stevens albums I've listened to this is overall the best. Its got his funniest songs, and the best of his serious side as well.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Greatest Hits - You betcha!, July 19, 2000

By 

Allan A. Macbain (AYR, Ayrshire Scotland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ray Stevens Greatest Hits (Audio CD)

Yes, it does contain what must be (some of) his greatest hits. Great when your feeling that little bit blue - fantastic for listening to in a traffic jam.The only one I can't really get any enjoyment from is 'It's me again Margaret.'; why? My surname is MacBain & my wife's name is Margaret - You figure it out (some of my in-laws have a lower sense of humour than me).Good lyrics, good music - If you're not sure which album of his to get, get this one.