Customer Reviews

Ray Stevens Greatest Hits

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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.

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.

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.

Ray Stevens has recorded some great songs, many of them making the listener laugh. The recording of "Misty" makes me smile. It's very upbeat, somewhat distant from the more often recorded romantic versions of the song. It's a happy song I often play as my mddle school students enter the classroom. It starts us off on a high note.

I really enjoyed remembering the songs.I like the way it was presented.He is great for making me laugh when I felt somber.

This is one of the best of the best at his best! If you don't know Ray Stevens' humor, you must get this. It is hilarious.

This may be the funniest collection of Ray Stevens comic songs. He has so many hit comedy tunes that there are numerous "greatest hits".
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