The Country Hits Collection

Ray Stevens

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 10, 1998)
• Original Release Date: March 10, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Varese Sarabande
• ASIN: B0000060DZ
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #366,188 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Sunday Morning Coming Down

2. Turn Your Radio On

3. Nashville

4. Misty

5. Young Love

6. She Belongs to Me

7. Losin' Streak

8. Just One of Life's Little Tragedies

9. Easy Loving

10. Sunshine

11. Take Care of Business

12. Undivided Attention

13. Destroyed

14. Loving You on Paper

15. Piece of Paradise

16. Deep Purple

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Fan for 40+ years, August 26, 2007

By	Diane Elaine (Texas) - See all my reviews

A wonderful album that looked at--listened to, that is--a different side of Ray Stevens. I discovered this one on vinyl many, many years ago. Too few fans realize what an incredible pure musician Ray is! His brilliant comic mind, and all the success it has brought him, unfortunately has obscured what he has to offer as a fantastic keyboardist and arranger, as well as a singer. What I wouldn't give for some more of his "serious" stuff available on CD, and another just plain country album or two! MOST of all, I keep looking for a collection with Ray's version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"--my ancient vinyl of that one is all I have!

5.0 out of 5 stars an eclectic mix of Ray Stevens, December 31, 2003

By	Jerry McDaniel (Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

with a cover taken from his 1973 album called 'Nashville', this CD highlights 16 songs that Ray recorded between 1969 and 1975. The first five songs were the singles...the remaining 11 are great album tracks lost in time. the CD goes to great lengths to spotlight various sounds that Ray recorded: pop, country, gospel, protest-era, bluegrass, soul, etc. there are no legitimate novelty songs on here. the only song that comes close to comedy is "Destroyed", a song written by Merle Kilgore and originally found on Ray's 1973 album, 'Nashville'. The CD kicks off with Ray's great version of "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" from 1969, a #55 country and #81 pop hit. "Misty" is the only 'Top-10' hit, however. "Turn Your Radio On" was a #17 country/ #63 pop hit in early 1972. "Sunshine", a track taken from his 'Misty' album from 1975 is the most addictive song on here...the banjo makes it a toe-tapper. His soulful/doo-wop rendition of the bouncy "Young Love" has got to be heard to be believed! "Loving You on Paper" is a protest-era song from his 1970 album, 'Unreal'. The last song, "Deep Purple", is another brilliant take on a pop standard originally from his 'Misty' album from 1975. "Nashville" is track #3, it hit #37 country in mid 1973. A real treat for collector's like me is track #15 "Piece of Paradise". The song up until this CD came out was only available as the b-side to one of his 1975 hits not on this collection. with it's inclusion on this CD, people can hear the song finally...unless you have vinyl albums and singles like i do and as a result aren't a stranger to any of these songs. tracks 7, 8, and 9 are from the 'Losin Streak' album from 1973. "Losin' Streak" has a rock 'n' roll feel and "Easy Loving" is good but instead of spotlighting "Just One of Life's Little Tragedies" (which was recorded by Ray in the early '60s originally) i would've picked "What Do You Know?" or "This Is Your Life" from that 'Losin Streak' album...but that's if i were in charge of compiling the CD!