All-Time Hits

 (6 customer reviews)

Like Weird Al, Ray Stevens was in the 60s & 70s the musical commentator on various cultural oddities-- his parody "Butch Barbarian" was a hilarious take-off on a popular beer ad campaign. And he achieves several hilarious take-offs on teen angst songs. You just have to be sure you are up-to-date on some of the cultural references. Ray Stevens did for entertainment what Spike Jones and others did before him-- and if that type of humor is your particular cup of tea, this is some of the best. In later years, Ray Stevens achieved even greater comedic heights with The Streak-- but don't EVER forget that this artist has a whole stack of wonderful SERIOUS music, including a gospel album that is the best anywhere. But laugh along with him on the selections contained in this CD. Love ya Ray!

although Ray released an album in 1993 called 'Classic Ray Stevens', that title only was a reference to the classical CD cover. on this 1996 CD called 'All-Time Hits', we hear actual classic songs by Ray Stevens. These are not the famed remakes he did for Monument or Barnaby in the late '60s and early '70s. The songs on 'All-Time Hits' are original versions. Eight of the eleven songs were recorded for Mercury during 1961-1963 and three others are from 1980, 1981, and 1983.Ray Stevens was NOT a country singer and he wasn't a novelty artist in the beginning. He was a pop/R&B singer who sung in a voice/cadence closely associated with numerous R&B singers of the late '50s. What many might not know is that Ray was a piano player and a trumpet player on MANY sessions coming out of Nashville. Ray played trumpet on several Elvis sessions in the mid '60s. But, this CD contains songs chosen at random from Mercury and RCA. "Ahab the Arab" is presented in it's full length. A...Read more

If you've ever tried to find an essential Ray Stevens Greatest Hits album on CD, as I have, this is definitely the ONLY one to buy. And at $6.98 it's an absolute steal! You'll understand why I say that when you read the rest of what I have to say about this terrific CD.

First of all (and to me this is the most important thing), not one of these is a re-recording. These are all the original versions that you heard and remember from hearing on the radio. I've wasted more money than I care to tell you on CD's that claimed to be original Ray Stevens material. I now use those CD's as coasters under heavy furniture. You should too, if you have any of them.

In my opinion, there is only one flaw in this collection. The version of "Ahab, The Arab" is the original version that Ray Stevens recorded, not the radio version. It's a little longer (not by much) and it includes an additional verse that I personaly feel is unneccesary and doesn't really add much to the...Read more