July 31, 2011

Revisiting Ray Stevens, Part 2...

Those who stop by this blog on a frequent basis know the love I have for Don't Laugh Now, the 1982 album from Ray Stevens. In part 1 of this latest series of blog entries I wrote about a 1990 compilation from Curb Records on Ray called His All-Time Greatest Comic Hits. This time the spotlight returns to Don't Laugh Now. I like all the songs on the 1982 album...and that album cover is great, too. The album's title is written in a 1950's neon style...perhaps as an acknowledgement of the album's lead-off track, "Such a Night"? When I saw Ray in concert back in early 2009 he opened up his show with "Such a Night". The song dates back to late 1953 when it was recorded by the R&B group, The Drifters. The group is often mentioned by Ray as one of his favorites. Aside from "Such a Night" the rest of the material doesn't offer a sound out of the past. As a songwriter Ray wrote the title track, "Don't Laugh Now", as well as the clever "Oh Leo Lady". The latter uses such subjects as the horoscope, astrology and astronomy in telling a love story of two opposites that found one another and formed a relationship against the odds. The love ballad "Written Down In My Heart" became a Top-40 country hit while the comical "Where the Sun Don't Shine" (an up-tempo sing-a-long with a gospel overtone) reached the lower portion of the charts.

1. Such a Night
2. Written Down In My Heart
3. Take That Girl Away
4. Always There
5. Where the Sun Don't Shine
6. Oh Leo Lady
7. Don't Laugh Now
8. This Old Piano
9. Country Boy, Country Club Girl
10. Why Don't We Go Somewhere and Make Love

In spite of "Written Down In My Heart" obtaining Top-40 country status it wasn't picked by RCA for inclusion on the 1985 release, Collector's Series. The tracks from Don't Laugh Now that appeared on the 1985 project were "Where The Sun Don't Shine", "Country Boy, Country Club Girl", and "Why Don't We Go Somewhere and Make Love". Since the Collector's Series release is the only overview of Ray's RCA output...a stingy 8 song overview I might add...but since it's the only collection to spotlight just his RCA recordings I continue to make people aware of it's existence.

The tracks that were lucky enough to make the Collector's Series in 1985 were:

1. Shriner's Convention; 1980
2. You're Never Goin' To Tampa With Me; 1980
3. Country Boy, Country Club Girl; 1982
4. Where The Sun Don't Shine; 1982
5. The Dooright Family; 1980
6. Let's Do It Right This Time; 1981
7. One More Last Chance; 1981
8. Why Don't We Go Somewhere and Make Love; 1982

In 1987 RCA re-released the collection with just a slight change in the track list. The 1987 re-issue was released on CD in 1992:

1. Shriner's Convention; 1980
2. You're Never Goin' To Tampa With Me; 1980
3. Country Boy, Country Club Girl; 1982
4. Where The Sun Don't Shine; 1982
5. The Dooright Family; 1980
6. Let's Do It Right This Time; 1981
7. Why Don't We Go Somewhere and Make Love; 1982
8. Put It In Your Ear; 1980

You can find reasonably priced Collector's Series releases on eBay. The 1985 and 1987 versions are readily available. While at eBay simply click the name of the CD for product descriptions. Usually sellers will post the image of the 1987 re-issue but feature the 1985 track list by mistake or they'll post the image of the 1985 release and feature the 1987 track list...so it's always wise to make sure you're placing an order for the correct version and obviously you can always ask a seller a question.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Show your appreciation for the music of Ray Stevens...leave a comment...