You did Misty!!! Thank you...I have been waiting ages for someone to react to this as this is my favourite version of this song. He won the Grammy Award for Music Arrangement of the Year in 1976 for this. 👍👍
I remember hearing this back when it was released in 1975 and I was 11 years old - for me, the best year ever for pop music. So much diversity on the radio back then and I loved 99% of the songs on the Top 40 charts that year. This song peaked around #15 in the U.S. if memory serves.
Don't you miss AM radio and all those top 40 radio stations back then? There was nowhere else you could hear such a variety of music and music styles, all in one place.
Bravo for someone suggesting this. I've loved this unique cover of a classic since it came out ('76 I believe). I don't think I've ever seen someone react to it. It was a big hit when it came out, but has been kind of lost to history since. Great reaction.
So glad you have joined the Ray Stevens fan cub. I have loved him since the sixties, especially this song, and Everything is beautiful. I enjoy his comedy songs too, but I agree, he has a wonderful voice, and Misty showcases his voice beautifully.
I was only vaguely aware of Ray Stevens until recently when Harri has received numerous requests for his music. What a thrill to discover such a wealth of “new old” music. Thanks Harri and Imadrummin 🌺✌️
You are welcome Debbie. After pitching three of Ray's biggest hits, I'm moving forward next month with some other songs and artist. Glad you enjoyed Ray Stevens. 😀😀😀
Ray did really well on the country charts with this one as well as the pop charts. The country stations were playing this song constantly in the mid-70s.
Yeah, Ahab the Arab came out in 1962. I first recognized who Ray was when Gitarzan was released in 1969. I had no idea he had that old hit that was still getting radio play.
Ray had a variety summer replacement show, filling in for Andy Williams back in the late sixties. A reoccurring comedy skit he had was this couple who lived completely in bags. Apparently based on a John Lennon idea called bagism that I only found out about years later.
I know I referenced this as a favorite of mine. There's an animated version of Ray singing this song in concert on RU-vid. It's only slightly different from this version, but it's a total DELIGHT to see and hear! Check it out, please.
I just love him. I got to see him several times at his theater in Branson Missouri. He put on a great show. Could you please react to Nicotine Dolls The Best (live(
In addition to his singing and all his comedy, Ray Stevens was also a record producer and arranger, and was very successful and in demand. Ray was/is very talented all around.
He an Roger Miller were blessed/ cursed with songwriting ability, able to sing wonderfully , and a comedic voice sound and highly tuned sense of humor. They both did tremendous funny songs yet there conventional music was so good. People just forgot they could really sing.
Now, you must do, "MR. Businessman" & "Turn your radio on." By Ray. Ray tried to put out an album of serious songs in the early 80's. But it didn't do well. The fans wanted him to keep doing the funny songs. So that's what he did.
WOW, I've never heard this classic done in such a Country-Western style, and Ray pulls it off nicely. And now Harri you must compare it to the great Peggy Lee's version that she sang live on TV back in 1961, the difference vs. Ray's is mind blowing -- and stunningly beautiful! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-z2rRw9bXUcc.html
When you have a pianist who is a genius singer and arranger, and a top-notch studio band backing him up, if they have a few minutes to fool around with they can come up with a song such as this. That's all it took. A few minutes.
I love this!!!! Thank you! But I equally love the original by Sara Vaughan. What a musical person Ray Steven’s is , to take a classic and transform it into something fabulous. ❤️
Not everything recorded by Ray Stevens was comedy. He and the band were messing around between takes and were playing with this old song, just ad-libbing with it. Ray liked what they did so much that they recorded the SECOND TAKE.
Ray Stevens was tolerable back in the day. Some songs were good, some annoying. Then about 10-15 years ago he chose to get political with his music. Just around the time a black man became President, coincidentally. Chose to show who he really was, and I chose not to give a damn about his music anymore.
