The Very Best of Ray Stevens

From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia

The Very Best of Ray Stevens
Compilation album by
ReleasedDecember 1975[1]
GenrePop, country, novelty, comedy
LabelBarnaby
Ray Stevens chronology
Misty
(1975)
The Very Best of Ray Stevens
(1975)
Both Sides of Ray Stevens
(1976)

The Very Best of Ray Stevens is a collection of 12 previously released singles that were hits for novelty/country artist, Ray Stevens;[2] it was released in December 1975 by Barnaby Records. While this collection has more emphasis on Stevens' hits for Barnaby, it also contains three from the label of Monument Records ("Unwind," "Mr. Businessman," and "Gitarzan") and two from Mercury Records (Stevens' first label). The version of "Mr. Businessman" is the single release. "Gitarzan" is the album version that begins with an audience cheering and applauding. "Ahab the Arab" is the original recording that was released by Mercury (Stevens had re-recorded the song for his album Gitarzan in 1969).

Track listing[edit]

Side A
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Misty"Erroll Garner, Johnny Burke2:53
2."Unwind"Ray Stevens3:05
3."Turn Your Radio On"Albert E. Brumley2:09
4."Everything Is Beautiful"Ray Stevens3:29
5."Mr. Businessman"Ray Stevens3:39
6."Indian Love Call"Rudolph Fainl, Otto Harbach, Oscar Hammerstein II3:26

Album credits[edit]

  • All tunes except for the eighth and twelfth tracks were arranged and produced by Ray Stevens for AHAB Productions, Inc.
  • "Jeremiah Peabody" and "Ahab the Arab" were produced by Shelby Singleton
  • Barnaby Records is distributed by Janus Records, a Division of GRT Corporation
  • Album sequencing: Ed DeJoy
  • Album Coordination: Allan Mason and Terry Droltz

Charts[edit]

Chart (1075) Peak
position
US Billboard Top LPs & Tape 173
US Billboard Top Country LPs 19

References[edit]

  1. ^ "LP Discography: Ray Stevens". LP Discography. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  2. ^ "Ray Stevens Album Discography - The Very Best of Ray Stevens - 1975". Retrieved July 25, 2011.