Search - Ray Stevens :: The Last Laugh

RAY STEVENS' BEST MATERIAL!

05/16/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

""The Last Laugh" contains the best songs of Ray Stevens' career. One in particular, "Bagpipes-That's My Bag", is a tough one to find, and can only be found here on this CD. Also found here are "The Streak", "Mr. Businessman", "Gitarzan", and "Shriner's Convention", which along with the rest of the material in this package, are essential. If you are a fan or just discovering him, you owe it to yourself to buy this CD. Also recommended is "The Best Of Ray Stevens" on Rhino. Don't hesitate, buy this CD. One listen and you will be coming back for more of Ray Stevens."

10 great songs

Jerry McDaniel | 12/31/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"i don't know what BMG was trying to go after with the cover. three poses of Ray sitting on a stool, i think they were taken in 1981 during a tour up in Canada. whatever, the three poses are the exact same image side-by-side-by-side. oh well. the songs are what's important. This CD contains 6 novelty songs and 4 serious songs. "Unwind", "Mr. Businessman", "America, Communicate With Me", and "Everything is Beautiful" are the serious songs. The comedy songs are "The Streak", "Gitarzan", "Shriner's Convention", "The Moonlight Special", "Along Came Jones", and "Bagpipes-That's My Bag". This CD came out in 1999 and serves no purpose but to provide people with another collection of his signature material minus "Ahab the Arab" in case you've worn out the vinyl or cassette versions of these songs. i do give BMG some credit for including his reflective 1970 #45 pop hit "America, Communicate With Me". i particularly like the line about "call me sentimental patriot, well i guess that could be true but i can't help but think a lot of people feel the way i do". Over the decades a song like that and "Everything is Beautiful" or even Merle Haggard's "Okie from Muskogee" aren't shown in the proper context. The cynicism of the Vietnam era and the questioning of everything in Government both large and small has clouded fundamental patriotism. With the events of September 11th, songs like that need to be heard, i think."