Search - Ray Stevens :: "Ray Stevens - Greatest Hits, Vol. 2"

Ray Stevens: King of Country Comedy

Jerry McDaniel | 12/20/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Ray Stevens, at the time this album hit the stores, was amidst his 30th Anniversary as a recording artist (having first signed to a label in 1957, PREP Records) and the album was his second volume of "hits" released by MCA. Like the "Volume One" released earlier in 1987, the "Volume Two" is just as enjoyable although i wouldn't have included the 1986 song "Can He Love You Half As Much As I" (i would've substituted that song for an actual chart hit like "Southern Air" or "The People's Court" from 1986... but that's just one minor flaw and that's why i give it four out of five stars)Ray Stevens fans have learned to ignore charts and RIAA sales and all of that stuff because those accolades and achievements overshadow the material in the long run and in a career like Ray's, which is now in it's 45th, such chart hits (or lack thereof) mean very little when you have enviable longevity. Yes, Ray is best known as a novelty artist but he can also perform country, gospel, classic R&B, jazz, and MOR with equal success. "Greatest Hits, Vol. Two" is just another display of a seriously under-rated legend."