Before moving to the greener pastures of string-heavy countrypolitan, Price was a challenger for the honky-tonk crown. These 20 songs marvelously outline the rapid development of Price's emerging style. His 1951 debut, Lefty Frizzell's "If You're Ever Lonely Darling," finds Price emulating Frizzell's sweet delivery, while two ballads from the following year show Price firmly in Hank Williams territory. By 1953, his voice matured into a booming force, balancing the early sweetness with a hint of spice and a new vigor. The defining moment came in 1956 with the release of "Crazy Arms" and the unveiling of the Western swing-influenced "Ray Price Shuffle." From that point, Price would consistently feature this smooth and steady beat, even covering Bob Wills's "My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You." --Marc Greilsamer Amazon.com essential recording
unfortunately there are not many singers coming out to sing like Ray Price does. new generation singers are more interested in money than singing real country music
May 12, 2008 |  | only 3 classic singers left on this planet |  |
When I first heard Ray I thought he was schmaltzy you know music for old people. Since I am old now I realize what an anthem he his for classic country music. I remember seeing him at the Medina Ballroom west of Minneapolis Mn. several years ago. He was INCREDABLE with a 17 piece band, blue suit and a red string tie, micriphone tight to his chest singing like a Bird. I stood in line for an autograph and Kissed hin on the forehead and ran away quickly so he would'nt catch me and beat me up. No smoking was allowed at the Medina that night 2 weeks later he was busted for POT possessinn In Texas.
May 7, 2008Ray Price, born January 12, 1926 in Perryville, Texas, and a U.S. Marine from 1944 to 1946, delivered no less than 70 hit singles for Columbia from 1952 to 1982, and added another 39 for several different labels to 1989, among them Myrrh, ABC/Dot, Monument, Dimension, Warner, Viva, and Step One. In 1996 he was inducted into the Country Music Hall Of Fame.
In putting together this "essential" compilation covering 1951 to 1962, the producer opted to include five tracks that were never regarded as being among his finer performances, and while I can see, perhaps, throwing in one cut that preceded his first hit (Talk To Your Heart - # 3 Country in summer 1952), why two? (tracks 1 and 2). And why tracks 4, 7, and 9?
By the time he recorded Falling, Falling, Falling in 1956 he already was well-established with nine hits to his credit, and although five of them are here (the one mentioned above, plus I'll Be There [If You Ever Want Me] - # 2 in spring 1954, its flip, Release Me - # 6, Crazy Arms - # 1 for TWENTY weeks and 45 weeks on the charts, and its flip, You Done Me Wrong - # 7 - both in summer 1956), they also omit some solid hits from that period. Such as Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes (# 4 in late 1952 and his second hit); If You Don't Somebody Else Will (# 8 in late 1954 billed to Ray Price & His Cherokee Cowboys); and Run Boy (# 5 in early 1956).
Mind you, the hits they DO include were certainly among his best, including My Shoes Keep Walking Back To You and City Lights, which spent four and THIRTEEN weeks respectively at # 1, and both of which crossed over to the Billboard Pop Top 100 at # 63 and 71. But with the addition of just four overlooked hits in place of some of those obscure cuts this becomes a solid 5-star release.
The sound reproduction is excellent and with the insert you get five pages of background notes written by Dave Marsh in July 1991, along with several nice photos of the man nick-named The Cherokee Cowboy.
September 29, 2007I was looking for a cd with all of his great songs spanning the decades of his career. This compilation begins with his early days when he sounds exactly like Hank Williams. I was looking for his trademark sound, the 4,4 shuffle beat. There are more early hits ( when he sounds like Hank ) then when he came into his own. This is still a good cd for any fan but, now I have to look for some of the same songs which are on this cd with his own trademark voice.
April 11, 2007This is essential country music. The "Ray Price Shuffle" sound has been copied by thousands of country artists all over the world and for one very good reason; it sounds fantastic. This albums shows the development of the style and is a must for any comprehensive country music collection. For less than $10 you can get a dose of honky tonk heaven; a heaven where most of todays Country (Pop) acts wouldn't get past the Gates of St. Peter. Also recommened is Ray's ode to heartbreak - "Touch My Heart".
April 8, 2007More reviews at Amazon.com ...
