Published on Feb 17, 1998
And now, from a section called Easy Listening, but I call it
“Before There Was Elvis….”
Throughout the many pages of “The Daily Vault,” I haven’t seen
any reviews concerning pre-Rock albums. So, without further ado,
I’ve decided to review one of my many favorite pre-Rock/pre-Elvis
Presley artists, Johnnie Ray.
I have yet to see a full complete box set of Mr. Ray. Most of
the CDs I’ve found are mostly greatest hit compilations, but there
are some that have few songs that are not contained in other
compilations. Therefore, throughout the compilations that I have,
there are duplicate versions on each album.
Anyway, as I was growing up and discovering the great art of
music, my parents told the stories of the music influences that
inspired them when they were growing up. Being 33 years old, my
parents were from the Big Band Era, and early 50s generation.
Talents such as Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Kay Starr and
Rosemary Clooney were the big stars of their days.
But one such talent that really never received full attention as
a Sinatra or Cole, there was a great talent by the name of Johnnie
Ray. Ray was most famous for two songs: “Cry” and “The Little White
Cloud That Cried”. I can still remember having the 78 rpm record of
this single, as I pretty much played the heck out of it. I don’t
have that single now, yet with all of the playing out of it, that
single had seen better days. It wasn’t until I was older (after
high school) when I finally purchased the 45 rpm record of these
two songs, until CDs were became the main source in owning
music.
But as I was growing up, when I found any Johnnie Ray records, I
naturally picked them up, whether I knew the songs or not. One such
song is featured on
Here And Now, entitled “You Don’t Owe Me A Thing.” I can
remember playing this 45 single as I was just entering high school
in the late seventies. Where most teens were focusing on the most
recent songs of the day, I was enjoying the music of the past. One
disappointment when I heard this song on
Here And Now, is that when I originally owned the 45, there
was whistling throughout the song. On
Here And Now, there wasn’t. (Luckily, I found another
Johnnie Ray import CD which featured the original whistling. See
what I mean? It would be best to have one big giant collection
without having duplicate versions on other compilations!)
“The Little White Cloud That Cried” is also on
Here And Now, and it is the original version. “Let’s Walk
That-A-Way” is a duet with Doris Day.
Two songs that I discovered for the first time on this album
were the title track and the tune “In The Candlelight.” The title
track is a great, easy listening tune. The “Candlelight” tune is
just beautiful, and would be a great song to listen to for that
special romantic candlelight dinner. This is a song that I would
never be tired of listening to. “I’m Beginning To See The Light” is
a song that is closely related to Harry Connick, Jr. It’s jazzy in
the Connick style. Another song in this style is “It All Depends on
You.”
The ten songs on this album are pleasant, and very relaxing to
enjoy. Being a big fan of music, I enjoy practically every source.
Most people think of Easy Listening music is simply boring. This is
not true. To get away from the loud rock, it is very easy to kick
back and enjoy what music used to be. Sure, there aren’t a lot of
new talents who follow in the same vein as a Johnnie Ray or Frank
Sinatra (Harry Connick, Jr. would be the closest), but this music
can be enjoyed by any age, if you really want to put your listening
ears to it. And some of the famous Easy Listening performers are
still around, and performing today: Tom Jones, Engelbert
Humperdinck, to name a few.
Johnnie Ray was a great musical talent. While he would perform
his famous song “Cry,” he would break down in tears in a split
second. He was an incredible performer…who also had a handicap.
As a youngster, he had lost his hearing, becoming deaf. He wore a
hearing aid to help him with his singing.
Johnnie Ray passed away in 1990 of liver failure. Even though he
may not have been a household name to some, he has been referenced
in songs such as Dexy’s Midnight Runners’ hit “Come On Eileen” and
Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start The Fire.”
For the die-hard fans of the more recent music of the day, such
as Alternative, Heavy Metal, Rap, Techno Pop, etc., I encourage you
to just stop for a moment and listen to what us “older” folks
enjoyed when we were growing up. Sure, today’s music isn’t all that
bad. I can actually say that I do enjoy today’s music, up to a
point. So if I can enjoy today’s music, being an older person,
hopefully today’s young generation can look back and enjoy the
humble beginnings of what would become Rock ‘N’ Roll. Believe it or
not, there are stories concerning the lives of Johnnie Ray and
Frank Sinatra in the Rock & Roll Encyclopedia by Rolling Stone
Magazine. And don’t be surprised if Johnnie Ray becomes an inductee
into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
I think the Rolling Stones and Billy Joel said it best:
Rolling Stones: “I know, it’s only rock and roll, but I like it,
love it…yes I do!”
Billy Joel: “Everybody’s talkin’ ’bout the new sound, funny, but
it’s still rock and roll to me.”
Johnnie Ray — gone, but never forgotten.