Singer Johnnie Ray had a dynamic, powerful voice and made consistently even records throughout the '50s. With that in mind, his records take on a totally different standard of excellence considering Ray was practically deaf. The singer's refusal to be pigeonholed finds him balancing varying styles, incorporating them evenly and making it work, as proven on this Collectables two-fer. This collection highlights Ray's earliest pop records from 1952, mainly standards like "All of Me" and {...   [ read more ]

CD $13.28

Fifties heartthrob Johnnie Ray really had a knack for dramatic interpretations of romantic songs. With that in mind, his delivery takes on a totally different standard of excellence considering Ray was practically deaf. This Collectables CD makes available two long-out-of-print LPs originally made for Columbia in the '50s: Big Beat and I Cry for You. Highlights include passionate versions of "Pretty-Eyed Baby," "How Long, How Long Blues," "Lotus Blossom," {&"Everyday (I Have the ...   [ read more ]

CD $13.28

Like most of those popular singers who peaked in the period just before rock & roll emerged as a dominant force in music, Johnnie Ray has been neglected -- his own record label, Columbia, has issued a few hits compilations in varying degrees of completeness, which seems to be mostly what the U.S. market will support. But Germany's Bear Family Records has stepped out in front with a string of releases of Ray's catalog that started with this single CD and culminated with a similarly named box ...   [ read more ]

CD $21.83