Ray Price

[HarvustMoon]

While we're on the subject of hits and misses, while listening to Ray Price,
I'm reminded of another oddity.

Ray had a big hit, one of his biggest, it reached #2, with "Make The World Go
Away" in the summer of 1963.

Surprisingly, at least to me Eddy Arnold covered it just two years later, in
1965, and did even better, making it to #1. Amazingly, at least to me, whenever
you hear "Make The World Go Away" it's ALWAYS Eddy Arnold's version.

I know this was quite common in the late 40's, but can anyone remember a
similar situation, say from 1960 on?

I know Billy Grammer was close with "Detroit City"/"I Wanna Go Home" , but he
was never a major player, like Ray Price, and he didn't get to #2 either.

Just strikes me as odd.

[JC from Gnat Flats]

I don't know if a CD can be worn out by continuously playing it, but I am
sure I will find out because that is exactly what I am doing with the latest
Ray Price "Time" CD. That guy just gets better and better and better.


--
JC from Gnat Flats, Texas
Home of the Notso OK Corral

Post by HarvustMoon
While we're on the subject of hits and misses, while listening to Ray Price,
I'm reminded of another oddity.
Ray had a big hit, one of his biggest, it reached #2, with "Make The World Go
Away" in the summer of 1963.
Surprisingly, at least to me Eddy Arnold covered it just two years later, in
1965, and did even better, making it to #1. Amazingly, at least to me, whenever
you hear "Make The World Go Away" it's ALWAYS Eddy Arnold's version.
I know this was quite common in the late 40's, but can anyone remember a
similar situation, say from 1960 on?
I know Billy Grammer was close with "Detroit City"/"I Wanna Go Home" , but he
was never a major player, like Ray Price, and he didn't get to #2 either.
Just strikes me as odd.

[HarvustMooon]

From: "JC from Gnat Flats"
the latest Ray Price "Time" CD. That guy just gets better and better and

better.<

Don't know if I'd go that far! :) There was a lot of stuff that was just AWFUL,
and that's being polite, after the late 60's! :) But agreed, "Time" is
EXCELLENT. It just staggers the imagination to think what his catalog would be
like today, if he didn't go the pop route.

Which brings up a couple of questions. In the early 60's, he put out an
instrumental album, with the Cherokee Cowboys. Included were three songs with
vocals. One was an old version of "Crazy Arms" by Ray, but the other two don't
sound like him, and I'm gonna assume they were members of his band. One, "Burnt
Fingers" sounds like Wade Ray, BUT "Sing A Sad Song" has me stumped. Does
anyone know who's singing on Ray's instrumental LP? I know some people have
mentioned they have his Bear Family 10 CD set, and I'm wondering if they were
included on that. It was from about 1965. Thanks.

The second question, concerns his low point, in my opinion, the real bottom of
the barrell. In I belive the early 70's, he recorded something like 2 or 3 LPs
worth of songs, by Jim Weatherly. (sp)? I know he had a few pop hits, for
people like Gladys Knight, but he certainly was no Harlan Howard. :)

My question, is, unless Ray's body was overtaken by aliens, :) how in the hell
did he become so infatuated with Weatherly?

I seem to remember something about marrying his sister? Is that what it was?
They say love is blind, but in his case, was it deaf too? :)

Anyone know?

[ignatz]

HarvustMooon <***@aol.com> wrote:


: Which brings up a couple of questions. In the early 60's, he put out an
: instrumental album, with the Cherokee Cowboys. Included were three songs with
: vocals. One was an old version of "Crazy Arms" by Ray, but the other two don't
: sound like him, and I'm gonna assume they were members of his band. One, "Burnt
: Fingers" sounds like Wade Ray, BUT "Sing A Sad Song" has me stumped. Does
: anyone know who's singing on Ray's instrumental LP? I know some people have
: mentioned they have his Bear Family 10 CD set, and I'm wondering if they were
: included on that. It was from about 1965. Thanks.

that is the late charlie harris on "sing a sad song";he fronted ray's band
for several years when the cherokee cowboys were at the peak of their
powers. he was a wonderful singer who typically sang a couple of songs at
live shows before the chief came onstage. run down his "no shoes boogie" as
done with herb remington in the early 50s. a stupendous record in its
style. as i recall, harris did other vocals in studio while with price, but
the tapes are lost and they are not on the bear box. he was a full-blooded
texan all the way and has been gone at least 20 years i think.

[HarvustMooney]

that is the late charlie harris on "sing a sad song"<

Thanks so much. As I said, I just listened to it again last week, and I knew
Wade Ray immediately, but said the other song didn't sound like Johnny Bush,
because of Bush's propensity for over-singing.

Harris sounds pretty good, and actually a little bit like Ray Price, but
doesn't quite have the deep baritone is it, that Ray possesses. Who does?

run down his "no shoes boogie" as

done with herb remington in the early 50s.<

The name doesn't ring a bell, so I'm gonna guess it's on some obscure single. I
have some Remington stuff, but I think it's all steel guitar instrumental
stuff.

What should I be looking for?

Thanks again for the answer!

[h***@sbcglobal.net]

Post by HarvustMooon

From: "JC from Gnat Flats"
the latest Ray Price "Time" CD. That guy just gets better and better and

better.<
Don't know if I'd go that far! :) There was a lot of stuff that was just AWFUL,
and that's being polite, after the late 60's! :) But agreed, "Time" is
EXCELLENT. It just staggers the imagination to think what his catalog would be
like today, if he didn't go the pop route.
Which brings up a couple of questions. In the early 60's, he put out an
instrumental album, with the Cherokee Cowboys. Included were three songs with
vocals. One was an old version of "Crazy Arms" by Ray, but the other two don't
sound like him, and I'm gonna assume they were members of his band. One, "Burnt
Fingers" sounds like Wade Ray, BUT "Sing A Sad Song" has me stumped. Does
anyone know who's singing on Ray's instrumental LP? I know some people have
mentioned they have his Bear Family 10 CD set, and I'm wondering if they were
included on that. It was from about 1965. Thanks.
The second question, concerns his low point, in my opinion, the real bottom of
the barrell. In I belive the early 70's, he recorded something like 2 or 3 LPs
worth of songs, by Jim Weatherly. (sp)? I know he had a few pop hits, for
people like Gladys Knight, but he certainly was no Harlan Howard. :)
My question, is, unless Ray's body was overtaken by aliens, :) how in the hell
did he become so infatuated with Weatherly?
I seem to remember something about marrying his sister? Is that what it was?
They say love is blind, but in his case, was it deaf too? :)
Anyone know?

The vocals on Sing A Sad Song were by Charlie Harris from Houston Texas. Charlie played lead guitar and was front man for Ray Price for many years. He died in October of 1979. Charlie was my cousin.

[HarvyEstmoon]

I'd say it started in the early 60s, when he abandoned his great country
shuffles for the bland AWFUL pop crap.<

Agreed, BUT that didn't happen until the "Danny Boy" LP, which I believe was
1967 or 1968. He might have thrown a few strings, etc in there once in a while,
but he still always had more than a few good straight shuffles.

Beginning with Danny Boy I believe it was Ray Ellis, and then Cam Mullins, that
just about obliterated everything he did, for the next 5 or 6 years.

Don't know for sure, but here's the list of musicians:<

Thanks. As I said, I know it's Wade Ray singing Burn't Fingers, so until I get
anything positive, I'm gonna assume it's Bush singing the other one. Sounds
similar to Price, but very un-Bush like, without the usual oversinging he was
famous for.

Was it worse than "Danny Boy" and "For the Good Times"??<

I actually love "For The Good Times", :), BUT the problem with all the
Wetherly(sp) stuff, isn't that they have all the sweetening of Cam Mullins, the
ABC sides, obviously don't. It's just that they're just AWFUL songs! AND I MEAN
AWFUL.

Keep in mind, that he released THREE consecutive LPs of ALL Jim Weatherly
songs! :) Not Hank Williams, not Bob Wills, not Harlan Howard, but Jim
Weatherly. :)

One of the most bizarre occurances, in the history of Country music.

One of the most consistent hit makers for over 20 years, and thanks to "For The
Good Times" and "I Won't Mention It Again" , by 1971-1972, he was arguably
bigger than ever, then BAM! let's do Jim Weatherly, and in two years he can't
get arrested!

It just got worse, each LP was almost as bad as the one before it, until he
reunited with the Cherokee Cowboys in 1977, and Willie helped get him noticed
again, in about 1981.

Somebody must know something.Like I said, I thought I heard one time, that he
married Weatherly's sister, and he does in fact feature his much younger wife,
on one of the covers.

As I said last week, I LOVE his latest "Time" , and everything he did , UNTIL
"Danny Boy" , but just try to imagine what his catalog would be, if he had
continued doing what he always did, from 1967 until today!

If a 76 year old man, can put out something as good as "Time", just imagine
what we've been missing for the last 35 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. - Thanks for the Boone answers and the musician list! :)

[Scott]

HarvyEstmoon wrote...

Post by HarvyEstmoon

I'd say it started in the early 60s, when he abandoned his great country
shuffles for the bland AWFUL pop crap.<

Agreed, BUT that didn't happen until the "Danny Boy" LP, which I believe was
1967 or 1968. He might have thrown a few strings, etc in there once in a while,
but he still always had more than a few good straight shuffles.

You're right, Thanks, I'm glad to know that. For some reason I thought "For the
Good Times" was in the early 60s. It was actually around 1970.

Post by HarvyEstmoon
Beginning with Danny Boy I believe it was Ray Ellis, and then Cam Mullins, that
just about obliterated everything he did, for the next 5 or 6 years.

Was it worse than "Danny Boy" and "For the Good Times"??<

I actually love "For The Good Times", :), BUT the problem with all the
Wetherly(sp) stuff, isn't that they have all the sweetening of Cam Mullins, the
ABC sides, obviously don't. It's just that they're just AWFUL songs! AND I MEAN
AWFUL.
Keep in mind, that he released THREE consecutive LPs of ALL Jim Weatherly
songs! :) Not Hank Williams, not Bob Wills, not Harlan Howard, but Jim
Weatherly. :)
One of the most bizarre occurances, in the history of Country music.
One of the most consistent hit makers for over 20 years, and thanks to "For The
Good Times" and "I Won't Mention It Again" , by 1971-1972, he was arguably
bigger than ever, then BAM! let's do Jim Weatherly, and in two years he can't
get arrested!
It just got worse, each LP was almost as bad as the one before it, until he
reunited with the Cherokee Cowboys in 1977, and Willie helped get him noticed
again, in about 1981.
Somebody must know something.Like I said, I thought I heard one time, that he
married Weatherly's sister, and he does in fact feature his much younger wife,
on one of the covers.
As I said last week, I LOVE his latest "Time" , and everything he did , UNTIL
"Danny Boy" , but just try to imagine what his catalog would be, if he had
continued doing what he always did, from 1967 until today!
If a 76 year old man, can put out something as good as "Time", just imagine
what we've been missing for the last 35 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!
P.S. - Thanks for the Boone answers and the musician list! :)

Glad I could help. That is weird about Ray Price, but it's kind of deserved
after selling out.

[Scott]

Oh please...Scott, you no talent creep...

Thanks for the insults! But you didn't include sexist, which means so much
coming from a woman as feminine, or should I say as butch, as you are!

[HarvustMooney]

From: balecox
Scott, you no talent creep..<

LOL!!!!!!!!! Are you BEGINNING to see how funny your post about "overlooking"
political differences was? :):):):):)LOL!!!!

Let's be honest, the possibility of you or any of your other idiots, like Eric
and Ray, overlooking "political differences", are just about exactly the same
as the possibility of any of you idgits overlooking a sequoia tree, growing
from your nose! :)

how dare you question Ray Price????????<

Please. Honestly, Ray Price's career is probably the most bizarre and
inconceivable, of anyone who EVER recorded country music. I don't know ANYONE,
who's familiar with the genre, and Ray Price, who has NOT questioned WTFH to
Ray Price. :)

P.S. - Ray was just arrested recently for marijuana possession, and, I believe
if the truth was known, drugs have as much or more to do with Ray Price's
bizarre career behavior, than almost anything else.

[Hook Em Horns]

Post by HarvustMooney

Scott, you no talent creep..<

LOL!!!!!!!!! Are you BEGINNING to see how funny your post about "overlooking"
political differences was? :):):):):)LOL!!!!
Let's be honest, the possibility of you or any of your other idiots, like Eric
and Ray, overlooking "political differences", are just about exactly the same
as the possibility of any of you idgits overlooking a sequoia tree, growing
from your nose! :)

ha ha

[Hook Em Horns]

She must have given up her feminist ways. The other day she was trying to
hide

behind her husband.

Only when it's convenient. She's divorced--which isn't surprising.

I feel for what the guy had to endure those years he was married to her.

[Balecox]

She's divorced--which isn't surprising.

<<

ROFL...and still good friends, after all these years....P

[HarvustMoonie]

She's divorced--which isn't surprising.<
From: balecox
and still good friends, after all these years....P<

Wanna bet? :)

Please, only the guilty party would ever try to ease their guilt, with such a
weak reply. :)