Harold Ray Ragsdale, known professionally as Ray Stevens, is an American country and pop singer-songwriter and comedian, known for his Grammy-winning recordings "Everything Is Beautiful" and "Misty", as well as novelty hits such as "Gitarzan" and "The Streak". Stevens has received gold albums for his music sales and has worked as a producer, music arranger, and television host. He is also an inductee of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, the Christian Music Hall of Fame, and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
I Have Returned was Ray Stevens' twenty-second studio album and his second for MCA Records, released in 1985. The pictures on both the front and the back of the album were taken in the Mississippi Sound near Biloxi, Mississippi according to the album credits. The cover depicts Stevens dressed as General Douglas MacArthur from World War II. "The Haircut Song" and "The Ballad of the Blue Cyclone" were released as singles from the album. "Santa Claus Is Watching You" is a re-recording of Stevens' 1960s pop single and was re-issued as a country single around the time of the album's release and was made into a popular music video.
Crackin' Up! was Ray Stevens' twenty-fourth studio album and his fourth for MCA Records, released in 1987. Three singles were lifted from the album: "Would Jesus Wear a Rolex", "Three-Legged Man" and "Sex Symbols", the last two of which did not chart.
The Gambler is the sixth studio album by American singer Kenny Rogers, released by United Artists in November 1978. One of his most popular, it has established Rogers' status as one of the most successful artists of the 1970s and 1980s. The album reached many markets around the world, such as the Far East and Jamaica, with Rogers later commenting "When I go to Korea or Hong Kong people say 'Ah, the gambler!'". The album has sold over 5 million copies.
Surely You Joust was Ray Stevens' twenty-third studio album and his third for MCA Records. The album's front cover shows Stevens disguised as a medieval knight with a horse standing next to him. The album's back cover shows Stevens in the same costume but in a junk pile with two junk men. Three singles were lifted from the album: "Southern Air", "People's Court", and "Can He Love You Half as Much as I", the last of which did not chart.
Wynonna is the debut solo studio album of American country music artist Wynonna. It was released in 1992 on MCA Records in association with Curb Records as her first solo debut album. Before the release of Wynonna, she recorded alongside her mother, Naomi, as The Judds, a duo which charted more than 20 country singles in the 1980s and early 1990s until hepatitis forced Naomi to retire.
Beside Myself was Ray Stevens' twenty-sixth studio album and his sixth for MCA Records, released in 1989. It includes the singles "I Saw Elvis in a UFO" and "There's a Star Spangled Banner." The album was also his last for MCA Records before he moved to Curb Records for his next studio album, 1990's Lend Me Your Ears.
Revelations is the third solo studio album by American country music artist Wynonna, released in 1996 on MCA Records in association with Curb Records. It was her first album since Tell Me Why three years previous. The album's lead-off single, "To Be Loved by You", was her fourth and most recent to date #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. The second single, "Heaven Help My Heart", peaked at #14 on the same chart, while "My Angel Is Here" and "Somebody to Love You" both missed the top 40, becoming the first two singles of her career to do so. The album itself peaked at #2 on the Top Country Albums charts and #9 on The Billboard 200, and was certified platinum by the RIAA.
When Love Finds You is the sixth studio album from American country music artist Vince Gill. It was released in 1994 on MCA Nashville. It features the singles "Whenever You Come Around," "What the Cowgirls Do," "When Love Finds You," "Which Bridge to Cross ," "You Better Think Twice" and "Go Rest High on That Mountain."
Kenny Rogers is the second studio album by American singer Kenny Rogers from United Artists Records, released worldwide in 1977. The album marked his first major solo success following the minor success of Love Lifted Me in 1976.
Patti is the seventh studio album released by American singer Patti LaBelle. It was released by Philadelphia International Records on July 3, 1985, in the United States.
Christmas at Our House is the 15th solo studio album by the American country artist Barbara Mandrell. The album was released in October 1984 on MCA Records and was produced by Tom Collins. It was Mandrell's first album of Christmas music.
Water & Bridges is the twenty-sixth studio album by American country music singer Kenny Rogers. It was released on March 21, 2006 via Capitol Records Nashville. The album accounted for three singles: "I Can't Unlove You," "The Last Ten Years (Superman)" and "Calling Me," all of which charted on Hot Country Songs. These songs respectively reached peaks of 17, 56 and 53.
Shriner's Convention was Ray Stevens' seventeenth studio album, released in 1980, as well as his first for RCA Records. The front of the album's cover shows a drawn picture of Stevens on a motorcycle with a young, curvaceous woman in back of him. Stevens wears a blue, Hawaiian-styled shirt and blue jeans, while the woman wears a bikini, and the two wear shriner hats. In the background of the picture, there is a shriner's parade on the streets. On the back of the album, there is a comic strip of happenings at a motel while the parade occurs.
Be Your Own Best Friend was Ray Stevens' sixteenth studio album as well as his fourth and final for Warner Bros. Records, released in 1978. The third track, "You've Got the Music Inside," is a re-recording of a track that was from Stevens' 1973 album Nashville.
One More Last Chance was Ray Stevens' eighteenth studio album as well and his second for RCA Records, released in 1981. The front of the album cover shows Stevens dressed in cowboy attire and at a bar with a pretty, flirtatious woman standing at his side. The singles "Night Games" and "One More Last Chance" were lifted from this album. The album was a pivot back toward more serious material for Stevens, as he felt that the novelty music he had been recording in the late 1970s was falling out of fashion; he eventually returned to novelty music in 1984.
Don't Laugh Now was Ray Stevens' nineteenth studio album and his third and final for RCA Records, released in 1982. The front of the album cover shows Stevens looking pensive and holding a comedy mask, while the back cover shows Stevens smiling and holding a tragedy mask. Two singles were lifted from the album: "Written Down in My Heart" and "Where the Sun Don't Shine," both of which became minor country hits.
#1 with a Bullet is the twenty-eighth studio album of American country and comedy singer Ray Stevens. It was released in June 1991. The album includes the singles "Working for the Japanese" and "Power Tools", which respectively reached numbers 62 and 72 on the Hot Country Songs charts. The album also includes a re-recording of "The Pirate Song," which was originally recorded for his 1986 album I Have Returned.
I Never Made a Record I Didn't Like is Ray Stevens' twenty-fifth studio album and his fifth for MCA Records, released in 1988. Two singles were lifted from the album: "Surfin' U.S.S.R." and "The Day I Tried to Teach Charlene Mackenzie How to Drive." The "Surfin' U.S.S.R." single was accompanied with a music video. The song blends the sound of the Beach Boys with the real world events of the Soviet Union. The second single tells the story of how Stevens attempts to teach a deaf woman how to drive. The character would play an important role several years later when Stevens filmed his direct-to-home video movie, Get Serious!. Connie Freeman portrayed Charlene Mackenzie in the movie.
Me was Ray Stevens' twentieth studio album and his third and final for Mercury Records, released in 1983. In 1982, Stevens returned briefly to Mercury to record this album before moving to MCA Records in 1984. The front of the album cover shows Stevens portraying a painter painting a self-portrait; while the back shows the finished portrait on a table along with a second self-portrait that is sketched by pencil, a cup filled with paint brushes, the paint tray, tubes of paint, a small glass filled with water and a rose, and a lamp. Two singles were lifted from the album: "Love Will Beat Your Brains Out" and "My Dad."
