Johnnie Ray – The Cry Guy - The Singles As & Bs 1958-1962 CD

Johnnie Ray – The Cry Guy - The Singles As & Bs 1958-1962

John Alvin Ray was arguably the biggest male American star of the pre-rock 'n' roll 1950s, his full on emotional style (evolved in part thanks to his hearing difficulties) landing him a series of nicknames ranging from 'The Prince Of Wails' to 'The Nabob Of Sob' to the one that gives this Jasmine collection its title "The Cry Guy" - in honour of his first US and UK chart topper 'Cry'. Before Elvis came along, Johnnie Ray was the idol of millions of teenage girls and his records routinely charted big all over the world. He was one of the few singers from the early 50s to successfully transition to the rock 'n' roll era - initially at least - and he was still scoring hits as late as 1957.

Those early 50s hits have been anthologised time and time again - however in this collection you can hear all the singles that Johnnie released between 1958 and 1962 that, for the most part, did not chart despite being largely as good as those that had made him a star. The records were still great, but the fickle finger of fandom was now pointed in other directions, as it was for so many of Johnnie's contemporaries.

The songs here were written by the likes of Burt Bacharach, Brook Benton, Otis Blackwell and Johnnie himself, while he was produced on some of them by noted 50s names of the calibre of Archie Bleyer, Clyde Otis and the team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. He's also joined for a couple of duets by another singer who, like Johnnie, started her career in rhythm & blues before joining the mainstream, Miss Timi Yuro.

This is the first compilation to tell this side of the Johnnie Ray story in such extensive detail - and as always, the finest available audio has been sourced for the preparation of the audio in this collection.

Handkerchiefs at the ready, it's time for a good old sob session with 'The Cry Guy'.

Tracklist:
1. Plant A Little Seed
2. Strollin' Girl
3. Lonely For A Letter
4. Endlessly
5. No Regrets
6. Up Until Now
7. You're The One Who Knows
8. What More Can I Say
9. One Man's Love Song Is Another Man's Blues
10. When's Your Birthday, Baby?
11. Here And Now
12. Call Me Yours
13. I'll Never Fall In Love Again
14. You're All That I Live For
15. When It's Springtime In The Rockies
16. An Ordinary Couple
17. I'll Make You Mine
18. Before You
19. Don't Leave Me Now
20. Tell Me
21. Let's Forget It Now
22. In The Heart Of A Fool
23. How Many Nights, How Many Days
24. I'll Bring Along My Banjo
25. I Believe - Johnnie Ray And Timi Yuro
26. A Mother's Love - Johnnie Ray And Timi Yuro
27. A Lover's Question
28. Nothing Goes Up Without Coming Down
29. Scotch And Soda
30. Cry

Label: Jasmine Records
Released: 2024