Ray Price -- Shuffles vs. Big Strings

Ron Page · Post by **Ron Page** » 2 Jun 2003 6:41 am

Here's one we like to discuss from time to time...

Fortunately, I hung on to two double-record sets of Ray Price. The earlier album is called THE WORLD OF RAY PRICE. It's got lots of shuffles, western swing and such. I think it was primarily the Jimmy Day and also some Buddy Emmons on steel. There were some hints of what was to come -- on songs like "Make The World Go Away".

The later album is called ALL-TIME GREATEST HITS. It's got the Kristofferson hits and others with the big string section that Ray transitioned to in the early 70's.

I've just recorded these on CD's and I find, just like Ray, I'm of two minds on them. On the new stuff I find myself e-mailing the lyrics to my daughter (at college) -- hey! here try this one... On the older album I find myself wanting to replay a lot of the shuffles so I can keep the foot tapping. On virtually every remake Ray includes, I prefer the early version, e.g. CRAZY ARMS, and HEARTACHES BY THE NUMBER.

Now, if only I could find "RAY PRICE AND THE CHEROKEE COWBOYS REUNITED"; went by the way of my 8-tracks. BTW: Is the guy that invented the 8-track still in the witness protection program, or does anyone know?

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HagFan

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 2 Jun 2003 10:13 am

I like the Ray Price stuff before the Nightlife album way better than anything after that (I'm not talking about the songs, just the style). I was happy to see them go back to some of the older sound for Time.

I think the 8-track guy is wandering around in a Corvair and wearing a green polyester liesure suit - probably with a white belt and white loafers.

Kenneth Kotsay · Post by **Kenneth Kotsay** » 11 Jun 2003 3:36 pm

Ron go to TOWER RECORDS.COM and do a search on Ray Price. On 6-24-03 they will be selling the new re-release of 23 songs from his 1964 album. The new CD cost $14.95
KEN

Also Ray & Willie Nelson's new CD comes out in July 2003.

KEN

Nicholas Dedring · Post by **Nicholas Dedring** » 16 Jun 2003 8:21 am

Or, you could always descend completely into madness and obsession and buy the Bear Family box set. What is it, 12 discs?? It has (as bear family sets do) EVERYTHING under the sun on it.