You ever find yourself humming a song about a squirrel going nuts in a Mississippi church? Or maybe a tune about a naked guy running through a grocery store? If you have, you’ve basically lived through the Ray Stevens experience. Honestly, trying to pin down a single ray stevens greatest hits album is like trying to catch a greased pig at a county fair. There isn't just one. Over the last sixty years, Ray has released dozens of compilations, but two or three specific ones stand out as the definitive records of a guy who somehow balanced being a Grammy-winning serious artist and the king of "weird" music.
Ray Stevens is a bit of a musical anomaly. He’s the guy who gave us the incredibly moving, humanitarian anthem "Everything Is Beautiful," which literally everyone knows. But he’s also the same guy who recorded "The Streak" and "Ahab the Arab." You don’t usually see that kind of range. Usually, you’re either a serious songwriter or a "novelty" act. Ray? He just decided to be both, and the world loved him for it.
The 1987 MCA Collection: The One Everyone Remembers
If you grew up in the late 80s or 90s, the ray stevens greatest hits album you probably remember is the 1987 release from MCA Records. It’s got that classic 10-track layout that was common back when vinyl and cassettes were king.
It’s a tight, no-filler list. You get "The Streak," which was a massive #1 hit in 1974, sitting right next to "Shriner’s Convention" and "The Mississippi Squirrel Revival." It’s basically a masterclass in comedic timing. Most people forget that Ray actually produced and arranged almost all of this stuff himself. He wasn't just a singer; he was the architect of the whole sound.
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Why this version works
- The Flow: It jumps from the high-energy chaos of "Gitarzan" to the soulful, gospel-tinged "Turn Your Radio On."
- The Big Hits: It includes "Everything Is Beautiful," his 1970 smash that won him a Grammy for Best Contemporary Male Vocalist.
- The "Margaret" Factor: "It's Me Again Margaret" is included here, which is arguably one of the most quoted bits of musical comedy ever.
Vol 1 and Vol 2: The Deep Dive
Because ten songs weren't enough to cover a career that started in the late 50s, MCA ended up putting out a Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 just a few months after the first one. This is where things get interesting for the "real" fans.
Volume 2 includes "Would Jesus Wear a Rolex," which was a sharp, satirical poke at the televangelists of the 80s. It’s actually a pretty biting piece of social commentary, even if it’s wrapped in a country-comedy package. You also get "Mr. Businessman," a song from 1968 that sounds surprisingly modern today. It’s a cynical, dark look at corporate greed. It’s a far cry from a song about a squirrel, which is why Ray Stevens is so hard to categorize. He’s got layers.
The label hopping puzzle
The reason there are so many different "Greatest Hits" packages is that Ray moved around labels a lot. He was with Mercury, then Monument, then Barnaby (Andy Williams’ label), then RCA, and then MCA. Each time he moved, a new "Best Of" usually followed. If you're looking for the 2001 All-Time Greatest Hits from Varèse Sarabande, you're getting a huge 23-track collection that focuses heavily on his early years. It's great if you want the roots of his sound.
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The Secret Sauce: It’s the Musicianship, Stupid
People often dismiss Ray Stevens as a "joker," but that’s a mistake. The guy is a phenomenal musician. Listen to the arrangement on "Misty." He took a standard jazz ballad and turned it into a banjo-driven, bluegrass-adjacent masterpiece. It’s gorgeous. It also won him another Grammy.
When you listen to a ray stevens greatest hits album, you aren't just hearing jokes. You’re hearing top-tier Nashville session playing. Ray was a session player himself before he became a star, playing for people like Elvis Presley and Waylon Jennings. That’s why the comedy works; the music is so solid that the jokes have a foundation to land on.
What Most People Get Wrong
A big misconception is that Ray Stevens only does comedy. If you buy a random compilation, you might be surprised to find half the songs are serious. He’s actually a very spiritual guy, and his gospel recordings are huge in certain circles.
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Also, some people think "Ahab the Arab" is his biggest song. It was a massive hit in 1962, sure, but "The Streak" was actually the global phenomenon. It hit #1 in the US and the UK. People were literally streaking at the Oscars that year. Ray just happened to have the perfect soundtrack for the madness.
How to Choose the Right Album
If you’re just starting out or want to gift one to someone who likes a laugh, look for the 1987 MCA Greatest Hits or the 2008 50th Anniversary Collection. The 50th Anniversary one is probably the best value because it’s got more tracks and the sound quality is cleaned up for modern speakers.
Quick Checklist for the Best Experience:
- Check the tracklist for "The Mississippi Squirrel Revival"—if it’s missing, it’s not the definitive set.
- Look for "Misty." You need that banjo fix.
- Make sure "Everything Is Beautiful" is included to ground the zaniness.
Ray Stevens is still at it, by the way. He’s got his own theater in Nashville (CabaRay) and he’s still recording. But these greatest hits albums are the blueprint for a specific kind of American entertainment that doesn't really exist anymore. It’s variety show energy captured on a disc.
If you want to actually "get" Ray Stevens, stop looking at the individual songs and look at the whole career. He’s a guy who realized that life is both incredibly beautiful and completely ridiculous. He just decided to write songs for both sides of that coin.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Search for the 1987 MCA tracklist on a streaming service like Spotify or Apple Music to see if that specific 10-song vibe fits your mood.
- Check out the "Misty" music video if you can find it; it’s a perfect example of his ability to merge high-level musicianship with a bit of a wink to the camera.
- Look for the 50th Anniversary Collection if you want the most comprehensive digital version of his career highlights without hunting down obscure vinyl.