Harold Ray Ragsdale, better known by his stage name Ray Stevens, is a country music singer who has impacted the industry for many years. He is a Grammy-winning performer renowned for his hilarious sense of humor. In addition to producing, arranging music, and hosting television shows, Stevens has earned gold albums for his music sales.
He is a member of various halls of fame, including the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, due to his incredible talent as a performer, which has earned him numerous honors. There has been a ton of Ray Stevens songs that have been chart-topping, which many listeners have undoubtedly enjoyed.
So, if you want to know which of his songs are the greatest, scroll down and find a song that you can add to your playlist.
1. The Streak
The song first appeared on Ray Stevens‘ 1974 album, Boogity Boogity. Numerous renowned artists, like Cledus T. Judd, have covered it. The song hit the charts peaking at no. 1 in multiple countries, such as US Billboard Hot 100, New Zealand Singles Chart, and UK Singles Chart. It was believed that the inspiration behind the song was inspired by a magazine Ray Stevens read on a plane.
2. The Haircut Song
This song contains more than its fair amount of humor, like many of his songs, but it also has a touch that portrays realism so that people can relate to it directly. It has a way of making fun of real situations that people have to cope with in society, like many of Stevens’ songs do, but it does so in a lighthearted way. He included the song on his 1985 album I Have Returned.
3. The Mississippi Squirrel Revival
The song was made available as a part of his 1984 album He Thinks He’s Ray Stevens. Even though the song didn’t reach the top spot, it still got into the charts, peaking at numbers 20 and 32. By the year of its release, the song wasn’t planned to be made public for listeners to enjoy. Stevens believed, meanwhile, that its release would help him regain his reputation as a novelty artist.
4. Shriner’s Convention
Shriner’s Convention is one of Stevens’ songs that, as we’ve all undoubtedly come to realize, has a lighthearted element to it. The song that Ray Stevens wrote appeared on his 1980 album Shriner’s Convention.
5. Ahab, the Arab
One of Ray Stevens’ most well-known songs from his career is this one. The song, which Ray Stevens himself wrote, introduces one of the most adored or annoying voices in the singer’s vast collection of novelty sides and tells about Ahab’s camel, Clyde. It is among the funniest tunes Ray Stevens has ever recorded. His 1962 album 1,837 Seconds of Humor included the song.
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6. Everything Is Beautiful
Many talented individuals have covered this song and elevated it to pop standard status. “Everything is Beautiful” is frequently played at religious gatherings, and since many people enjoyed listening to it, it helped Ray Stevens win two Grammy Awards in 1971.
7. Santa Claus Is Watching You
This is one of the songs that are great to sing along with kids during Christmas. It’s silly, but singing with the kids is unquestionably fun. The song was released in 1962 and was one of Ray Stevens’s most iconic songs.
8. It’s Me Again, Margaret
Once more, Ray Stevens is among the funniest musicians ever. And in this scathing little song about a guy who is smitten with a local woman, Ray Stevens continues by describing how the man phones her every night from a payphone. It’s a serious topic that’s presented in a way that makes it humorous.
9. Along Came Jones
The Coasters first released this song in 1959. And years after, Ray Stevens also decided to record his own rendition in 1969, and let’s say it was successful, peaking at number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song talks about television westerns that people watch and how they all appear to have the same narrative, almost as if they were all just the same thing being broadcast over.
10. Would Jesus Wear a Rolex
“Would Jesus Wear a Rolex” appeared on Ray Stevens’ album Crackin’ Up! and was written by Margaret Archer and Chet Atkins. In 1987, the song breaks into the top 40, peaking at number 41 on the US Hot Country Songs list.
Ray Steve is undoubtedly, one of the most outstanding performers in the great history of country music. Throughout his career, he has released amazing songs that country music fans have admired. And it’s a given fact due to his passion for his craft.
That’s why here are more amazing Ray Stevens songs you should also listen to.
- Dudley Dorite
- Surfin’ U. S. S. R.
- Family Funeral Fight
- Smokey Mountain Rattlesnake Retreat
- Nightmare Before Christmas
- Taylor Swift Is Stalkin’ Me
- I Saw Elvis in a U.F.O.
- Knock Him out, John
- Mary and Joseph and the Baby and Me
- Sittin’ Up with the Dead
- Redneck Christmas
- Mama Sang Bass
- Erik the Awful
- Grandpa Voted Democrat
- Too Drunk to Fish
Suppose you need help coming up with songs to listen to today. You won’t be sorry if you choose any Ray Stevens songs on the list above.
