And now, from a section called Easy Listening, but I call it "Before There Was Elvis...."

Throughout the many pages of "The Daily Vault," I haven't seen any reviews concerning pre-Rock albums. So, without further ado, I've decided to review one of my many favorite pre-Rock/pre-Elvis Presley artists, Johnnie Ray.

I have yet to see a full complete box set of Mr. Ray. Most of the CDs I've found are mostly greatest hit compilations, but there are some that have few songs that are not contained in other compilations. Therefore, throughout the compilations that I have, there are duplicate versions on each album.

Anyway, as I was growing up and discovering the great art of music, my parents told the stories of the music influences that inspired them when they were growing up. Being 33 years old, my parents were from the Big Band Era, and early 50s generation. Talents such as Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Kay Starr and Rosemary Clooney were the big stars of their days.

But one such talent that really never received full attention as a Sinatra or Cole, there was a great talent by the name of Johnnie Ray. Ray was most famous for two songs: "Cry" and "The Little White Cloud That Cried". I can still remember having the 78 rpm record of this single, as I pretty much played the heck out of it. I don't have that single now, yet with all of the playing out of it, that single had seen better days. It wasn't until I was older (after high school) when I finally purchased the 45 rpm record of these two songs, until CDs were became the main source in owning music.

But as I was growing up, when I found any Johnnie Ray records, I naturally picked them up, whether I knew the songs or not. One such song is featured on Here And Now, entitled "You Don't Owe Me A Thing." I can remember playing this 45 single as I was just entering high school in the late seventies. Where most teens were focusing on the most recent songs of the day, I was enjoying the music of the past. One disappointment when I heard this song on Here And Now, is that when I originally owned the 45, there was whistling throughout the song. On Here And Now, there wasn't. (Luckily, I found another Johnnie Ray import CD which featured the original whistling. See what I mean? It would be best to have one big giant collection without having duplicate versions on other compilations!)

"The Little White Cloud That Cried" is also on Here And Now, and it is the original version. "Let's Walk That-A-Way" is a duet with Doris Day.

Two songs that I discovered for the first time on this album were the title track and the tune "In The Candlelight." The title track is a great, easy listening tune. The "Candlelight" tune is just beautiful, and would be a great song to listen to for that special romantic candlelight dinner. This is a song that I would never be tired of listening to. "I'm Beginning To See The Light" is a song that is closely related to Harry Connick, Jr. It's jazzy in the Connick style. Another song in this style is "It All Depends on You."

The ten songs on this album are pleasant, and very relaxing to enjoy. Being a big fan of music, I enjoy practically every source. Most people think of Easy Listening music is simply boring. This is not true. To get away from the loud rock, it is very easy to kick back and enjoy what music used to be. Sure, there aren't a lot of new talents who follow in the same vein as a Johnnie Ray or Frank Sinatra (Harry Connick, Jr. would be the closest), but this music can be enjoyed by any age, if you really want to put your listening ears to it. And some of the famous Easy Listening performers are still around, and performing today: Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdinck, to name a few.

Johnnie Ray was a great musical talent. While he would perform his famous song "Cry," he would break down in tears in a split second. He was an incredible performer...who also had a handicap. As a youngster, he had lost his hearing, becoming deaf. He wore a hearing aid to help him with his singing.

Johnnie Ray passed away in 1990 of liver failure. Even though he may not have been a household name to some, he has been referenced in songs such as Dexy's Midnight Runners' hit "Come On Eileen" and Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start The Fire."

For the die-hard fans of the more recent music of the day, such as Alternative, Heavy Metal, Rap, Techno Pop, etc., I encourage you to just stop for a moment and listen to what us "older" folks enjoyed when we were growing up. Sure, today's music isn't all that bad. I can actually say that I do enjoy today's music, up to a point. So if I can enjoy today's music, being an older person, hopefully today's young generation can look back and enjoy the humble beginnings of what would become Rock 'N' Roll. Believe it or not, there are stories concerning the lives of Johnnie Ray and Frank Sinatra in the Rock & Roll Encyclopedia by Rolling Stone Magazine. And don't be surprised if Johnnie Ray becomes an inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

I think the Rolling Stones and Billy Joel said it best:

Rolling Stones: "I know, it's only rock and roll, but I like it, love it...yes I do!"

Billy Joel: "Everybody's talkin' 'bout the new sound, funny, but it's still rock and roll to me."

Johnnie Ray -- gone, but never forgotten.

Rating: B

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