RAY CONNIFF: THE SINGLES COLLECTION — Volume 3 Collectables COL- CD-7943 Between 1957 and 1968, Ray Conniff (1916-2002) established a unique musical brand name, with his easy identifiable variation of orchestra and singers producing a stack of albums that were sure sellers. In fact, twenty-eight of them hit the Top 40 American charts during the period with similar world-wide success greeting each release, particularly in the UK, and it proved a case of much imitated but never beaten. However, Conniffs singles unlike the albums, often expanded style and content and this latest trawl gives many examples of such diversity. Having been signed during the Fifties by Mitch Miller as arranger/conductor for many Columbia artistes and their hits, Conniff soon yearned for his own orchestral Identity and initially released ANN'S THEME, STEEL ROCK and FINESSE under the pseudonym Jay Raye & his Orchestra as catchy embryonic examples of what was to fully develop. Conniff often favoured television/movie themes and THE THEME FROM THE PERRY MASON SHOW, MIDNIGHT LACE, WEDNESDAY'S CHILD, and WINDS OF CHANGE are amongst such choices. Conniff himself featured vocalist an the 1957 recording of THREE-WAY LOVE whilst the easy-going SEVENTEEN contrasts with Latin-flavoured A BANDA; leaving that notorious French confection JE T'AIME (LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT) to plead Innocence as redeemed for US listening pleasure. Eventually a more countrified feel crept into some Seventies recordings such as THE FREE ELECTRIC BAND and HALF BREED yet Conniffs musical style remained intact. Artie Shaw's catchy but previously unreleased MAN FROM MARS features Conniff’s Sextet and is amongst eleven other rarities (including a busy innovative approach to IT'S ONLY A PAPER MOON) that enhance this fine compilation of twenty-six platters — many remixed to stereo - along with recording dates plus matrix and catalogue numbers.

RAY CONNIFF & BILLY BUTTERFIELD: CONNIFF MEETS BUTTERFIELD/JUST KIDDIN' AROUND Collectables COL-CD-7944 There was a slight change of approach when Conniff teamed with his big-band era buddy Billy Butterfield (1917-1988) for two distinctive jazzy albums released in 1959 and 1963 respectively with no vocal enhancement necessary. The first collection features the latter's solo trumpet enclosed within a small rhythm group and BEYOND THE BLUE HORIZON, OH, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNIN' and ROSALIE are amongst well-known standards given an infectious beat. Borrowing its title from Conniff's Forties self-written number, the reunion album draws on his trombone solos for an even-sided intertwining of both instrumentalists in nostalgic celebration of their days with Artie Shaw. ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND, HEARTACHES, and PEG O’ MY HEART are amongst free-wheeling numbers which give the impression of an improvised approach leading to fun and games without loss of musical integrity. SUMMERTIME, LOVE LETTERS IN THE SAND with Butterfield solos and previously unreleased SWEET SUE, JUST YOU highlighting Conniff’s trombone expertise are welcome bonus tracks. Original liner notes, graphics and recording Dates are included.

February 20, 2010: Reviews by Allen Pollock, as featured in “In Tune”, the only monthly magazine in the world for lovers of the 'Golden Age' of Popular Music:

January 23, 2010: New videos upoaded to YouTube: “My Way” (rehearsal, videotaped by Warren M. Pischke at O’Henry Studios, Burbank, California (July 13, 1998) and “Don Diablo” and “Cama y Mesa”, from Ray Conniff’s TV show “Desde Miami con Amor” (1982)

February 17, 2010: New bootleg CDs (from Chile?) discovered on ebay. For details go to the CD page by clicking here.

February 21, 2010: Video of rehearsal and recording of “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”  (O’Henry Sound Studios, Burbank, California, July 13, 1998; videotaped by Warren M. Pischke) uploaded on YouTube.

March 21, 2010: A message for fans in Germany: Amazon offers a 2 CD set titled “Ray Conniff con su Orquesta y Coros”. The selections on these CDs are the same that have been released many times on bootleg CDs from Latin countries.

April 9, 2010: More Ray Conniff videos on YouTube: New York, New York & Escandalo, and Besame Mucho & Brazil from a TV show titled “Martes 13” (Universidad Catolica de Chile TV, April 19, 1994)

April 24, 2010: Amazon Germany lists a 2 CD set by Roy (!) Conniff And His Orchestra, released on May 28, 2010. It features all tracks of ‘s Wonderful and ‘s Marvelous, plus 7 tracks from Dance the Bop! and 8 from ‘s Awful Nice. Click on the cover scan for more details.

April 29, 2010: If you want to watch Ray Conniff videos on YouTube, and you see a note saying “This video is not available in your country”, look up this document in German and follow its instructions. Falls Sie ein Ray Conniff Video auf YouTube sehen möchten und stattdessen ein Hinweis erscheint, dass dieses Video in Ihrem Land nicht verfügbar ist (”This video is not available in your country”), klicken Sie hier und befolgen die Anweisungen. Viel Erfolg! (Source / Quelle: ComputerBild)

April 30, 2010: Click   on   the   screen   shot   on   the   right to   watch   singer   Don   Cherry   perform “So   Rare”   on   YouTube.   In   fact,   this is    rare   footage   from   the   Ed   Sullivan show.     The     original     arrangement was   recorded   on   April   23,   1956   for Don   Cherry’s   album   “Swingin’   For Two” ,    with    orchestra    and    chorus conducted   by   Ray   Conniff.   On   July 10,    1957,    Ray    Conniff    wrote    this special       arrangement       for       his appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. Those   of   you   who   like   Don   Cherry,   might   want   to   visit   his   website   by clicking here .

May 1, 2010: Click on the screen shot on the left to watch Johnnie Ray perform two floor arrangements by Ray Conniff, “Just Walking in the Rain” and “If I Had You”. This video is from the Frankie Laine Show (1956).

May 1, 2010: Click on the screen shot on the right to watch Johnnie Ray and Frankie Laine perform a floor arrangement by Ray Conniff, “Up Above My head (I Hear Music in the Air)”. This video is from the Frankie Laine Show (1956).

Click here to listen to Klaus Wunderlich, an organ player from Germany, performing songs made popular by Ray Conniff, on YouTube.

May 15, 2010: Amazon Germany announced the release of a CD by Ray Conniff titled “Musicals in Rhythm” on July 6, 2010. This CD features Ray’s albums “Broadway in Rhythm” and “Hollywood in Rhythm”.

May 21, 2010: A   very   interesting   compilation   of   65   tracks   (mp3   files)   can   be   downloaded from Amazon Germany by clicking on the scan on the right.

June 27, 2010 / updated July 4, 2010: TRIBUTO A FRANK SINATRA A compilation CD with 15 tracks from various albums, released on the Som Livre label in Brazil; bar code: 7891430171025, order No.: Som Livre Sony Music 1710-2 / Tracks are as follows: 1) Theme From New York, New York (from “My Way”) / 2) My Way (from “My Way”) / 3) Mack the Knife (from “The Happy Beat”) / 4) Strangers in the Night (from “This Is My Song”) / 5) I've Got You Under My Skin (from “My Way”) / 6) Night And Day (from “Say It With Music” / 7) Somethin' Stupid (from “It Must Be Him”) / 8) The Way You Look Tonight (from “’s Marvelous”) / 9) The Second Time Around (from “Love Affair”) / 10) You Make Me Feel So Young (from “You Make Me Feel So Young”) / 11) September Song (from “s Wonderful!”, mono) / 12) All Or Nothing At All (from “Somebody Loves Me”) / 13) Moon River (from “Turn Around Look At Me”) / 14) Young At Heart (from “Young at Heart”) / 15) ‘s Wonderful (stereo version from “’Ray Conniff’s Greatest Hits”). Notes: Three tracks are from Ray’s original tribute to Frank Sinatra-album, “My Way”, Ivy Music / PolyGram label, the others were taken from Columbia albums. Thanks a lot to Francisco De Assis Serpa Maia, who received his copy on July 3, 2010 and kindly submitted these details. (Use these links for references: 1 / 2 / 3 but be aware that this compilation CD does NOT feature “The Look of Love” and “Stardust”, which are erroneously listed on some websites.)

Advertised   as   follows:   A   Som   Livre   traz   ao   mercado   nacional   um   disco   no qual   Ray   Conniff,   o   rei   do   easy   listening,   homenageia   um   dos   maiores gênios   da   música   mundial,   Frank   Sinatra.   Maestro, compositor   e   cantor,   Ray   Conniff   atingiu   o   sucesso em   1956   com   o   seu   primeiro   disco,   intitulado   S Wonderful   e   desde   então   se   tornou   referência   no mundo   da   música.   Neste   tributo,   Conniff   interpreta alguns    dos    maiores    sucessos    da    carreira    de Sinatra,   tais   como:   Strangers   In   The   Night,   The Way   You    Look   Tonight,    Moon    River,    My    Way    e Theme From New York, New York.

July 7, 2010: Use this link or click on the screen shot on the right to get to to an article by Tamara Conniff about her father, titled “Ray Conniff Gets His Rhythm”, published on December 17, 2009 on Oprah.com.

August 2, 2010: Mitch     Miller,     the     man     who brought    us    Ray    Conniff    died on   July   31,   2010   at   the   age   of 99.     Mitch     Miller     was     the producer   of   many   pop   hits   in the   1950's   and   Ray   was   called upon   to   back   many   of   Miller's choices.   It   was   Mitch   who   was instrumental   in   bringing   Ray   to the    forefront    as    an    artist    at Columbia   Records.   Click   here   for an article and a video.

August 8, 2010 (updated August 19, 2010): Forthcoming CDs and downloadable albums: Ray’s first Christmas album (”Christmas with Conniff”) will become available as “Songs for Christmas” at the end of October 2010 and under its original title on the Hallmark label (cover shown above, right) on September 20, 2010. “Ray Conniff’s World of Hits” was re-titled “Moon River” for the mp3 download. Ray’s two albums “Broadway in Rhythm” and “Hollywood in Rhythm”, which only recently have been released on a CD titled “Musicals in Rhythm”  (see entry of May 15 below), can also be downloaded. The mp3 album is titled “Ray Conniff Selection”. Among the downloadable albums there is “Christmas with Ray Conniff” (see cover on the left above that says “digitally remastered 2010”).

August 12, 2010: A very interesting interview with Mitch Miller conducted in 2004 can be found on the internet. Just click on the screenshot to get there. In chapter 2 at about 25:00 Mitch Miller talks about Ray Conniff, and also at the beginning of chapter 3. This is music history!

August 24, 2010: In July 2010, a 23 second commercial for the new compilation album “Tributo a Frank Sinatra” was shown on Brazilian television. Thanks to Jorge L.D. Iório, who kindly recorded it from TV and sent it on a DVD to me, now everybody can watch it. Here is the direct link to the clip. As for tracks of this CD, please click here.

August 28, 2010: Coverage of Ray’s concert at the White House on January 28, 1972 uploaded to YouTube. In the second part of this clip you can listen to the vocal version of “April in Portugal” from this concert. This was Pat Nixon’s favorite song. (Ray recorded an instrumental version of it in 1986 for his album “30 Years of Ray Conniff”.) Daniel Marchi uploaded another news program coverage about the incident during Ray’s concert at the White House a while ago. Click here to watch it. In this context I would also like to recommend this clip: “The Nixon Tapes”: Stop the killing if you love Jesus”.

September 4, 2010: The Sun Chronicle (Attleboro) has received eight awards - including five first-place honors - in the New England Associated Press News Executives Association's 2010 contest. Rick Foster won a third- place award for arts and entertainment writing for "Remembering Ray," a profile of Attleboro musician Ray Conniff. Click here to get the awarded article. It features this rare photograph of Ray Conniff’s first band, Van Rounseville & His Hollanders (right)

September 27, 2010: “The Singles Collection, Vol. 2” is currently unavailable. I hope you have a copy in your collection. For the time being, it is unknown whether Collectables Records will produce more copies. In other words: If you see a copy, buy it! It may become a collector’s item!

September 30, 2010: CLASSIC ALBUM COLLECTION: 20 HITS Tracks are as follows: The Way You Look Tonight / Moonlight Serenade / Begin The Beguine / As Time Goes By / Smoke Gets In Your Eyes / I Hear A Rhapsody / That Old Black Magic / April In Paris / Walking The Bop / They Can’t Take That Away From Me / ‘s Wonderful / I Get A Kick Out Of You / Theme from the “Perry Mason” show (Park Avenue Beat)* / Sentimental Journey / The Very Thought Of You / Dancing In The Dark / Swingin’ The Bop / Stardust / I Love You / Speak Low (*stereo version in excellent quality released on “The Singles Collection, Vol. 3”) This CD features tracks from “’s Wonderful!”, “Dance the Bop!”, “’s Marvelous”, and “’s Awful Nice”. All 20 tracks were taken from a previously released 3 CD set, titled “Classic Album Collection Plus” (released May 2009). For details click here.

October 23, 2010: “It’s the Talk of the Town” and “Young at Heart”  will become available as downloadable albums as “Special Editions” on January 1, 2011. Each album will contain 20 tracks. Here are details: “It’s the Talk of the Town” will feature the 12 tracks of the original album plus: On the Street Where You Live, Younger Than Springtime and People Will Say We’re in Love (from “Broadway in Rhythm”), ‘s Wonderful (from “’s Wonderful!), As Time Goes By (from “’s Marvelous”), Greensleeves (from “Christmas With Conniff”), Stella By Starlight and My Heart Stood Still (from “Hollywood in Rhythm”), Total length: 48:43 / “Young at Heart” will feature the 12 tracks of the original album plus: Oklahoma!, Some Enchanted Evening and A Wonderful Guy (from “Broadway in Rhythm”), Easy to Love, Thanks for the Memory, Love is a Many-Splendored Thing, Love Letters and Laura (from “Hollywood in Rhythm”), Total: 51:34

October 25, 2010: More covers of downloadable albums (mp3 format) discovered on the internet:

November 3, 2010: Back issues of Billboard magazine are online. Use this link for articles about Ray Conniff, advertisements, charts etc. The ad on the right is from the May 6, 1957 edition. Click on it for enlargement. This is music history. Enjoy!

November 6, 2010: In order to commemorate Ray Conniff’s birthday on November 6, I uploaded my 100th Ray Conniff video to YouTube today!

November 10, 2010: The Ray Conniff Hi-Fi Companion (UK version) can be downloaded from January 1, 2011 (mp3 files).

November 25, 2010: “The Ultimate Jazz Collection”: Concert in Rhythm, Vol. 2 can be downloaded from January 1, 2011 (mp3 files)

December 3, 2010: Click on the ad above for enlargement. It was featured in the November 27, 1965 edition of “Billboard” magazine on page 53. Some excerpts from Ray Conniff’s Christmas show “Here We Come A-Caroling” can be found on YouTube.

December 3, 2010: Ray Conniff’s first Christmas album, “Christmas with Conniff” has been released with many different covers and titles on various labels throughout the years both on LPs, CDs, and as downloadable discs. The latest version is titled “Winter Wonderland” (below, left). Judging from the sequence of tracks it seems to be an exact replica of the original release on Columbia (below, right), which is the one and only release I would recommend to the discriminating collector.

Click on the loudspeaker symbol to listen to Christmas greetings from Ray (1965).

December 13, 2010: “Christmas Greats” is the title of a downloadable album. It features Ray Conniff’s first two Christmas albums, “Christmas with Conniff” (1959) and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” (1962). Tracks are as follows: Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town* / Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer* / Medley: O Holy Night, We Three Kings Of Orient Are, Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly** / Silver Bells* / The Twelve Days Of Christmas** / Ring Christmas Bells** / Medley: Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Count Your Blessings, We Wish You A Merry Christmas** / Christmas Bride* / Sleigh Ride* / Greensleeves (What Child Is This)* / Medley: The First Noel, Hark, The Herald Angels Sing, O Come, All Ye Faithful, We Wish A Merry Christmas** / Jingle Bells* / Here Comes Santa Claus* / Winter Wonderland* / Medley: Jolly Old St. Nicholas, The Little Drummer Boy** / Frosty The Snowman* / The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)* / White Christmas* *=from “Christmas with Conniff” / **=from “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”

December 24, 2010: Many Ray Conniff fans throughout the world were able to watch clips from Ray Conniff’s Christmas show “Here We Come A-Caroling” on YouTube. The medley of “O Holy Night & We Three Kings of Orient Are & Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly” had been watched 84,159 times as of December 23, 2010. More statistics and comments can be found here. I think it is about time to release this wonderful show on DVD. Merry Christmas, fröhliche Weihnachten, Joyeux Noel, Vrolijk Kerstfeest, Buone Feste Natalizie, Feliz Navidad, Feliz Natal, Nadolig Llawen, Nollaig chridheil huibh, Boas Festas, your webmaster Manfred For Christmas greetings from Tamara Conniff please click here. She chose 5 of her favorite Christmas songs / clips from her father’s Christmas show and wrote, “Every Christmas, my mom and I still get countless fan letters from people all over the world praising the Christmas music of my dad, Ray Conniff. His three Christmas albums, “Here We Come A Caroling,” “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” and “Christmas with Conniff” have each gone multi-platinum – I think he is truly considered the Norman Rockwell of Christmas music. Here are my five favorites. Every time I hear them on the radio, I know it’s my dad wishing me a Merry Christmas and letting me know he’s still watching over me.” Click on Tamara’s photograph to get to her homepage.

January 7, 2010 (updated January 12*): New downloadable files available: Ray Conniff’s Big Band Years, Part 1 (- 1945) / Ray Conniff’s Big Band Years, Part 2 (1946-1954), listing his compositions and arrangements for such orchestras as Bunny Berigan, Artie Shaw, Bob Crosby, Harry James, Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra, Sonny Burke, Teddy Powell, and others, and singers such as Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, The Bell Sisters and many others. (*Thanks to my dear friend Serge Elhaik)

March 14, 2010: Ray Conniff video clips recently discovered on YouTube: From “Siempre en Domingo / OTI Festival (Mexico) 1989: NEW YORK, NEW YORK GREEN EYES  QUE NO SE ROMPA LA NOCHE YO SOY AQUEL and NO MISMO VERAO (PLENO VERANO), Mexico, probably 1985 and also SOMEWHERE MY LOVE, from “Festival de la Canción Latina”, Mexico, 1970 (broadcast from Teatro del Ferrocarrilero, Mexico City)

March 21, 2010:

The special open-end interview of Ray Conniff talking about “Ray Conniff and the Singers - Music from Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady and Other Great Movie Themes” can now be listened to and / or downloaded by clicking here for side 1, and here for side 2. Sorry for the poor sound quality, but the copy that served as a source was broken. Click on the labels for enlargement and click here for the script!