Ray Conniff

Ray Conniff – Harmony & The Way We Were (1973 & 1974) [Reissue 2019]
SACD Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 & 5.1 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 62:18 minutes | Scans NOT included | 2,93 GB
or FLAC 2.0 (carefully converted & encoded to tracks) 24bit/96 kHz | Front, Scans NOT included | 1,38 GB
2 LP on 1 SACD | Features Stereo and Quadrophonic Surround Sound | Vocalion # CDLK 4628

Known primarily for orchestral versions of contemporary pop songs, Ray Conniff’s recordings during the late 1960s and early 1970s by himself and as Ray Conniff and the Singers included many straightforward recordings of current pop hits. This Dutton Vocalion’s release combines two albums from the 70s: “Harmony” & “The Way We Were” albums. The hybrid SACD featuring both the stereo and quadraphonic mixes. Remastered from the original analogue tapes by Michael J. Dutton.

(more…)

Ray Conniff – Theme from SWAT & Other TV Themes & Send In The Clowns (1976) [Reissue 2018]
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 & 5.1 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 65:41 minutess | Scans included | 2,93 GB
or FLAC 2.0 Stereo (converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Scans included | 1,27 GB

Very cool 70s work from Ray Conniff – two albums that have him taking on a very new groove! Theme From S.W.A.T. features a whole host of hip TV themes from the time – performed by Conniff’s studio ensemble with a strong focus on instrumental solos – both by Ray on trombone, and Ethmer Rothen on flute – plus an unnamed keyboardist who does a pretty nice job! The Conniff Singers come in for a bit, but don’t dominate entirely as they do on some of Ray’s other 70s records – and there’s even a few moments that get a bit funky – at least as funky as you’d expect from the man himself. Titles include “Mystery Movie Theme”, “Police Story”, “Baretta’s Theme”, “Welcome Back”, “SWAT”, and “Love Is All Around”. Send In The Clowns is a nice mix of modes from Ray Conniff – as the record has him trying on a whole bunch of different styles – TV themes, soulful pop, and moodier mellow numbers – including one that even features some guest piano from Pete Jolly! The album’s a bit more mixed in vibe than other Ray Conniff 70s records, but that also makes for some nice surprises – on titles that include “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover”, “Memories Are Made Of This”, “Lonely Night”, “Vera’s Theme”, “Love’s Theme”, and “Send In The Clowns”.

(more…)

Ray Conniff – The Happy Sound Of & Love Story (1974 & 1971) [Reissue 2019]
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 & 5.1 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 63:53 minutess | Scans NOT included | 2,84 GB
or FLAC 2.0 Stereo (converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/96 kHz | Scans NOT included | 1,38 GB
2 LP on 1 SACD | Features Stereo and Quadrophonic Surround Sound | Vocalion # CDLK 4624

This is the fourth Ray Conniff SACD released by Dutton Vocalion. The hybrid SACD featuring both the stereo and quadraphonic mixes. Remastered from the original analogue tapes by Michael J. Dutton.

(more…)

Ray Conniff – Laughter In The Rain & Love Will Keep Us Together (1975/2016)
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 & 5.1 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 68:56 minutess | Scans included | 2,98 GB
or FLAC 2.0 Stereo (converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Scans included | 1,34 GB

The man who popularized wordless vocal choruses and light orchestral accompaniment on a mix of popular standards and contemporary hits of the 1960s, Ray Conniff was a trombone player for Bunny Berigan’s Orchestra and Bob Crosby’s Bobcats before being hired as an arranger by Mitch Miller for Columbia Records in 1954. After he wrote the charts for several sizeable Columbia hits during the mid-’50s, Conniff became a solo artist as well, applying his arranging techniques to instrumental easy listening for the booming adult album market. The result, 12 Top Ten LPs and well over 50 million total albums sold, cemented his status as one of the top LP sellers of all time, but his increasingly watered-down and commercially focused arrangements gained few young fans by the end of the ’60s. Though he continued recording and touring the world into the ’90s, Conniff’s albums slipped off the charts in the early ’70s. This SACD release combines 2 LP on 1 SACD – “Laughter In The Rain” & “Love Will Keep Us Together”, both were released in 1975.

(more…)

Ray Conniff – April In Paris (2009)
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 59:00 minutes | Scans included | 960 MB
or FLAC (converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/44,1 kHz | Scans included | 667 MB
Top Music International # UD-SACD8936.2 | Genre: Jazz

Ray Conniff and orchestra perform 22 romantic standards such as “The Way You Look Tonight,” “It Had To Be You,” “The Very Thought Of You” and many more.

(more…)

Ray Conniff – Alone Again & Love Theme From The Godfather (1972) [Reissue 2018]
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 & 5.1 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 56:18 minutess | Full Scans included | 2,51 GB
or FLAC 2.0 Stereo (converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Full Scans included | 1,13 GB

A pair of groovy albums from Ray Conniff – both with a wonderful 70s vibe! “Alone Again Naturally” takes its title from the leadoff version of the great Gilbert O’Sullivan tune – and Ray conducts his group with a surprisingly bouncy vibe at times – mostly a sing-song mode that has the voices of the Conniff Singers hitting all their best bright modes. “Theme From The Godfather” has Ray Conniff taking on a host of mellow tunes from the mid 70s – mixing his full arrangements with a few electric touches, and really using the Ray Conniff Singers to their best effect! The whole thing has that subtle sensual quality that easy listening was hitting during the sexual revolution – quite a change from the Conniff groove of a generation before, and one that seems an even better fit for the vocals.

(more…)