Have a Little Talk with Myself (album)
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Have a Little Talk With Myself is the fifth studio album by Ray Stevens and his third and final for Monument Records, released in 1969. Stevens left Monument in early 1970 and signed with Andy Williams' Barnaby Records label. This album is quite unique from Stevens' previous albums, as he concentrates more on interpreting the works of other composers' songs and only contributes two of his own compositions. Cover versions include Bob Dylan's "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight," The First Edition's hit "But You Know I Love You," two songs from the musical Hair, three songs of the Beatles, Blood, Sweat & Tears' hit "Spinning Wheel," and Joe South's hit "Games People Play."
The back of the album cover contains an essay by John Grissim of Rolling Stone, which describes how Stevens handles his recording sessions then praises his craft in music and finally describes Stevens' interpretations of the cover songs on the album. On the back of the album, there is also a technical note from the album's co-producer, Jim Malloy: "In addition to doing all the arrangements on this album, Ray Stevens...sings ALL the voices...plays the piano, organ, bells and any other special effect instruments...and plays the trumpet solo on 'SPINNING WHEEL.'" Two pictures are featured on the album's back cover as well - one with Stevens and Malloy laughing in the studio and another of Stevens playing the piano and singing into a microphone on the floor of the studio.
Stevens' version of "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" was the very first recording of the song. Although Kris Kristofferson recorded it for his 1970 album Kristofferson, he never released his version as a single. The song became a bigger hit for Johnny Cash one year after Stevens' release of the song.
Aside from "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" (which came out a few months before the album), two singles were lifted from the album: the title track and a cover of Bob Dylan's "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight."
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" | Bob Dylan | 3:40 |
| 2. | "But You Know I Love You" | Mike Settle | 3:10 |
| 3. | "Aquarius" | James Rado, Gerome Ragni, Galt MacDermot | 2:46 |
| 4. | "The Fool on the Hill" | John Lennon, Paul McCartney | 3:18 |
| 5. | "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" | Kris Kristofferson | 4:26 |
| 6. | "Spinning Wheel" | D.C. Thomas | 2:49 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Games People Play" | Joe South | 3:32 |
| 2. | "Help" | John Lennon, Paul McCartney | 3:32 |
| 3. | "Hair" | James Rado, Gerome Ragni, Galt MacDermot | 3:06 |
| 4. | "Hey Jude" | John Lennon, Paul McCartney | 4:42 |
| 5. | "The Little Woman" | Ray Stevens | 3:21 |
| 6. | "Have a Little Talk With Myself" | Ray Stevens | 2:58 |
Personnel
Musicians
- Piano: Ray Stevens
- Drums: Jerry Carrigan
- Guitar: Jerry Kennedy
- Bass: Norbert Putnam
- Percussion: Farrell Morris
- Violin: Brenton Banks
- Violin: Lillian Hunt
- Violin: Sheldon Kurland
- Violin: George Binkley
- Violin: Martin Katahn
- Violin: Solie Fott
- Viola: Marvin Chantry
- Viola: Gary Vanosdale
- Viola: Howard Carpenter
- Viola: Bobby Becker
- Cello: Byron Bach
- Trumpet: Don Sheffield
- Trumpet: George Tidwell
- Trumpet: Glenn Baxter
- Trombone: Dennis Good
- Trombone: Gene Mullins
- Sax: Norm Ray
- Sax: Johnny Duke
- Producers: Ray Stevens, Jim Malloy
- Engineers: Jim Malloy, Tommy Strong
- Recorded in the Monument Recording Studio
- Cover photo: Keats Tyler
- Art direction: Ken Kim
Charts
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" | Billboard Hot 100 | 81 |
| 1969 | "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" | Hot Country Singles | 55 |
| 1969 | "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" | Canadian RPM Top Singles | 59 |
| 1969 | "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" | Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 46 |
| 1970 | "Have a Little Talk With Myself" | Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles | 123 |
| 1970 | "Have a Little Talk With Myself" | Hot Country Singles | 63 |
| 1970 | "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" | Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles | 112 |