Ray Anthony - Capitol Collectors Series

After working as a trumpeter with the Al Donohue, Glenn Miller, and Jimmy Dorsey orchestras from 1939 to 1942, Ray formed his own big band in 1946, and in 1949 began a long, successful association with Capitol that saw him, in addition to selling countless EPs and LPs, put 28 selections onto the Billboard singles charts.

In this volume you get 16 of those hit singles [nine pages of liner notes written by Robin Callot and Jerry Burling presents a complete discography of the contents], ranging from his first [A Dreamer's Holiday - # 11 in late 1949] to his second-last in 1962, the haunting A Worried Mind [# 74].

The liner notes also include some candid shots of Ray with the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Mamie Van Doren, The Bookends, and Joi Lansing, reproductions of several of his album covers, and a complete list of the CDs available in The Capitol Collectors Series.

There's also a shot of Ray with Jack Webb, taken during the filming of Pete Kelly's Blues, and if there's one lament about the compilation, it's the omission of that title song which was a # 28 hit for Ray in 1955. It seems you cannot find that rendition ANYWHERE today.

Even so, this CD is highly recommended for anyone who was a fan of Ray's, or who simply wishes to experience the offerings of one of the few 1940's big bands to endure right into the Rockin 50s and beyond.