“Misty” — Ray Stevens
Ray Stevens’ version of “Misty” is a particularly joyful expression of new-found love.
It was also a very unlikely UK Number Two chart hit back in 1975. It’s a little different now, but country music was deeply un-cool in the UK back in the mid-1970s. The sort of thing your grandparents might listen to, but even then, only if they were getting to the stage of life where you indulged them rather than criticised them.
From the first twang of the banjo, you knew where you were headed with Ray Stevens’ version of “Misty”…and just to make sure in case you didn’t get the message the first time, a couple of seconds later when the country fiddle and pedal steel guitar join in too there was absolutely no doubt.
Yet the warmth and affection in Ray Stevens’ performance won over a country which would normally turn its collective back on bluegrass-infused songs, and certainly wouldn’t normally consider it likely material for the very upper reaches of the pop charts.
It was also an odd follow-up single for Ray Stevens in the UK. The previous year, he’d reached the Number One slot in the UK singles chart with his comedy record “The Streak”.
So he was a well-known name, even to younger radio listeners and record buyers. But still, I don’t think many would have predicted that Ray Stevens’ next assault on the pop charts…
