"THE BIG BEAT": Released on Columbia in the U.S.A., click on the LP cover at left to hear a sample from Side 1, Cut 1, Pretty Eyed Baby, recorded in New York City on November 20, 1956, with Johnnie's long time road band drummer Herman Kapp, written by Mary Lou Williams & William Johnson. Band lead by Ray Conniff, produced by Mitch Miller. At left is the original USA issue, at right is a rare autographed version.
 
"THE BIG BEAT": Released on Philips in the U.K., click on the LP cover to hear a sample from Side 1, Cut 6, Shake A Hand, (later recorded by Little Richard, Elvis Presley & LaVern Baker) recorded November 21, 1956, written by Joe Morris, band lead by Ray Conniff & Ray Ellis. Produced by Mitch Miller.
"THE BIG BEAT": Released on Philips in Holland, click on the LP cover to hear a sample from Side 2, Cut 6, So Long, recorded November 21, 1956 during the same session as "Shake A Hand", the first session for this album, in New York City. Band lead by Ray Conniff, produced by Mitch Miller, written by Russ Morgan, Remus Harris & Irving Melsher.
This is the Australian release of "The Big Beat" on Coronet Records' #KLP581, with the same track listing as the other Big Beat releases. One additional note on this LP: Mitch Miller let Johnnie choose all the tracks for this LP, three Count Basie tunes, an Ivory Joe Hunter song, a Memphis Slim cut and a Faye Adams selection.
"A Live-Recording Of Johnnie Ray At The London Palladium" was never released on record in the U.S. This rare Philips LP was recorded at The London Palladium on April 5, 1954 with Eric Rogers & The Skyrockets Orchestra. As Time Goes By was a favourite on this live album.
"A Sinner Am I" was never available in the U.S. until 1999. Recorded March of 1959 at Philips Records Studio in London, it featured Johnnie's version of the Tommy Edwards classic "It's all In The Game" and the Phillips recording (different from his Okeh and Columbia versions) of "Tell The Lady I Said Good Bye", "Give Me Time" and the title track "A Sinner Am I", (written by Johnnie) the latter of which was originally recorded for Columbia in February, 1952. Album produced by Johnny Franz.
Another Johnnie Ray LP not produced by Mitch Miller, "On The Trail" was Johnnie's version of Country & Western. Recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, over a two day period in May of 1959, it included such western traditionals as ""Tumbling Tumbleweeds", "Home On The Range", "Red River Valley", and "Cool Water". "Springtime In The Rockies" was released on a single and Johnnie even wrote one of the selections himself, "Ridin' Home". Produced by Owen Bradley, band lead by Boudleaux Bryant, piano by Floyd Cramer.
Columbia Record's first "Greatest Hits" issue by Johnnie Ray, it was released in the late 1950's and had all the million sellers, including the big hit Yes Tonight, Josephine, recorded March 17, 1957 in New York City. Band lead by Ray Coniff, produced by Mitch Miller.
Recorded over a three day period (October 25, 26 & 27, 1957) at The Desert Inn, Las Vegas, Nevada, this LP was produced by Mitch Miller and was the first U.S. release of Johnnie live. The band was lead by Carlton Hayes and the original master tapes of these shows lasts over 6 hours! Should I? was the first track.
Although "'Til Morning" is credited as "Johnnie Ray with The Billy Taylor Trio", the Columbia Record's master tape log lists the musicians as "The Billy Taylor Quartet" with Billy Taylor on piano, Mundell Lowe (who played on the original "Cry", "Coffee & Cigarettes",  & "Here Am I Broken Hearted" with Johnnie in 1951) on guitar, Edmund Thigpen on bass and Earl May on drums. The tracks on this album were recorded February 3 & 6, 1958, I'm Confessin' was recorded during the second session, only one change in the second session: Kenneth Burrel played guitar on this track. Produced by Mitch Miller.
"Portrait Of A Song Stylist", released in The U.K. in 1989 on Masterpiece Records, a division of Castle Communications, features all original Columbia recordings and great liner notes by Bill Williams. I'm Beginning To See The Light with Mundell Lowe on guitar, who played on the original "Cry", was included on this LP as cut 3, it was originally recorded for the "'Til Morning" LP in 1958. "Portrait Of A Song Stylist" was issued on cassette and CD also.
"The World Of Johnnie Ray" on Arcade Records is the only JR gatefold LP released to date, great photos of Johnnie from the 1980's, released in 1982. Not just another greatest hits release, most fans embrace it for the cover and gatefold photo alone. Side one, cut eight is the hit Hernando's Hideaway, originally recorded March 29, 1954 at Columbia Records in New York City during the same session as "Hey There" & "Going-Going-Gone!". Band lead by Joe Reisman, produced by Mitch Miller. "Hernando's Hideaway" has just been re-made (July, 2000) by Atlantic Records' Debelah Morgan with major lyric changes.

Oscar winning motion picture "The Last Picure Show" soundtrack LP features Johnnie Ray's Please Mr. Sun, played in the movie during the final pool party scene where a young Randy Quaid tries to bust a move. The movie also stars Jeff Bridges and Cybill Shepherd and is rated #83 in the 100 Best Movies Of All Time by Mr. Showbiz. You can now buy this movie on DVD (the DVD is the best version available out of the three that are marketed).
The last studio LP by Johnnie Ray with new material was the 1976 album "Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow" which featured excellent versions of "Tie A Yellow Ribbon Around The Old Oak Tree", "Mame", "It's Impossible", "Goodnight Sleepy Head" and "Yesterday". Realeased only in the U.K.
This is the Ronco version of "Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow", titled "Yesterday-The London Sessions 1976". It was available in 1993 through a TV "P.I." (per inquiry) order just about everywhere except in The U.S.
Gatefold double-LP set released in Australia on MFP (Music For Pleasure) Records # 2-398019. MFP Records was known for re-issuing classics, but re-packaged their own way, not all were double-LP sets like this one, which include all of Johnnie's biggies.
A 1973 re-issue of the original Columbia recordings on CBS Records (#68277), their Gold Series, was paired with Guy Mitchell in a 4-LP set. Unique rare picture of Johnnie on the cover. Contained the same JR tracks as the first Columbia Record's "Greatest Hits" release of Johnnie Ray material.
 

Available in Germany, this LP titled "Original Collection" on PR-Records, featured all the biggies, including "Endlessly" written by Johnny Otis, and "Good Evening Friends" with Frankie Lane.
 

This various artists LP on Ruby Records (#RR3-4081) contained a re-recording of "Just Walking In The Rain" by Johnnie Ray along with cuts by Gogi Grant, Little Richard, The Four Lads, The Crew Cuts, Jim Lowe, Sanford Clark, Jimmie Rodgers and more. None of the cuts on this LP were the original versions.