Have a Little Talk with Myself (album)

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."

Have a Little Talk With Myself
Studio album by
Ray Stevens
Released1969
GenrePop
LabelMonument
ProducerRay Stevens, Jim Malloy
Ray Stevens chronology
Gitarzan
(1969)		 Have a Little Talk With Myself
(1969)		 Everything Is Beautiful
(1970)

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
Side One
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I'll Be Your Baby Tonight"Bob Dylan3:40
2."But You Know I Love You"Mike Settle3:10
3."Aquarius"James Rado, Gerome Ragni, Galt MacDermot2:46
4."The Fool on the Hill"John Lennon, Paul McCartney3:18
5."Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down"Kris Kristofferson4:26
6."Spinning Wheel"D.C. Thomas2:49
Side Two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Games People Play"Joe South3:32
2."Help"John Lennon, Paul McCartney3:32
3."Hair"James Rado, Gerome Ragni, Galt MacDermot3:06
4."Hey Jude"John Lennon, Paul McCartney4:42
5."The Little Woman"Ray Stevens3:21
6."Have a Little Talk With Myself"Ray Stevens2:58

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
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