Boogity Boogity: A Tribute to the Comic Genius of Ray Stevens

by Cledus T. Judd

Overview

As strange as it is to see Cledus T. Judd as a post-Celebrity Fit Club stud muffin on the cover of Boogity Boogity, the motivation and execution of this tribute to "the comic genius of Ray Stevens" is much stranger. Cledus recorded his tribute a bit before a reality television fitness show turned him to just about the hottest man ever to record a novelty tune, back when he was at Koch Nashville, which went belly up. Cledus held onto the album as he searched for a label, then when he signed with Curb and announced a guest list that had country star power all over it, it sure seemed like Boogity was going to be a very important and grand album for country comedy, because really, nothing in the genre before had this combination of reverence and Vince Gill. Boogity has Vince Gill, and it has plenty of reverence, too, plus a heaping helping of obsession. Cledus loves the work of Ray Stevens, there's no doubting that, but he chooses to re-create dated material like "The Streak" and "Gitarzan" so faithfully that it's eerie, and there's a reason albums filled with novelty songs are rarely eerie. Stevens' delivery, the trio of female backup singers he always preferred, the canned laughter he dropped on his songs, and even the flatter production soundscape that was just the way it was when these songs were hits are re-created faithfully, admirably, and with no clues as to why one shouldn't just go listen to the originals. This isn't always the case, since the all-star cast on "Everything Is Beautiful" offers a unique -- and moving -- touch, while the timeless question "Would Jesus Wear a Rolex?" is delivered with enough kick that it does sound like it came from the age of Kenny Chesney. These moments are truly good times, and when Cledus chases the mythical Margaret it's pretty darn funny. While true Stevens or Cledus fans will find that more than enough, most will find this labor of love has nothing new to say about men running around naked, apes that play the six-string, or Shriners named Bubba. ~ David Jeffries

Product Details

Release Date:	08/28/2007
Label:	Curb
UPC:	0715187899322

Tracks

1. Turn Your Radio On
2. The Streak
3. Jeremiah Peabody's Polyunsaturated Quick-Dissolving Fast-Acting Pleasan
4. It's Me Again, Margaret
5. Gitarzan
6. The Mississippi Squirrel Revival
7. Ahab the Arab
8. Shriner's Convention
9. Misty
10. Harry the Hairy Ape
11. Would Jesus Wear a Rolex?
12. Everything Is Beautiful

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Cledus T. Judd   Primary Artist,Sound Effects
Joe Diffie   Primary Artist
Charlie Daniels   Primary Artist
Michael English   Primary Artist
Tyler Dean   Primary Artist
Rascal Flatts   Primary Artist
Heidi Newfield   Primary Artist
SHeDAISY   Primary Artist
Andy Griggs   Primary Artist
Dobie Gray   Primary Artist
Vince Gill   Primary Artist
Julie Roberts   Primary Artist
Phil Vassar   Primary Artist
Ray Stevens   Primary Artist
Erika Jo   Primary Artist
Sonya Isaacs   Primary Artist
Paul Hogan   Children's Chorus
Sharon Shelton   Children's Chorus
Grace Sturgeon   Children's Chorus
Abbie Page   Children's Chorus
Lee Brice   Featured Artist
Jacob Kinslow   Children's Chorus
Jim Horn   Sax (Baritone)
Trace Adkins   Vocals
Robert Bailey   Vocals (Background)
Keith Urban   Guitar
John Jarvis   Piano
Chuck Rhodes   Whistle (Human)
Paul Leim   Drums
David Hungate   Bass,Trombone
John Hobbs   Piano
Vicki Hampton   Vocals (Background)
Wes Hightower   Vocals (Background)
Mark Casstevens   Banjo,Harmonica
Rob Hajacos   Fiddle
Chris Clark   Sound Effects
Michael Spriggs   Guitar (Acoustic)
Brent Mason   Guitar (Electric)
Bruce Bouton   Dobro,Guitar (Steel)
Steve Patrick   Trumpet
Kim Fleming   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Glenn Sweitzer   Art Direction,Design
Colin Murphy   Assistant Engineer
John Stinson   Engineer
Matt Cole   Assistant Engineer
Bill Everette   Composer
Erick Anderson   Photography
J.C. Monterrosa   Mixing,Engineer
Hank Williams   Mastering
Jim Horn   Horn Arrangements
Margaret Archer   Composer
Paul Craft   Composer
Chet Atkins   Composer
Chuck Rhodes   Executive Producer
Erroll Garner   Composer
Ray Stevens   Composer
Chris Clark   Engineer,Producer,Vocal Effect
Albert E. Brumley   Composer
Steve Marcantonio   Mixing,Engineer
Cledus T. Judd   Producer