Comedian and Country Legend Ray Stevens Goes Gospel with New Album

By Timothy Yap Aug 08, 2014 04:31 AM EDT

Twelve-time nominee and two-time GRAMMY® Award winner Ray Stevens has expanded his portfolio of songs by releasing a brand new collection of hymns entitled "Gospel Collecction Vol. 1" to be released by Gaither Music. The CD and DVD will be released on August 19. On this first installment of hymns, Stevens has given his unique renditions to the popular gems of the church including "Old Rugged Cross/Rock Of Ages," "Onward Christian Soldiers" and "Amazing Grace."

Ray Stevens is one of the most popular novelty artists of all time. He has enjoyed a remarkably long career, with a stretch of charting singles -- some of them major hits -- that spanned four decades. Stevens has made the most of his impact with original material, often based on cultural trends of the day. Yet his knack for sheer silliness translated across generations, not to mention countless compilations and special TV offers. Stevens was a legitimately skilled singer and producer who also performed straight country and pop, scoring the occasional serious hit. But in general, comic novelty songs were his bread and butter, and his brand of humor somehow managed to endure seismic shifts in popular taste and style.

Here is the track listing of the new album:

01. Swing Down Chariot/Swing Low Sweet Chariot

02. Shall We Gather At The River/Down By The Riverside

03. Dry Bones

04. Farther Along

05. Have A Little Talk With Myself/Have A Little Talk With Jesus

06. Old Rugged Cross/Rock Of Ages

07. Old Time Religion/When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder

08. Onward Christian Soldiers

09. Amazing Grace

10. Turn Your Radio On/2013

11. The Preacher And The Bear