The kitsch enthusiast or novelty seeker will get a kick out of
Ray Conniff's 1976 album I Write the Songs. Known primarily for orchestral versions of contemporary pop songs, his recordings during the late 1960s and early 1970s by himself and as Ray Conniff and the Singers included many straightforward recordings of current pop hits. This collection, sans singers, includes songs by
Elton John, Lou Rawls, the Manhattans, and awesome versions of "A Fifth of Tchaikovsky" (a take-off on "A Fifth of Beethoven" from Saturday Night Fever) and "Remembering You," the closing theme from All in the Family! This fun easy listening album has great track listing. A cheerful artifact of the early 1970s. If you are going to revisit the
Ray Conniff catalog, vinyl LP or 8-track is highly recommended. ~ JT Griffith