Recently, Query's regular Retro Record column featured Ray's album, Let Me Tell You About My Operation. Check it out here.
Category: Ray’s recordings
Robert Mitchum Wrote for Ray Bourbon
One of the odd little things that pops up in lore about Ray is that Hollywood legend Robert Mitchum wrote songs and perhaps routines for him. Turns out that little legend is true. Mitchum discussed his work for Ray and other “blue” nightclubs acts on page 94 of “Man With the Immortal Face - Bob Mitchum” … Continue reading Robert Mitchum Wrote for Ray Bourbon
The Story of Ray’s “Sex Change”
Despite a career on stage that spanned fifty years (and thirty years of recordings), Ray is probably most infamous for his 1950s "sex change" hoax. The main artifact of it today is his outrageously titled album, Let Me Tell You About My Operation and the funny title track where Ray sings, "There's been a change in … Continue reading The Story of Ray’s “Sex Change”
70th Anniversary of Ray’s Carnegie Hall Revue, “Don’t Call Me Madam”
This year, 2019, is the 70th anniversary of Ray Bourbon’s appearance at Carnegie Hall. We’re still not sure about several aspects of this show. In the 1950’s, Ray released an lp record, Don’t Call Me Madam, that included most of the routines performed during the revue and quoting some people who saw the show. I … Continue reading 70th Anniversary of Ray’s Carnegie Hall Revue, “Don’t Call Me Madam”
Restoring Ray Bourbon’s Recorded Legacy: An Update
In the 1990s, when I first began researching Ray’s life and work, I got copies of most of his recordings from various collectors, mostly on cassette tape. I also dubbed all of his lp recordings to digital. These were briefly released on cd through a “print on demand” service. When that service folded, I offered … Continue reading Restoring Ray Bourbon’s Recorded Legacy: An Update
An Unusual Pressing of “An Evening in Copenhagen”
I recently obtained an unusual copy of Ray's first album, the 10" lp, An Evening in Copenhagen. I had seen photos of another copy of this release before, but it was interesting to see it up close. The jacket uses different artwork than the normal pressing of the album and features a drawing of a unicorn. … Continue reading An Unusual Pressing of “An Evening in Copenhagen”
Ray Bourbon’s Last Recording
People who talk to me about Ray, getting familiar with his voluminous recorded output, sometimes ask me what my favorite recording is by Ray or the one I find most interesting. It's difficult to choose. I have a fondness for "The Wedding" and "The Raid", outrageous stories about 1920s gay life told as only Ray … Continue reading Ray Bourbon’s Last Recording
Ray’s “Lost” Live Album
In October 1961, Ray Bourbon was booked for ten weeks at Tony's Talk of the Town, a nightclub in Chicago. The owner of the club was D.W. Summers, who had just started a small record label, Roslyn Records. He recorded Ray's show on October 25, 1961, intending to release it as an album. He also … Continue reading Ray’s “Lost” Live Album
The Censored Tracks on “An Evening in Copenhagen”
When I first obtained a copy of An Evening in Copenhagen in the early 1990s, I could tell that most of the tracks on the lp were actually dubs from Ray's 78 releases - you can hear the surface noise of the original 78 rpm records in the tracks. I wasn't sure about "The Wedding" … Continue reading The Censored Tracks on “An Evening in Copenhagen”
Ray Bourbon, Bill Barclay, and Hollywood Phone Pranks
Prank phone calls have been a staple of comedy for many years, ever since little boys started calling their local store and asking, "Do you have Prince Albert in a can?". Steve Allen is famous for his prank calls on his tv show (listen to some of them here and here). Remember Allen and Johnny … Continue reading Ray Bourbon, Bill Barclay, and Hollywood Phone Pranks
Don't Call Me Madam 