Ray Stevens - Mr. Custer (1969)

[@geoffreytudor5674]

I played the grooves off this record as a kid...what fun!

[@donalddockery9657]

I love listening to Ray Steven songs

[@jazzcatt]

I never knew Ray Stevens covered my father's (Larry Verne) song! So that's two artists who covered it. Charlie Drake in the UK did it too.

[@battlesickloner]

I remember Larry's version off of my dads old K-tell records. Best version ever. When you see his pic as a young man, you wouldn't think he did songs like this.

[@jazzcatt]

@@battlesickloner Larry Verne was my father. He could sing his @$$ off but Era Records wouldn't let him. He was approached by Decca records because someone in their staff knew he could sing and play guitar. He was also 'handsome' and had the 'look'. Decca wanted him to sing, not do the kooky crap Era Records kept pushing him to do. In his ignorance he had signed a seven year contract with Era. When he got the offer from Decca, Era would not let him out of the contract, nor would they partner him with their 'real song' writers. And so Larry Verne became a lousy one hit wonder. The only song that even sort of shows his abilities was on the album. The song is Tres Dias, here on youtube: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaCXdKifjNd9Zpo This next one was not on the album shown in the video but was a rock song. It was 'comedy but it also shows what he could do. He is doing all of the back vocals as well! Tubby Tilly kzbin.info/www/bejne/npa8mZmbYs2mnKM Enjoy and thank you so much for enjoying my father's old music!

[@ricashbringer9866]

My father had a copy of Larry Verne's song on an LP called Goofy Greats. Lot of good songs on that album, including Snoopy and the Red Baron, George of the Jungle, and Surfin Bird.

[@jazzcatt]

@@ricashbringer9866 Yeah, My dad's song was on several different 'goofy' or 'comedy' or 'novelty' songs records put out by KTEL records. There were several Goofy Greats albums. He had several singles after his album was out but Dad stayed a 'one hit wonder'. What sucks is Decca Records wanted him, and wanted him to sing for real, but Era Records would not let him out of his seven year contract.

[@jazzcatt]

@C-Dawg Frankl,y I don't give a damn if you think I'm a liar or not. I have my birth certificate, and I lived with him, dumb shit.

[@bonniewood2112]

Great to hear song u haven't heard long time

[@RobertCorle]

Love this song and all of ray's songs 😅

[@ijustlovebritcoms]

I think I love this version of this song more than the original! I guess it is that super-soulful style of Mr Ray ❤️Amazingly enough, I had never heard this cover before.

[@2puffs770]

Songs family memories are born from!

[@juliadevonney1401]

This song came to mind this morning when I was invited to my family reunion. It makes what happened to the 7th calvary look like a teddy bear tea party. I DON'T WANT TO GO! I don't know why they keep having them when it turns into a pecking party.

[@panzergator]

"Calvary" is a hill that Christians like. CAVALRY refers to mounted fighters.

[@badkitty4922]

Wow. I didn't know Ray covered this! I had the original artist on Goofy Gold albums in the 70s.

[@JerryEricsson]

Love that old tune, it was running through my head as we visited the custer battlefield last month. Quite a place to visit, everyone who has any interest in the History of the Indian wars should visit. I have been studying the battle for over five years before we took the trip. It is one of those places I wanted to visit before I pass on to the next life. We went on to Yellowstone Park, what a trip. Still a few places I want to visit, but with all my buddies suffering from Agent Orange, I fear I may not be able to make them all. My doctor today told me to get tested for Agent Orange because of some symptoms I complained about, and I have to have my heart checked on Monday. Oh well life goes on.

[@NFL294]

+Jerry Ericsson didn't some named "drake" [last name] also do this song?

[@JerryEricsson]

+rande stuart Ya I know it came out by someone else before Ray Stevens made his version, as with most songs, I liked the first version better.

[@NFL294]

I think I found the original just after playing this version,it popped up on the window on the right,That .They are very close.The talking parts on the original are a little more dramatic sounding

[@jaciironcloud139]

Jerry Ericsson yes sir Battle of the Little Big Horn known as Battle of Greasy Grass

[@jazzcatt]

@@JerryEricsson Hi Jerry, It came out by Larry Verne. Larry was the original artist of Mr. Custer. I'm his daughter. I was 4 years old when it was popular on the radio and the Billboard number one spot.

[@Kismet11000]

I like the original, but Ray's rendition is wonderful and hilarious.

[@melissaconstable8019]

I came here to listen to it. Mum use to play it when I was a kid

[@hectorguel5100]

Me gusta esa canción 🎉

[@StevenC304]

I love this song.

[@travisgrizzard8453]

This is the song which introduced me to Ray Stevens.

[@jazzcatt]

Are you sure it wasn't the original recording by Larry Verne that you heard first?

[@cupertinojay677]

i'd never heard this song before, tnx alot raystevensbigfan. was more of a phil ochs [r.i.p.] fan back in the day, ie - draft dodger rag.

[@saritaodom1481]

one of my favorites....thanks for it

[@raystevensbigfan]

Thank you commenting and thank you for your support. I have aready posted Southern Air back on Nov 26, 2011. As for Family Furnal Fight, it was only on "Box Set". I will try to have it posted soon, but at this point I am trying to finish the "Gitarzan" album, and then looking into going to the "Boogity Boogity" next.

[@sargesgiftshopcom]

Such a great song. I had just got out of the army in 1969

[@cultfilmfreakreviews]

liar

[@MaggieCrooks]

I love this version, but I love the song whoever sings it

[@rolandoyanez921]

Hearing this song growing up good song lyrics

[@peteremmert8551]

I think that Ray was trying to get away from his comical material after he was signed to Monument Records with such songs as "Mr. Businessman" and "Unwind". But, since he was better-known for the comicals, he came back with "Guitarzan" and had never looked back (except for his B sides on some Mercury Records 45s). Andy Williams (Barnaby Records' president and singer on its parent company, Columbia), though, gave Ray reassurance with "Everything is Beautiful" (which featured Ray's daughter in the intro. as one of the kids singing).

[@judybohl7789]

In a modern fashion, there's another Custer day is coming. History repeated.

[@michaelbujaki2462]

It's definitely a product of it's time.

[@jamesvignali6074]

My sentiments exactly.

[@raystevensbigfan]

Thank you for the kind comments.

[@olfox88]

also can you post family furnel fight (sorry just got off work cant spell) its on one of his box sets i dont know if he did a early version of it. ps soutern air woul be nice to.

[@raerncornerproduction6073]

The word for friend is the same word they use for enemy. So how would they know the difference is it the way they say it

[@jamesdio891]

♡

[@olfox88]

i did not know ray also did this song a true find raystevensbigfan 5 stars lol

[@jazzcatt]

The original artist was Larry Verne.

[@Lupton2000]

This was not a great song, but Ray made it better:)

[@gigilooper1268]

Nah...Larry Verne's rendition was much better. I usually like Ray Stevens' performance of songs but this one was too musical considering the topic and that took away from the humor of it

[@agathanas]

A lot of anti-Vietnam War songs were popular radio-favorites when I was growing up, songs like "He Ain't Heavy, He's my Brother". Anyway, I think Ray Stevens' cover of this song was actually one of them. This song was played on the radio a lot in 1970. It wasn't only funny, it was also socially relevant in regards to the rapidly changing views and realizations of the time, during those early-Nixon years when Americans' blood was being spilled in The Nam more than ever. ...(Amanda's husband, Casey, is posting this, by the way. God bless America's soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and Coasties, my branch (Semper Par, out!)).

[@Theri4444]

Ray Steven did this way better in my opinion

[@jazzcatt]

@@Theri4444 Boy, do I ever disagree with you on that! My father, Larry Verne not only performed the song but he did help write it, and refused to take any credit for it. He came up with the sound effects, like the arrows zipping by, and the Oom-pa-eka backing voices etc. He also did all of them on the record as well.

[@dazzlingdavedainty]

charlie drakes version all day long for me

[@Lupton2000]

Could someone post the newer version Ray did.

[@lenb7275]

What the " bleep " am I doin here !!!!!!!

[@roberthodge2771]

This man tells it like it is in the USA; too bad they do Not listen in Wash. D. C.

[@mrt723]

June 25th, 1876 The doomed 7Th Calvery ,they didnt stand a chance ,but i guess the shocking way the Indians were treated it was bound to happen sooner or later

[@doughesson]

I could see Rodney Carrington doing this song in tribute.

[@ejhamilton5543]

Try no señor apahe Los apson

[@vicreadies]

Sorry, but third behind Charlie Drake and Larry Verne

[@jazzcatt]

Larry Verne was first. Larry was my father.

[@johnparker8588]

You can’t say Indian, Injun, or Redskin anymore. Political Correctness

[@stevesmith1199]

charlie drake did the original far as i klnow his version was far better

[@JohnCarey1969]

Larry Verne did the original, but yes Charlie Drake added much more comedy to the song and made the song much better!

[@jazzcatt]

@@JohnCarey1969 Funny you say that. I hated Charlie Drake's version, but then again I'm a bit biased as Larry was my father. I didn't learn till I was an adult that anyone had covered my father's song. As a matter of fact I just learned today that Ray Stevens also covered it! I was 4 years old when my dad's became popular.

[@jehovahuponyou]

RAY SKEVENS CAN'T HOLD A CANDLE TO OLE VERNE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!