{"id":2422,"date":"2026-06-03T14:36:30","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T18:36:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.songfacts.com\/articles\/?p=2422"},"modified":"2026-06-03T14:36:30","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T18:36:30","slug":"the-story-behind-ray-stevens-novelty-hits-and-how-he-penned-an-inspiring-no-1-hit-in-1970","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.songfacts.com\/articles\/the-story-behind-ray-stevens-novelty-hits-and-how-he-penned-an-inspiring-no-1-hit-in-1970\/","title":{"rendered":"The Story Behind Ray Stevens\u2019 Novelty Hits and How He Penned an Inspiring No. 1 Hit in 1970"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Before there was Weird Al Yankovic, there was Ray Stevens<\/a>. Though not entirely the same, these two have generated decades of laughter with their novelty and parody music. Ray Stevens is an interesting novelty act because not only was he hilarious, but he was an amazing singer and musician in his own right. Stevens’ career dates back to 1957, when he signed to Capitol Records at only 18. He was marketed as a country artist and released his debut single, “Silver Bracelet.” It generated positive reviews for the young artist. Ray Stevens was born as Harold Ray Ragsdale, and shortly before his first single release, his label changed his name. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ray Stevens moved over to Mercury Records in 1961, and he penned his first novelty hit. “Jeremiah Peabody’s Polyunsaturated Quick-Dissolving Fast-Acting Pleasant-Tasting Green And Purple Pills” peaked at No. 35 on the Billboard<\/em> Hot 100. Stevens found his niche, and thus began a string of novelty hits. In 1962, he released “Ahab The Arab,” which peaked at No. 5 on the Hot 100, and hit No. 2 on the Cash Box<\/em> Top 100. He followed up with “Harry The Hairy Ape” in 1963, which peaked at No. 17 on the Hot 100. In 1969, Stevens penned a No. 8 hit with “Gitarzan,”<\/a> a parody telling how Tarzan formed a band in the jungle with Jane and their pet monkey. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ray Stevens Finds Success With and Without Novelty Songs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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