After serving in the U.S. Army in World War II (where he worked under Walter Schumann), he was hired by Mitch Miller, then head of A & R at Columbia Records as their home arranger, and he worked with several artists, including Rosemary Clooney, Marty Robbins, Frankie Laine, Johnny Mathis, Guy Mitchell and Johnnie Ray. He wrote a top 10 arrangement for Don Cherry's "Band of Gold" in 1955, a single that sold more than a million copies.
Amongst the hit singles he backed with his orchestra (and eventually with a male chorus) were "Yes Tonight Josephine" and "Just Walkin' in the Rain" by Johnnie Ray; "Chances Are" and "It's Not for Me to Say" by Johnny Mathis; "A White Sport Coat" and "The Hanging Tree" by Marty Robbins; "Up Above My Head," a duet by Frankie Laine and Johnnie Ray; and "Pet Me, Poppa" by Rosemary Clooney. He also backed up the albums Tony by Tony Bennett, Blue Swing by Eileen Rodgers, Swingin' for Two by Don Cherry, and half the tracks of The Big Beat by Johnnie Ray.
In these early years he also produced some similar sounding records for Columbia's Epic label under the name of Jay Raye (which stands for "Joseph Raymond") amongst them a backing album and singles with Somethin' Smith & The Redheads, an American male vocal group.
Because of the success of his backings Mitch Miller allowed him to make his own record, and this became the successful 'S Wonderful, a collection of standards that were recorded with an orchestra and a wordless singing chorus (four men, four women). He released many more albums in the same vein, including Dance The Bop (1957), S Marvelous (1957, gold album), S Awful Nice (1958), Concert in Rhythm (1958, gold album), Hollywood in Rhythm (1958), Broadway in Rhythm (1959), and Concert in Rhythm, Volume II (1959, gold album).
In 1959 he started the Ray Conniff Singers (12 women and 13 men) and released the album It's the Talk of the Town. This group of word— not just syllable — singing singers brought him the biggest hit he ever had in his career: Somewhere My Love (1966). The title track of the album was written to the music of "Lara's Theme" from the film Doctor Zhivago, and was a top 10 single in the US. The album also reached the US top 20 and went platinum, and Conniff won a Grammy. The single and album reached high positions in the international charts (a.o. Australia, Germany, Great Britain, Japan) as well. Also extraordinarily successful was the first of four Christmas albums by the Singers, Christmas with Conniff (1959). Nearly fifty years after its release, in 2004, Conniff was posthumously awarded with a platinum album/CD.
Musically different highlights in Conniff's career are two albums he produced in cooperation with Billy Butterfield, an old buddy from earlier swing days. Conniff Meets Butterfield (1960) featured Butterfield's solo trumpet and a small rhythm group; Just Kiddin' Around (after a Conniff original composition from the 1940s), released 1963, featured additional trombone solos by Ray himself. Both albums are pure light jazz and did not feature any vocals.
I'm In The Mood For Love
Ray Conniff Singers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Simply because you're near me.
Funny, but when you're near me
I'm in the mood for love.
Heaven is in your eyes
Bright as the stars we're under
Oh! Is it any wonder
Why stop to think of whether
This little dream might fade?
We've put our hearts together
Now we are one, I'm not afraid!
If there's a cloud above
If it should rain we'll let it
But for tonight, forget it!
I'm in the mood for love
The lyrics to Ray Conniff's song "I'm in the Mood for Love" express the feelings of a person who is swept off their feet and in love. The singer is in a state of bliss simply because their object of affection is near them. The proximity of the person has the power to put them in the mood for love. There is a bright and starry glint in the eyes of the person, which for the singer is nothing less than heaven. The environment around them is magical, and it's no wonder that they are in the mood for love.
The lyrics go on to suggest that the singer is so much in love that they don't want to put any thought into the possibility of the dream fading away. Their hearts have joined together, and they are not afraid of anything. Even if there is a cloud above, and it rains, they are determined to forget everything and focus on their love. The lyrics of the song capture the feeling of being in love and convey how it can transform a person's perspective.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm in the mood for love
I am feeling romantic and affectionate
Simply because you're near me.
The presence of the person I love makes me feel this way
Funny, but when you're near me
It's surprising how my emotions change when you are around
Heaven is in your eyes
I see so much beauty and love in your eyes
Bright as the stars we're under
Your eyes are dazzling and shining brightly, just like the stars we can see above us
Oh! Is it any wonder
It's no surprise that I feel the way I do when I am with you and see your eyes
Why stop to think of whether
There is no reason to question the reality of our love
This little dream might fade?
I don't want to worry about the possibility of our love fading or disappearing
We've put our hearts together
We have joined our hearts and feelings in a strong bond
Now we are one, I'm not afraid!
I feel no fear, because our bond is strong and we are united
If there's a cloud above
Even if things seem uncertain or difficult
If it should rain we'll let it
We will face any challenges and troubles together
But for tonight, forget it!
But for tonight, we will forget about any troubles and enjoy our love together
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOROTHY FIELDS, JIMMY MCHUGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind