The Best of Ray Stevens is a collection of previously recorded songs by Ray Stevens for Mercury Records, the very first label that Stevens signed with. It was released in 1968 by a subsidiary of Mercury called Wing Records. It is not to be confused with the 1967 compilation of the same name. Unlike most of the collections of Stevens' music, this compilation begins with the serious songs of Stevens. The back of the album cover contains an essay by Stuart Lewis that describes Stevens' ability to interpret dramatic songs as equally as much as comedic songs. Lewis' essay begins with comparing this collection with a person, stating that it has two different sides. Indeed, the first side of the LP contains five of his serious songs, while the second side contains five of his novelty songs.
