Marty Robbins/Ray Conniff - The Story of My Life: The Marty Robbins/Ray Conniff Recordings

Marty Robbins' brief flirtation with the teen idol crowd during the late '50s may not be his best period in the eyes of most fans, but it did result in some of the brightest, most effervescent vocal pop of the era. Robbins, with the help of arranger Ray Conniff, crossed over to the teen-entranced pop charts and still kept his soul -- unlike Elvis Presley -- with hits like "A White Sport Coat (And a Pink Carnation)," "Just Married," "The Story of My Life," and "She Was Only Seventeen (He Was One Year More)." This Bear Family compilation includes 16 of these gems, none better than the hits mentioned above, but many still a revelation for those who enjoyed the period. Also included is "The Hanging Tree," the one Robbins-Conniff collaboration that looked ahead to his trail-blazing Western smashes, "El Paso" and "Devil Woman." ~ John Bush, All Music Guide