''S Wonderful!'' is a 1956 album by

Ray Conniff Joseph Raymond Conniff (November 6, 1916 – October 12, 2002) was an American bandleader and arranger best known for his Ray Conniff Singers during the 1960s. Biography Conniff was born November 6, 1916 in Attleboro, Massachusetts, United St ...

, his orchestra and (wordless) chorus. It was his first album released under his name. The album was produced completely in Mono by

Mitch Miller Mitchell William Miller (July 4, 1911 – July 31, 2010) was an American choral conductor, record producer, record-industry executive, and professional oboist. He was involved in almost all aspects of the industry, particularly as a conductor ...

at Columbia Records' 30th Street Studios in New York City.

Critical reception

The

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

review by William Ruhlmann gave the album 4.5 stars stating "Conniff updated the big band sound to the '50s, retaining its danceable tempos and building upon the unison section innovations of

Glenn Miller Alton Glen Miller (March 1, 1904 – December 15, 1944) was an American big band founder, owner, conductor, composer, arranger, trombone player and recording artist before and during World War II, when he was an officer in the United States Arm ...

...Employing standards with familiar melodies, the imaginativeness of his work became all the more noticeable."

Track listing

Recording dates

Recording dates based on Ray Conniff's diaries: * November 11, 1955: Stardust/Begin the Beguine (to be released as a single first) * March 26, 1956: Dancing in the Dark/That Old Black Magic * June 15, 1956: September Song/Speak Low/I Get a Kick Out of You/Sometimes I'm Happy * June 18, 1956: 'S Wonderful/Wagon Wheels/I'm an Old Cowhand/Sentimental Journey

References

1956 albums Columbia Records albums Ray Conniff albums Albums produced by Ray Conniff Albums recorded at CBS 30th Street Studio {{1950s-pop-album-stub