Ray Conniff brought his chorus into the foreground for the first time on
It's the Talk of the Town, and credited the album to
the Ray Conniff Singers.
Conniff's chorus is bright and cheery, unlike the immense-sounding Norman Luboff Choir or the comparatively stodgy
Robert Shaw Chorale. But despite the high level of energy and enthusiasm, the choral format gives the album a throwback feel that is only amplified by material like "Zip-a-dee-doo-dah" and the
Gene Autry favorite "Buttons and Bows," although the latter is, admittedly, very good. The increased focus on the chorus comes at the expense of the instrumental arrangements, which are relegated to a supporting role well behind the voices.
It's the Talk of the Town, more than any of
Conniff's other vocal albums, treads a little too close to
Mitch Miller territory for comfort.