Love Story by Ray Coniff And The Singers: A Cheesy, Catchy Time Capsule You Didn’t Know You Needed
Alright, let’s talk about Love Story by Ray Coniff and his merry band of vocal enthusiasts. Released under Columbia (because, of course it was), this album is like your grandma’s favorite sweater—warm, familiar, but also kinda itchy if you think too hard about it. It’s one of those records that somehow manages to feel both dated and timeless, which is impressive in its own weird way.
First off, the title track “Love Story” hits you right away with that sugary-sweet charm only Ray Coniff could pull off without sounding completely insufferable. I mean, who else can make an orchestra full of strings sound like they’re winking at you? The song bounces along so cheerfully that even if you’ve never seen the movie (gasp!), you’ll still find yourself humming along while pretending not to enjoy it. There’s something oddly satisfying about how smooth the harmonies are—it’s like sinking into a marshmallow cloud of cheese and nostalgia.
Then there’s “Theme from Ice Castles (Through the Eyes of Love).” Oh boy, where do I start? This tune feels like someone took all the drama of figure skating and shoved it into four minutes of pure melodrama. But here’s the kicker: it works. The singers hit those high notes with such earnestness that you almost forget how over-the-top it is. Almost. Still, there’s a certain magic to how Ray layers the instrumentation—it’s lush without being suffocating, dramatic without taking itself too seriously. Plus, try listening to this without imagining sequins and triple axels. Go ahead, I dare ya.
What makes Love Story stick in my brain isn’t just the music; it’s the vibe. Ray Coniff had this uncanny ability to turn schmaltz into gold. Sure, some tracks lean heavily into the elevator-music territory, but others have these little surprises—a brass swell here, a playful rhythm there—that keep things interesting. It’s like he knew exactly how far he could push before crossing into full-on cornball territory—and then stopped just short.
So yeah, Love Story might not change your life or anything, but it’s got enough charm to worm its way into your playlist rotation. Honestly, I think Ray would’ve been thrilled knowing people are still vibing to his stuff decades later—even if most of us are doing it ironically. Or maybe we’re not. Maybe deep down, we all need a little bit of cheesy romance now and then.
Final thought: If Ray Coniff were alive today, I bet he’d be posting TikToks of himself conducting kitchen utensils. And honestly? I’d follow him.
