by Greg AdamsRay Conniff was a remarkable artist who received too little respect for his innovations, and it isn't hyperbole to note that his dreamy, echoey arrangements -- which placed the voices alongside rather than in front of the instruments -- laid a philosophical foundation for dream pop and other fusions of conventional pop songcraft with ethereal sounds. Invisible Tears is a more conventional pop album than some of Conniff's others, but he tried to appeal to different audiences with his various thematic LPs, and this one is aimed at fans of folk and country-pop. The title track, a remake of Ned Miller's country hit, was one of Conniff's most successful singles, and the album itself charted in the Top 25. Invisible Tears boasts an appealing track list that includes Jimmie Rodgers' "Honeycomb" and "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine," the country standards "I Walk the Line" and "Oh Lonesome Me," and the Easy Riders' "Marianne." Enthusiasts of Conniff's "happy beat" won't be disappointed with this meticulously crafted record and its easygoing singalong quality.