Stay with Me is a studio album by American singer Vic Damone, released by RCA Records in November 1966. This was his first project after leaving Warner Records. It was produced by Neely Plumb and arranged and conducted by Ernie Freeman.
The album was released on compact disc for the first time by Collectables Records on January 21, 2003 as tracks 1 through 12 on a pairing of two albums on one CD with tracks 13 through 23 consisting of the other album being Damone's RCA album from November 1968, Why Can't I Walk Away.[1]
Collectables included this CD in a box set entitled Only the Best of Vic Damone, which contains six of his studio albums and one compilation and was released on November 27, 2007.[2]
AllMusic's John Bush wrote that "All of the choices are obvious ones -- "How Insensitive," "Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars," "Meditation," "The Girl From Ipanema," "Once I Loved," and the non-Jobim "Pretty Butterfly" and that "Damone's is one of the voices most suited to these soft-toned songs and copacetic charts."[3]
Billboard stated that "Ernie Freeman's smooth arrangements let Vic Damone caress the lyrics and the result is an outstanding album."[4]
Cash Box claimed "The Brazilian tunes, such as "Meditation" and "The Girl From Ipanema", and the movie music are set to a bossa beat. This package should move well among the artist's fans."[5]
The Portland Press Herald stated that the album's "fluid style swings gently through bossa nova touched songs such as "The Girl from Ipanema" and Nights of Quiet Stars "[6]
The Daily Oklahoman stated that Damone "devotes his considerable talent to a gently swinging bossa nova and Ernie Freeman's great arrangements are distinctive."[7]