Customer Reviews

Barry Williams Presents: One Hit Wonders of 70s

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Barry Williams Presents: One-Hit Wonders Of The 70s has some mighty great tunes on it--you get 20 tracks for a very reasonable price. These songs really take me back to the 1970s when I was dancing to these songs and listening to them on jukeboxes practically everywhere. The quality of the sound on this CD is nothing short of excellent and I really like that artwork, too.

The album starts with Wild Cherry shooting out their bit hit "Play That Funky Music." Predictably, this tune does have a funky sound to it and it's still great for dancing even today! "Play That Funky Music" also has a good melody that's quite catchy; it makes a strong beginning number for this CD. "One Toke Over The Line" really got a lot of airplay. This tune sounds great; Brewer & Shipley created this country flavored rock song with strong key modulations and perfect harmonizing. "One Toke Over The Line" is easily a major highlight of this album and I love every minute of it.

The Starland Vocal Band does a wonderful job on "Afternoon Delight;" this never seemed to stop playing and it was great for slow dancing all alone late at night with your sweetheart in your living room. "Afternoon Delight" makes god use of the guitars, too. In addition, Billy Swan's "I Can Help" is an excellent tune; Billy does this faultlessly and just one listen proves it. "I Can Help" really has a great vibe to it and that's grand. Again, the guitars and keyboard work enhance the music that goes along with Billy's singing although of course the music never steals the show away from Billy. "In The Summertime" by Mungo Jerry is one of my very favorite songs on this album; the beat is incredible and it brings back many a fond memory, too.

Paper Lace outdoes even themselves on "The Night Chicago Died;" this uses some great electric guitar and it rocks really well! The percussion makes this ballad even better. Listen also for Stories to do their hit entitled "Brother Louie;" "Brother Louie" addresses racism in a tune that you won't forget anytime soon. First Class does a sublime tune when they turn out "Beach Baby;" this Beach Boys sounding tune holds its own very well. Vicki Sue Robinson does her disco tune "Turn The Beat Around" that invariably got everyone out on the dance floor; she sings this with all her might and it works wonders for this number.

Lynn Anderson's "Rose Garden" is a classic country song that scored a big hit on the airwaves; Lynn delivers this without a superfluous note and she had lots of people humming this tune to themselves all the time! Edison Lighthouse also makes good with their masterpiece "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes);" and the CD ends strong with Vicki Lawrence performing "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia." "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" has Vicki singing at her best and it leaves you wanting more.

Barry Williams Presents: One-Hit Wonders Of The 70s is best suited for people who want to remember some really great hits that deserve still more attention in our times. This is also a fine CD for anyone who wants a solid 70s music collection.

A great mixed bag of 70's so called one hit wonders,a classic time capsule,20 oldies but goodies in all!!! Some highlights Dan Hill's Sometimes When We Touch,Starland Vocal Band's Afternoon Delight,Billy Swan's I Can Help and 17 more 70's nuggets!!! Great sound too!!! THESE ARE THE ORIGINAL 70's RECORDINGS BY THE ORIGINAL ARTISTS,NO CRAPPY RE-RECORDINGS TO BE FOUND HERE,A MAJOR PLUS!!! Recommended!!! A+

As a big movies and soundtracks fan, I recognized a lot of these songs from movies from the last few years. "Play That Funky Music" by Wild Cherry was used in "Undercover Brother." The "Starsky & Hutch" movie used "Afternoon Delight" by the Starland Vocal Band. There was a memorable cast version by Will Ferrell and company in "Anchorman." Mungo Jerry's "In The Summertime" was used in a funny bicycling montage scene in "Wedding Crashers." Dan Hill's "Sometimes When We Touch" was used in the Molly Shannon movie, "Superstar." Interestingly enough, "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia," was originally offered to Cher, but she turned it down. Vicki Lawrence was already known for her work on The Carol Burnett Show at the time of her big hit. Sitcom fans, of course, would later know her as Mama on Mama's Family.

My favorite tracks on this compilation were the classic hit "Precious and Few" by Climax, "O-o-h Child" by The 5 Stairsteps, and "Sometimes When We Touch" by Dan Hill.
I'd definitely recommend this CD if you are a fan of '70s music. There's a little bit of everything on this CD: Pop, Rock, Funk, Soul, Country, and Disco. I am more of a '60s (music that was used on The Wonder Years and American Dreams) and '80s music fan, so I'd probably enjoy an one-hit wonder compilation for those decades a bit more.

You might ask what is the connection with Barry Williams? He currently hosts a program Sunday-Friday at 2-6PM ET on the Totally '70s channel on Sirius Satellite Radio. Groovy man!

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/blog/2006/09/behind-camera-unauthorized-story-of.html

This Cd is really good, it is well worth getting.The music of the 70's is really good for family listening and it is nice to be able to play it with family.Kids nowadays like newer music but this CD relates to now generation too as alot of kids nowadays are listening to the 70's music and think it is great, my kids are 14 and 16 and even they love it. It is well worth checking out and I know I am very happy with it. If you are a music fan you will be too.Hearing Vicki Lawrence sing The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia was something that brought back memories of being in high school for me and hearing it on my schoolbus. Wow!!!! I am very impressed with the CD.

By Tammy Ward

When you purchase anthologies, you hope to have more great tunes than otherwise, and this one delivers. Lots of obscure tunes that have been forgotten.

This album was a bit like attending a class reunion. The songs you thought were your favorites have lost a bit of their luster and those you didn't particularly care for now are surprisingly touching. The music hasn't changed so it must be the beholder? In the 70's "Please Come to Boston" was painful to experience; now it's like an old friend. "My Maria" has become a trigger to all sorts of memories. I wonder why I didn't think about it over the years. Try this album--it's a time machine.

I really enjoyed listening to these one hit wonders. Original artists. Brings a smile to my face every time I listen to it.

Good recording quality and a good over all selection. For me, "One Hit Wonders" type of albums let me have the song I want without having to buy a whole album that doesn't make the top 10.

This is certainly a great compilation of seventies music and for the most part I don't have any qualms. But, calling these songs one-hit wonders is going a bit beyond fact. How on earth could anyone put Lynn Anderson on a "one-hit" album? And how about Dave Loggins? Or Wild Cherry? Does anybody remember The Poppy Family? Well, Terry Jacks was in that group. This CD has some great music on it, but not all the artists were one and done. Lynn Anderson had a long and distinguished recording career and I won't recap her songs. Wild Cherry had TWO hits: "Play That Funky Music" and "Hot To Trot". Dave Loggins had his biggest hit with "Please Come To Boston", but had another one with "One Way Ticket To Paradise". Terry Jacks sang "Seasons In The Sun" solo and was a part of several songs by The Poppy Family including "Which Way You Going Billy" and "That's Where I Went Wrong". I'm not griping about the music, only the packaging.

THese are original recordings and their collection chosen is a pretty good mix of music.You have Funky disco type mixed in with some buubblegum music and one great country song included. With the liner notes as well, this is really a great collection of various artist's .