Customer Reviews

Greatest Hits: Baby I Love You

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Do not download the MP3 version of this CD if you are looking for the title song, Baby, I love You. It is not there. If you notice, when you click to the MP3 version, not only does the CD not have the title song, but the title changes to simply, Andy Kim's greatest hits, instead of Andy Kim's Greatest Hits, subtitled, Baby I love You, as on the CD you must purchase for a large amount of money.

Amazon is not alone in this little game of deception. ITune's does it, also. Always look at what you are buying before you click the mouse button, as I almost did.

First, let me say that I like Andy Kim. A lot. I'm a big fan of his. He's one of the best (and arguably most underrated) composers of the pop era, and his sexy style and commanding stage presence make him one of our generation's consummate performers. With all this in mind, I would have given "Baby I Love You: Greatest Hits" five stars in a heartbeat, but the fact that the CD leaves out so many of Andy's notable classics while including some questionable later material was enough to lose it a star.

Secondly, contrary to what was reported in one of the editorial reviews, Andy Kim was not the voice of The Archies. That honor went to Ron Dante (read my review of Ron's own CD "Favorites" for more info). Along with producer Jeff Barry, Andy co-composed several songs for The Archies, including the megahit "Sugar, Sugar," which was the #1 record of 1969, and it's possible he MAY have done some background vocals, but that's the extent of his involvement. Still, Andy was, and remains, a shining star in his own right.

Back to the CD. It seems to me that this misnamed "Greatest Hits" compilation is just a regurgitated version of Andy's self-titled 1974 Capitol album, plus three of his earlier hits ("Baby I Love You," "Be My Baby," and "Shoot 'Em Up, Baby") thrown in for good measure. While the "baby" trio makes for fine listening, it isn't enough of a good thing. Where's "Rainbow Ride?" What happened to "So Good Together?" "How'd We Ever Get This Way?" Even "A Friend in the City" and "Tricia Tell Your Daddy" didn't make the cut. Yet we have "Oh Pretty Woman," on which Andy does a great job, but let's face it, that was Roy Orbison's hit, not Andy's. And the final track on the CD, "Rock Me Gently Part II," which is just the instrumental and backgrounds tracks from "Rock Me Gently" (Part I?) and was the original flip side of the single, certainly could have been dispensed with in favor of one of those 1968-69 Steed recordings.

Yet the selections on the CD do underline Andy's immense talents as a songwriter, so that's a bit of a redemption; at least it kept the star tally from going down even further. However, I'm hopeful that a more comprehensive collection of Andy's hits will be released at some point in the future. Until then, there's this one, and it isn't bad. It just isn't enough.

this is one expensive cd to be as weak as it is. i was a dj during andy's earlier steed career so i got to hear all the singles that were released whether they sold or not. baby how'd we ever get this way. rainbow ride, tricia tell your daddy, and a rocking number that was big in memphis where i worked, it's your life are all absent here. yeah, be my baby, and baby i love you and baby how'd we ever get this way are nice, but this ain't no greatest hits--frankly, if i never hear rock me gently again it will be too soon. where the ... is rhino when you need them. i guarantee you there is an audience out there for a real greatest hits.

In turning out this Andy Kim collection EMI International may have relied on chart performances in Lebabon - the birthplace of his parents [Andy was born Andrew Joachim in Montreal on December 5, 1946]. At last count he had, after all, sold 30 million records worldwide. However, most of the contents are not only pretty obscure in North America, other than the five charted hits [tracks 1 to 4 and 9] the others - with the exception of Rock Me Gently Part 2 - weren't even B-sides.

Missing hits are How'd We Ever Get This Way? [# 21 Billboard Pop Hot 100 in 1968], Rainbow Ride and So Good Together [# 49 and # 36 Hot 100 in 1969], A Friend In The City and It's Your Life [# 90 and # 85 Hot 100 in 1970], and I Wish I Were and I Been Moved [# 40 Adult Contemporary/# 62 Hot 100 and # 97 Hot 100 in 1971].

Incidentally, ALL of his hits at Steed were written and produced by Jeff Barry, and YES he was a voice, albeit not the main one, on some of The Archies' hits, including Sugar, Sugar [which he co-wrote] as well as on the animated TV series. The two non-Steed hits, Rock Me Gently Part 1 (# 1 Hot 100/# 40 AC and Fire, Baby I'm On Fire ( # 28 Hot 100) were recorded on the Ice label he formed in Montreal with his brother Joe and picked up by Capitol in 1974.

We would have been much better served had they included some his offerings as Baron Longfellow which at least got some air play in his native Canada for the Ice label. Songs like Go It Slow [Ice 001], Amour [Ice 002 and nominated for a Juno Award as Single of the Year in Canada], Sugar, Sugar [Ice 003] - all in 1980, along with I'm Gonna Need A Miracle Tonight [Ice 004], Hold Me [Ice 005] and In The Night Machine [Ice 006] - all in 1984. In 1991, as simply Longfellow, he cut Powerdrive, which also received decent airplay in Canada.

I agree wholeheartedly with the reviewer who says there is a market out here waiting for a decent Andy Kim compilation. Come on Rhino - or Ace - get with it.

I was very young when I listened to my brother's vinyl albums blasting out of his room. The fact is he piqued my interest in music to begin with- the first of which seemed to be the Canadian pop singer, Andy Kim.
Kim's Greatest Hits is a delightful package of early 70's bubblegum material at its peak.
Such songs as "Baby I Love You," "Rock Me Gently," and "Be My Baby" are just a few of the catchy numbers included.
Andy Kim sounds at times like Neil Diamond, yet a sultry blues style can be heard throughout the CD.
I am proof that one does not have to be a teenager of the 1970's
to enjoy Andy Kim, regardless of where he is today.
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I share the sentiments of the others who have reviewed this CD. Although there are a small handful of his hits, there is a lot of filler on this disc that could so definitely be replaced by actual greatest hits (ie Rainbow Ride, How'd we ever get this way,etc.)! And where ARE his Baron Lonfellow singles?? I used to have the single "I'm gonna need a miracle tonight" as a kid back in the early 80's and I would LOVE to hear it again. I must say one thing positively for this CD, though. A greatest hits package it's not, but it IS a good Andy Kim CD, generally speaking. Oh if only Rhino would finally help us!

I have been an Andy Kim listener for over 30 years. I have listened to all of his music and have all his albums and 45's. I have a problem with his latest compilation out of Germany. First, " How'd We Ever Get This Way " never made it, even though it recieved a lot of airplay. Second, and foremost, the song : " So Good Together " , one of my top 2 favorites by Andy failed to make the CD of Greatest Hits. I have the " Baby I Love You " album at home ( still sealed ) with a sticker on front that says : " Featuring The Smash Hit,: "So Good Together " . If this true, why did it not make the Greatest Hits CD ? I would like to know who decides what songs should go on a greatest hits compilation disc. This is not the only artist that I have come across that has experienced the same situation.

Andy Kim- the moste underater perfomer of the 70's!

Andy Kim, sounding very much like Neil Diamond throughout this outstanding set, rocks out on songs like "Rock Me Gently" and "Baby I Love You".

"Baby I LOve You" beats outs the original by a wide margin. Hey, Andy is a flat out sexy guy- and this set really showcases his sensual yet macho performances.

A few flat out rockers, this set is unabashadlly romantic!

I've been singing the praises of this set since it's release, and I have absolutley no problem with the track selection.

As has been mentioned earlier, I also find the term "Greatest Hits" in this context slightly deceptive, since there are only 5 of his 14 U.S. chart singles on this CD, and his very first Top-40 hit, "How'd We Ever Get This Way," was omitted. I suppose licensing rights may play a part, but until a more comprehensive "Best of Andy Kim" CD arrives, this CD is worth having. It's also worth noting that EMI in Canada (Kim's native country) or the U.S. did not release this particular compilation...
A great addition on his next "Best Of" CD would be not just his other Steed charters - like the excellent 'bubbling under' single "Tricia Tell Your Daddy" - but also his only charted single for Uni (MCA), "Who Has The Answers?" (charted #111 in 1972). Some of his 1980s material when he was known as Baron Longfellow would be splendid to add, too...
Until then, we can always listen to his Greatest Hits vinyl LP on Steed (or ABC), plus the fine selections on this compact disc.

It's great seeing Andy Kim on CD, but I find the title of the CD very disappointing and deceptive. I have good junior-high school memories of "Rainbow Ride", "So Good Together"... I thought "How'd We Ever Get This Way" and "Tricia Tell Your Daddy" were hits too. I guess I'll continue listening to my vinyl from ABC/Dunhill.