Customer Reviews

Hard to Find 45s on CD, Volume 8: 70's Pop Classics

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The key here, in Eric Records latest collection of 45's on CD, is that while many of these songs have been available elsewhere on CD, the versions found here are the original singles. All of the 20 tracks here were top-30 so even the casual listener will be humming along with just about every tune. The hard-to-find aspect comes into play here with the appearance of the likes of Prelude's "After The Goldrush" and domestically at least, Boney M's "Rivers Of Babylon". While there are only a few such uncommon tracks in this collection, there are finds here such as the original version of Chris Rea's "Fool If You Think It's Over", a song often encountered in its rerecorded version in other compilation CDs. While the hard-to-find nature of this collection is thinner then other Eric CD's, the quality of the production is everything that we have come to expect from this small independent label. Sound quality is excellent with all tracks in stereo and interesting backround is provided on each of the included tracks in the liner notes booklet. While not quite as interesting from the collectors' standpoint as previous ones, this volume in the "Hard To Find On 45..." series does offer an excellent tour of the mainstream pop music of the 70's done to Eric's usual high standards.

While there is a wealth of great 70's songs on this set, only Chris Rea's "Fool (If You Think It's Over)" is really a difficult find, and even that one can be had with moderate effort. For a better sampler of hard to find hits, try "Lost Hits Of The 70's" on EMI-Capitol Music or the Barry Scott "Lost 45's" series (although Vol. 1 of that series is hard to find itself, and doesn't come cheap used).

Nevertheless, there are a lot of good memories here, so it's a decent value. Just don't kid yourself into thinking you're getting rare songs on this CD, because most of these songs are all over the place.

I have had the HARDEST time finding original, great 70s songs. ! to the maker of this cd: please, please make ANOTHER COMPLIATION!!! this is an awesome cd ..not re recordings..but original songs !get it!

Many songs made it to Billboard's Top 20,as mentioned in the editorial review. MAGIC,performed by Scotland-based Pilot,is a great classic rock piece. It is not to be confused with the composition by John Farrar,whose was recorded by Olivia Newton-John. Also Ric Ocasek's own composition which was recorded by his defunct Cars. I love EMOTION,written by Barry,Robin and the late Maurice Gibb aka the Bee Gees. Samantha Sang's recording features Barry's background vocal. Exile's KISS YOU ALL OVER was on hit parade in the summer of 1978. EBONY EYES by Bob Welch is awesome. That was one of his post-Fleetwood Mac hits. The song is originally from his 1977 album FRENCH KISS. FOOL(IF YOU THINK IS OVER) is great also. Is that the late Robert Palmer's background vocal that we hear in the background? The track,performed by Chris Rea(this is the original 1978 version),would be re-recorded by Rea in a different key,years later. STUMBLIN' IN,which debuted on the radio in January 1979 was a one-hit wonder for Suzi Quatro,her duet with Chris Norman. Toby Beau's ANGEL BABY was another 1978 hit. The other songs are great.

Talk about great collections! Only wish it was a 2 disk set. Not a bad song on the whole CD. I'm sure I'll check out the other volumes from the 70's. A must for people who appreciate the great music from the 50's, 60's, and 70's. A breath of fresh air from the garbage listened to today known as rap, and hip hop.

Hard to Find 45s on CD, Volume 8: 70's Pop Classics is one of the less common retro CDs because it focuses on pop tunes of the 1970s. I clearly remember these wonderful songs getting a lot of airplay during the 1970s; and this is one great CD for people like me who were born at the very tail end of the "baby boom."

The CD starts with Exile doing their great hit "Kiss You All Over;" the percussion, guitars and the awesome singing makes this a solid retro number. The tempo changes and a few key changes here and there make it an even better number! Suzi Quatro & Chris Norman do their duet of "Stumblin' In;" they sound every bit as good as they did when I first heard this number. Moreover, Hurricane Smith pulls off a major coup with one of the most beautiful love songs I've ever heard, "Oh, Babe What Would You Say?" Love those strings on "Oh, Babe What Would You Say?," too.

Maxine Nightingale does her zesty number called "Right Back Where We Started From;" this is good solid 70's dancing music. Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr.'s "You Don't Have To Be A Star (To Be In My Show)" is another sweet love ballad about true love that always brings back fond memories of junior high school dances.

Chris Rea sings his sultry ballad "Fool (If You Think It's Over);" this never ceases to push my buttons because of the great dance beat and the smooth jazz sound of the song.

But if you want more light pop, listen for Daniel Boone doing his best on "Beautiful Sunday;" I like the way the sound was mixed so that there's a vague echo of Daniel's voice as he sings this. The guitar works well for "Beautiful Sunday," too. John Paul Young's classic hit "Love Is The Air" ends the album as a pop number that has just a twist of disco to it.

The liner notes come in the form of a small booklet and there's also plenty of information about the tracks on this CD. The artwork is very nicely done.

Overall, if you're craving 1970's pop, this is one CD I would highly recommend. The sound is great and we get twenty excellent tracks from many different artists.

Of all the tracks on the album, only 3 haven't already been released by Rhino on one or another of their Have A Nice Day series. So how "Hard-to-Find" could they have been?

Those 3 are McCoo & Davis, Prelude, and Boney M. And at least in Canada, every CD store has a bargain Boney M's greatest hits collection around.

Nonetheless, the songs themselves are great, but I'd like to find some of the REALLY hard to find hits of the 70's.

Like the following:
Song of Joy - Miguel Rios
Evil Woman Don't Play Your Games with Me - Crow
Go Back - Crabby Appleton
God Love Rock & Roll - Teegarden & VanWinkle
House of the Rising Sun - Frijid Pink
My Baby Loves Lovin' - White Plains
Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep - Mac & Katie Kissoon
Only You Know & I Know - Delaney & Bonnie
Resurrection Shuffle - Ashton Gardner & Dyke
Timothy - The Buoys

... and that only covers 1970-71. So how about some REALLY hard to get tracks, please?

I can't stop listening to this CD!! It's absolutely wonderful...
filled with songs I haven't heard in YEARS!! One of my all-time favorite songs is Ebony Eyes, which is what prompted me to buy this CD. I then saw some of my other favorites: Which Way You Goin' Billy, Driver's Seat, Love Is In The Air, and Stumbin' In. WOW! These are songs you rarely catch on radio...or even XM satellite (which does dust off some oldies!). Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful! Anyone who loves 70's pop music, this is a must have!!

This is a great cd. I was very happy with the content and it brought back some great memories of happy times. If you like 70's music, this is a must have.

Having taken on the '50s and '60s on previous volumes of their superb "Hard To Find" series, the folks at Eric Records have set their sights on the '70s for their latest collection. While many of the songs included here aren't nearly as hard to find as Eric seems to think (I already own most of these tracks on other collections), a few of these songs have been on my "Most Wanted" list for some time now.

The track listing is as follows: "Kiss You All Over" by Exile, "Stumblin' In" by Suzi Quatro & Chris Norman, "Which Way You Goin' Billy?" by The Poppy Family, "Oh, Babe, What Would You Say?" by Hurricane Smith, "Love Really Hurts Without You" by Billy Ocean, "Kung Fu Fighting" by Carl Douglas, "Right Back Where We Started From" by Maxine Nightingale, "You Don't Have To Be A Star (To Be In My Show)" by Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr., "My Angel Baby" by Toby Beau, "Fool (If You Think It's Over)" by Chris Rea (first appearance of the hit version on a U.S. CD, since a couple of Chris Rea "best-ofs" contain a re-recording), Emotion" by Samantha Sang, "Right Time of The Night" by Jennifer Warnes, "After The Gold Rush" by Prelude, "Rivers of Babylon" by Boney M (first appearance on a U.S. CD, although it's appeared on countless imports), "Beautiful Sunday" by Daniel Boone, "Magic" by Pilot, "Ebony Eyes" by Bob Welch, "Driver's Seat" by Sniff 'n The Tears and "Love Is In The Air" by John Paul Young.