Customer Reviews

Have a Nice Day 21

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Super Hits of the '70's - Have A Nice Day Vol. 21" contains yet more of those '70's power-pop Top 40 tunes you've come to know and love. This collection focuses on the late '70's - specifically late 1977/early 1978. Ram Jam's "Black Betty" kicks things off into high gear, with an unmistakable Southern-rock, hard-edged flair. As the Autumn months of '77 rolled around, moviegoers hadn't quite gotten their fill of the box-office mega-flick "Star Wars", which was released in theaters earlier that summer, so a discofied rendition of John Williams' original score was released - this version by Meco titled "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band", which hit the Billboard charts big-time and made it to number one, as well. The Los Angeles-based group Player reaped adequate rewards from their first single titled "Baby Come Back", released during early '78. Player's success was short-lived however, and saw just two more singles enter the charts during the course of the year, and disbanded soon afterward. The absolute worst song of all time appears on this collection - Meri Wilson's "Telephone Man". Whoever had the foresight to include this clutter here had to have been on battery acid, as it is just plain horrible and incredibly insipid - which is why "Have A Nice Day Vol. 21 gets four stars instead of five. Now that we've gotten that senseless, moronic "tune" out of the way, let us continue onward. Ex-Spirit and Jo Jo Gunne member Jay Ferguson, who had a hit with the former group and sang lead on the single "I've Got A Line On You" in the late '60's, contributes here with his only solo chart effort "Thunder Island", released in the Spring of '78. If it's wispy, sentimental ballads that you crave, there's Dan Hill's "Sometimes When We Touch", a major hit in both the U.S. and Canada also during the Spring of '78. For a howlingly good time, ghouls, ghosts and goblins will have a frightfully good time with Warren Zevon's "Werewolves Of London". Moviegoers in the Winter of '77/'78 will recognize ex-Bread frontman David Gates' "Goodbye Girl" from the movie of the same name, which was released in April of '78 after the motion picture's release. Wales's Bonnie Tyler had her first big hit with "It's A Heartache" during the Summer of '78, as well as did Michael Johnson with his hit - the melancholic tear jerker "Bluer Than Blue". Before Exile jumped the pop ship into country music waters, they hit it big with "Kiss You All Over", written by two of the group's members - Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn, who became songwriters and mega-producers for other artists during the late '70's and early '80's. Finally, to round out this collection of chartbusters, there's Walter Egan's top twenty smash "Magnet And Steel", which also features backing vocals courtesy of Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks. As far as "Telephone Man" is concerned, I felt Rhino could have utilized better singles for this collection from that era in its place, such as Dolly Parton's "Here You Come Again", or Firefall's "Just Remember I Love You" (both released in Autumn of '77), to name a few, although there are several other singles from this time period that could have definitely gotten the nod over "Telephone Man". Even though we're stuck with TM, "Have A Nice Day Vol. 21" is still a good arrangement of superbly crafted pop tunes to have in your CD collection at any rate. A must have for completeists of this 25 volume series.

"Black Betty" may not be on the tip of your tongue, but the other tracks on this CD will no doubt bring back many memories to anyone who grew up in the era. All original versions.

Who can forget all those great one-hit wonders from during and immediately after the Saturday Night Fever/Star Wars era? Now, a whole bunch of them are collected on one disc, including some stuff you have probably forgotten all about but will remember instantly once you hear it.

I do have to wonder though why Rhino gave disco music the short end of the stick in the "Have a Nice Day" series. There are a lot of songs that would definitely have fit in this collection that were not included...Foxy's "Get Off", LTD's "Back in Love Again", Odyssey's "Native New Yorker", Peter Brown's "Dance With Me" all come to mind. Still, you can only fit so much on one CD, and this one still rates five stars. Highly recommended.

It seems like every "Have a Nice Day" CD has at least one unappealing track to its 12. And on this CD it's the Number One hit "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band" by Meco. Yeah, I know it's a big "one hit wonder", but I still hate it. And having it follow "Black Betty" (the 45 version), just makes it more undesirable to hear when it comes on. "Telephone Man" by Meri Wilson is ditzy and cute but everything else was pretty basic Top 40 radio that shouldn't really annoy anyone. The 45 version of "Kiss You All Over" by Exile is on this disc. I admit, there are several guilty pleasures on this CD, but it is one of my favorite "late seventies" collections over all.

A great piece of work (again) from Rhino. "Star Wars and other Galactic Funk", the album with the disco-fied Williams music, was to be heard everywhere by late 1977. "Baby Come Back" has endured on account of the cool guitar licks, great crooning and curious lyrics. "Telephone Man", featured a decade ago in a Thanksgiving radio special commemorating the "Leftover Turkeys of the 70's", has earned its infamy. Yecch. Say what you will about "Sometimes When We Touch" being a lightweight romantic ballad, the lyrics border on sadomasochism ("sometimes I'd like to break you, and drive you to your knees"). Zevon's "Werewolves" is the epitome of the novelty song with "legs" (aroooo!). Break out the Kleenex for the next three tunes. Gates' "Goodbye Girl", whose theme is woven artfully throughout the movie of the same name, is one of this solo Bread man's better efforts. Bonnie Tyler's "It's a Heartache" showcases her gravelly voice (actually, she sounds a bit lot Rod Stewart...hmmm). "Bluer than Blue" reminds us there is no upside to a romantic breakup ("I won't have to miss no TV shows, I can start my whole life over"). Exile comes along with their mantra-like "Kiss You All Over", and we close with Stevie Nicks on backup (once more) for "Magnet and Steel". Even if you didn't hear any of these the first time around, it's never too late to start making these tunes part of your fond memories.

If you grew up when FM radio was still new and you were only 10 years old in 1977, you are going to love this CD. I am not a fan of a couple songs (Black Betty and Telephone Man), but all of the other songs are awesome. Brings me back to 1977, back when the world seemed to be a better place.

great cd.the last of the collection,now i have them all.this cd has a great sound.will buy from seller again

I think That I'm all 70' out after all it was in the 90's that these have a nice day where put out on the market and i'm gettin just about all 25 vol. set of them there getin pretty hard to find. so when you come across one you should really buy it. because i myself find that I love the music of the 70's radio still plays alot of the songs on these 70's cd's so enjoy them because there just getting hard to find them.

very good cd if you like the 70's like myself would recommend a must have.

Super Hits of the '70s: Have a Nice Day, Vol. 21 is yet another installment in this twenty-five CD series of very good tunes from the 1970s. The quality of the sound is excellent and there is a diversity of artists on this album.

Ram Jam's "Black Betty" has that great late `70s rockin' flavor to it and the arrangement uses electric guitars and the drums very well. The theme from Star Wars sounds as good as it ever did; I like the special effects for this musical arrangement and it made an excellent addition to the movie as well.

"Baby Come Back" by Player is a bit too syrupy for my tastes; but I give them credit for harmonizing very well. The drums work well; but they should have changed those lyrics somehow! LOL In addition, "Telephone Man" by Meri Wilson might have been replaced by another, better tune. "Telephone Man" comes off as a novelty piece rather than a true hit from the `70s.

On the other hand, Dan Hill's "Sometimes When We Touch" is a touching love ballad about a man's views on his one true love; and the musical arrangement lacks nothing--it's THAT good. Warren Zevon's "Werewolves Of London" is probably the best rockin' tune on this album--and just one listen proves why. Love how Warren sings this number; and the electric guitars are perfect!

"Goodbye Girl" is a tender ballad with a chorus that works beautifully to enhance the natural beauty of this number; and David Gates never misses a beat. "It's A Heartache" by Bonnie Tyler gives us a wonderful country flavored ballad and Bonnie's somewhat raspy voice works perfectly for this number. Bonnie sings "It's A Heartache" with all her heart and soul; and just one listen proves it.

"Kiss You All Over" by Exile has a terrific `70s flavor to it; and the album ends with Walter Egan performing "Magnet And Steel." I don't remember this ballad but it is strong and it makes a great ending track for this album.

Of course, Rhino disappoints me again with the uniform twelve tracks on this album. The entire series has just twelve tracks on each CD. They could have--and should have--added at least one more song. Oops!

Overall, this album has some good numbers and two or three duds. They should have added an extra track, too. It's great for the `70s diehard music fan; but for most people this will be a weaker installment in this CD series.

Three and one-half stars.