Customer Reviews

HeartBeat, It's A Lovebeat and Save The Last Dance For Me

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

 

 

The long awaited return of the DeFranco Family has finally arrived with the release of their two albums onto one CD, with a bonus of 2 previously unreleased songs. The singles from the 70's are here, "Heartbeat Its a Lovebeat", "Abra-ca-dabra", "Save the Last Dance for Me", and "Write Me". A must listen to are songs like, "Love the Way You Do", "I'm the Only One" and "Hold Me". The two previously unreleased songs, "Gee, Baby" and "Drummer Man" definitely add to this excellent collection. This is just the beginning for the DeFranco Family and this CD will definitely leave you wanting more!

I have long been an advocate of the superb production and excellent vocals on the DeFranco Family recordings from the early 1970s. This CD presents every track from their two full length albums, plus 2 previously unreleased gems. The insert contains an illuminating essay plus color reproductions of the two LP jackets as well as a slew of singles sleeves.A fine job has been done with the transfer of these tracks into the digital age. Aside from the hit singles, listeners new to this material will be delighted to discover that each track stands on it's own. The soaring string section and tasty guitar on the beautiful ballad "I Love Everything You Do", in combination with Tony and family's earnest, sweet vocals are worth the price of this disc, in one track alone. Reader...get your credit card out, you need this CD.

The best day of my teen years was seeing Tony and The DeFrancos in concert. My best day recently was the day my CD arrived! I left the kids with their Dad, and stole away to a quiet corner...Finally! The great harmony and sweet bubble-gum tunes are with me again! Now, I no longer need to worry about breaking my precious albums...I can listen to my favorite group anytime I want to, even at work! I do miss that Tony and I can no longer sing "duets", as "We Belong Together", and "Time Enough For Love" were not included, but after reading the history and reasons for including "Gee,Baby" and "Drummer Boy", I can see why Tony chose them! Great! Two new songs to learn. Now that this CD is out, it only serves to whet my appetite! Hey, Tony...we want more, and so will you when you hear the hint of how grrrreeaatt Tony's voice will mature!

Wow! Listening to this CD was a flash to the past. My sister and I could not help dancing around the room and singing into the ends of a jump rope just like we were kids again. We may not be able to remember our Amazon passwords, but we still can remember all the words to these fabulous songs! This album is one great childhood memory!

Tony DeFranco was the Italian answer to Donny Osmond. The DeFrancos really were good singers, even though the music is mostly bubble gum. And some of the songs are very good (and those that aren't will have you bopping along, singing with them anyway!). "Heartbeat, It's a Lovebeat" is pretty good and "Save the Last Dance for Me"is wonderful. If you liked them years ago, buy this for the memories; you'll enjoy it!

Actually the music on this CD is more than bubblegum. Many of the musicians were heard on 5th Dimention, Carpenters, Partridge Family albums. They are high caliber, and so are the songs. Especially the album "Save the Last Dance for Me." Every track seems to exude an irresistible catchiness that holds up even today. Well worth getting, as only single tracks of their work were available before.

The most long awaited album in history ! All those GREAT upbeat songs from the 2 albums from the 1970's --all my fave songs "Heartbeat It's a Lovebeat,""Abra-ca-Dabra,""Save the Last Dance For Me," plus the 2 previously un-released bonus tracks GEE BABY and DRUMMER MAN are HOT ! AND, after their performance on 4-13-00 at BB King's Release Party - I know that the BEST is yet to come...:-)

Often described as Osmonds or Jackson Five wanna-bes, the DeFranco Family did storm onto the pop charts with the catchy top-five hit "Heartbeat, It's A Lovebeat". Staying power was not in the cards however, and after a tepid follow-up hit and a competent and mildly successful cover of "Save The Last Dance For Me", they disappeared from the charts forever.

Though the DeFrancos did not have a sustained string of hits, this acts as a greatest hits piece as well as providing their two albums in their entirety along with two previously unreleased tracks. Well-constructed, with good quality sound and all tracks in stereo, this piece fills a void in the reissue market for the "family" groups that were a dominant part of the early 70's music arena.

This CD brought back many memories and reminded me of how talented Tony & The DeFrancos are. The two new cuts are awesome as well as the rest of the CD- do yourself a favor and buy it quick!

Listening to the DeFranco Family when I was younger made me feel great. Now I can re-live all the great childhood memories associated with this wonderful group of singers. I have always been, and always will be a DeFranco Family Fan!