Customer Reviews

Nipper's Greatest Hits: The 70's

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Major label artist collections are among the most fun because they present many different styles under an era's umbrella. This is particularly true of RCA Records in the 1970s. For the first time in the modern era, RCA had to do with little from its most reliable hitmakers (Como, Presley, etc.) They relied instead on younger stars like John Denver and David Bowie, plus a host of one-hit wonders.

Sadly, neither Bowie nor Denver made the cut here but several of the label's finest and quirkiest hits did. You get refined Philly soul/disco (Tymes, Hall & Oates' #1, Vicki Sue Robinson, Evelyn King's 1978 disco anthem "Shame") beside country/rock (B.W. Stevenson, Dolly Parton's 1977 breakthrough, Jerry Reed's Cajun rave-up "Amos Moses"). Two lounge-lizard standards ("Feelings" and 1970's "It's Impossible" )rub up against two of the era's goofiest novelty songs (Jimmy Castor's churning "Troglodyte" and Reunion's 1974 bubblegum rap "Life Is A Rock.") The power ballad debuts with Styx's "Lady" and Jefferson Starship's 1975 "Miracles" (fully heard here, as opposed to its abbreviated version on "Gold.") And of course, Elvis exits with his final Top 10, 1972's #2 "Burning Love."

"Nipper's Greatest Hits: The 70s" is as quirky, intriguing and outright odd as the decade. Like Rhino's subsequent "Have A Nice Day" collections, the songs leave you humming, reminiscing, and wondering how half these songs became hits to start with.

While it's odd seeing The Guess Who's "American Woman" on the same CD as Perry Como's "It's Impossible," the songs collected here are all 70s RCA pop hits in their original forms by the original artists. Many of these hits can be found separately on other collections, but where else can you find "Cherchez La Femme" by Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band and "Native New Yorker" by Odyssey? With reverent liner notes and an eclectic mix of pop charters, this disc is a quirky but worthwhile addition to anyone's CD library.

Just a wonderful journey into the past.
The 70's sound was never better especially when each song had a special rememberance of a great era.
I just love this assortment of 70's nostalgia.

All hits are original. Very important to the serious oldies listener. Only a couple of "hits" were not really chart toppers, but still well worth the price!