Customer Reviews

& Other Bits of Material

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
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I must thank your reviewers for the flattering comments they made about my production of this Paper Lace record. One point, however - Debra A.Barton kindly rated this version of 'Billy, Don't Be A Hero' as 'better than the original.' Actually, Debra, it WAS the original - Bo Donaldon And The Heywoods covered this British hit (which I also wrote with Peter Callander) after our Paper Lace record went to No.1 in the UK. Bo Donaldson took his version to No.1 in the USA, and - as a writer - I was unable to feel too sad about that, although Paper Lace were not happy to have been covered in this way. Nevertheless, 'The Night Chicago Died', which I also wrote and produced, was released in America three months later and this time finally gave Paper Lace their well-deserved US No.1.
I'm pleased you enjoyed the album.

Sad to see no other reviews here. This is a real fun CD. You will catch yourself playing these songs in your head days after listening. These guys were talented and didn't get the credit they deserve. Even the goofy stuff, "Cheek To Cheek", "Sealed With A Kiss" and "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" are fun. Although these three songs are classics, the treatment given here makes them sound new and...well...FUN!

Their cover of "Billy, Don't Be A Hero" is better than the original.

Try it.

I owned a trailer from about 1983-1988, then sold it. Sometime in those five years I had purchased a cassette tape of Paper Lace with their big hit, The Night Chicago Died on it. I also fell in love with their sweet song, Dreams Are 10 a Penny. To my shock, when I sold and moved out of the trailer, I could not locate the cassette tape. Fast forward to 2005 when I decided to surf the Web for that tape and song on a CD, found it, and ordered it. And LOVED it! I don't know if Black Eyed Boys was not on the original cassette I had lost or I simply hadn't noticed it, but it is a dynamite song. Yes, the tape is fun, even with I Did What I did for Maria, of a distraught man who killed the man who murdered his beloved Maria. But there's Hitchin' a Ride, of a man desperate to get to his wife before she has their baby, and Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen. I could go on and on, but really, if you want to listen to music that will make you sing, dance, and be happy, buy this CD.

Only 2 years old when Paper Lace repeated their UK success with a Number 1 single in the colonies, I have quite a different perspective on this CD reissue. KUDOS to the producers, who have finally made the B-side of 'The Night Chicago Died', a seemingly-Beatles/Badfinger inspired track called 'Can You Get It When You Want It?' available to those of you who didn't swipe your older sister's copy of the 45. Omitted from the LP release in 1974, It's about time it was available again. I was 10 years old before I realized that 'Can You Get It' wasn't the A-side. Along with the other tracks (the Superior original of 'Billy, Don't Be A Hero' to name but one), this collection is a must for Retro Brit-Pop fans!

Paperlace only released 2 albums, both of which are hard to find. Amazons- had both & another compilation of their work. This was a wonderful surprise as mainly you can only find a single song on a mixed album.
Their songs include "Billy don't be a Hero", "The night Chicago died," & I did what I did for Maria."

Paperlace and Other bits of materials is a must for anyone who love this type of music.

For everyone, there is always a fond felt memory. And music has always been the one constant to supply that. As a kid, there was music that not only served as entertainment value, but became a consciousness. In the days of the 8-track (feel free to Google on what that is) I've owned a prize possession of music that would continually repeat in my heart and mind. And that was the self debut album of "Paperlace." A mix of originals and remakes, it is one of those albums I couldn't forget. But, in the late 70's through the mid 80's it seemed to be long forgotten. The band was always a mystery to me as I had the 8-track and no information on the who, what, when, where, and how. When CD's came in the late 80's, this album couldn't be found. All I had was the 8-track. But I held on it tightly and in 2003 finally the music was released on a great CD. From the familiar songs of "Billy, Don't Be a Hero," and "The Night Chicago Died," a collection of other songs continue to reverberate. From renditions of "Hitchin' A Ride," "Sealed With a Kiss," "Cheek To Cheek," and "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen," to "Love - You're A Long Time Coming," "Black Eyed Boys" and "Dreams Are Ten A Penny," brings back the fond memories of a young child. Even after 30 years, the songs sound a bit dated, but that is it's charm. And it's what made music from the 70's so powerful. Even with the multitude of talents today, the present day music doesn't have the one thing that will keep it alive. It's a soul. I feel sorry for kids today, but hopefully proud parents will expose their children to the glory days of pop hit culture. The release of this CD is testimony to that.

It's certainly been a long time coming.

I vaguely remember hearing a couple of the songs on this album when I was a very small girl, but wasn't completely familiar with Paper Lace until a friend drew my attention to them recently. Listening to this CD is like being taken in a time capsule back to 1973: a time when HR Pufnstuf rocked my socks, a time where I wore my kneehigh rainboots around the house because I wanted Go-Go Boots so badly, a time when wax lips and candy cigarettes still cost under ten cents. This album represents a more innocent time in some ways, a more daring one in others. If you, too, want to be transported back in time this way, then do yourself a favor and get this CD.

This cd covers all the Paper Lace songs I remember as a kid on my old 8-track. It brings back alot of good memories, and I am so glad I found it!