Customer Reviews

Song of Joy

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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This is Captain & Tennille's follow-up to their first album (Love Will Keep Us Together). Released in 1976, this album featured 3 top-10 singles: "Lonely Night (Angel Face", "Shop Around", and the love-it-or-loathe-it "Muskrat Love".

Also included is the glorious title track that is brimming with soul; your hair will stand on its end at the conclusion of this song. "Mind Your Love" is a frenetic song with a swing & big band feel to it. "Smile For Me One More Time" is a simple, elegant and sweeping vocal performance that was written by Toni as a tribute to Daryl. Two more gorgeous melodies on this album are: "Wedding Song (There Is Love)" and "Thank You, Baby".

This album shows the versatility and true muscal talents of Daryl and Toni and is a delightful mixture of original songs and those written by others. Toni (and Daryl) wrote 4 of the songs on this album.

Although I bought this album on vinyl when I was 12 years old, all of the songs "hold up today" and aren't really dated with the 70's sound. "Lonely Night (Angel Face)", one of my favorite songs of the 1970's, could still be a hit today if it were re-released.

Highly recommended!

This is the album that makes me most grateful that we now live in the age of the compact disc rather than suffering with the technological limitations of the album and the record player. First off, I freely admit that I loathe rather than love the version of "Muskrat Love" done by the Captain & Tennille. You probably remember first hearing the song done by America, but it is actually the first song that group did that they did not write themselves. The song that is so sweet it goes beyond saccharine to the pure syrup tapped right from the tree, was written by Willis Ramsey and made it to #67 on the singles chart for America in 1973, but the Captain & Tennille made it all the way to #4 in 1977. When you played the LP the only way to skip the song was to get up, go over to the record player, pick up the arm, and move it ahead to "Thank You, Baby." Of course you did get some exercise racing over to do that. With a CD player you can program it to skip the song.

The other great thing about CD players is that you can program it to repeat. From time to time a song will get stuck in your head (right now I keep finding Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's version of "Over the Rainbow" being the default sound in my brain), and the only way to purge that puppy is to listen to it a couple of dozen times in a row. One night back in the late 1970s I was unable to sleep because "Lonely Nights (Angel Face)" was stuck in my mind (hey, the chorus even insists "I can't get you outta my mind"). I could set up the record player to play all night (move the arm holding the records off to the side and it will just go back and play the album again), which meant I could listen to the song every sixth one, laying there awake, waiting for the side to end so that it would go back to the beginning where all I had to do was listen to "Song of Joy" and then get to the song I needed to hear. Today you just program your CD player to repeat the song and you can begin your exorcism program knowing it will be successful sooner or later.

The Captain and Tennille exploded on the music scene in the last half of the Seventies in the same sort of way that the Carpenters did at the start of the decade. The similarities were obvious, with Toni Tennille doing the singing while spousal unit Daryl Dragon, who had played keyboards with the Beach Boys, playing anything with a keyboard. The big differences, of course, were that Tennille played piano instead of the drums and the couple were married instead of siblings. Musically the signature sound of the Captain and Tennille were their vibrant harmonies, courtesy of background vocals that usually include sisters Melissa and Louisa Tennille. Their first album, "Love Will Keep Us Together" included a cover of Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield's title song, which went to #1 and won the 1975 Grammy for Best Song. Their second album, "Song of Joy," continued to build on this initial success. "Lonely Night (Angel Face)," another Sedaka song, was released before the album and gave the duo their third gold single in a row (#3). The streak would make it to five with two other songs with another pair of covers, "Shop Around" (#4) by the Miracles and the aforementioned so let us hear no more about it "Muskrat Love." Like the two hit singles off their first album, all three of these songs also made it to #1 on the Adult Contemporary Billboard chart.

However, the best song on the album is arguably one that was never released as a single, but should have been. The song is listed as being "public domain" on the liner notes, but Paul Stookey is the one that wrote "The Wedding Song (There is Love)," and it features Dragon and Tennille playing keyboard and piano respectively in a nice duet (I saw them do it live on television doing it that way too). I know this song was fairly popular as wedding music, quite appropriately so, but if this had been a single it probably would have exploded. The "Song of Joy" album made it to #9 on the Billboard chart, so that is decent enough exposure, but it could have been bigger.

Dragon is once again playing every time of keyboard he can get his hands on, while Tennille and her sisters do the vocals, and Hal Blaine handles drums and percussion. There are some horn players on a few tracks, most noticeably "1954 Boogie Blues," one of two original tracks by the couple along with "Butterscotch Castle." Toni Tennille's voice combines tenderness and maturity, with a touch of southern sultriness that obviously contrasted with the more cynical rock `n' roll singers of the time. If you have followed her career at all during the last two decades then you know the woman can sing just about anything. Daryl Dragon was never compared to Elton John, but his keyboard playing always added a nice musical contrast to his wife's voice.

The Captain and Tennille were very popular in the 70s and had some great hits showcasing the excellent vocals of Toni Tennille. Their albums sometimes had unneeded filler mixed in with some great tracks. But this album, SONG OF JOY, was a masterpiece and represents their career 100%. It followed their succesful debut LOVE WILL KEEP US TOGETHER and for me, a teenager at the time, this album ruled.

I loved SONG OF JOY, SMILE FOR ME ONE MORE TIME, THANK YOU BABY and WEDDING SONG. The standouts though are the hits - an amazing LONELY NIGHT, awesome MIND YOUR LOVE and the exuberant SHOP AROUND.

These tracks are not dated at all today and this cd is digitally remastered with amazing clarity. Uptempo, jazz and ballads are eclectically micxed here for a true showcase of Captain and Tennille at their best.

Highly recommend this cd. Buy it and relive some memories while you enjoy some quality music. One of the best releases of the 70s.

Being 10 years old and having a 19 year old brother in 1976 meant that I heard a LOT of Cheap Trick, Journey, KISS, Boston..all the classics back then. While I still listen to and enjoy those bands, there's one group that my brother did NOT introduce me to and that's The Captain and Tenille. I suppose they were much too soft for his tastes, but I consider that his loss. While everyone, at the time, had heard "Love Will Keep Us Together" countless times, it was their second LP, "Song of Joy" that blew me awsy. Between Daryl's piano playing and Toni's voice, they produced a sound so rich and deeply satisfying, it continues to bring joy to my ears and a smile to my heart. Sure, there's "Muskrat Love" on this LP, but even that song has a special, if annoying, place in my heart. Besides the radio hits here, my favorites tunes are "Butterscotch Castles", "Song of Joy" and "Going Bananas". I, like another reviewer, wore at least 2 copies of this record out back in the day. I was so glad to see it finally released on CD a few years back. It's become a regular part of my music library and takes me back to a much more simpler and innocent time in life.

Back in the day, (the mid to late 70's) I was in high school. A head-banger by trade - Queen, Rush, Beatles, Cheap Trick, KISS, Ted Nugent, Aerosmith - the usual suspects - were my musical norm.

I was the bass player or guitar player in Krunchy - heavy bands - (later to become an actual, for real, PAID, musician person).

But on the quiet - back in high school, I had a love for a different sound: nicer, less edge, more heart-felt, more melodic, more musical and better produced. "PROFESSIONAL Musicians" as opposed to "Professional Musicians".

Of course I had to keep this on the quiet from my Rocker friends to avoid ridicule, but in actuality - I probably spent as much time listening to "Pop" records as I did metal songs. A good song - is a good song. Genre matters little.

And there was one album that I completely wore out and had to buy a second copy of - because I played it SO often - and that album was "Song of Joy".

The songs & production seem better to me now - than they did even then - and I listened to them A LOT then. (BTW I am amongst the - "TOO SYRUPY FOR ME" camp where "Muskrat Love" is involved.)

Billy Preston's amazing "Song of Joy" could not have been treated better than it is here. In fact, I have requested that my funeral begin with this recording - I feel that deeply about this interpretation of this song. I can say no more.

So many other great recordings that I cannot go on enough about - chiefly: Mind Your Life, Lonely Nights, Shop Around, 1954 Boogie Blues - this is just great stuff.

One cannot under estimate the brilliance of the skill and brilliance of Daryl Dragon - his playing on keyboards and bass (Toni's keyboards too) and Daryl's arrangements - on ALL of their albums. His decisions were perfect for each song. Can't imagine how his brain works that well. But his choices have motivated and surprised me time and again re-listening over the the years.

Toni's vocal tonality and quality? As whiskey and throaty - as - maybe only Keely Smith? There's a similarity there that is undeniable. Toni's is just a warm, strong, earthy sound that I swear - makes you want to grab a blanket and cuddle by a fire with your favorite someone.

AND - If I were to break down each song by it's merits - I'd be here all night

BUY 2.
OR 3.

Give them to your friends who love music.

Their ears will thank you.

"Song of Joy" is Captain and Tennille's second album, released in 1976, a year after they exploded onto the music scene with "Love Will Keep Us Together." Three of their big radio hits are included on this album: "Lonely Night", "Shop Around" (both pop-perfect masterpieces) and "Muskrat Love" (a song you either love or hate). As with all C & T albums, the best songs are the cuts that never made it to the radio. "Song of Joy" features a big production with pipe organ and layered vocals. Toni's big voice is perfect here. "Smile for Me One More Time", a Tennille penned ballad, is just Toni and her paino. It's a sweet song and Toni nails the vocals. "Mind Your Love" and "1954 Boogie Blues" are boogie-inspired tunes that fit Darly Dragon's arrangement style to a tee and "Wedding Song" is pure perfection. This is a great adult-pop record and would have been even greater had the odd ball "Going Bananas", a bizzare ditty that comes out of left field, and "Muskrat Love", which is just too corny, been left off. Just skip those two songs and you have a classic record in your hands.

The "CD" was everything they said it was, The Captain & Tennille could have picked better songs to put on it, but I think every album has one or two song's that the only way they can sell them is by sticking them on an album.
As for as the order from the company they were GREAT! It was at my home a week early three days instead of ten. Verry pleased.
jsl

Although this is fairly cookie cutter type music, the album has a lot of sentimental value for me and I have been looking everywhere for it as it's gone out of press. It's classic mid 70's fare, and in it's day, was played over and over both among my friends, and on pop radio. Who would have thought that " Muskrat Love" would become so popular?

Well, having had this album back in the late '70's, it's great to, again, listen to the wonderfully melodic voice of Tony Tennille and captivating keyboard rhythm of Captain Daryl Dragon- especially, with the "new and improved" clarity of the digital format. I haven't found many albums where I love every song on the album- "The Song of Joy" is one those albums where every song is a gem.

This Japanese version is better than others versions! the sound is OK, there are lyrics in japanese and english. all in all, a great mini lp version. recommended only for C & T Fans.