Hard to Find 45S on CD Volume 14 (70S & 80S Pop Classics)
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Hard To Find 45s On CD Volume 14 (70s & 80s Pop Classics) Product Description It's been a little while since Eric Records' acclaimed ''Hard- To-Find 45's on CD'' series visited the 1970s. And, we've never stretched into the '80s! That makes Hard-To-Find 45's on CD Vol. 14: 70s & 80s Pop Classics a welcome addition to the family, as it celebrates the glittering decades that found popular music getting more popular - and unpredictable - than ever before. Hold on tight - or you might get whiplash as we survey nearly 20 years' worth of pop rarities!Who, for instance, would have expected Taco's quirky synth-pop rendition of the Cole Porter classic ''Puttin' On The Ritz'' to become a worldwide smash? It did (#4 in 1983). Who would have expected a jazz-tinged piano ballad by a duo from Switzerland to hold its own against Bruce Springsteen and Michael Jackson? Double's ''Captain Of Her Heart'' did (#16 in 1986). Who would have thought that a guy could make it to #1 with a song about his erotic dreams? Alan O'Day did just that in 1977 with ''Undercover Angel.''Hard-To-Find 45's on CD Vol. 14 also includes some off-the-beaten-path tracks by some big names, including ''You're Only Lonely'' by renowned California songwriter J.D. Souther, ''Easy Lover'' by former Earth Wind & Fire singer Philip Bailey (with vocal support from superstar Phil Collins), and ''I Love You,'' the second biggest AM hit ever by FM rock icons Climax Blues Band. And, don't miss Gerry Rafferty's ''Baker Street,'' featuring one of the most famous saxophone solos in recorded history.All but two of these songs made the Top 20, more than half made the Top 10, and three reached the pinnacle of the charts - but we dare you to find them on most oldies compilations, let alone collect them without buying a dozen or so (probably out-of-print and pricey) albums. Foremost among these precious gems is ''Cherchez La Femme,'' a Latin swing extravaganza by Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band that crashed the disco party in 1976. The original single version makes its CD debut right here!Hard-To-Find 45's on CD Vol. 14: 70s & 80s Pop Classics is built from original single versions on original master tapes, painstakingly engineered for crisp, vibrant, stereo sound. Like its companion volume, Hard-To-Find 45's on CD Vol. 13: The Love Album, it includes a detailed, illustrated 12-page booklet by well-known music author Greg Adams. What a great collection of songs! As much as I loved Vol. 13, I like this one as much or more. It Never Rains In So. Cal. has been around for quite a while but has never sounded as good as this. Imagine my surprise when I saw one of my favorite motivational songs: Break My Stride. I haven't heard this since I listened to it on my 45 when it first came out. Great song. Taco's Puttin' On The Ritz is a very unusual song and stands up on it's own when compared to Fred Astaire's version. Champaign's How About Us probably should have been included on Vol.13 but I'm just as happy it's here. The Captain Of Her Heart is one of the songs that was at the beginning of the Smooth Jazz movement and sounds just great. And how about one of my all time favorites, Cool Night by the late Paul Davis. Great sound and probably could have been a great fit on Vol. 13. It's available on his greatest hits CD but sounds much better here, more bass. Key Largo has always been one of my favorites and makes you want to cuddle up with your favorite one. I Love You is a song I haven't heard in quite a while and thoroughly enjoy. And what about that great Sax on Baker Street? Wow! One of those songs that stays in your head a long time. Easy Lover is another great song from the 80's. I'm basically a 50's, 60's 70's guy but the songs here are pure enjoyment. The sound is phenomenal. I very highly recommend both Vol. 13 & 14. Great job Bill and Co. Another terrific set of 19 stereo songs this time covering 1972-1988 including for the first time anywhere the single edits of The Captain Of Her Heart by Double and Whispering/Cherchez La Femme/Se Si Bon by Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band.Over ten pages of informative liner notes and great sound with some songs that are hard to find on CD these days like I Love You by the Climax Blues Band and Living Next Door To Alice by Smokie.The appeal of these CD releases by Eric Records is they feature the correct versions (edits, mixes, lengths) of the hit 45s as originally released and heard on the radio (and from the master tapes).So even Torn Between Two Lovers by Mary MacGregor sounds better on this disc than any other prior releases (some of which sound like used vinyl instead).I'm glad I got my copy for my collection. Now this is more like it!In September 2012 Eric Records issued two more volumes of its extremely popular Hard To Find 45's on CD series.Volume 14: 70's and 80's Pop Classics offers up a total of 19 tantalizing tunes for your listening pleasure. It is an eclectic mix of some the biggest and brightest pop songs of that era. The song selection is simply outstanding and the sound quality second to none. I have to tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed each and every tune on this disc. The collection kicks off with singer/songwriter Albert Hammond's bouncy 1972 Top Ten hit It Never Rains In Southern California. Frankly I had not heard this one for quite some time and now I cannot seem to get it out of my head.A true pop classic!A couple of years later Alan O'Day came out of nowhere to score a #1 hit with Undercover Angel.This tune is extremely hard to come by and I was happy to see it included in Volume 14: 70's and 80's Pop Classics.Fan of 1970's pop music will also be pleased to discover that this collection includes a number of other terrific singles including J.D. Souther's You're Only Lonely, Mary McGregor's #1 hit recording of Torn Between Two Lovers and Gerry Rafferty's signature tune Baker Street which went all the way to #2 back in 1978.That one features one of most memorable saxophone riffs in the history of rock and roll!Meanwhile, I was thrilled to see that one of most bizarre singles of this or any other decade for that matter was also included in this collection.According to the liner notes combining the 1930's big band music of artists like Cab Calloway with slick disco beats, Latin percussion, and a carefully cultivated retro image, Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band struck gold with the dance hit 'Whispering/Cherchez La Femme/Se Si Bon'.Very unusual but extremely intoxicating......I love it! I have always been of the opinion that the 1980's was a much better decade for music than the rather lackluster 1970's.The proof is in the pudding and of the 19 tunes featured on Hard To Find 45's on CD, Vol 14:70's and 80's Pop Classics a total of 11 are from the 1980's.Now if I had to cast a vote for the best single of the decade I would without hesitation choose Philip Bailey's rousing duet with Phil Collins Easy Lover from 1984.This was not only one of the top radio hits of the decade but also one of the most popular videos in the early days of MTV.I never tire of this tune and I was thrilled to see it included here.Also high on my list for best songs of the decade are Matthew Wilder's Break My Stride,Bertie Higgins Key Largo and Bruce Hornsby and the Range's #1 smash The Way It is from 1986.Each of these songs sound every bit as fresh and exciting today as they did a quarter century ago and all are featured in this collection.And a big thumbs up for the decision to include Champaign's smooth and mellow 1981 hit How 'Bout Us.This is another song that is extremely difficult to come by on compact disc.Also, I would be remiss if I failed to mention the inclusion of Taco's fabulous 1983 version of Irving Berlin's Puttin' On The Ritz.Once again, this is one of my favorite singles of the decade. Hard To Find 45's on CD, Vol 14:70's and 80's Pop Classics offers a robust 72 minutes of music.I was extremely impressed with the song selection and I thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of the 19 tracks.This is a disc I will enjoy for many years to come.Once again the sound quality was fabulous and as always I appreciate the 12 page booklet that features extensive liner notes and photos.This collection is top drawer in every respect and underscores the fact that Eric has become one of the best reissue labels in the world.Kudos to everyone who put this one together.Very highly recommended! See all 48 customer reviews..