My summer project: this bin of 70's/80's vinyl

I was recently helping my parents clean out their attic, and I stumbled across this bin of their vinyl from the 70's and 80's. The cases aren't in great shape, but most of the records at least look playable.

I'm self-assigning myself this project: Listen to every single one of these records. I'm guessing there are about 125 albums in here. I'll share a few thoughts on each.

A quick glance tells me that there are some great records in here, which everyone definitely knows. However, there is also some total garbage, as well as some stuff that I've never heard. This should be fun, and hopefully not too painful.

 

Only titles showing are Disney and Sha Na Na

 

Sounds like a fun (well maybe not for you) thread, looking forward to it.

 

And that's the painful part! I'll probably skip the kids albums. But I'll fight through the Sha Na Na.

 

I see Three Dog Night's "Seven Separate Fools" in there. A few good cuts on that one.

 

Hope you find some stuff you like!

 

Album 1: ABBA Super Trouper

So it turns out that I'm more familiar with this album than I thought I was. Super Trouper wasn't as bad as I thought it might end up being. Super Trouper, Lay All Your Love on Me, and The Winner Takes it All are the ones that I'm most familiar with. Honestly, I really enjoyed those three tracks.

"On and On and On" is one that I don't really recall hearing before, but it's pretty catchy. A few of the other songs (Happy New Year, The Piper, Me and I) aren't really the typical sound that I associate with ABBA. The album closes with a live version of "The Way Old Friends Do", which is a nice finish.

There were a few skips, but the record played all the way through.

Bonus points for the absurd detail in this album cover.

 

I'm curious as to know what the blue box type vinyl is.

 

Not 100% sure, but I think it’s the ET soundtrack. I’ll check later on this evening.

 

I'm curious why you called the covers "cases"

I'm assuming you're pretty young.

 

Fair question... habit, I guess. I’m 39, which means my entire “music youth” was spent with cds and cassettes.

 

This is gonna be a fun thread. Looking forward to the album reveals.

 

Please don't say vinyls, please don't say vinyls....

 

Album 2: Gallery Nice To Be With You

So... This album is not good. Let's talk about the positive: the title track (and the only song most people have heard by Gallery) is pure 70's AM gold. Going in, I knew this song well (probably because of the Sounds of the 70's collection), but I hadn't listened to "Nice to be With You" in a long time. Great, great track.

And the rest of the album... It's like Gallery tried to replicate that exact same sound, but with no luck on the lyrics. I was hopeful with titles such as "Ginger Haired Man" and "Big City Miss Ruth Ann", but there really isn't much else positive to say here. Gallery does have a pretty sweet look going in the cover photo though.

 

To their credit, Sussex did sign Bill Withers and Sixto Rodriguez.

 

Album 3: K-Tel "Circuit Breaker"

Now we're talking. This is a really bizarre assortment of songs. So many thoughts.

Side One:
I Was Made for Dancin'- Leif Garrett
Shake It- Ian Matthews
What You Won't Do For Love- Bobby Caldwell
You Needed Me- Anne Murray
Bluer Than Blue- Michael Johnson
Because the Night- Patti Smith Group
Right Down the Line- Gerry Rafferty
Hot Blooded- Foreigner

Side Two:
Dancin' Shoes- Nigel Olsson
Every Time I Think of You- The Babys
Strange Way- Firefall
Mary Jane- Rick James
Don't Hold Back- Chanson
A Little Lovin' (Keeps the Doctor Away)- The Raes
Dance (Disco Heat)- Sylvester

The people at K-Tel sure can throw together a random mix of songs. Basically there's a little something for everyone here.

The highlights for me:
* "Right Down the Line"- I love some Gerry Rafferty. It's just so smooth
* Any song by Firefall is fun as well
* I hadn't noticed that the Rick James track "Mary Jane" was on this record until the song actually started. It was a pleasant surprise
* Patti Smith's take on "Because the Night" is such a classic. Great track

Other thoughts:
* There is nothing else even remotely similar to "Hot Blooded" on this record. Seems like a weird inclusion, but it probably helped move a few copies.
* Some of the dance tracks are solid. I would not include "A Little Lovin' (Keeps the Doctor Away)" in that category.
* If I never hear that song by The Babys again, that will be okay with me.

 

...With " only " 15 songs, I presume that that album's tracks are all full-length single versions, not the edits K and co. sometimes did?
I sorta recall that by their later years, K"s comps tended toward a vague theme - Mellow rock, dance, soul ballads - and the original " a bit of EVERYTHING " concept and titles like " Super Dynamite " went by the wayside. It seems like that might be a late example of the eclectic ones.
I think that Rae's song was tipped to be a hit at the time, but ended up going nowhere in particular pop charts-wise







mike79, post: 18939590, member: 87788"]Album 3: K-Tel "Circuit Breaker"

Now we're talking. This is a really bizarre assortment of songs. So many thoughts.

Side One:
I Was Made for Dancin'- Leif Garrett
Shake It- Ian Matthews
What You Won't Do For Love- Bobby Caldwell
You Needed Me- Anne Murray
Bluer Than Blue- Michael Johnson
Because the Night- Patti Smith Group
Right Down the Line- Gerry Rafferty
Hot Blooded- Foreigner

Side Two:
Dancin' Shoes- Nigel Olsson
Every Time I Think of You- The Babys
Strange Way- Firefall
Mary Jane- Rick James
Don't Hold Back- Chanson
A Little Lovin' (Keeps the Doctor Away)- The Raes
Dance (Disco Heat)- Sylvester

The people at K-Tel sure can throw together a random mix of songs. Basically there's a little something for everyone here.

The highlights for me:
* "Right Down the Line"- I love some Gerry Rafferty. It's just so smooth
* Any song by Firefall is fun as well
* I hadn't noticed that the Rick James track "Mary Jane" was on this record until the song actually started. It was a pleasant surprise
* Patti Smith's take on "Because the Night" is such a classic. Great track

Other thoughts:
* There is nothing else even remotely similar to "Hot Blooded" on this record. Seems like a weird inclusion, but it probably helped move a few copies.
* Some of the dance tracks are solid. I would not include "A Little Lovin' (Keeps the Doctor Away)" in that category.
* If I never hear that song by The Babys again, that will be okay with me.
[/QUOTE]

 

...I added on considerably more to this post but then I lost the addition. I don't feel like repeating now. I'll add more later:-(.

 

These were full songs, no obvious edits that I was aware of.

Good info on the Rae’s song.

 

I would suggest dumping this LP.

 

I am guessing that three albums above the Three Dog Night album is KTEL Music Power.

 

Most definitely. The Gallery album and Circuit Breaker are definitely in the "one listen and out" category.

 

Interesting. I’m 42 and knew Records pretty well because of my dad. I remember catching he bug myself in the mid 90s.

 

You are correct!

 

"* If I never hear that song by The Babys again, that will be okay with me."...it was a radio song for the Babys but it wasn't written by any band members...not indicative of how awesome they are...