Search - Starland Vocal Band :: Afternoon Delight

Fun, upbeat, sylish seventies music

12/20/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is a compilation of Starland Vocal Band's first two albums. Though critically panned at the time, the music and the incredible blend of four part harmony and acoustic accompaniment makes for an enduring listening experience. The only group to be released on John Denver's "Windsong" label, Starland Vocal Band brings an infectious joy to their music making. "Hail, Hail, Rock and Roll" has more references to early Rock (along with fun inuendo) that will catch your ears; the soaring cristal clear tenor and piano work by Jon Carrol on "Starland" will melt your heart. "Rear View Mirror" (title cut from the second album) is a bittersweet song about more than a journey up the California Coast. "The Light of My Life" will become one of your favorite family-type love songs, and Taffy Danoff's lead on the song is perfect for the music! This quartet exudes on the album the same kind of spirit they brought to their concert show. They're fun, cheery, yet deadly serious about making special music with their voices. If all you know is "Afternoon Delight" (named, by the way, after a menu item from a Washington, DC restaurant, actually what Bill and Taffy Danoff thought that menu item ought to be), you'll be delighted into the evening, and even in the morning, with the rest of this CD collection. I just hope the third album also get re-released! I've enjoyed S.V.B. since 1976 when they were premeired on John Denver's summer tour. They still sound just as fresh, just as fun, just as honest today."

How good they were

Mike P | Schenectady, NY United States | 12/03/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I guess like most, I never listened to this group beyond their hit. What a mistake! I happen to be a Paul Simon fan and what they do with American Tune took my breath away. This was an incredibly talented group and I regret not catching more of them while they were active. This CD is underpriced - trust that!"

A Walk Down Memory Lane, A Reminder of Better Times

Falc | Southwest U.S. | 02/28/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Many people may not recognize the name, but Starland Vocal Band's Bill & Taffy Danoff are the couple who wrote John Denver's "Country Roads". Bill also wrote several other memorable songs for John Denver and co-wrote "Boulder To Birmingham" with Emmylou Harris. Far from a one-hit-wonder or flash-in-the-pan, members of the Starland Vocal Band are still making great music.



Back in the day (long before boy bands took on harmonies)SVB was (and still is) some fo the sweetest, tightest harmonies recorded. The rich depth of some of the songs (Fallin' In a Deep Hole) is offset by fun up-tempo tunes, to keep things from getting too serious.



It's impossible to pick out any one talent as being over and above the others. Equally capable and inextricably blended, the talents came together to record a total of 5 albums (according to research, though I only recall the first 3) under John Denver's "Windsong Records." They remain friends, and Jon Caroll produced Bill Danoff's latest album, his own recordings of songs that John Denver did during his career.



Recommendation? Ignore the ignorant negative reviews. For the price, this compilation is a steal! Those of you who listened to their other songs back when will find "St. Croix Silent Night" "Late Night Radio," "Rear View Mirror" and a long list of others to be a welcome walk down memory lane. If you haven't had the pleasure, you owe it to yourselves to give 'em an ear!"