Search - Various Artists :: Billboard #1s: The 70s

Awesome tunes from the '70s that make me wanna dance

Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 02/02/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Billboard #1s: The '70s is a two CD set that is jammed full of great songs representing some of the very best music from the 1970s. This is bound to bring back memories of hanging out in clubs and discos; and younger people may well listen to this and find out that we had some really awesome music back in the day! The sound quality on both CDs is excellent; and I like the artwork, too.



The Doobie Brothers begin the first CD with their smash hit entitled "What A Fool Believes." They sing and play this to perfection; and I love the sound and the beat. The key modulations work well and they never miss a beat! This is classic `70s dancing music, too. Elton John's "Crocodile Rock" rocks harder than just about anything I've ever heard; and Elton never sounded better! The musical arrangement is very strong on "Crocodile Rock" and the special musical effects work very well. Listen also for Carly Simon to perform her instant classic "You're So Vain." I remember when this song broke loose on the airwaves; it sounded fantastic then and it still does now.



Dionne Warwick and The Spinners perform "Then Came You" with heart and soul; they sing this well and the disco dancing sound stuns me even today. Johnny Nash's "I Can See Clearly Now" remains a solid hit that still sounds so smooth in these times; and the beat is nicely marked by the percussion. The first CD ends masterfully with B. J. Thomas doing "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head." This lovely song is another stunning ballad that could never be forgotten.



The second CD continues the hits. Donna Summer's "Bad Girls" really has that disco sound and it will still make you want to jump up and dance wherever you are; and Earth, Wind & Fire do their funky "Shining Star" so well that I could never forget this tune either. "Shining Star" has great guitar and the percussion works very well on this number. Earth, Wind & Fire never sing a superfluous note--it's all THAT good.



Diana Ross's touching "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" always pulls at my heartstrings; the female backup and the tambourine are as flawless as they always were when Diana Ross recorded a song. Chicago performs "If You Leave Me Now;" this touching ballad is about a man asking his woman to stay with him so they can continue their love affair. Chicago sings this beautifully with panache and great sensitivity; and this impresses me a great deal.



Listen for The O'Jays doing their disco flavored hit "Love Train;" and The Commodores score big with "Three Times A Lady," one of the most elegant love ballads I've ever heard. Nilsson registers big with "Without You;" this mournful ballad has an orchestration that always moves me. Moreover, Leo Sayer's "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" really DOES make you feel like dancing! I remember a waitress in the town diner where I grew up who loved this song so much that she'd have to try hard not to dance her way back and forth between the kitchen when the jukeboxes played this tune!



Overall, this is one OUTSTANDING two CD set to remember and celebrate the really great music of the `70s. Of course, two CDs could never be truly enough to include everything; but as a two CD set this reigns supreme in my book."

Right On!

Michael Kerner | Brooklyn, New York U.S.A. | 08/06/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The music of the 1970's brought out so many elements to all occasions. While there aren't a lot of people in this generation who are more interested in acts like Britney Spears or Jennifer Lopez, that've heard some of the great songs of that era yet, they should consider hearing what've missed. The era brought so many aspects of life from Disco and Motown, to rock groups like Chicago, the party group Kiss and Styx. Still, there just haven't been many definitive hits packages reflecting the 70's well-enough. Billboard has decided to take that in step, and tackle the me decade into one nice package.



Billboard #1's: The 70's is a double-album reflection of the best music of the 70's. The collection does a much better job at reflecting the best music from that decade, than their previous Billboard #1's: The 80's did. The songs here sound great, and bring a little bit of each element from that decade nicely compiled from songs by Elton John and Crocodile Rock, Donna Summer's bass driven Disco classic Hot Stuff, to rock classics like Hall & Oates classic Rich Girl and Styx's classic rock ballad Babe. The collection brightly showcases these tracks well. Sadly, the album still overlooks some great songs like Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive, and the Bee Gees Saturday Night Fever gem Stayin' Alive.



Despite a few overshadowings, Billboard #1's: The 70's really does a great job in bringing some of the most influential and delightful pop gems in a convient double album. If you haven't owned a 70's compilation yet, than this is the right one to get down and shake your booty with, right on!



Album Cover: B+



Songs: B 1/2-



Price: B



Remastering: B+



Overall: B"

Great Assortment of Songs from the 70's.

Lorraine T. Purcell | 07/31/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD set of two has a great selection of songs from the 70's sung by the original artists. Brought back a lot of nice memories!

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