THE SOUND OF THE SIXTIES AND EARLY SEVENTIES

THE BEST OF 3 DOG NIGHT : To me 2 songs defines 3 Dog Night. 'Joy To The World' and 'Never Been To Spain'. I first got these 2 songs on an EP and I've loved them ever seen. 3 Dog Night comprises of 3 lead singers, Cory Wells, Denny Hutton and Chuck Negron with four back up musicians. I first heard 'Joy To The World', originally a children's song on the radio and I it was love at first sight. 'Never Been To Spain' was even better. Both song were written by Hoyt Axton who also wrote 'No No Song' for Ringo Starr. Other songs I like were 'Family Of Man', 'Old Fashioned Love Song', 'Black And White' and 'Play Something Sweet'. I don't know how they did it. Three non composing singers hitting the big times, but in the late sixties to the early seventies, they were one of the most popular band in America. DOP : 10th March 1997.

 CHER AND SONNY & CHER : GREATEST HITS : Sonny & Cher were a husband and wife team who enjoyed a brief period of success as hippish pop singers, followed by a slightly longer stretch when their Vegas style singing found favor with a nationwide TV audience. As a duo, there scored with 'I Got You, Babe', 'All I Ever Need Is You', 'United We Stand' and 'A Cowboy's Work Is Never Done'. When they divorced, Cher went on to a successful career as a solo singer and an actress while Sonny Bono went into politics. On her own, Cher scored with 'Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves', Half Bleed' and 'Dark Lady'. Of these the only one I like was 'Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves'. DOP : 28th June 2001.

THE BEST OF TONY ORLANDO & DAWN : Now this is one CD that I genuinely like. Tony Orlando together with Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent brought me and the world a lot of joys with their happy and bountiful songs. Their songs may sound alike with mostly the same beat but hey, they put a smile on my face and that's what matters. 'Candida', 'Knock Three Times' and their biggest hit of all 'Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree'. Initially there was another group named Dawn. Due to contractual reasons, Tony Orlando was not allowed to place his name on a record, hence his first two singles were released as Dawn. I have an EP showing the group. It was not until they struck gold, when Tony Orlando recruited former Motown backing vocalists, Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent and make themselves a trio. Under their new moniker as Tony Orlando & Dawn, they released ‘Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree' which became the biggest selling singles in 1973. Other favorites are 'I Play And Sing', 'What Are You Doing Sunday', 'Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose', 'Who's In The Strawberry Patch With Sally', 'Steppin' Out ( I'm Gonna Boogie Tonight' and ' He Don't Loves You ( Like I Love You )'. They sure have a penchant for long titles don't they. DOP : 1st October 1994.