Once again TIME-LIFE complies a music CD that mixes classic Love Songs from the 1970s with some lesser known hits. “Tears of a Clown” by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles has always been a favorite of mine. The Jackson Five get two songs on this CD, “Never Can Say Goodbye” and “I’ll Be There.” As you can see, Motown is well represented on #1 Love Songs of the ’70s.
Some of the songs here aren’t heard much on radio any more. Take Luthor Ingrams’ “(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Right” and The Moments’ “Love On a Two-Way Street” for examples. I hadn’t heard those songs in years!
Big Names are here: Diana Ross, Al Green, Gladys Knight and The Pips (twice!), Barry White (twice!), Marvin Gaye, and The Spinners.
All in all, #1 Love Songs of the ’70s is one of the better CD compilations. Do you remember these songs? Any favorites here? GRADE: B+
TRACK LIST:
| 1 | Diana Ross– | Ain’t No Mountain High Enough | 3:55 |
| 2 | Harold Melvin And The Blue Notes– | If You Don’t Know Me By Now | 3:29 |
| 3 | Al Green– | Let’s Stay Together | 3:41 |
| 4 | Brook Benton– | Rainy Night In Georgia | 3:50 |
| 5 | Gladys Knight And The Pips– | If I Were Your Woman | 3:13 |
| 6 | The Jackson 5– | Never Can Say Goodbye | 2:58 |
| 7 | Barry White– | Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe | 3:47 |
| 8 | Luther Ingram– | (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want To Be Right | 3:28 |
| 9 | Joe Simon– | Power Of Love | 2:58 |
| 10 | The Dramatics– | In The Rain | 5:09 |
| 11 | Smokey Robinson And The Miracles*– | The Tears Of A Clown | 2:59 |
| 12 | The Chi-Lites– | Oh Girl | 3:31 |
| 13 | The Jackson 5– | I’ll Be There | 3:55 |
| 14 | The Spinners*– | One Of A Kind (Love Affair) | 3:21 |
| 15 | Gladys Knight And The Pips– | Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye) | 4:24 |
| 16 | King Floyd– | Groove Me | 3:01 |
| 17 | Marvin Gaye– | Let’s Get It On | 4:03 |
| 18 | Barry White– | You’re The First, The Last, My Everything | 3:35 |
| 19 | The Temptations– | Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) | 3:48 |
| 20 | The Supremes– | Stoned Love | 3:45 |
| 21 | The Moments– | Love On A Two-Way Street | 3:44 |
Hm. I’ll have to listen to the Diana Ross version of “Mountain” (can’t imagine it beats others’ versions), the Joe Simon, and the King Floyd to see if I’m just forgetting them temporarily…Brook Benton had a very suitable voice for “Rainy Night”, and I remember the Barry White as one of his better hits.
These still seem to me to be not quite random hodgepodges, though, George…if not the worst ways to spend $3 at a gas station twenty years ago.
OK, hard to forget the King Floyd, even if it took the first notes to kick the memory into gear. The Joe Simon less difficult to forget, but I’ve heard it…and, wow, with all the talent behind Ross on that version of “Ain’t No Mountain”, it sure is as static and ponderous as Ross looks emaciated on the single and LP sleeves.
Todd, the selections on this CD do raise some questions…and the photos, too.
Todd, TIME-LIFE complications tend to be a cut above the average music compilation CDs. Bigger names, more recognizable songs, more hits.
But still a certain sense of “Let’s throw these in, too, as they’re cheaper than making it all first-rate work” remains. Even given de gustibus.
Todd, MOTOWN was a factory producing music. The talent kept the business viable…until the talent declined and musical tastes of buying public changed.
I refer to “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love” as “the” Barry White, having overlooked “My Everything” at first scan…a lesser song by me.
I remember those Time-Life compilation CD commercials running seemingly all through the night on random television stations back in the day. They seemed to have a everything-but-the-kitchen-sink track list and while they certainly covered the field it seemed one ended up with perhaps more than a few songs best forgotten. These sets were also ridiculously expensive. I imagine they are somewhat more affordable used.
Or as cot-outs, the remainders of the recording industry.
Or even cut-outs. I plead the hour.
Byron, most of the used music CDs you see on my blog cost me a dollar–or less. Entire CD collections–hundreds of CDS!–show up at random in the thrift stores I frequent. Some of the CDs are in bad condition, but many are in good shape…a few are pristine (still wrapped in plastic!).
Toss out the Barry White tracks, and this is a fine compilation. I have “Stoned Love” on a Supremes Greatest Hits 2 CD, mostly the releases after Diana left and Jean Terrell joined. And I had several others on Rhino Records’ “Didn’t It Blow Your Mind” series from the early ’90s, what a long time ago that seems now.
Fred, I know what you mean. Listening to #1 LOVE SONGS OF THE ’70s really takes me back to a wonderful decade in my Life. I was in Wisconsin working on my Ph.D. I was working part-time for a consulting company that sent me all over the U.S. (which allowed me to find all kinds of books in used bookstores all over the country!) and I married Diane! It doesn’t get much better than that!
UW Madison, George?
Todd, I spent 4 years at Marquette University in Milwaukee, and 5 years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Loved both!
Rhino was doing this kind of thing better, and Atlantic tended to as well (given their archives, not too much a surprise).
Todd, I consider the RHINO compilations the top of the heap. TIME-LIFE produced dozens of sets of compilations–as Byron remembers they were marketed on Late Nite TV–of varying quality.
I saw those late-night and mid-afternoon ads, as well. If you had your set on and tuned to commercial TV or a pledge drive in those dayparts, impossible to avoid. Goofy pitch-people in them, as well, who clearly inspired today’s YouTube “talent”/posters and other video “influencers”
For me, 70s love songs means Barry White (sorry, Fred), who took over the title from the Righteous Brothers of the decade before.
Most of these songs are entertaining, easy listening, but are not what I would call love songs.
True. A lot of lost love laments, a few assertions of love and about as many of lust.
Todd, Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” sure is lusty!
Jerry, Love is in the ear of the beholder on this CD!
Yes, I know all of them (of course). The one I can’t stand is the one Todd singled out, the Diana Ross hatchet job on “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”
Hate it.
Favorites: Rainy Night in Georgia A classic, and I have at least 5 cover versions, including Conway Twitty with Sam Moore.
The Tears Of a Clown, though I have a hard time thinking 1970 rather than several years earlier.
Groove Me.
Oh Girl – Tony Soprano’s favorite song.
Let’s Get It On – now this exemplifies the time and place.
Let’s see Deb’s list of favorites
Jeff, I suspect Deb is right about the 1960s recording dates of some of these songs that were later released in the 1970s. And the Diana Ross version of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” might have been one of the Motown variations. The Marvin Gaye and Tami Terrell version is a classic.
Even the Supremes/Temptations cover is less ponderous and clumsy…one can imagine Gordy telling everyone to do their least good work so as not to overmatch a starving Ross.
As always, I base my opinion of a compilation CD on how many songs I would listen to if they came on the radio—and I have to say, I don’t think I’d change the channel for most of these. Favorites include “Rainy Night in Georgia” (written by Tony Joe White of “Poke Salad Annie” fame…or infamy, depending on your feelings toward that song), “Stoned Love” (one of my favorite Supremes songs, with or without Diana Ross), “Oh Girl” (which has the most melancholy, defeated-by-love lyrics of the 1970s), “Tears of A Clown” (Jeff—the reason it sounds older than the 1970s to you is probably because it was recorded in the 1960s but remained unreleased in the Motown vaults until 1970; it definitely has a sixties sound to me), and “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” (am I the only one who thinks the intro to this song and the intro to the Eagles’ “Take It to the Limit” sound very similar?). Even Diana Ross’s melodramatic “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” would get a listen from me: I agree it’s not a touch on Marvin Gaye & Tami Terrell’s version, but Diana didn’t always get to choose her material and Motown was known for having different acts record the same song (each with a different producer) and then choosing the “best” one to release. My guess is, like “Tears of A Clown”, this song sat on the shelf a while before it was released.
TL;DR: a decent compilation, but I’m scratching my head about “Groove Me” because I can never hear it without thinking of the Simpsons episode where carnies take over the Simpsons’ house and, when they finally get it back, Homer had to remold his chair to his own “ass groove” (with this song playing in the background).
Deb, I’m constantly in wonder at THE SIMPSONS inserting songs like “Groove Me” in their episodes.
I guess Jackie is just a ’60s person, as she said none of these were her favorites.
Jeff, tell Jackie THE CLASSIC RHYTHM + BLUES COLLECTION: 1967-1969 is in the On-Deck Circle for next Thursday. I think a lot of her favorites will show up.
To me this looks like a “Motwn only” compilation, not my first choice but nice to hear on the road – mainly in the 70s when I was listening to AFN.
German radio stations wouldn’t play that kind of black music normally.
Not everything is Motown, but a fair amount is.
There are excellent songs in there! Sure, a couple of flat spots, but I can endure three minutes of lesser numbers in order to get to the good stuff!
Bob, I agree with you. #1 LOVE SONGS OF THE ’70s has a lot going for it! Most of the songs are very listenable.
Although I am familiar with most of these, I have rarely heard them since their era.
Patti, several of our local music radio stations have been purchased and converted to Talk Radio (mostly conservative or religious). Less and less music and more and more blah, blah, blah…
Now, what I mean about how the Atlantic Records historical anthologies beat essentially everyone else’s can be demonstrated by this 6th album in their R&B series:
https://www.discogs.com/release/4922972-Various-Atlantic-Rhythm-And-Blues-1947-1974-Volume-6-1966-1969
Various – Atlantic Rhythm And Blues 1947-1974 (Volume 6 1966-1969)
Various – Atlantic Rhythm And Blues 1947-1974 (Volume 6 1966-1969) album cover
More images
Label:
Atlantic – 781 298-1
Series:
Atlantic R&B 1947-1974 – Volume 6
Format:
2 x Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Gatefold
Country:
Germany
Released:
1985
Genre:
Funk / Soul
Style:
Rhythm & Blues, Soul
A1 Wilson Pickett– Land Of 1000 Dances
Written-By – Kenner*, Domino, Jr.*
2:25
A2 Eddie Floyd– Knock On Wood
Written-By – Eddie Floyd
3:02
A3 Otis Redding– Try A Little Tenderness
Written-By – Woods*, Campbell*, Connelly*
3:49
A4 Wilson Pickett– Mustang Sally
Written-By – Rice*
3:05
A5 Sam & Dave– When Something Is Wrong With My Baby
Written-By – Hayes & Porter
3:15
A6 Arthur Conley– Sweet Soul Music
Written-By – Conley*, Redding*, Cooke*
2:20
A7 Sam & Dave– Soul Man
Written-By – Hayes & Porter
2:34
B1 Aretha Franklin– I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)
Written-By – Ronnie Shannon
2:41
B2 Aretha Franklin– Do Right Woman – Do Right Man
Written-By – Moman*, Penn*
3:16
B3 Joe Tex– Show Me
Written-By – Joe Tex
2:53
B4 Otis* And Carla*– Tramp
Written-By – McCracklin*, Fulson*
3:00
B5 Wilson Pickett– Funky Broadway
Written-By – Christian*
2:33
B6 Booker T. & The MG’s*– Hip Hug-Her
Written-By – Jackson*, Jones*, Dunn*, Cropper*
2:22
B7 Aretha Franklin– Respect
Written-By – Otis Redding
2:27
C1 Aretha Franklin– (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
Written-By – Goffin, King*, Wexler*
2:40
C2 The Bar-Kays*– Soul Finger
Written-By – Christian*, Cauley*, Alexander*, King*, Jones*, Caldwell*, Cunningham*
2:17
C3 Aretha Franklin– Baby I Love You
Written-By – Shannon*
2:36
C4 Joe Tex– Skinny Legs And All
Written-By – Joe Tex
3:09
C5 Aretha Franklin– Chain Of Fools
Written-By – Don Covay
2:42
C6 Wilson Pickett– I’m In Love
Written-By – Womack*
2:29
C7 King Curtis– Memphis Soul Stew
Written-By – King Curtis
2:55
D1 Otis Redding– (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay
Written-By – Redding*, Cropper*
2:38
D2 Archie Bell & The Drells– Tighten Up
Written-By – Bill*, Buttier*
3:07
D3 Clarence Carter– Slip Away
Written-By – Daniel*, Terrell*, Armstrong*
2:30
D4 Aretha Franklin– Think
Written-By – Franklin*, White*
2:14
D5 Roberta Flack– The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
Written-By – MacColl*
4:18
D6 R.B. Greaves– Take A Letter, Maria
Written-By – R.B. Greaves
2:40
D7 Brook Benton– Rainy Night In Georgia
Written-By – White*
3:52
Art Direction – Bob Defrin
Compilation Producer – Aziz Goksel, Bob Porter
Cover – Fred Otnes
Executive-Producer – Ahmet Ertegun
Liner Notes – Robert Pruter
Mastered By – Elliott Federman
Transferred By – Bobby Warner, Jimmy Douglass
Barcode: 0 7567-81298-1
Label Code: LC 0121
Rights Society: GEMA / BIEM
Title (Format) Label Cat# Country Year
Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974 (Volume 6 1966-1969) (2×LP, Compilation, Remastered, Stereo, SP – Specialty Pressing) Atlantic, Atlantic 81298-1-F, 7 81298-1-F US 1985
Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974 (Volume 6 1966-1969) (2×LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Remastered, Stereo, RCA Music Service, Specialty Pressing) Atlantic, Atlantic 81298-1-F, 7 81298-1-F US 1985
Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974 (Volume 6 1966-1969) (2×LP, Compilation, Gatefold) Atlantic 81298-1 Australia 1985
Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974 (Volume 6 1966-1969) (2×LP, Compilation, Gatefold) Atlantic, Atlantic 781 298-1, 781-298-1 Germany 1985
Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974 (Volume 6 1966-1969) (2×LP, Compilation, Gatefold) Atlantic 78 12981 Canada 1985
Various – Atlantic Rhythm And Blues 1947-1974 (Volume 7 1969-1974)
Atlantic Rhythm And Blues 1947-1974 (Volume 7 1969-1974)
Todd, I have those Atlantic Rhythm & Blues CDs around here somewhere. I agree: they have top quality songs on that collection!