Here’s a 2-CD set of hit songs with plenty of Big Names. I’ve always liked James Taylor’s version of “Handy Man.” “Don’t Know Much” is a Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville classic. And who can resist Natalie Cole’s “Miss You Like Crazy”!
Brook Benton’s “Rainy Night in Georgia” is seldom played on our local Oldies station, but it’s great! I’m a big fan of Brenda Russell’s “Piano in the Dark.” And TOP GUN was improved by Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away.”
Do you remember these songs? Any favorites here? GRADE: B+
TRACKLIST:
| 1-1 | Atlantic Starr– | Always Written-By – Lewis*, Lewis*, Lewis* | 3:59 |
| 1-2 | James Taylor (2)– | Handy Man Written-By – Otis Blackwell | 3:16 |
| 1-3 | Kenny G (2)– | Songbird Written-By – Kenny G (2) | 3:41 |
| 1-4 | Christopher Cross– | Sailing Written-By – Christopher Cross | 4:16 |
| 1-5 | Smokey Robinson– | Being With You Written-By – William Robinson Jr.* | 4:00 |
| 1-6 | Linda Ronstadt And Aaron Neville– | Don’t Know Much Written-By – Mann*, Weil*, Snow* | 3:35 |
| 1-7 | Frankie Valli– | My Eyes Adored You Written-By – Crewe*, Nolan* | 3:33 |
| 1-8 | Anne Murray– | Danny’s Song Written-By – Kenny Loggins | 3:06 |
| 1-9 | Orleans– | Dance With Me Written-By – Hall-Hall* | 2:59 |
| 1-10 | Genesis– | In Too Deep Written-By – Rutherford*, Collins*, Banks* | 4:57 |
| 1-11 | The Doobie Brothers– | Real Love Written-By – McDonald*, Henderson* | 4:20 |
| 1-12 | Natalie Cole– | Miss You Like Crazy Written-By – Goffin*, Masser*, Glass* | 3:49 |
| 1-13 | The Hollies– | The Air That I Breathe Written-By – Hammond-Hazlewood | 4:11 |
| 1-14 | Gordon Lightfoot– | If You Could Read My Mind Written-By – Gordon Lightfoot | 3:48 |
| 1-15 | Carly Simon– | You Belong To Me Written-By – Simon*, McDonald* | 3:51 |
| 1-16 | Air Supply– | The One That You Love Written-By – Graham Russell (2) | 4:17 |
| 1-17 | The Temptations– | Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) Written-By – Whitfield-Strong | 3:51 |
| 1-18 | England Dan And John Ford Coley*– | I’d Really Love To See You Tonight Written-By – Parker McGee | 2:39 |
| 1-19 | Rita Coolidge– | We’re All Alone Written-By – Boz Scaggs | 3:36 |
| 1-20 | The Commodores*– | Still Written-By – Lionel Richie, Jr.* | 3:40 |
| 2-1 | Mike & The Mechanics– | The Living Years Written-By – Robertson*, Rutherford* | 5:30 |
| 2-2 | Jim Croce– | Time In A Bottle Written-By – Jim Croce | 2:24 |
| 2-3 | Roberta Flack– | First Time Ever I Saw Your Face Written-By – Ewan MacColl | 4:16 |
| 2-4 | Brook Benton– | Rainy Night In Georgia Written-By – Tony Joe White | 3:49 |
| 2-5 | Dan Hill– | Can’t We Try Written-By – Hill*, Hill* | 4:02 |
| 2-6 | Taylor Dayne– | I’ll Always Love You Written-By – Jimmy George | 4:18 |
| 2-7 | Chi-Lites*– | Oh Girl Written-By – Eugene Record | 3:28 |
| 2-8 | Randy Vanwarmer– | Just When I Needed You MostWritten-By – Randy Vanwarmer | 3:59 |
| 2-9 | Crystal Gayle– | Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue Written-By – Rick Leigh* | 2:32 |
| 2-10 | Neil Sedaka– | Laughter In The Rain Written-By – Sedaka-Cody* | 2:51 |
| 2-11 | Brenda Russell (2)– | Piano In The Dark Written-By – Russell*, Hull*, Cutler* | 4:22 |
| 2-12 | Michael Johnson (5)– | Bluer Than Blue Written-By – Rich Goodrum* | 2:54 |
| 2-13 | James Taylor (2)– | Shower The People Written-By – James Taylor (2) | 4:00 |
| 2-14 | The Spinners*– | Could It Be I’m Falling In Love Written-By – Steals-Steals* | 4:10 |
| 2-15 | Dolly Parton– | Here You Come Again Written-By – Mann-Weil* | 2:57 |
| 2-16 | Bread– | Baby I’m A Want YouWritten-By – David Gates | 2:28 |
| 2-17 | Charlie Rich– | The Most Beautiful Girl Written-By – Sherril*, Wilson*, Bourke* | 2:42 |
| 2-18 | Laura Branigan– | How Am I Supposed To Live Without You Written-By – James*, Bolton* | 4:29 |
| 2-19 | Elton John– | Daniel Written-By – John-Taupin* | 3:52 |
| 2-20 | Berlin– | Take My Breath Away (Love Theme From “Top Gun”) Written-By – Moroder*, Whitlock* | 4:12 |
There’s a lot to like her, and even an old curmudgeon like me can recognize many of the artists. Favorites include James Taylor, Dolly Parton, Brook Benton, The Temptations, The Spinners, Jim Croce, Roberta Flack, and Crystal Gayle. Some of the others I might not seek out on the radio, but I would not change the channel — well, except for Christopher Cross, of course. And, as an old folkie, it’s always good to see Gordon Lightfoot.
a lot to like HERE..(although I’m sure I would also like HER). Stupid fumble fingers!
A good compilation—my favorite being “Rainy Night in Georgia” (possibly the most melancholy song of the pop era—and I’m totally here for it!). Other favorites include “You Belong to Me” (the Doobie Brothers also did a version of it), “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World”, “Handy Man”, and “If You Could Read My Mind”. I don’t think I’d change the station if any of these songs were on the radio—for the nostalgia value alone if nothing else.
That’s me by the way. I’m DiscoDollyDeb on some sites, and autofill did the rest this morning, lol.