Sometimes I like to blend soft rock with hard rock. The Roots of Rock: Soft Rock from 1996 includes favorites like Hall & Oates “One on One,” Rod Stewart’s “Mandolin Wind,” and Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes’ “Up Where We Belong.”
Rock The First Sampler from 1992 includes The Fine Young Cannibals hit, “She Drives Me Crazy,” The Clash’s “Rock the Casbah,” and Taylor Dayne’s “Tell It to My Heart.”
Do you remember these songs? Any of your favorites here? GRADE: B (for both)
TRACK LIST:
| 1 | Hall & Oates*– | One On One Written-By – D. Hall |
| 2 | James Taylor (2)– | Sweet Baby James Written-By – J. Taylor |
| 3 | Rod Stewart– | Mandolin Wind Written-By – R. Stewart |
| 4 | Cat Stevens– | Peace Train Written-By – C. Stevens |
| 5 | The Moody Blues– | Nights In White Satin Written-By – J. Hayward |
| 6 | Steve Winwood– | Higher Love Written-By – S. Winwood*, W. Jennings |
| 7 | Atlanta Rhythm Section– | So Into You Written-By – Buie*, Daughtry*, Nix |
| 8 | Player (4)– | Baby Come Back Written-By – J.C. Crowley, P. Beckett |
| 9 | ABBA– | Fernando Written-By – B. Andersson*, B. Ulvaeus*, S. Anderson |
| 10 | Procol Harum– | A Salty Dog Written-By – G. Brooker*, K. Reid |
| 11 | Pablo Cruise– | Love Will Find A Way Written-By – C. Lerios*, D. Jenkins |
| 12 | Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes– | Up Where We Belong Written-By – B. Sainte-Marie*, J. Nitzsche*, W. Jennings* |
TRACK LIST:
| 1 | Robert Palmer– | Simply Irresistible | 4:16 |
| 2 | Fine Young Cannibals– | She Drives Me Crazy | 3:36 |
| 3 | Bon Jovi– | You Give Love A Bad Name | 3:43 |
| 4 | Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble– | Crossfire | 4:08 |
| 5 | Great White– | Once Bitten Twice Shy | 5:23 |
| 6 | The Fabulous Thunderbirds– | Tuff Enuff | 3:22 |
| 7 | The Clash– | Rock The Casbah | 3:40 |
| 8 | Run-DMC & Aerosmith– | Walk This Way | 5:11 |
| 9 | Red Hot Chili Peppers– | Higher Ground | 3:21 |
| 10 | Bangles– | Hazy Shade Of Winter | 2:46 |
| 11 | Crowded House– | Don’t Dream It’s Over | 3:54 |
| 12 | Belinda Carlisle– | Heaven Is A Place On Earth | 4:05 |
| 13 | The Escape Club– | Wild, Wild West | 5:42 |
| 14 | Paula Abdul– | Opposites Attract | 4:23 |
| 15 | Taylor Dayne– | Tell It To My Heart | 3:39 |
| 16 | The Dream Academy– | Life In A Northern Town | 4:16 |
| 17 | Arcadia (3)– | Election Day | 5:26 |
| 18 | R.E.M.– | The One I Love | 3:16 |
Mostly forgettable. My favorite is SWEET BABY JAMES, followed by PEACE TRAIN and KNIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN. Never cared for ABBA, and Palmer’s SIMPLY IRRESISTABLE should have been titled SIMPLY GRATING ON MY NERVES. And get off my lawn!
Jerry, I remember the video for Robert Palmer’s “Simply Irresistible” being played on MTV constantly!
The best thing about that was Bill Nighy’s parody of it in LOVE ACTUALLY.
Jeff, love Bill Nighy in LOVE ACTUALLY!
No real favorites on either, although I like the tracks by Cat Stevens, Taylor Dayne, Dream Academy, Crowded House, and Belinda Carlisle. Our older daughter was a huge REM fan; on a trip through Athens, GA, in 1991, she directed us to every dive where REM ever played–she knew more trivia about the band than the visitors’ office did. On the other hand, I hope never to hear “She Drives Me Crazy” or “Up Where We Belong” ever again.
Fred, the Fine Young Cannibals were basically One-Hit Wonders. The unlikely pairing of Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes had some momentary success.
I’d prefer the second disc, though as always, any inclusion from the Red Hot Chili Rapists is unwelcome (you might recall Kiedis was convicted of a sexual assault misdemeanor for behavior the other three legged on against a friendly acquaintance of mine, who had helped put their George Mason U concert together. She followed up with a civil case against him where he settled for an amount that helped her parents finish paying off their house).
Todd, I’m with you on the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I think they’re more chilly than hot.
I know almost all of the first disc, just a few of the second (“She Drives Me Crazy” is my pick there). Favorites? “Higher Love.” Just saw Steve Winwood open for Santana at Madison Square Garden in August.
Jeff, I think “Higher Love” is one of Winwood’s best selling singles.
Agree with Jeff!
Higher Love was a kind of rebirth for Steve Winwood whom I almost adore.
I’ve been to many of his concerts in Germany, London and Orlando.
And around 20 years ago after my wife died I followed him on a tour through Texas, GAFIA at its best!
Wolf, I’m always amazed when I listen to Winwood’s ARC OF A DIVER and realize Winwood is playing ALL the instruments!
Interesting selections. Lots that I enjoy, particularly Crowded House and the Moody Blues.
I have to say that, after reading Carly Simon’s autobiography, I have trouble listening to James Taylor. But I was at a memorial for a good friend in July and one of his daughters sang his fave Sweet Baby James. In view of that, guess I’ll give that one a pass.
Beth, I’m with you on James Taylor’s treatment of Carly Simon.
I miss reading Steve’s comments on this sort of record. But I like a lot of them for the era they invoke.
Patti, I’m sure Steve would have been critical of many of these songs!
While I like the cover of the first CD, nothing on there really appeals to me except “Love Will Find A Way”. The second CD is much more my jam. Favorites include: “Life in A Northern Town”, “The One I Love”, “Heaven Is A Place on Earth”, and “Don’t Dream It’s Over”.
Deb, I agree with you: SOFT ROCK has the better cover, ROCK THE FIRST SAMPLER has the better songs!