Search - B.J. Thomas :: Have a Heart: The Love Songs Collection

A Collection That Could Be Considered A Great-Lost B.J. Thom

Caesar M. Warrington | Lansdowne, PA United States | 07/12/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you grew up listening to AM radio in the 70s you couldn't miss such classics like "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head," "(Hey, Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song," or (a couple of my own all-time faves) "Hooked On A Feeling," and "I Just Can't Help Believing." Throughout the late-60s/early-70s B.J. Thomas road up and crossed over both the Pop and Country charts with songs like these. This guy had soul with a capital "S!"



The man recorded some great love songs for the Scepter label, several of which went unreleased until being put here on this collection. Of the 16 tracks included on this CD, exactly half of them come from one of Scepter's master tapes, not having been heard since their late-60s recording sessions:



-"This Is A Love Song" (written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weill)

-"Heartbreak Hotel" (yes, the Elvis song)

-"Love Is A Hurtin' Thing" (best know as a 1966 hit from Lou Rawls)

-"A Long Way To Go" (another Mann/Weill number, featuring the electric sitar from "Hooked On A Feeling")

-"Shades Of You"

-"In The Misty Moonlight"

-"I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself" (Burt Bacharach song popularized by both Dionne Warwick and Dusty Springfield)

-"Blue"

Jim Pierson, the producer of this collection, is on the money when he says in the liner notes...

"Considering that Scepter Records occasionally and needlessly repeated tracks on various B.J. albums, it is hard to understand why engaging efforts such as this were left in the vaults."



These songs are superbly done and beautiful music.



The rest of the CD features standout tracks like his Mann/Weill-penned 1970 Top-Ten hit "I Just Can't Help Believing," "Hurting Each Other" (originally done by the Carpenters), the Brook Benton classic "Rainy Night In Georgia," "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" (a song that was immortalized by the Platters back in 1958), and Gamble and Huff's "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" (which was made into a classic by Diana Ross & the Supremes).



Considering that exactly half of this 2005 compilation contains never-released material, it should be looked at as a long lost album. Definitely it is a must-have for any B.J. Thomas fan."

The Love Songs By B. J. Thomas

Barbara T. Newsome | Eatonton, GA, USA | 03/13/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Excellent collection of music by B.J. and brings back a lot of memories if you love B.J.'s music. Somes of these are new songs I had not heard B.J. sing but were with his twist are even better - "In the Misty Moonlight, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" - you have to have this one if you are a Thomas fan! And last but not least "Rainy Nights in Georgia"

- A fan from Georgia -"

Love Songs & Lost Treasures CD

Lorna C DuBourdieu | North Highlands Ca USA | 03/04/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's a great album from a great singer!"