Search - Various Artists :: 70's: Gold

Sounds of the seventies

Edgar Olivares | New York City, NY USA | 02/16/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Here comes another collection from the seventies-this time from Universal's "Gold" series. It does a good job combining rock, R & B, funk and disco. Even though it's well put together, it's somewhat expendable. What keeps this collection from being essential is that with a few exceptions, practically all of the tracks are in their edited versions. Also, many of these versions can be found on other compilations. But with the first disc running 78 1/2 minutes and the second 77 1/2, it's a worthwhile listening experience. I'll only recommend this title to anyone who's new to it or doesn't mind shorter versions of songs.



For everyone else, it's not really necessary but you won't regret getting it if you do.



By the way, these tracks are in their unedited versions:

More Than A Feeling-Boston

Heart Of Glass-Blondie

I'm Not In Love-10cc

She's Gone-Hall & Oates

Fooled Around And Fell In Love-Elvin Bishop"

+ 1/2 stars...Fun Collection of '70s Biggest Hits

Steve Vrana | Aurora, NE | 09/14/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"From new wave (The Cars, Blondie) to disco (Donna Summer, Gloria Gaynor) and Southern rock (Lynyrd Skynyrd) to funk (Earth, Wind & Fire, The Commodores), Hip-O's 40-track collection is packed with some of the biggest hits of the era.



Not only did the decade provide a variety of musical styles, the way music was presented to the public was changing, too. The once dominant Top 40 AM radio gave way to FM stations and AOR formats. As such you get a mixed bag of LP versions (for example, the 5:14 version of "She's Gone" and the 5:59 version of "I'm Not in Love) along with radio edits ("Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" is cut from 4:33 to 3:18 and "Blinded by the Light" is nearly cut in half--the LP version was 7:08 while the single version was 3:47). Since many listeners will recognize both versions, it's not a big deal that about half the songs are presented in their single-release version. [I do, however, have a complaint with the version of "Maggie May" that was used. The LP version was 5:45 and the radio edit was 5:11. The version here is futher truncated to 3:41!]



The 20-page booklet is serviceable, but hardly essential. There are a handful of pictures, track listing (with release dates and highest chart position) and a 6-page essay by Mike Ragogna.[The essay does clarify that in Springsteen's lyrics to "Blinded by the light," he in fact wrote "...revved up like a deuce..."--NOT a feminine hygiene product. So could we all start singing the right words?!!]



If you're looking for a fun trip down memory lane, it's hard to beat '70s GOLD. [Running Time: Disc 1 - 78:34, Disc 2 - 77:29] VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED"

Very well thought out compilation

Joshua Banker | Clovis, CA | 07/22/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am a fan of most of the Hip-O Gold series compilations and this is one of the best and the best 70s compilation out there. Many compilations try to stick with one record label or use cheaper "live" recordings... this compilations chooses some of the best represtations of some of the best artists of the 70s.



This album differs from some of the other Hip-O compilations by not going in cronological order. The reason for this I believe is there were many different styles of music in the 70s and if you go in order this would not flow well. They group all the music by the style of music so you don't have classic rock mixed in with disco.



Some people will look at a compilation and notice there favorite artist isn't here. Well the way I look at all compilations is I usually have albums or best ofs already of my favorite artists so it never really bothers me."