For music lovers who are old enough to remember ATARI, typewriters, LP records, and gas that was under 60 cents a gallon, Time-Life has two new music collections.
The Rocking and Rolling 50s and 60s
Malt Shop Memories is a fun set with ten CDs that will take listeners back to the 1950s and early 1960s. Listening to these tracks is like a time machine back to the days of poodle skirt and saddle shoes and hanging out at the local “malt shop.”
With artists like Neil Sedaka, Bobby Rydell, Ricky Nelson, Bobby Darin, and Mary Wells, and groups like The Miracles, The Marvelettes, The Supremes, The Righteous Brothers, The Coasters, The Chiffons, The Drifters and more, these CDs are packed with fun music that were perfectly suited for the TV series Happy Days. Ritchie Cunningham and the Fonze probably knew all the lyrics.
The 50s was a time that caught the imaginations of filmmakers and a lot of these selections have been included in both movies about the decade and those that take place in later years. Blue Moon, Earth Angel, Little Darlin’, I Will Follow Him, Baby It’s You, He’s So Fine, A Teenager in Love, Our Day Will Come, Chapel of Love, I Only Have Eyes For You, This Magic Moment, Leader of the Pack, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Goin’ Out of My Head, Sea of Love, Teen Angel, My Guy, and You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ should all strike a chord to music lovers.
These are some classic songs that have transcended their age and live on long after their original recording dates. 150 songs in all make up this fun collection.
Anthems of the 1970s
Romancing the 70s is the current collection that is running on TV infomercials. Tony Orlando is the host for these infomercials and since he had several major hits in the decade, he is the best man for the job. The collection will spark memories of the time when Nissans were Datsuns, the Pinto was a popular car, body piercing was limited to one hole per ear and no where else, and tattoos were only seen on bikers and military men.
Being young at this time was less stressful than it is today. The threat of kidnapping was so minor no parent stood watch over their child who was playing in the front yard. It was a simpler time. There were no personal computers, DVDs or CDs, and the only thing digital was perhaps an alarm clock.
Rod Stewart sang Have I Told You Lately, Kenny Rogers had a hit with Lady, and The Stylistics recorded You Make Me Feel Brand New. Roberta Flack’s The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face was a soulful and heartwarming song, as was The Moody Blues’ Nights in White Satin. Let’s not forget Carly Simon’s You’re So Vain, America’s A Horse with No Name, Jim Croce’s Time in a Bottle, and John Denver’s Rocky Mountain High.
Tony Orlando, Seals and Crofts, and more Represent the 1970s
Other tracks in the collection include Summer Breeze by Seals & Crofts, Lotta Love by Nicolette Larson, I’d Really Love to See You Tonight by England Dan & John Ford Coley, I’ll Never Fall in Love Again by Dionne Warwick, If by Bread, Reunited by Peaches & Herb, Three Times a Lady by The Commodores, The Morning After by Maureen McGovern, Let Your Love Flow by the Bellamy Brothers, Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head by B.J. Thomas, and Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree by Tony Orland & Dawn.
Plus there is the Theme from Love Story, Annie’s Song, Precious and Few, Wildfire, Please Come to Boston, Longer, All by Myself, Rose Garden, Right Time of the Night, After the Love Has Gone, Seasons in the Sun, Don’t Give Up on Us, Afternoon Delight, The Air That I Breathe, Clair, You Needed Me, Nobody Does it Better, Laughter in the Rain, and Alone Again Naturally. 156 songs in all make up the set.
Between both of these collections there is a lot of great music. For the bip bopping sounds of the 50s or the tuneful sounds of the 70s, these sets add a great presence to any music library. And they will also spark a few memories. Was 1970 really 39 years ago? Where did the time go?
