Vinyl Voyage Radio

It wasn't a heavily promoted record compilation.  After all, K-Tel did not advertise the album on TV like other albums that they released in 1974.  However, Dynamic Sound is a solid album and one of the better preserved ones in my collection. Like other K-Tel albums from the early 70s, Dynamic Sound boasts "22 Original Hits, Original Stars." The album clocks in at 57 minutes and, like all K-Tel albums of the day, is heavily edited.  Some of the songs are under the 2 minute mark; shorter than their radio edits. But that's okay.  It's K-Tel after all. This album features some of the biggest names of the time:  Bachman Turner Overdrive, Love Unlimited Orchestra, Helen Ready, Donny Osmond (and his sister, Marie) Tony Orlando and Dawn and many, many more. The premiere of Dynamic Sound can be heard at the start of a New Year's Day marathon at 11 am (central) Tuesday, January 1, 2013. Adventures in Vinyl, the only radio show dedicated to the lost art of...

On this month's Adventure's in Vinyl , we are going to the early years of K-Tel.  In fact, this is the oldest K-tel album I have.  It is Believe in Music and it came out 40 years ago, which is obvious from the garish cover void of any sense of the songs contained on the vinyl.  But that's okay, in 1972 K-Tel was still developing it's iconic look. This album has my favorite Cher song:  "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves." It also has the 70s favorite, "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)."  This, of course, is one of the greatest one-hit wonders of all time.  Although Looking Glass released two albums, nothing would not come close to the success of that song.  I recently came across a picture of the band.  Not what I expected:   The album also has a song by Rick Springfield.  Yes, that Rick Springfield.  The one who sang about "Jessie's Girl" in the 80s.  The song on this album is "Speak to the Sky," off of his debut album, B...

In 1973, Vicki Lawrence had a hit with "The Night The Lights Went Out in Georgia." Of course, who knew that a decade later she would be starring in Mama's Family .  Most people know her from her stint on the Carol Burnett Show . It was also a big year for Elton John:  "Rocket Man" and "Crocodile Rock" were quite popular.  Gary Glitter had "Rock and Roll Part Two."  Tony Orlando was tying yellow ribbons on oak trees.  Donny Osmond was singing something about the "Twelfth of Never,"  whatever that means. K-Tel's 1973 compilation Fantastic had these hits and many more.  As the commercial states:  "22 Original Hits! 22 Original Stars!"   This is a very interesting album.  It has some great hits and many misses---typical K-Tel actually.  I was 5 years old when this album came out.  I remember listening to some of the songs--Elton John and Tony Orlando in particular.   As I listened to it again recently, I realized th...