Life is a Rock (But The Radio Rolled Me): Ace Collects Seventies Smashes On “Hit List 2”
Way back in 2004, Ace Records compiled The Hit List: 24 Hot 100 American Chartbusters of the 1970s. The label has recently returned to the milieu of the first collection for Hit List 2: More Hot 100 Chartbusters of the 70s. The material on this CD is quite a bit different than that on most Ace releases in that both the artists and the songs are largely familiar. But it still casts its 24 tracks into a new context, celebrating – in the label’s words – the “time when AM radio was still king and records still broke out regionally.” Indeed, the diversity of sounds on this set, from Alice Cooper to Linda Ronstadt, might just make the listener nostalgic.
The selections on Hit List 2 span the period of 1970 to 1976, and every cut charted within the American top 40. There are no Number Ones here, but there are four Number Twos: The Jaggerz’ “The Rapper” (1970), The Hollies’ “Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress” (1972), The Allman Brothers Band’s “Ramblin’ Man” (1973) and Linda Ronstadt’s “When Will I Be Loved” (1975). Other Top 5 smashes to be found here include Ace’s “How Long” (No. 3, 1975), Elvin Bishop’s “Fooled Around and Fell in Love” (No. 3, 1976) featuring future Starship man Mickey Thomas on lead vocals, Bread’s “Everything I Own” (No. 5, 1972), Dobie Gray’s “Drift Away” (No. 5, 1973), Dave Loggins’ “Please Come to Boston” (No. 5, 1975) and Orleans’ “Still the One” (No. 5, 1976).
Happily, a number of less well-remembered tracks have made their way into this potpourri of pop and rock such as Fanny’s “Charity Ball” (No. 40, 1971), produced by Richard Perry; Frijid Pink’s cover of “House of the Rising Sun” (No. 7, 1971); and The Messengers’ “That’s the Way a Woman Is” (No. 62, 1971), a rarity from Motown’s rock-oriented Rare Earth label. Other treats include The Gentrys’ No. 52 cover of Neil Young’s “Cinnamon Girl” which actually bested Neil’s original on the charts by three places, Carly Simon’s timeless “Anticipation” which should have ranked higher than No. 13 in 1971, and Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods’ catchy “Who Do You Think You Are.” Steve Barri’s pop-polished production of the latter took the group to No. 15 in 1974 – one of three Top 40 hits they enjoyed that year. (“Billy, Don’t Be a Hero” is the most famous.)
Many of the tracks on Hit List 2 are still in frequent rotation on oldies and classic rock radio. Its 20-page, full-color booklet includes track-by-track liner notes from compiler Tony Rounce detailing the history and legacy of each track. Nick Robbins has remastered. You can order this collection at the links below!
Various Artists, Hit List 2 (Ace CDCHD 1480, 2016) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
- China Grove – The Doobie Brothers (Warner Bros. 7728, 1973)
- Drift Away – Dobie Gray (Decca 33057, 1973)
- Charity Ball – Fanny (Reprise 1033, 1971)
- Ramblin’ Man – The Allman Brothers Band (Capricorn 0027, 1973)
- Rocky Mountain Way – Joe Walsh (Dunhill 4361, 1973)
- That’s the Way a Woman Is – The Messengers (Rare Earth 5032, 1971) (*)
- Rag Mama Rag – The Band (Capitol 2705, 1970)
- Cinnamon Girl – The Gentrys (Sun 1114, 1970)
- How Long – Ace (Anchor 21000, 1975)
- The Rapper – The Jaggerz (Kama Sutra 502, 1970) (*)
- Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress) – The Hollies (Epic 10871, 1972)
- Everything I Own – Bread (Elektra 45765, 1972)
- House of the Rising Sun – Frijid Pink (Parrot 341, 1970) (*)
- God, Love and Rock and Roll (We Believe) – Teegarden and Van Winkle (Plumm 68102/Westbound 120, 1968) (*)
- Fooled Around and Fell in Love – Elvin Bishop (Capricorn 0252, 1976)
- Please Come to Boston – Dave Loggins (Epic 11115, 1975)
- Sure as I’m Sittin’ Here – Three Dog Night (Dunhill 15001, 1974)
- Anticipation – Carly Simon (Elektra 45759, 1971)
- Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo – Rick Derringer (Blue Sky 2751, 1971)
- When Will I Be Loved – Linda Ronstadt (Capitol 4050, 1975)
- Who Do You Think You Are – Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods (ABC 11435, 1974)
- Teenage Lament ’74 – Alice Cooper (Warner Bros. 7762, 1973)
- Still the One – Orleans (Asylum 45336, 1976)
- Life is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me) – Reunion (RCA 10056, 1974)
Stereo except (*) mono
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I grew up in the seventies listening to AM radio cause that’s what I had. Most of these songs are familiar by title. I’m sure after listening I’ll know a few more.
This looks like someone used Rhino’s Have a Nice Day cds and took off the cream.
It will be nice to hear these all on one disc.
Does AM radio still play current music?