Zigzag: 20 Junkshop Soft Rock Singles 1970-1974

Be the first to write a review

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Stephen Thomas Erlewine
RPM's Lipsmackin' 70s series is one of the most delightful events in pop reissues in 2003, since it plays on two key points for pop record collectors: it is music that is both totally obscure and uniformly excellent. These two traits don't necessarily go hand in hand, and record collectors are known to convince themselves that obscure music is obscure because it is obscure, but the producers behind Lipsmackin' 70s have a knack for finding forgotten minor hits, B-sides, neglected album tracks, overlooked artists, songs recorded under aliases, and other assorted pop ephemera. Some of this stuff is so arcane that it's easy to dismiss on paper as mere oddities, but ...
See more details below
This CD is Not Available through BN.com
See All Options

More About This Product

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Stephen Thomas Erlewine
RPM's Lipsmackin' 70s series is one of the most delightful events in pop reissues in 2003, since it plays on two key points for pop record collectors: it is music that is both totally obscure and uniformly excellent. These two traits don't necessarily go hand in hand, and record collectors are known to convince themselves that obscure music is obscure because it is obscure, but the producers behind Lipsmackin' 70s have a knack for finding forgotten minor hits, B-sides, neglected album tracks, overlooked artists, songs recorded under aliases, and other assorted pop ephemera. Some of this stuff is so arcane that it's easy to dismiss on paper as mere oddities, but it plays brilliantly, since the compilers have excellent taste and excellent sequencing skills. These traits were all apparent on the first two installments of the series: the deliriously gaudy Velvet Tinmine and Magpie, an appealingly shambolic odds 'n' ends collection of TV themes, commercials, covers, and kitsch classics. The same spirit carries through on the third installment, ZigZag: 20 Junkshop Soft Rock Singles 1970-1974, but the music it chronicles isn't nearly as trashy as its two predecessors. ZigZag chronicles British pop singer/songwriters of the early '70s, musicians equally inspired by Dylanesque folkies and lush, orchestrated post-Sgt. Pepper pop. Although this is certainly music of its time, and therefore is often viewed through rose-tinted nostalgia or wrongly seen as camp, it is certainly lacking the cheap pop thrills of Velvet Tinmine and boasts a lineup of artists who were quite serious in their intentions, and their music reflects those sentiments. Which means, of course, that ZigZag isn't glitzy, but rather reflective, earnest, and lush, often sounding like a cross between Paul McCartney, Elton John, Al Stewart, Cat Stevens, and Gilbert O'Sullivan. Some of the artists carry a somber vibe, complete with grandiose Paul Buckmaster-styled strings, but most of this is rather light, skipping along on folky guitars, pianos, and a melodic sensibility borrowed from McCartney. If a few cuts are a little too steeped in the sensibility of the time, whether it's through unabashed feyness or the heavy soul of Tim Rose's "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away," that's part of the compilation's charm -- it is music that could only have been made during the early '70s in its attitude, sensibility, and production. Yet these 20 songs sound fresh, partially because they haven't been widely heard, but also because there's a freshness and excitement in hearing these songwriters play around with new ideas in pop music and production, creating some very fine soft rock singles in the process. While it is true that you either have to have lived through the time or be a fanatical pop record collector to dig this stuff, if you fall into either category, ZigZag is sheer pleasure.
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • Release Date: 11/4/2003
  • Label: Rpm Records Uk
  • EAN: 5013929526228
  • Catalog Number: 262

Tracks

Disc 1
  1. 1 Pinball - Brian Protheroe (3:14)
  2. 2 Wherewithall - Clifford T. Ward (2:57)
  3. 3 You're Not Smiling - Howard Werth (5:18)
  4. 4 Chinese Restaurant - Sarstedt Brothers (3:16)
  5. 5 You've Got to Hide Your Love Away - Tim Rose (5:06)
  6. 6 El Doomo - Ellis (5:07)
  7. 7 Why Is Everybody Going Home? - Leo Sayer (4:16)
  8. 8 Yesterdays Hero - English Rose (3:38)
  9. 9 Goodbye Suzie - John Howard (4:22)
  10. 10 It's Not Easy - Neil MacArthur (2:48)
  11. 11 Beat the Reaper - Laurie Styvers (3:34)
  12. 12 Home Is Where You Find It - Ray Fenwick (4:00)
  13. 13 Queen of the Good Time - Ewan Stephens (3:41)
  14. 14 Everything Changes - Lesley Duncan (3:26)
  15. 15 Lord I Don't Have the Time - Mike Hurst (3:12)
  16. 16 We Can Give It a Try - Ewan Stephens (2:45)
  17. 17 Let It Roar - Michael d'Abo (2:58)
  18. 18 And in the Morning - Jake (2:54)
  19. 19 One Way Ticket - Curtiss Maldoon (3:07)
  20. 20 One More Mile to Freedom - John Carter (3:46)
Read More Show Less

Album Credits

Technical Credits
Roger Daltrey Producer
John Lennon Composer
Paul McCartney Composer
Leo Sayer Composer
Gary Wright Producer
John Carter Producer
David Courtney Composer, Producer
Lesley Duncan Composer
Ray Fenwick Composer, Producer
Eddie Hardin Composer, Producer
Jimmy Horowitz Producer
Mike Hurst Composer, Producer
Curtiss Maldoon Composer, Producer
Barry Mann Composer
Brian Protheroe Composer
Laurie Styvers Composer
Clifford T. Ward Composer
Howard Werth Composer
Mike Leander Producer
Dave Curtiss Composer, Producer
Michael d'Abo Producer
Gus Dudgeon Producer
Tony Meehan Producer
Del Newman Arranger, Producer
Pete Oakman Composer
Peter Sarstedt Composer
Lora Findlay Artwork
John Howard Composer
Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Be the first to write a review
( 0 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(0)

4 Star

(0)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously