Various Artists - NOW That's What I Call An Era - Ballroom Blitz: 1967-1976 Various Artists

3LP

NOW Music proudly presents the next release in the ‘ERA’ series with NOW That's What I Call An Era - Ballroom Blitz: 1967-1976 celebrating the colourful world of glam rock, pop and unforgettable chart hits that defined the early-to-mid 1970s, with a selection of pop gems from the late 1960s. Pressed across three stunning coloured vinyl LPs – red, white and gold – showcasing the era’s biggest stars, instantly recognisable anthems, novelty favourites and enduring singalongs from one of the most distinctive periods in UK pop history.

LP1 opens with glam pop at its most exhilarating as Sweet’s ‘Ballroom Blitz’ kicks the collection off, followed by Mud’s ‘Dyna-Mite’ and Suzi Quatro’s #1 ‘Can The Can’ before Wizzard’s ‘See My Baby Jive’, which spent four weeks at No.1. Alvin Stardust’s ‘My Coo Ca Choo’ and Kenny’s ‘The Bump’, are next ahead of Leo Sayer with his chart debut ‘The Show Must Go On’, and closing the first side Elton John with ‘Honky Cat’ from 1972…while over on the other side… a run of irresistible pop ear-worms from The Archies with their massive #1 ‘Sugar Sugar’, 1910 Fruitgum Company’s ‘Simon Says’, ‘Yummy Yummy Yummy’ from Ohio Express and Michael Jackson’s ‘Rockin’ Robin’. Middle Of The Road’s ‘Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep’ comes next; a UK No.1 for five weeks and leading into more chart-toppers from Dawn feat. Tony Orlando with ‘Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree’ and Christie’s ‘Yellow River’. The 5th Dimension’s easy-pop classic ‘Up, Up And Away’ from 1968 follows ahead of Dana’s #1 and Eurovision winner ‘All Kinds Of Everything’ and to close the first LP, The New Seekers with ‘I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing (In Perfect Harmony)’ an enduring hit (originally written for and adapted from an advertising campaign).

LP2 is packed with instantly recognisable 70s pop classics, opening with two huge #1s: The Rubettes with ‘Sugar Baby Love’ and Bay City Rollers’ ‘Bye Bye Baby’ – 1975’s biggest seller in the U.K. A run of pure-pop nuggets follow from Pilot with ‘Magic’, Jigsaw with ‘Sky High’, Carl Douglas’ massive #1‘Kung Fu Fighting’, Billy Ocean with ‘Love Really Hurts Without You’ and Sailor’s ‘A Glass Of Champagne’ – plus to close the side another pair of chart-toppers from David Essex with ‘Gonna Make You A Star’ and Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel’s iconic ‘Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)…Flip the LP over for a trio of timeless Eurovision favourites: From 1967, Sandie Shaw with ‘Puppet On A String’, Brotherhood Of Man’s winning ‘Save Your Kisses For Me’ – 1976’s biggest selling single and Teach In with 1975’s winner ‘Ding-A-Dong’. Sweet Dreams enjoyed a hit covering Abba’s ‘Honey Honey’ and The New Seekers had another #1 with ‘You Won’t Find Another Fool Like Me’. Stephanie De Sykes’ hit with a pop classic ‘Born With A Smile On My Face’ and Captain & Tennille hit #1 in the US with ‘Love Will Keep Us Together’. Continuing the run of timeless pop are Guys ‘n’ Dolls with ‘There’s A Whole Lot Of Loving’ (another track originally recorded for an advert that went on to become a huge hit) and to close LP2, ‘White Horses’ the theme to the children’s TV classic from Jacky.

LP3 rounds off the collection with a joyful celebration of some of the era’s most instantly recognisable pop favourites, opening with #1s from T. Rex with their glam masterpiece ‘Hot Love’, Suzi Quatro’s ‘Devil Gate Drive’, Sweet’s ‘Blockbuster’ and Mud with their ’74 best-seller ‘Tiger Feet’. Gilbert O’Sullivan’s ‘Get Down’ leads into Slik’s 1976 #1 ‘Forever And Ever’ and to complete the side two incredible chart debuts: Roxy Music’s defining ‘Virginia Plain’ is followed by Sparks’ ‘This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us’ which raced to #2 helped by their iconic never-forgotten performances on ‘Top of the Pops’…and over on the final side…Terry Jacks with his #1 ‘Seasons In The Sun’ leads a run of pop gold from Elton John with his classic ‘Crocodile Rock’, #1s from Chicory Tip and Norman Greenbaum’s ‘Spirit In The Sky’ plus Blue Swede’s ‘Hooked On A Feeling’ and Bay City Rollers’ ‘Shang-a-Lang’. Soulful pop from the Jackson 5 with ‘ABC’ leads to the final two tracks – both tv associated: Jackie Lee enjoyed a hit with ‘Rupert’ the theme from ‘The Adventures Of Rupert Bear’, and to finish, The Wombles – the UK’s biggest selling act in 1974 - with their Top 3 smash ‘Remember You’re A Womble’ - completing a packed celebration of the bright, joyful and enduring pop sounds of the era.

NOW That’s What I Call An Era – Ballroom Blitz: 1967-1976 – a celebration of the colourful, exuberant and unforgettable pop that defined one of the most distinctive eras in UK music.