K-tel album collection - '72 - '80

[jannyrcobs]

How many of these damn things did K-Tel produce?! The only one of these I owned is The Rock Album. I also remember Powerhouse, Wings Of Sound, Southern Fried Rock, Disco Eclipse, etc, etc ad nauseum. They were pressed on vinyl that could not have weighed more than 80 grams. I'm impressed, however, that they included Focus's 'Hocus Pocus' on one of their compilations. That was like including Sonic Youth or Tarantel on a modern-day equivalent!

[beatlefan64]

@ZunZaraVoMu

Hi :)

Yes there is a flute in Hocus Pocus. Yes, all the songs have been released on various CD's. Hocus Pocus for example, can be found on Volume 23 of Super Hits Of The 70's: Have a Nice Day released on Rhino Records.

[beatlefan64]

@ZunZaraVoMu

The song is "Hocus Pocus" by the dutch band Focus.

[jekiwe]

I still have this in my library....don't play it but I still have it...????

[AIKevorkian]

I still have Fantastic, Music Express, Block Buster, Right On!, Mindbender, and Stars! Oh yeah and I borrowed Rock 80 for a long time, but I can't remember if "Rock 80" was a K-Tel record or not. K-Tel practically taught me music in my early days!

[Dragonlew]

I still have the "Believe in Music" record album...i think I have the "Fantastic" one on 8-Track.

[sownzgr8]

k-tel = the radio station you could take home of $3.99

[DaMan1964]

whats the fourth music track?? anyone?

[beatlefan64]

@DaMan1964

The song is "Hocus Pocus" by the band Focus.

[sjtoth22]

@DaMan1964 Hocus Pocus by Focus

[smith1958b]

Was there ever a K-tel album that featured punk/new wave artists?

[beatlefan64]

@smith1958b

I don't think Ktel ever did, but I'm not 100% sure.

[jtmichaelson]

@smith1958b Yes, it was called "Rock 80" and had The Ramones, Blondie and a few more I can't remember. I know, it's not the deep core rooted Punk & New Wave but I think it was the deepest K-Tel was ever going to go. I saw one on Amazon not too long ago.

[smith1958b]

Ah! K-tels album series were a staple of the junior high school set back in the 1970's. I had several of them. Ten or eleven songs per side, they sure crammed them in. The price was right, too. God i miss those days.

[lake40]

k-tel in australia has 20 tracks

[ElectricAnimations]

I still have my k-tel record selector- "works like a computer" LOL

[clintonearlwalker]

I have "Goofy Greats"!! I also have a K-Tel album called "Superstars Greatest Hits Volume 1" The first song is Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress by the Hollies. This vid made it seem like I was back in high school. I just got a friend invite today on facebook from a high school friend I haven't seen since 1979. Thanx for the upload!!

[beatlefan64]

@clintonearlwalker

So glad you enjoyed it!

Thanks for watching! :)

[LesSmith45]

@clintonearlwalker 79 that was the year i graduated.

[clintonearlwalker]

@LesSmith45 My mom wanted me to find some baby pics on Facebook once so I joined and never did find the baby pics. Some one from my class of '79 seen my profile, I now have about 30 friends on Facebook I haven't seen since graduation. (and one high school teacher). Kind of amazing I thought. 

[LesSmith45]

@clintonearlwalker Cool story. I do not have a facebook account. Crazy huh in this world. I should get one. That is cool that so many people that you spent a big part of your life growing up has connected with you. Your youth is the something to treasure for sure. I know i wish i could go back. Thanks for the reply

[clintonearlwalker]

@LesSmith45 Yeah, it's not hard to join Facebook, you just need a username and a password I think. They might ask you a security question also. I don't really like Facebook, I'm never on there, just never learned how to use the site. Many people like it though, like I said, I now get update e-mails whenever one of my high school classmates has a birthday. Our small town class of '79 was pretty close, and we still kind of are, we're all tuning 50 this years. Cheers!!

[LesSmith45]

@clintonearlwalker So i just had my 50th two weeks ago. Just weird! Not a # i was looking forward too. So how do you feel about 50? My mind is as sharp as the last fat bar i smoked. So is my sense of humor. I was a three sport athlete and played City league basketball till i was 40. Now my body is broken. Both shoulder are shot . My right elbow for some reason just aches. For all the basketball i played my legs are still good. Its just my arms that are shot along with a few brain cells. Thanks

[clintonearlwalker]

@LesSmith45 Actually, I turn 50 in October. I'm not very happy about it. I don't have a job, a family, or a lot of other things. I've had a pretty rough life in general. I did 3 years in prison, I year in supermax. I never expected to live past about 15 though. I remember a movie from the 70's called "Death Race 2000". When I watched that, the year 2000 seemed like a million years away, now it seems like a million years ago. My body is not good either, smoking and drinking. Anyway, Cheers!

[LesSmith45]

@clintonearlwalker Sorry to hear about the job and family situation. Good to hear you are doing better though. I remember back in 78 i believe going to see death race 2000 with David Carradine and a young Sylvester Stallon at a drive in movie . How many of those are left in the country. Not many. Although were i live in Washington there is one just 4 miles from my house. It still shows movies too. Take care

[clintonearlwalker]

@LesSmith45 Yeah, drive-in movie. I worked as a projectionist at our drive-in for several years. I ran the movie Death Race 2000. There are no drive-in's left around here it's sad, if you have one close you are lucky. I live in Maryland, I have computer hooked to 62" TV so I just download movies with a torrent if I want to watch one now, I love it. Cheers!! Class of '79!!. P.S. I think I seen last night Obama graduated in '79.

[SeberHusky]

"Sky High" and "Wildfire" are my favorites to blast out of my 1978 Emerson stereo!

[beatlefan64]

@SeberHusky

Very cool! :)

[SeberHusky]

@stealthmummy

It's like a time warp back to 1977!

It opens up with the Star Wars theme, then it kicks off with artists such as Firefall, Stephen Bishop, England Dan, The Babys, Kiss, The Bay City Rollers, Brick, Peter Brown, Foreigner, Floaters, Little River Band, etc....

[mjam1984]

@Rodolfo67Haney another website is listentoyoutube daht cahm

[gordogreat74]

I have the looney tunes record! I'm getting it put on CD! =:D

[beatlefan64]

@gordogreat74

Cool! :)

[ethen24]

K-TEL is the shit man! They make some kick-ass compilation albums! I have a bunch on 8-track, and an album too!  (Look for bright orange tapes with weird titles when you go to your thrifty stores.)

I have "Disco Fire" "Night Flight" "Reflections" "Full TILT" (on album) and "Star Power"

[tsfanoh10]

WHY doesn't anybody make music like this anymore?? (Well, I could live without David Soul, LOL.)

[beatlefan64]

@tsfanoh10

lol about David Soul :)

[force311999]

@tsfanoh10 because white people don't control the music industry anymore LOL

[zapdos69]

If you wanna be happy is the best song!

I love Jimmy Soul!!!

[mlthomas33]

I LOVE this! I have a huge collection of K-tels (US Canada UK Australia Spain....). to me they are a "musical diary"...brings back lots of great memories.

[beatlefan64]

@mlthomas33

I've always thought of them pretty much the same way, as a time capsule.

[loveshair]

K-tel was good in that you could find early true stereo in some of their comps of older rock n roll. "BornTo Late" by The Poni-Tails was first in real stereo in a K-Tel comp. Please help me ! Why do I know this ? ha- ha !

[loveshair]

I hate to say this, but does anyone remember that comps. put out by Ronco? I had a couple of these too.

[beatlefan64]

@loveshair

I remember them well, I have three of the Ronco comps in my collection:

Superstars

Shining Stars and

Don Kirshner Presents Rock Power

[mlthomas33]

I collected both K-tel and Ronco...also Adam viii albums...still have them. I'm transferring them with an "Ion turntable".

[Bigstud19]

@beatlefan64  I have all three of those as well.

[loveshair]

I didn't see "Best of the British Invasion " here.  I have this one and it gets quite a workout on my turntable.

[beatlefan64]

@loveshair

The "Best Of The British Invasion" was (and is) an excellent collection. My brother had the 8 - track back in the 70's and I listened to it all the time.

[Bigstud19]

If you really love the songs on these K-tel records, you can get a good selection of them on CD in a set put out by Rhino Records called "Super Hits of the 70's - Have A Nice Day". 25 CDs with 12 songs on each......covers a lot of the stuff from the K-tel discs.

[beatlefan64]

@Bigstud19

That series is an excellent collection!

I have 20 of the 25 CD's. : )

[Bigstud19]

Wonderful selection of these old K-tel offerings. I agree with a couple of the other posters here.....the quality left something to be desired, as did the length of the songs. Some of the edits were brutal!!!

I have 10 of the records you showed, along with 15 other K-tel collections, with titles such as"Music Power", "Wings Of Sound", "Expressions", and "Full Tilt".

I also have compilations by Quality, CBS Direct, and Polytel. Seems the big boys realized the potential of the compilation!!

[djbigpean]

K-tel started the music compilation collection before "That's what I call music". these were some of the best songs that was on the charts at that time. That's what I call music sucks sometimes!

[wsbtam]

Always like K-tel albums. You could put a stack of 'em on the record player, and just let it go. Very useful at parties. Still have both my 'Masters of Metal' albums they put out in the mid-eighties and they still play great!

Like Robbie the Robot from "Forbidden Planet" on Music Machine cover!

[sarniatownreggae]

Amazing Warner Bros. didn't sue K-tel for using their logo without permission.

[beatlefan64]

@sarniatownreggae

I was thinking the same thing! : )

[lake40]

in australia k-tel was named mejestic records untill 1974

[1957boz]

Great video. I've got 8 or 10 of these albums packed away. They really did get the best songs together but to my dismay, they ended up shortening them up so that they could pack more songs on an album.

[janiceFeatherstone]

Hi GREAT Memories!!!

I dont know if you can help but here goes....

I used to listen to a ktel compilation and I would love to put the play list together..

The title was something to do with driving (I think)??

There was a Jim Steinman track "I can dream about you"

Aghhhhh

I hate getting old the memory is so full of holes!!!!!

[beatlefan64]

Hi Janice,

Was the album you are thinking of called "Streets of Fire?"

If it is, you can find more info about the album on Wikipedia.

t

[regency98us]

I love it! I have Believe in Music, Fantastic hits, Music Express, Hit Machine, Pure Gold,Music Machine, Right On, Rock Album, and a few more. I will have to look now! THANKS!!

[lissarox23]

Wow, what flashbacks! I remember I had the Looney Tunes and Starburst. I think I also had Goldrush 79 and Hot Nights and City Lights. I just LOVED these albums as they had all the popular tunes on one album. These were the days well before itunes!! Thanks for sharing, beatlefan64. PS..I LOVED the streak song! And also My boomerang won't come back. HAHA!

[beatlefan64]

Hi lissarox23,

It was very enjoyable putting this video together. Thanks so much for watching! : )

[momolenalis]

WONDERFUL-been trying to rebuild my music library from the ground up,and I got 3 pages of songs from this video--AWESOME!!!

[beatlefan64]

Hi momolenalis,

Thanks! : )

[DCTGoddess]

K Tel had the best compilations! I remember getting The "Disco Dynamite" album, as a holiday gift, in 1974.

[dimebagdave77]

whats the song playing for the 3rd album?

[beatlefan64]

Hi dimebagdave,

The song is called "Motorcycle Mama" by Sailcat.

[punchcar]

great tribute.....1 have at least 5of these LPs

[beatlefan64]

Hi punchcar,

Thank you! :)

[TerryT1976]

Great montage! i have 5 out of those LPS shown except that two of the two-LP sets I have only have one. Still, I enjoy them regardless. Great job.

[beatlefan64]

Thanks! : )

[LiveVideoAZ]

LOL...OMG...I nearly forgot about K-TEL...Great Collection of my younger days...Damn do feel old...LOL

Great Upload....Stay Gold

[beatlefan64]

Thanks! : )

[retro80stv]

I constantly played Dumb Ditties and Looney Tunes while growing up. I would love to find those on CD.

[saml760]

there is a website where they sell old K-tel and Ronco albums.

[landrykkb]

i remember seeing a lot of these albums in my parents,relatives,or friends' record collections.K-Tel had failed miserably at being able to throw 10-12 songs on one side of a record,although they were the first to do it.The sound quality wasn't the greatest either as I recall!

[gli7utubeo]

Thanks. Compelling video. Just couldn't turn away until it was over. Only one Ktel.

(I thought no one else remembered the Adrisi Brothers...)

[beatlefan64]

Glad you liked it, thanks for watching! : )

[odie7]

great music, except "The Streak" if I never hear that again as long as I live, I'd be happy lol

[beatlefan64]

Hi Odie7

lol! : )

[timwmartin]

Do they currently have any K-Tel or Ronco albums on CD and where can I buy them?

[beatlefan64]

Hi Tim,

A few years back k-tel did re - release a few of the albums on CD. Unfortunately many off the songs included were re recorded versions from what I hear and each CD only contained about ten songs. I think the discs may now be out of print, but I'm not 100% sure about that.

I don't believe any of the Ronco albums have ever been reissued on CD.

[turbomustang84]

thanks for the response beatlefan64 that was it......you rock

[beatlefan64]

Excellent! : )

I'm glad I could help! : )

[turbomustang84]

great post

I have been looking for a K-TEL record I had in my youth that included a song by MC5 kick out the jams

any idea on hat album it came on?

i got it in 75 or 76 but do not remember the name of the album.thanks again for the memories :-)

[beatlefan64]

Hi Turbo,

Thank you! :)

I did a google search and could not find any K-tel albums that included the song. However, I did find out that around 1974 / '75 Warner Special Products released a compilation called "Heavy Metal" which did include "Kick Out The Jams".

Could that be the album you are thinking of?

[DriveInFreak]

That's what I was thinking too. I have the 8-track ( twinpack).

The full name is "Superstars of the '70s vol 2 Heavy Metal"

[beatlefan64]

Hi Drive in Freak,

I have Volume one but had no Idea there was a second volume, until I did a google search.

[beatlefan64]

Other songs on that album included:

Deep Purple - Smoke On The Water

Black Sabbath - Iron Man

Alice Cooper - I'm Eighteen &

T - Rex - Bang a Gong

[wilkes85]

I love those old K-TEL records! I always snatch them up when I come across one. You always find so much obscure stuff you'd otherwise never hear.

The ones on your list that I have are:

-22 Explosive Hits

-Sound Explosion

-Canadian Mint

-Canada Gold

-Music Express

-Circuit Breaker

Plus many more lol

[vallejo008]

Great video dude...I remember having alot of those great old LP's....they had some of the biggest and best songs around.I just wish I could find them on cd....relive my teenage years all over again.......WELL DONE.

[beatlefan64]

Thanks so much! : )

I still have mine, and I really enjoy listening to them, still brings back great memories!

[ark8gel09]

Cool video,but i did own a double album by K-TEL call HEAVY METAL.Didn't see it but cool video- wish yhey re-release them on CD. Thanks!!

[beatlefan64]

No problem!

Thanks for watching! : )

Back in the early 90's believe it or not, I saw a couple of these reissued on

CD. One I remember was "Sound Explosion" unfortunately there were only about ten songs on the disc.