K SPECIAL - K-tel - Hungry for Hits - 30 Killer Cuts! (K-tel NE 1272 UK) (2025 Remastered Expanded Edition) (2CD) (1984) + K-tells: 113 Killer Cuts! (Super Devilish Edition) (6CD) (2025)

K SPECIAL

K-tel - Hungry for Hits - 30 Killer Cuts! (K-tel NE 1272 UK) (2025 Remastered Expanded Edition) (2CD) (1984)

Whilst researching for more K-tel compilations to present in my ongoing K-tells series, I came across this very interesting release.

Hungry for Hits was released by K-tel in mid-May 1984 about six weeks after Now That’s What I Call Music II.

K-tel had played a major part in the “featuring original artists” compilations of the 1970s and early 1980s and now wanted to muscle in on the action. This foray was short-lived and didn’t make it past the first hurdle - presumably due to the lack of licensing support from other labels.

By all accounts I'm pretty sure this was the very last UK K-tel release of the original vinyl / cassette series as they just couldn't compete with the massive NOW conglomerate and other rival 2LP compilation albums such as The Hits Album series.

The sleeve features an unusual image - a ravenous-looking wolf. The text is written in bloody ink. Three of the tracks were also included on NOW 3 which followed on 23 July. Curiously they represented some of the biggest hits here - Cyndi Lauper’s Time After Time (#3), The Special AKA’s Nelson Mandela (#9) and The Weather Girls’ It’s Raining Men (#2). Other top 10 smashes included Shakin’ Stevens maudlin scene-setter A Love Worth Waiting For (held off the pole position by Lionel Richie’s equally morose Hello), Depeche Mode’s metallic People Are People and the smoothness of Sade’s Your Love Is King.

But it’s the (relative) failures that fascinate. Hungry for Hits is memorable because it primarily consists of also-rans, follow-ups to successful hits and long-forgotten pop memories. Nik Kershaw’s endlessly catchy Dancing Girls and Matt Bianco’s superior-to-Lazy-Bed that is Sneaking Out the Back Door. Remember Captain Sensible’s anti-Falklands conflict lament? It’s here and easily slides into Alvin Stardust’s sweet-yet-likeable I Feel Like Buddy Holly.

There’s radio-friendly soul in abundance with The Gap Band, Jeffrey Osborne, Phil Fearon, Shannon and The S.O.S. Band all providing memorable moments. One Blood’s slice of reggae Get in Touch with Me is a genuine obscurity which didn’t even make the top 75 while novelty numbers from "Weird Al" Yankovic and Mel Brooks liven up the third quarter. Indie fans will savour the underrated Eighties by Killing Joke and The Smiths backing Sandie Shaw on Hand in Glove.

Side 4 is a mish-mash of wildly different styles that manages to work surprisingly well. You get Dead or Alive in a less-polished mode (covering KC and the Sunshine Band) alongside Hazell Dean’s hi-NRG classic Searchin' (I Gotta Find a Man) with Eurovision entrants Belle and the Devotions’ storming Love Games. This is supplemented by a dour King Kurt number (Mack the Knife), Japanese performance artists the Frank Chickens (John Peel favourites and fresh from supporting The Fall) and some super funkiness from Paul Hardcastle (You're the One for Me / Daybreak / A.M.) The album concludes with a hip hop classic from Break Machine - the joyous Street Dance.

For this 2025 remaster, I have added 10 bonus tracks - all big hits in 1984 (5 per CD) to round out and fill up each disc.

Please note: This detailed and informative write up was originally presented and posted on the excellent blog A Pop Fan's Dream: https://apopfansdream.wordpress.com/2014/06/06/hungry-for-hits-k-tel-1984/, so all credit goes to the original author.

CD01: Tracks 1-20 Time: 79:00

CD02: Tracks 1-20 Time: 77:22

K-tells: 113 Killer Cuts! (Super Devilish Edition) (6CD) (2025)

For those of you who were expecting a Halloween themed collection from K-tel based on the cover art, you won't be disappointed as I have created my own compilation with something for everyone: the kids, the teenagers, the mums, the dads, the grandmas and grandpas!

The ultimate Halloween playlist you'll actually want to hear at your party!

As it states on the cover - 113 KILLER CUTS! - each and every track perfect for any Halloween costume dance party.

This fully packed 6CD set contains many rare and extremely hard to find tracks, with a number featured in their original mono and stereo 7" single edits and mixes. Only the original studio mixes are included. No later re-recordings, 'stereo enhanced' or live versions here!

Compiled as always using the very latest and highest quality digital remasters, with a considerable number of tracks sourced from the original master tapes for superior sound quality and enjoyment.

Black cats and goblins and broomsticks and ghosts, covens of witches with all of their hosts. You may think they scare me, you're probably right. Blood, guts and goblins on Halloween night. Trick or treat!

K

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Track lists

K-tel - Hungry for Hits - 30 Killer Cuts!

CD1

1 Shakin' Stevens - A Love Worth Waiting For 3:21

2 Nik Kershaw - Dancing Girls 3:48

3 Captain Sensible - Glad It's All Over 4:06

4 Alvin Stardust - I Feel Like Buddy Holly 3:52

5 The Weather Girls - It's Raining Men (Original 1984 7" Single Version) 3:33

6 Matt Bianco - Sneaking Out the Back Door 3:47

7 The Psychedelic Furs - Heaven 3:24

8 Joe Jackson feat. Elaine Caswell - Happy Ending 3:41

9 Phil Fearon & Galaxy - What Do I Do? 3:27

10 The Special AKA - Nelson Mandela 4:07

11 Sade - Your Love Is King 3:40

12 The Gap Band - Someday 4:34

13 Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time 4:03

14 Jeffrey Osborne - Stay with Me Tonight 4:56

15 Pat Benatar - Love Is a Battlefield (Original 1983 7" Single Edit) 4:09

16 Prince and the Revolution - When Doves Cry (Original 1984 7" Single Edit) (Bonus Track) 3:48

17 Bruce Springsteen - Dancing in the Dark (Bonus Track) 4:02

18 Talk Talk - It's My Life (Bonus Track) 3:53

19 Tina Turner - What's Love Got to Do With It (Original 1984 7" Single Version) (Bonus Track) 3:48

20 George Michael - Careless Whisper (Bonus Track) 5:01

CD2

1 Depeche Mode - People Are People (Original 1984 7" Single Version) 3:46

2 Sandie Shaw with The Smiths - Hand in Glove 2:58

3 Mel Brooks - To Be or Not to Be (The Hitler Rap) (Part 1) (Original 1983 7" Single Edit) 4:31

4 The S.O.S. Band - Just Be Good to Me (Original 1983 7" Single Edit) 4:10

5 "Weird Al" Yankovic - Eat It 3:20

6 One Blood - Get in Touch with Me (Original 1984 7" Single Edit) 4:05

7 Shannon - Give Me Tonight 3:54

8 Dead or Alive - That's the Way (I Like It) (Original 1984 UK 7" Single Mix) 3:08

9 Belle and the Devotions - Love Games 3:19

10 King Kurt - Mack the Knife 3:19

11 Hazell Dean - Searchin' (I Gotta Find a Man) 3:38

12 Killing Joke - Eighties 3:51

13 Paul Hardcastle - You're the One for Me / Daybreak / A.M. 6:29

14 Frank Chickens - Fujiyama Mama 4:16

15 Break Machine - Street Dance (Original 1983 7" Single Edit) 3:32

16 Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Two Tribes (Cowboys & Indians Original 1984 UK 7" Single Version) (Bonus Track) 3:58

17 U2 - Pride (In the Name of Love) (Original 1984 7" Single Version) (Bonus Track) 3:49

18 The Smiths - What Difference Does It Make? (Original 1984 7" Single Edit) (Bonus Track) 3:26

19 Madonna - Borderline (Original 1984 7" Single Remix) (Bonus Track) 3:58

20 The Cars - Drive (Bonus Track) 3:55

113 KILLER CUTS! 

CD1

1 Michael Jackson - Thriller 5:57

2 Ray Parker Jr. - Ghostbusters 3:58

3 Olivia Rodrigo - vampire 3:39

4 Little Mix - Black Magic 3:31

5 The Cramps - I Was a Teenage Werewolf 3:03

6 The Smiths - Cemetry Gates 2:38

7 Bobby "Boris" Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers - Monster Mash (Original 1962 7" Mono Single Version) 3:13

8 Sheb Wooley - The Purple People Eater (Original 1958 7" Mono Single Version) 2:13

9 The Crazy World of Arthur Brown - Fire! 2:54

10 Richard O'Brien; Patricia Quinn; Nell Campbell; Charles Gray - Time Warp (Original 1975 7" Single Version from the Rocky Horror Picture Show film) 3:18

11 Alice Cooper - Welcome to My Nightmare (Original 1975 7" Single Version) 2:47

12 Warren Zevon - Werewolves of London 3:22

13 Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Murder on the Dancefloor 3:47

14 Rihanna - Disturbia 3:58

15 XTC - The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead 4:54

16 R. Dean Taylor - There's a Ghost in My House (Original 1967 7" Mono Single Version) 2:26

17 Orchester der Deutschen Oper Berlin, Eugen Jochum, Chor der Deutschen Oper Berlin, Carl Orff - O Fortuna 2:32

18 Britney Spears - Toxic 3:20

19 Katy Perry - Ghost 3:23

20 Duran Duran - Hungry Like the Wolf (Original 1982 7" Single Version) 3:28

21 Queen - Killer Queen 3:01

22 The Edgar Winter Group - Frankenstein (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 3:27

CD2

23 Vic Mizzy and his Orchestra - The Addams Family Theme 0:52

24 Classics IV - Spooky 2:49

25 The Charlie Daniels Band - The Devil Went Down to Georgia 3:35

26 Rockwell - Somebody's Watching Me 4:54

27 Lush - Ladykillers 3:13

28 The Cranberries - Zombie 5:07

29 Beyoncé - Haunted (Michael Diamond Remix) (From the "Fifty Shades of Grey" Soundtrack) 5:08

30 ABC - Poison Arrow 3:23

31 Joy Division - Dead Souls 4:52

32 Lita Ford - Kiss Me Deadly 4:01

33 Alice Cooper - Poison 4:30

34 Blue Öyster Cult - (Don't Fear) The Reaper 5:09

35 Deep Purple - Black Night (Original 1970 7" Single Version) 3:25

36 Bernard Herrman - The Twilight Zone Theme 0:54

37 The Doors - People Are Strange 2:12

38 The Sweet - Hell Raiser 3:17

39 Dead or Alive - Something in My House (Original 1986 UK 7" Single Remix) 3:50

40 Ramones - Pet Sematary (Original 1989 7" Single Version) 3:32

41 Cozy Powell - Dance with the Devil 3:33

42 The Rattles - The Witch (1970 7" Single Version) 2:38

43 Electric Light Orchestra - Evil Woman (Original 1976 UK 7" Single Edit) 4:12

CD3

44 Santana - Black Magic Woman 3:15

45 Johnny Cash - (Ghost) Riders in the Sky 3:46

46 Johnny Kidd and the Pirates - Shakin' All Over 2:19

47 Elvis Presley - (You're the) Devil in Disguise 2:23

48 London Philharmonic Orchestra, Bernard Herrmann - Psycho: Murder Sequence 3:44

49 Meat Loaf - Bat Out of Hell (Original 1979 7" Single Edit) 4:51

50 INXS - Devil Inside (Original 1988 7" Single Version) 5:12

51 a-ha - Cry Wolf 4:06

52 Kylie Minogue - Better the Devil You Know 3:53

53 Sugababes - Freak Like Me 3:15

54 Taylor Swift - Bad Blood 3:32

55 Kate Bush; TOTEM; Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein - Running Up That Hill / TOTEM Remix / Stranger Things (Extended) 13:56

56 The Damned - Grimly Fiendish (12" Spic 'n' Span Mix) 5:23

57 Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Red Right Hand 6:10

58 The Stranglers with the 'Barracuda Bass' Sound - In the Shadows 4:37

59 Siouxsie and the Banshees - Spellbound (Original 1981 12" Extended Single Version) 4:39

CD4

60 The Birthday Party - Release the Bats 2:31

61 The Cure - Lullaby (Original 1989 7" Single Mix) 4:10

62 Jack Marshall - Theme from "The Munsters" 2:07

63 The Who - Boris the Spider 2:30

64 The Beatles - Maxwell's Silver Hammer 3:28

65 The Rolling Stones - Sympathy for the Devil 6:18

66 AC/DC - Highway to Hell 3:29

67 Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast 4:50

68 Metallica - Enter Sandman 5:31

69 Concrete Blonde - Bloodletting (The Vampire Song) 6:05

70 Bauhaus - Bela Lugosi's Dead (Original 1979 Beck Studios 12" Single Version) 9:33

71 Stevie Wonder - Superstition 4:09

72 KC and the Sunshine Band - I'm Your Boogie Man 4:01

73 Screamin' Jay Hawkins - I Put a Spell on You 2:24

74 Rick James - Super Freak (Original 1981 7" Single Version) 3:25

75 Eminem feat. Rihanna - The Monster 4:10

76 Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Heads Will Roll 3:41

CD5

77 The Psychedelic Furs - The Ghost in You 4:15

78 Echo & the Bunnymen - The Killing Moon 5:48

79 Cream - Strange Brew 2:48

80 Donovan - Season of the Witch 4:58

81 Creedence Clearwater Revival - Bad Moon Rising 2:19

82 Eagles - Witchy Woman 4:10

83 Fleetwood Mac - Rhiannon (Will You Ever Win) (Original 1976 7" Single Version) 3:46

84 L7 - Pretend We're Dead 3:54

85 Talking Heads - Psycho Killer (Original 1977 7" Single Version) 4:18

86 David Bowie - Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) 5:13

87 Radiohead - Creep (Unedited Album Version) 3:58

88 Kate Bush - Hammer Horror (Original 1978 7" Single Edit) 4:14

89 The Specials feat. Rico - Ghost Town (Original 1981 12" Extended Single Version) 6:03

90 Billy Idol - Eyes Without a Face 4:58

91 Space - Female of the Species 3:20

92 Larry Marks - Scooby Doo, Where Are You? (Original 1969 Season 1 Opening Theme) 1:03

93 The Automatic - Monster 3:42

94 Japan - Ghosts (Original 1982 7" Single Version) 4:02

CD6

95 Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells (1973 Opening Theme from The Exorcist) 3:17

96 The Sonics - The Witch (Original 1964 7" Mono Single Version) 2:39

97 Killing Joke - Love Like Blood (12" Version) 6:49

98 Ozzy Osbourne - Bark at the Moon 4:17

99 Van Halen - Runnin' with the Devil 3:35

100 Steve Miller Band - Abracadabra (Original 1982 7" Single Version) 3:41

101 Suzi Quatro - Devil Gate Drive 3:47

102 Blondie - One Way or Another 3:35

103 Bow Wow Wow - I Want Candy 2:45

104 Pat Benatar - Shadows of the Night (Original 1982 7" Single Edit) 3:41

105 Lady Gaga - Monster 4:09

106 The Police - Every Breath You Take 4:16

107 A Flock of Seagulls - Nightmares (1983 US 12" Promo Version) 4:37

108 Cliff Richard - Devil Woman 3:33

109 The Coasters - Poison Ivy (Original 1959 Atco 7" Mono Single Version) 2:43

110 Frank Sinatra - Witchcraft 2:52

111 Oingo Boingo - Dead Man's Party 6:18

112 Ministry - (Every Day Is) Halloween (Original 1985 12" Single Version) 6:36

113 John Carpenter - Halloween Theme (Original 1978 Main Title) 2:22

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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

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K SPECIAL K-tells Vol. 35: The Best of Reggae - Original Songs - Original Stars (K-tel NE 498 UK) (2021 Doctor Bird Expanded Edition) (2CD) (1973) / 50 Reggae Hits - Original Hits - Original Stars (Doctor Bird Official CD Rip) (2CD) (2025)

K SPECIAL

K-tells Vol. 35:  The Best of Reggae - Original Songs - Original Stars (K-tel NE 498 UK) (2021 Doctor Bird Expanded Edition) (2CD) (1973) / 50 Reggae Hits - Original Hits - Original Stars (Doctor Bird Official CD Rip) (2CD) (2025)

The Best of Reggae - Original Songs - Original Stars (K-tel NE 498 UK) (2021 Doctor Bird Expanded Edition) (2CD) (1973)

Cherry Red's Doctor Bird label released this best selling TV advertised album from the 70s on CD in 2021.

In fact, this is the very first time any K-tel, Ronco, Arcade, etc. TV advertised album from the 70s has ever been officially released on CD.

K-tel originally released 'The Best of Reggae' double album set in the UK in 1973.

Doctor Bird have expanded the original album to include a second disc of 27 bonus tracks, but unfortunately two tracks from the original album are missing on disc 1: ‘Wonderful World, Beautiful People' by Jimmy Cliff and 'Take Me Home, Country Roads' by Toots & the Maytals, with only 28 tracks, plus the running order has been changed in a few places.

https://www.discogs.com/Various-The-Best-Of-Reggae/release/3387507

https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/the-best-of-reggae-expanded-original-album/

Here is my fully restored original 30 track compilation with the correct running order on disc 1, plus the second Doctor Bird bonus disc of 27 tracks.

The second disc contains a few tracks which have never been released on CD before, so makes for a very interesting compilation.

50 Reggae Hits - Original Hits - Original Stars (Doctor Bird Official CD Rip) (2CD) (2025)

• Includes seven major UK chartbusters.

• Features a wealth of reggae greats.

• Complimentary set to ‘The Best of Reggae’.

At last, Doctor Bird presents a second hit-packed collection of feel-good reggae hits from the 1970s!

Picking up where the popular 2021 compilation ‘The Best of Reggae’ left off, ’50 Reggae Hits’ is jam-packed with best-selling reggae sounds from 1970 to 1975, performed by a host of celebrated performers including Desmond Dekker, Ken Boothe, John Holt, Bob & Marcia… and many, many more.

What's interesting is that Doctor Bird have used 20 Power Hits - Original Hits - Original Stars (K-tel TE 297 UK) originally released in 1973 for their main cover inspiration.

Good times sounds from start to finish, this 2CD is a sure-fire dancefloor filler and guaranteed to brighten up even the gloomiest of days, be it autumn, winter, spring or summer!

Both of these CD sets have been ripped from my own original discs.

Enjoy!

K

https://www.cherryred.co.uk/various-artists-50-reggae-hits-2cd?srsltid=AfmBOopPfdaAiRT8vJlb8RDEM8tBZxmh--XsHBCpMLsOy1Pokyonf5AZ

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Track lists

The Best of Reggae - Original Songs - Original Stars (K-tel NE 498 UK) (2021 Doctor Bird Expanded Edition)

CD1

1 Jimmy Cliff - Wonderful World, Beautiful People 3:13

2 Bob & Marcia - Young, Gifted and Black 3:07

3 Greyhound - Moon River (Original 1971 Trojan 7" Single Version) 3:31

4 The Pioneers - Let Your Yeah Be Yeah 3:08

5 The Harry J. All Stars - Liquidator 3:07

6 Nicky Thomas - Love of the Common People 2:18

7 Desmond Dekker & The Aces - Israelites 2:35

8 Dandy Livingstone - Suzanne Beware of the Devil 2:36

9 Greyhound - Black and White 2:57

10 Horace Faith - Black Pearl 2:36

11 Desmond Dekker - You Can Get It If You Really Want 2:38

12 Desmond Dekker & The Aces - It Mek 2:33

13 Toots and the Maytals - 54-46 That's My Number (Original 1968 Pyramid 7" Single Version) 2:53

14 Toots and the Maytals - Take Me Home, Country Roads 3:24

15 Boris Gardiner & the Love People - Elizabethan Reggae 2:37

16 The Upsetters - Return of Django 2:32

17 Bob & Marcia - Pied Piper 2:46

18 Dandy Livingstone - Come Back Liza 2:43

19 The Chosen Few - Everybody Plays the Fool 3:31

20 The Pioneers - Roll Muddy River 2:33

21 Judge Dread - Oh! She Is a Big Girl Now 2:36

22 Greyhound - Floating 2:29

23 Bruce Ruffin - Mad About You 3:28

24 Bruce Ruffin - Rain 2:22

25 Greyhound - Dream Lover 2:44

26 Tito Simon - Build It Up 2:33

27 Dandy Livingstone - Big City 2:40

28 The Hotshots - Snoopy vs. the Red Baron 3:10

29 The Pioneers - I Need Your Sweet Inspiration 2:42

30 Dave and Ansel Collins - Double Barrel 2:43

CD2

1 Desmond Dekker & The Aces - 007 (Shanty Town) 2:31

2 The Pioneers - Long Shot Kick de Bucket 2:48

3 The Maytals - Monkey Man 3:45

4 Greyhound - I Am What I Am 2:46

5 Teddy Brown - What Greater Love 2:47

6 Desmond Dekker & The Aces - Pickney Gal 2:55

7 Bruce Ruffin - One Big Happy Family 2:57

8 John Holt - The Further You Look (The Less You See) 3:07

9 The Pioneers - Give and Take (Give a Little, Take a Little) 2:22

10 Dave and Ansel Collins - Monkey Spanner 2:28

11 Owen Gray - Suffering in the Land 2:54

12 Daniel in the Lion's Den - Dancing in the Sun 2:47

13 Danny Ray - I'm Gonna Get Married 2:54

14 The Melodians - Sweet Sensation 3:53

15 The Ethiopians - Train to Skaville 2:51

16 Tony Tribe - Red Red Wine 2:56

17 Jackie Edwards - Come On Girl 3:04

18 The Paris Connection - Who's That Lady 3:09

19 Nicky Thomas - Yesterday Man 2:46

20 John Holt - Reggae from the Ghetto 2:50

21 Desmond Dekker - Sing a Little Song 2:59

22 Delroy Williams - Down in the Boondocks 2:47

23 Dandy Livingstone - Think About That 2:50

24 The Melodians - Rivers of Babylon (Original 1970 Beverley's Records 7" Single Version) 3:25

25 Freddie Notes & The Rudies - Montego Bay 2:24

26 Lord Creator - Kingston Town 3:11

27 Zap Pow - This is Reggae Music 3:03

50 Reggae Hits - Original Hits - Original Stars (Doctor Bird Official CD Rip) (2CD) (2025)

CD1

1 Ken Booth - Everything I Own (7" Mix) 3:45

2 John Holt - Help Me Make It Through the Night (7" Mix) 3:06

3 Susan Cadogan - Hurt So Good (7" Mix) 3:05

4 Paul Davidson - Midnight Rider 3:20

5 Laurel Aitken - Fattie Bum Bum 2:40

6 Bruce Ruffin - Candida (7" Mix) 3:21

7 The Pioneers - A Little Bit of Soap 2:38

8 Boris Gardiner - You Make Me Feel Brand New 4:29

9 Nicky Thomas - Lonely for Your Love 3:16

10 Jackie Edwards - Julie On My Mind 2:47

11 Lorna Bennett - Chapel of Love 3:08

12 The Marvels - Then He Kissed Me 2:58

13 Marcia Griffiths - I Just Don't Want to Be Lonely 2:33

14 Ken Booth - Let's Get It On 3:05

15 B.B. Seaton - God Bless Our Love 3:12

16 Pat Rhoden - Living for the City 3:02

17 Jimmy Riley - Lord Pity Us All 3:09

18 Lloyd Charmers - Gonna Love You Just a Little Bit More 3:02

19 John Holt - I'd Love You to Want Me 3:15

20 The Pioneers - I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door 2:41

21 Lord Tanamo - Got to Have You Baby 4:08

22 Greyhound - Hold On to Your Happiness 3:32

23 Horace Faith - Susie Is Sorrow 2:22

24 Winston Groovy - Please Don't Make Me Cry 3:28

25 Tito Simon - That Monday Morning Feeling 3:15

CD2

1 Desmond Dekker - Sing a Little Song 3:00

2 Ken Boothe - Crying Over You 3:26

3 Nicky Thomas - Suzanne Beware of the Devil 2:38

4 Bob & Marcia - Help Me Up aka Help Me Darling 2:43

5 The Pioneers - (Blame It) On the Pony Express 3:00

6 Marcia Griffiths - Put a Little Love in Your Heart (7" Mix) 2:37

7 John Holt - Stoned Out of My Mind 3:11

8 Honey Boy - Guitar Man 3:15

9 Freddie Notes - Walk a Mile in My Shoes 3:18

10 Laurel Aitken - Pretty Face 3:17

11 The Pioneers - You Don't Know Like I Know (7" Mix) 3:04

12 Ken Boothe - Speak Softly Love (Love Theme from 'The Godfather') 3:00

13 Winston Francis - Knock On Your Door 2:43

14 Nicky Thomas - (If I Were) Only a Child (Again) 2:54

15 John Holt - You Baby 3:17

16 Bruce Ruffin - In the Thick of It 2:35

17 Danny Ray - Ain't It a Beautiful Morning (7" Mix) 2:49

18 Bob Andy - Peace of Mind aka Peace in Your Mind 2:26

19 Lloyd Charmers - Life Is Just for Living 2:46

20 Lloyd Parks - Feel a Little Better 2:44

21 Greyhound - Wily 2:40

22 Jackie Edwards - Your Eyes Are Dreaming 3:19

23 The Pioneers - Time Hard (Everyday) 2:31

24 Dave Barker - Hot Line 2:42

25 Lord Tanamo - A Dash of the Sunshine 4:00

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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

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K SPECIAL VA - K-tells 34, Pop Disco, 46 Original Hits, 46 Original Stars (2025 Remastered Edition) (2CD) (1976)

K SPECIAL 

PLEASE THANK K for this wonderful compilation

VA - K-tells 34, Pop Disco, 46 Original Hits, 46 Original Stars (2025 Remastered Edition) (2CD) (1976)

K-tel, Ronco, and Arcade Records were all companies known for selling compilation albums and other products through various channels, including television advertising and direct mail.

K-tel, founded in 1962, is the original compilation company, selling over half a billion records worldwide. Ronco was known for promoting products like the Superstars music collection through television commercials and direct mail. Arcade Records was another company that focused on selling music through various channels.

Here's a more detailed look at each company:

K-tel:

K-tel's main focus was on producing and selling compilation albums, featuring popular music hits from various genres. They also expanded into selling other products like video games, toys, and kitchen appliances. K-tel is based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and has subsidiaries in the US and UK.

Ronco:

Ronco was known for its distinctive television commercials, often featuring unusual or outlandish products. One of their most famous products was the Superstars music collection, which included a box set of records and a matching pair of records.

Arcade Records:

Arcade Records was another company that focused on selling music through direct mail and other channels. They offered a wide variety of albums, often featuring compilation albums or unique music selections.

Like many who grew up in the 70's and 80's, K-tel, Ronco and Arcade compilation albums were very much a staple in my record collection. 20 hit tracks for a little more than the cost of a couple of singles, they always seemed like great value for a little pocket money. Many hit the number 1 spot in the UK charts, often completely outselling major name artists.

For instance: 20 Dynamic Hits is a compilation album released on vinyl by K-tel in 1972. It reached number 1 in the UK and was the first album put together specifically for telemarketing in that country. At a time when various artists' compilations were eligible for inclusion on the UK's Official Album Chart, this was the biggest selling album of 1972.

The company built the business of releasing compilation albums that combined material from a number of popular artists onto a single theme album using the tag line "20 Original Hits! 20 Original Stars!". The company negotiated directly with artists and labels for the rights to reproduce their original recordings, in the process also securing a long-term asset through adding those recordings to their catalogue.

Canadian Philip Kives began K-tel in the 1960's, and his biggest selling product was the Miracle Brush, which sold 28 million in the late 1960's. In 1966, K-tel released its first compilation album, 25 Country Hits. It quickly sold out and prompted the follow-up, 25 Polka Greats. This one sold 1.5 million copies in the United States alone. The hits kept coming and included the Super Hits series, the Dynamic Hits series and the Number One Hits series. K-tel assembled the greatest hits from the latest, greatest artists in one single package. There were even thematic compilations like Goofy Greats, Super Bad, Super Bad Is Back, Souled Out, Summer Cruisin’ and a 1950's look-back, Rock ’n’ Roll Show. K-tel grew exponentially in the 1970's and by the early 1980's, the company had sold more than half a billion albums worldwide.

These albums for me, as I'm sure for others, hold very dear memories, and for many were the very first albums they ever bought.

I decided to compile many of these albums from scratch using the very latest and highest quality CD digital remasters with many tracks mastered from the original master tapes (rather than ripping from the original vinyl), as these classic compilation albums from K-tel, Ronco, Arcade, etc. were sadly badly mastered with poor sound quality along with many tracks being severely edited due to vinyl time constraints in order to squeeze on as many tracks per side as possible.

I've made absolutely sure through exhaustive and extensive research to include all the original complete 7" 45 single versions (which were originally used on the albums, but cut short), from my own extensive collection, so as to make these compilations completely authentic and true to the originals, along with the best sounding audio quality possible. I've also spent a considerable amount of time fine tuning, editing and adjusting the volume levels to be consistent across each album.

What makes these albums most interesting is that each one contains, even to this day, a few extremely rare, obscure and hard to find tracks. Not one of these compilation albums has ever been officially released on CD.

Hope they bring back a lot of happy memories.

Pop Disco: 46 Original Hits - 46 Original Stars (K-tel TN 1101 - TN 1121 - TN 1201 - TG 153 NLD) (2025 Remastered Edition) (2CD) (1976)

K-tells part 34 of this ongoing series.

Pop Music, Disco Mania, Pop Parade and Disco Express were all released by K-tel in the Netherlands in 1975/1976.

The covers all featured a similar colour scheme using a set of bright primary colours; red, yellow and blue, giving them a very consistent look, making them quite different and distinctive from other K-tel releases.

For this 2025 remaster, I have selected the 46 very best English language tracks from all four releases for a special 2CD set.

CD1 comprises 23 of the very best song selections with a running time of 77:12 CD length.

CD2 comprises 23 of the very best song selections with a running time of 79:03 CD length.

All 33 previous posts of the K-tells series can be found here:

http://butterboycompilations.blogspot.com/search/label/K-tells

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Track lists

CD1

1 Sweet - Fox on the Run (Original 1975 7" Single Version) 3:22

2 Limousine - Seventy-Five 3:37

3 Roxy Music - Love Is the Drug 4:09

4 Smokie - I'll Meet You at Midnight 3:16

5 Donna Summer - Love to Love You Baby (Original 1975 7" Single Edit) 3:23

6 KC and the Sunshine Band - (Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty 3:05

7 Shirley & Company - Shame, Shame, Shame (Original 1975 7" Single Version) 3:47

8 Silver Convention - No, No, Joe (Original 1976 7" Single Version) 4:04

9 Jim Gilstrap - Swing Your Daddy 2:53

10 The Bellamy Brothers - Let Your Love Flow (Original 1976 7" Single Version) 3:14

11 Sutherland Brothers & Quiver - Arms of Mary 2:38

12 Liverpool Express - You Are My Love 3:09

13 Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony - The Hustle (Original 1975 7" Single Version) 3:31

14 Barry White - What Am I Gonna Do with You 3:36

15 Moments & Whatnauts - Girls (Original 1975 7" Single Version) 3:10

16 Johnnie Taylor - Disco Lady 4:27

17 Guys 'n' Dolls - There's a Whole Lot of Loving 3:14

18 Brotherhood of Man - Save Your Kisses for Me 3:03

19 Teach-In - Ding-a-dong 2:27

20 ABBA - S.O.S. 3:23

21 Bay City Rollers - I Only Want to Be with You 3:38

22 The Rubettes - Foe-Dee-Oh-Dee 3:02

23 Sailor - Girls, Girls, Girls 3:03

CD2

1 Silver Convention - Get Up and Boogie (Original 1976 7" Single Version) 4:00

2 Donna Summer - Try Me, I Know We Can Make It (Original 1976 7" Single Edit) 4:17

3 Tina Charles - Love Me Like a Lover 2:49

4 Shirley & Company - Disco Shirley 3:17

5 The Rubettes - I Can Do It 3:19

6 Sailor - A Glass of Champagne 2:42

7 Bryan Ferry - Let's Stick Together 2:59

8 Sugarloaf - Don't Call Us, We'll Call You 3:22

9 Hot Chocolate - Heaven Is in the Back Seat of My Cadillac (Original 1976 7" Single Edit) 3:53

10 Catapult - Seven Eleven 3:23

11 Shabby Tiger - Slow Down 3:25

12 The Four Seasons - Silver Star (Original 1976 7" Single Edit) 4:02

13 Harpo - Horoscope 3:15

14 David Dundas - Jeans On 3:17

15 The Trammps - Disco Party (Dance People Dance) (Original 1976 7" Single Edit) 3:48

16 Ohio Players - Fire (Original 1974 7" Single Version) 3:22

17 Dooley Silverspoon - Bump Me Baby, Pt. 1 (Original 1975 7" Single Version) 2:32

18 The Manhattans - Kiss and Say Goodbye (Original 1976 7" Single Edit) 3:32

19 Penny McLean - 1-2-3-4... Fire! (Original 1976 7" Single Version) 3:30

20 The Ritchie Family - The Best Disco in Town (Original 1976 7" Single Edit) 3:13

21 Silver Convention - Always Another Girl 3:59

22 Cunningham - Norma Jean Wants to Be a Movie Star 3:38

23 Boney M. - Daddy Cool (Original 1976 7" Single Version) 3:28

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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

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