Super Hits of the '70s: Have a Nice Day, Vol. 2

• Artist: Various Artists
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1990 02
• Total Time: 38:04
• Type: Collection (various artists)
• Genre: Rock

Review

The second volume of Super Hits of the '70s: Have a Nice Day is very heavily weighted toward 1970-vintage hits that originated in locales other than the United States, beginning with a Tony Macaulay-co-authored hit, "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)," credited to the group Edison Lighthouse and featuring Tony Burrows, an ex-member of the Kestrels, who sang on the recording -- Burrows also turns up on this CD singing on singles credited to the Brotherhood of Man and White Plains, on "United We Stand," and "My Baby Loves Lovin'," respectively; both, like "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)," are superbly crafted pieces of pop/rock, brilliantly catchy and memorable. The Tee Set were, along with the Shocking Blue and the George Baker Selection (also featured here), part of a contingent of Dutch groups whose work was imported to surprising success in the United States by Jerry Ross and Colossus Records -- "Ma Belle Amie," however, is somewhat limp pop compared to the Shocking Blue's "Venus." Vanity Fare's Top Five hit "Hitchin' a Ride" has held up better, as one of those hook-laden, pleasant pop hits that also had a toe dipped prematurely in the disco sound. Ray Stevens' "Everything Is Beautiful" was a major feel-good hit from the early part of the decade that would have been anathema to many of the listeners of Volume One of this series (or at least Smith's "Baby It's You" and Mountain's "Mississippi Queen"), which is another testimony to the diversity of this series and the era it represents. Two cuts here also speak for that range of musically valid sounds: Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit in the Sky" and the Marmalade's "Reflections of My Life," the former a hard-rocking anthem to religious mysticism by a one-shot artist who hit number three, and the latter a moody piece of pop/rock by one of the most enduring bands in England, in their only American success. ~ Bruce Eder , All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)	Tony Macaulay, Barry Mason	Edison Lighthouse	(2:51)
Ma Belle Amie	Hans VanEijck, Pete Tetteroo	The Tee Set	(3:10)
Spirit in the Sky (Lyrics)	Norman Greenbaum	Norman Greenbaum	(3:57)
Reflections of My Life (Lyrics)	William Campbell, Thomas McAleese	Marmalade	(4:18)
For the Love of Him	Bobby Martin	Bobbi Martin	(2:35)
Little Green Bag	Jan Visser, Johannes Bouwens	George Baker Selection	(3:21)
Which Way You Goin' Billy?	Terry Jacks	The Poppy Family	(3:10)
My Baby Loves Lovin' (Lyrics)	Roger Cook, Roger Greenaway	White Plains	(2:38)
Hitchin' a Ride (Lyrics)	Peter Callander, Mitch Murray	Vanity Fare	(2:37)
United We Stand	Tony Hiller, Peter Simons	Brotherhood of Man	(2:54)
Everything Is Beautiful (Lyrics)	Ray Stevens	Ray Stevens	(3:29)
Lay a Little Lovin' on Me	Jeff Barry, Jim Cretecos, Robin McNamara	Robin McNamara	(3:04)

Credits

Ray Stevens (Vocals), Ray Stevens (Performer), Bobby Martin (Performer), Norman Greenbaum (Vocals), Norman Greenbaum (Performer), Marmalade (Performer), Marmalade (?), The Tee Set (Performer), The Tee Set (?), George Baker (Performer), Vanity Fare (Performer), Vanity Fare (?), White Plains (Performer), White Plains (?), Brotherhood of Man (Performer), Brotherhood of Man (?), The Poppy Family (Performer), The Poppy Family (?), Ken Perry (Digital Remastering), Edison Lighthouse (Performer), Edison Lighthouse (?), Bill Inglot (Digital Remastering), David McLees (Project Assistant), Paul Grein (Liner Notes), Geoff Gans (Art Direction), Robin McNamara (Vocals), Robin McNamara (Performer), George Baker Selection (Performer), George Baker Selection (?), Michael Ochs (Photography), Ed Colver (Photography), Rosa Schuth (Design), Michelle Egle (Project Assistant), Gary Stewart (Compilation), Gary Stewart (Concept), Bobbi Martin (Vocals), Bobbi Martin (Performer)