What is your opinion, 07/07?

[SAT-I need more room!!]

DJ said:

Looks like it's my turn! Well now... (Pops in CD of you know who... )

Ray Parker Jr./Raydio--an R & B act I loved listening to growing up. Nothing's wore out on me, especially GHOSTBUSTERS! ;D (All time top 200, the "Macarena" of its time?) Originally I called them only "Raydio", even on "A woman needs love". But man, did Ray/Raydio appear A LOT on Solid Gold! (Almost as much as the Go-Go's or Sheena Easton!) Known for pointing finger on "Just like you do" (Never forget those weird things!) and did he rock on "The other woman"! (A Solid Gold "Pick Hit", BTW). All those great childhood memories aside, he was my fave of these 5 until about 5 years ago. A shame hardly any of his original Arista albums have been issued on CD. Also a wonderfully talented musician, great guitarist on some Boz Scaggs tunes! And I think he played on Stevie Wonder's gargantuan "Songs in the Key of Life". Long enough here? You haven't seen anything yet!
Faves:
Ghostbusters (LOVED singing to the instrumental version a LOT in '84)
Jack and Jill
The other woman
Girls are more fun (LOVED this in fall '85, extremely overlooked)
You can't change that
A woman needs love
That old song (more pop than R & B IMO)
Jamie
Two places at the same time
I still can't get over loving you
Bad boy
For those who like to groove
Honey I'm rich
Woman out of control
It's our own affair
Let me go
It's your night
The people next door
More than one way to love a woman
I dont think that man should sleep alone
One sided love affair
Invasion
Is this a love thing
Still in the groove
Dueling bikes from Quicksilver
Just havin' fun
In the heat of the night
Over you
Can't keep from cryin'

John Parr--Except for St. Elmo's Fire, he didn't do much for me. I actually like his 3 minor hits "Magical", "Love grammar" and especially "Blame it on the radio" more than "Naughty naughty". That song took too long to break...sick of it by the time it reached top 40!

(I'll save the best for last... )

Dolly Parton--Nice singer, looks, sound, what have you. Even went to Dollywood back in 1990! Despite her mammoth country hit output, I tend to lean towards her pop crossovers.
Faves--
9 to 5
Islands in the stream (w/Kenny)
Here you come again
Two doors down
Baby I'm burnin' (Dolly goes disco!)
I will always love you (1974 and 1982 versions...(Lora !)
But you know I love you
Heartbreaker
Save the last dance for me
Jolene
Love is like a butterfly
Starting over again
It's all wrong, but it's all right (Flip of Baby I'm burnin')
Old flames can't hold a candle to you
Joshua

Partridge Family--Nice, wholesome AM radio friendly music. My sister had all their albums, except Crossword Puzzle (as well as David solo), eventually it really grew on me, enough so I have their Hits CD! Fun stuff!
Faves:
I think I love you (all-time top 100)
C'mon get happy (LOVE that organ!)
Doesn't somebody want to be wanted
I woke up in love this morning
It's one of those nights (Yes love)
I'll meet you halfway
Am I losing you
Looking through the eyes of love
Summer days
Point me in the direction of Albuquerque
Umbrella man
Brown eyes
Breaking up is hard to do
Echo Valley 2-6809
She'd rather have the rain
BONUS: David solo--
Cherish
Could it be forever
Rock me baby
How can I be sure
I just wanna make you happy
Two time loser
And a reasonably good 1990 album, with the top 40 hit "Lyin' to myself".

AND NOW... (drum roll)
The Alan Parsons Project!!!
Man, what a long story to tell all. I may have heard some of their tunes on FM rock radio in the late 70's, then an AM pop/rock station began playing their hits from '76 to '81, and they were all good! Then much play on FM top 40 and rock stations throughout the 80's, enjoying the music thoroughly, but I still didn't consider myself a huge fan yet. A college friend of mine (a girl) really enjoyed their music as well. Some years pass, I go to work, earn money, I buy CD's of my fave groups of the past, and lo and behold, there's this "Ultimate Collection" with 2 CD's. I buy it, and it quickly becomes one of my fave CD compilations ever. Well I just can't say enough, I love their progressive, studio rock/pop approach to their work (Especially great vocalists in Eric Woolfson and Lenny Zakatek) , and hope I don't break the 10,000 word barrier!
Faves: All of them, but best of all--
Don't let it show (just a few months ago, my new all-time fave)
Eye in the sky (with Sirius, of course!)
I robot/I wouldn't want to be like you
Time
Games people play
Let's talk about me
Don't answer me
Psychobabble
Dr. Tarr & Prof. Fether
Prime time
Damned if I do
Stereotomy
Days are numbers
Standing on higher ground
Breakdown
Voyager/What goes up/The eagle will rise again
You don't believe
Can't take it with you
Mammagamma
You're gonna get your fingers burned (my fave not on the 2 CD set)
Lucifer
Turn of a friendly card (Part 1)/Snake eyes
The raven
Pyramania
Ace of swords
Old and wise
Jigue/Re-jigue
Too late
Ammonia avenue
In the real world
Day after day (The show must go on)
Gemini
Nucleus
Step by step
Turn it up
Vulture culture
You won't be there
Voice
Sooner or later
I don't wanna go home
Tell-tale heart
The silence and I
In the lap of the gods
Total eclipse
Children of the moon
Separate lives
Enough? ;D

Didn't know Parker played guitar with Boz!

I actually remember seeing the video to Lyin' to Myself!

[SAT-I need more room!!]

kathyb said:

Yay! It's back! I've missed this feature for the last 3 days.

Ray Parker Jr/Raydio--I really enjoy listening to a lot of his/their songs--more than I even realized, I guess. Is there some sort of a greatest hits collection out there somewhere, do you know? Faves: A Woman Needs Love, Jack and Jill, I Still Can't Get Over Lovin' You (LOVE IT), You Can't Change That, The Other Woman, Two Places at the Same Time

John Parr--He opened up for Tina Turner when I saw her live back in the 80's. He actually wasn't too bad--I was impressed by his performance. Then he pretty much disappeared. Really like Naughty Naughty. And the song St. Elmo's Fire was MUCH better than the movie. LOL!

Alan Parsons Project--I don't know anything about this group, but I do like a lot of the songs. Faves--Damned if I Do, Wouldn't Want to Be Like You, Don't Let it Show, Eye in the Sky, plenty more...

Dolly Parton--An all time favorite of mine. My husband got me the 2 CD set "The Ultimate Dolly Parton" for my birthday, and I must say, I like it a lot. I've been listening to it, and I had forgotten about some of the songs she's had. That CD set brought back a lot of memories for me. Faves: Coat of Many Colors, Jolene, I Will Always Love You, Love is Like a Butterfly, Light of a Clear Blue Morning, Here You Come Again, Two Doors Down, We Used To, The Seeker, Romeo, Rockin' Years, Baby I'm Burnin', Shine, many more...BTW--she was a guest on Larry King Live last week, and she said she couldn't read music. When she writes a song, she has to play it for someone else so that they can write down the musical notes to the song. I just thought it was interesting that someone as prolific as she is, can't read music.

Partridge Family--Lotsa fond memories of the TV show, and of David Cassidy especially. Used to sit in my room, play the albums, and gaze at David's face on the album covers for hours. LOL! Faves: Brown Eyes, Echo Valley 36809, I Think I Love You, Doesn't Somebody Want to Be Wanted, Looking Through the Eyes of Love, I Can Feel Your Heartbeat, I'll Meet You Halfway, I Woke Up in Love, Come On Get Happy, One of Those Nights, She'd Rather Have the Rain, lots more.

There is some sort of hits collection, my brother has it, and it was where I was re-introduced to You Can't Change That.

And you dreamed of becoming Mrs. David Cassidy!!

[Laura--I wuv u all :)]

SAT-The said:

Did Shirley sing on the actual recordings?

I had 2 of their recordings when I was a kid, including the Christmas one, and she sang the lead vocal on "The Christmas Song".

[Laura--I wuv u all :)]

SAT-The said:

. Alan Parsons Project-. Strictly a studio outfit...

Not quite--Alan has been touring w/a band these past few years. I haven't seen 'em, but have heard good things about their live shows. I love their music--"Psychobabble" is the best!!!

(I'd write more but I gotta go back to work now)

[beatles4ever]

1.Ray Parker-not enough of this guy in the 80s to have much of an opinion

2.John Parr-I liked the movie St.Elmo's Fire and the theme song

3.Alan Parsons Project-this is a band that I have always felt was more hype than talent

4.Dolly Parton-Good Golly,Miss Dolly!I have listened to this lovely songbird since her Porter Wagner days.Her voice is so unique;I like that in a singer!

5.Partrige Family-a big favorite in our house,both the show and their music...although it wasn't much theirs,was it?

[Railyn]

SAT-The said:

I didn't know people drooled over Andrew McCarthy!

Hey, I was in middle school. Anyway, I never understood why people drool over Cameron Diaz, yet they do.....

[Ken]

SAT-The said:

What was the fiasco with those songs?

Here's what happened, basically Huey accused Ray of plagiarism claiming that the melody in Ghostbusters sounded waaaay to much like I Want a New Drug.

So Huey's lawyers went after Ray's lawyers and if I remember correctly they settled out of court. Along with the agreement that neither one of them would talk about what happened or the amount of money agreed to in the settlement .

[KittyKat - RIP Luciano]

Always a day late and a dollar short...

Ray Parker/Raydio - I like the Raydio stuff better. I hate the Ghostbusters theme song!!! Faves: You Can't Change That

John Parr - So cheesy. I've never liked his stuff at all, although the movie St. Elmo's Fire is close to my heart. My mom was an extra in the film! Hee hee... a funny story for another time.

Alan Parsons Project - I've never really listened to their earlier stuff. I used to like their hits from the 80s. Faves: Eye in The Sky, Games People Play, Time

Dolly Parton - Yay! I just love her. Her music makes me smile, although I'm not that familiar with her stuff from the last 15 years or so. My dad has a couple of her last albums which he says are amazing. Her cover of Stairway To Heaven is actually quite good. Faves: Hard Candy Christmas, Here You Come Again, 9 to 5, Jolene, Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle To You

Partridge Family - Where should I start? I just love the music that David Cassidy and the producers of that show put out. I listen to the Greatest Hits all the time. Faves: I Think I Love You, I Woke Up In Love This Morning, Looking Through The Eyes of Love, Doesn't Somebody Want To Be Wanted, I Can Feel Your Heartbeat, Could It Be Forever, Point Me In The Direction of Alberquerque

[lora]

SAT-The said:

You should check out her bluegrass stuff! Nice kickin' back stuff!

I've been aiming too. I guess I really should now!

[H2IZCOOL]

SAT-The said:

Did Shirley sing on the actual recordings?

I'm pretty sure she did. The labels list it as "The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones and Featuring David Cassidy" (I think... I'm doing this from memory)

Shirley appeared in musicals including Oklahoma and Carousel, and had/has a great voice. It's logical that she would be singing. What wasn't logical that on at least some tracks, they "wasted" her by having her sing backup melody.

[Laura--I wuv u all :)]

Addendum to my previous message...

Laura said:

SAT-The said:

.
Alan Parsons Project--Alan has been touring w/a band these past few years. I haven't seen 'em, but have heard good things about their live shows.

I had to go back to work after originally writing this, so had to cut it short, but I did want to add that Alan Parsons does have a live CD called "The Very Best Live". Like I said, I haven't seen him live, but I do have the CD. It came out in *(goes to look at CD and check copyright date--ok, I'm back now)* 1995. It's an excellent live CD and also has 3 new studio cuts on it, which are also very good.

[55dodger]

Ray Parker Jr & Raydio - Not real familiar with him/them

John Parr - St. Elmo's Fire was one real good reason to watch the Solid Gold Dancers

Alan Parson's Project - Got a couple of albums and a couple of others on tape, but really don't know them beyond what's played on the radio. Favorites: D@mned If I Do, Time, Eye In the Sky, Prime Time.

Dolly Parton - A legend although I really have a hard time listening to her. Here you Come Again, Ellusive Butterfly, Islands in the Stream (with K. Rogers)

Partridge Family - Who cared what David Cassidy wanted. Susan Dey was the main reason to watch the show. Favorites: I Think I Love, I'll Meet You Halfway, I Woke Up In Love.

[Kat]

Ray Parker/Raydio - Jack and Jill is definately my favorite.. love that song!

John Parr - St. Elmo's Fire and Naughty, Naughty

Alan Parsons Project - Eye in the Sky

Dolly Parton - "Whitney WHO?" Heh, my thoughts exactly. Whitney Houston couldn't hold a candle to Dolly Parton if she tried. She's a true legend, and I think she rocks! Faves: Here You Come Again, 9 to 5, I Will Always Love You, Islands in the Stream, You're The Only One

The Partridge Family - I wouldn't mind having a greatest hits album, and I also liked the show. Faves: I Think I Love You, Come On, Get Happy, I'll Meet You Halfway