K-Tel: Wow! That's What I Call Music! Spotlight [1979]

Featuring "Original Hits And Stars" mostly from the previous year, 1979's Spotlight features a decent mix of pop, disco, soft rock and pre-Urban Cowboy country crossover.  Spotlight is significant in the history of K-Tel compilations for two reasons:

1. Spotlight was among the first of the label's releases not to feature more than 16 tracks which theoretically meant the music sounded better and 
2. Spotlight was, to the best recollection of those who should know, the first K-Tel album not to be advertised on TV

Based solely on the impossibly high chart standards of his first three U.S. singles - all of which topped the charts - Andy's Gibb's fourth single "An Everlasting Love" was a "failure" as it only reached #5.  Like the previous three singles, it was written by his older brother, Barry, who was basically exhaling smash hits at the time.

Grammy Award winners for Best New Artist, A Taste Of Honey topped the charts and filled dance-floors with "Boogie Oogie Oogie" in 1978.  The similarly danceable hit "Disco Nights (Rock-Freak)" was released by the band GQ in 1979 with their own cover of "Boogie Oogie Oogie" on the flip-side.

One of HERC's all-time favorite songs is the wonderfully romantic and easy to dance to "Love Is In The Air" by John Paul Young.  It was used to great effect in one of HERC's favorite movies, 1992's Strictly Ballroom.

A still potent slow jam, The Commodores 1978 hit "Three Times A Lady" was also their first pop Number One.  Lionel Richie has stated the song was inspired by his father's love for his mother and the three "times" are love, want and need.

Originally written and recorded while he was a member of Fleetwood Mac in 1972, Bob Welch released a new version of "Sentimental Lady" in 1977 as the first single from his debut solo album.  The new version features background vocals from Mac members Christine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham.

The distinctively voiced Chris Rea released "Fool (If You Think It's Over)" in the Summer of 1978 and it topped the Adult Contemporary Charts.  Unfortunately, Chris Rea's catalog is not yet available on Spotify here in the States.

The late great Gerry Rafferty's "Baker Street" features a soaring sax solo played by Raphael Ravenscroft. (Say that three times fast!)  London's Baker Street is also known as the location of the Beatles' short-lived Apple Boutique and the renowned residence of Sherlock Holmes.