Search - Various Artists :: Fantastic, Volume 2: Original Hits, Original Stars

Not So Fantastic Remake: Part 2

Plastic Salmon | 04/24/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"The songs from this shortened version of K-tel's 1973 album "Fantastic" are just some of those found on the original issue. Although the original album included 22 songs, this album contains only 10, and three of these songs were not even found on that collection. Those three items are "One Toke Over the Line" by Brewer and Shipley, an underappreciated song in its time; the fast-paced "You Ain't Since Nothing Yet" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive; and "Stay Awhile" by The Bells.



The songs which were found on the original album are a mixture of styles. Several rhythm and blues songs are "Misdemeanor" by then-child star Foster Sylvers; the romantic "I'm Gonna Love You A Little Bit More, Baby" by Barry White; and the dance track "I'm Doing Fine Now" by New York City. Two slow-paced songs are "The Morning After" by Maureen McGovern, the sound track for the movie Poseidon Adventure; and "It Sure Took A Long Long Time" by Lobo. Cliff Richards presents the marching rhythmic "Power To All Our Friends"; and Rod Stewart sings "Twisting The Night Away", a selection with fifties-style dance features.



A better remake of the original album would have included all 22 songs in their full length on a compact disc. The 1973 edition contained 22 songs compressed onto a vinyl disc with a 60-minute capacity; and the only way to make that possible was by editing out portions of some songs and shortening their length. The compact disc with an 80-minute capacity should be able to accomodate these 22 songs in their unedited full length. Such a remake would have earned this album 4 stars.



If it were possible to give detailed ratings, the song variety would get 4 stars, song quality would receive 4 stars, and "completeness" would get only 1 star. Overall, this album deserves about 2.5 stars."