Search - Various Artists :: Have a Nice Day 13

Life is a rock (but the Rhino rolled me)

simnia | snowy bayou country, USA | 12/15/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This volume is about average for the H.A.N.D. series; not outstanding, yet not too obscure, with mostly well-known hits from 1974. I truly enjoyed "Life Is A Rock" here, much more than I did when it originally came out. High school girls used to love that song in 1974-1975: its fun, commercial nature and willingness to spend exorbitant amounts of time learning its intricate lyrics fit well with the typical high school experience. I love its ending where several very nice, well-known pop song choruses are mixed together over a beautiful chord progression with a heavy emphasis on reminiscence. No wonder it sounds better now than it did then. "My Girl Bill" was unknown to me in 1974. It's supposed to humorously pique the listener's interest by sounding like two gay men on a date, but then resolves the question along standard lines. "Radar Love" is a great song for driving. "Midnight At The Oasis" is a sexy song that tosses out every Sahara-related buzzword in an attempt to paint a cultural image. "Beach Baby" was ridiculed in its time for being too commercial. My girlfriend utterly hated "Billy, Don't Be A Hero" for being a pointless story about two brainless fools. "I Can Help" has a cool little guitar riff in the middle."

One of, if not THE, best of the series!

John A. Kuczma | Marietta, GA USA | 07/06/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Volume 13 of the "Have a Nice Day" series could be just what you need to have that nice day. This disc has it all: the driving rockers "Radar Love" and "The Night Chicago Died", one of the decade's most beautiful ballads in Dave Loggins' "Please Come to Boston", the bubblegum flavored MOR pop cut "Billy, Don't Be a Hero" and plenty more.Bill Stafford adds the sniggery cross-over hit "My Girl Bill" and Maria Muldaur goes one step further with the very suggestive "Midnight at the Oasis."In fact, Volume 13 is so strong that Wet Willie's "Keep on Smilin'" and Reunion's "Life is a Rock" are the weakest cuts offered. For this series, that's going some.If you're only going to take a couple Volumes from the set, this has got to be one of them. A legitimate five-star collection, Volume 13 is highly recommended."

All Big 70s Hits!

John A. Kuczma | 06/28/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Finally, a volume from the "Have a Nice Day" series that can truly lay claim to the title, "Super Hits of the 70s." Every one of these tracks is a hit, even though most are guilty pleasures--that is, uncool in retrospect. Even so, who could possibly turn away from the catchiness of such ditties as "Beach Baby," "The Night Chicago Died," and "Billy, Don't Be a Hero"? All original versions."