POP
VA - Sweet As Candy [1974]
Sweet As Candy belongs to a largely forgotten corner of the record collecting world, the budget compilation LP assembled not for dedicated fans but for ordinary listeners who wanted a stack of current radio favourites on a single disc. Issued in the United States on the WFIL label as catalogue number WC-56, the album appeared as a stereo vinyl compilation and survives today as an intriguing snapshot of American popular music during the middle years of the decade.
What stands out immediately is the breadth of the track selection. Rather than concentrating on a single genre, the compilers drew from every corner of the contemporary charts. George McCrae's "Rock Your Baby" sits alongside First Class's "Beach Baby", Major Harris' "Love Won't Let Me Wait", Terry Jacks' "Seasons In The Sun", Helen Reddy's "I Am Woman", Gladys Knight And The Pips' "Midnight Train To Georgia", Steve Miller Band's "The Joker", and Al Green's "Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy)".
Listening to the record now is rather like tuning across an American AM radio dial during 1974. Soul, pop, soft rock, novelty records and singer-songwriter material appear one after another with very little concern for stylistic boundaries. A humorous hit such as Ray Stevens' "The Streak" can comfortably follow the romantic smoothness of Love Unlimited Orchestra's "Love's Theme", reflecting a period when mainstream radio programming was remarkably diverse.
From a collector's perspective, albums such as Sweet As Candy are valuable less for rarity than for context. They preserve the everyday listening habits of the era, documenting what casual buyers were actually taking home rather than what later histories chose to celebrate. Discogs currently records only two U.S. vinyl editions under the WC-56 catalogue number, making it a modest but authentic artefact of seventies compilation culture.
The cover promises easy enjoyment, and that is exactly what the record delivers, sixteen familiar singles gathered into a compact time capsule of mid-seventies American radio, preserved on a single piece of vinyl for listeners who simply wanted the hits. (B)
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Track list
01 George McCrae - Rock Your Baby 3:13
02 First Class - Beach Baby 4:49
03 Major Harris - Love Won't Let Me Wait 3:43
04 Love Unlimited Orchestra - Love's Theme 3:34
05 Terry Jacks - Seasons in The Sun 3:20
06 Jim Stafford - My Girl Bill 3:06
07 Helen Reddy - I Am Woman 3:05
08 Bobby Womack - Lookin' for A Love 2:31
09 Tony Orlando and Dawn - Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree 3:22
10 Maria Muldaur - Midnight at The Oasis 3:32
11 Bo Donaldson & The Haywoods - Billy Don't Be A Hero 3:20
12 Gladys Knight & The Pips - Midnight Train to Georgia 3:54
13 Steve Miller Band - The Joker 3:36
14 Al Green - Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy) 3:00
15 Ray Stevens - The Streak 3:12
16 Spinners - Mighty Love, Pt.1 3:26
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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.
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WFIL was the classic AM pop music radio station in Philadelphia. There were a lot of DJs/media giants that came through. People like Dick Clark (who went on to create "American Bandstand"), Jim O'Brien, Jerry Blavat, Dr. Don Rose and many more. The station has undergone several format changes. Now it's an evangelical, talk & music station...noting like it's past. Check this out.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6irV70ZEAhM
Hi R,
DeleteThanks for the background. WFIL really was a powerhouse station in its day, and it's fascinating how many broadcasting legends passed through there. Quite a contrast between its pop radio heyday and what it has become today. I'll definitely check out the video.
(Also, FYI I have changed the write up as I pasted the wrong information previously.)
Cheers.
I used to have this very LP and played it constantly back in the day.
ReplyDeleteHi gpxo,
DeleteThat's always a good sign. It's nice to hear this one brought back some memories from your LP collection days.
Cheers.
An interesting one. Definitely worth a spin, thanks.
ReplyDeleteHi Robski,
DeleteGlad you found something of interest here. It's one of those compilations that rewards a spin or two.
Cheers.
Thanks for this one, BB! WFiL was a radio station I grew up listening to in Philadelphia, PA, USA ("the 'FiL BOSS jocks!")...The radio back then opened our ears to many genres we wouldn't have listened to otherwise...
ReplyDeleteHi Etienne,
DeleteYou'rewelcome. It's always great to hear from someone who actually grew up with WFIL.
Radio was a real gateway to new music back then that helped broaden a lot of listeners' horizons. Thanks for sharing your memories.
Cheers.
Thank you Butterboy.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Done4it.
DeleteCheers.
Thank you BB. As a teenager, I listened to WFIL-AM (560 kHz), so your post brings back memories. I’m guessing it's a vinyl rip which—to my ears—can impact sound quality. Suggestion: If you have the opportunity to post vinyl compilations in the future, is it possible for you to dig into your vast collection and replace each individual song with a (presumably) better sounding digital file of the same song? Also, to be clear, Dick Clark and Jerry Blavat—mentioned in an earlier comment—were not part of the WFIL’s “Boss Jock” lineup. Yes, they were DJs there at various times, but it was not during the station’s 60’s/70’s pop music heyday. You can verify that here: https://broadcastpioneers.org/. Thanks again.
ReplyDelete