NOW That's What I Call An Era - Ballroom Blitz: 1967-1976 (Special Edition 4CD)

NOW Music proudly presents the next release in the ‘ERA’ series with NOW That's What I Call An Era - Ballroom Blitz: 1967-1976 celebrating the colourful world of glam rock, pop and unforgettable chart hits that defined the early-to-mid 1970s, with a selection of pop gems from the late 1960s. This collection brings together 81 tracks across a 4CD Deluxe version in hard-back-book packaging complete with a 28-page booklet packed with notes on all the featured tracks – showcasing the era’s biggest stars, instantly recognisable anthems, novelty favourites and enduring singalongs from one of the most distinctive periods in UK pop history.

CD1 opens with glam pop at its most exhilarating as Sweet’s ‘Ballroom Blitz’ kicks the collection off, followed by Mud’s ‘Dyna-Mite’ and Suzi Quatro’s #1 ‘Can The Can’ before Wizzard’s ‘See My Baby Jive’, which spent four weeks at No.1 and Elton John’s classic ‘Crocodile Rock’. Gilbert O’Sullivan’s ‘Get Down’ leads into the sing-a-long pop of Bay City Rollers’ ‘Shang-a-Lang’, Alvin Stardust’s ‘My Coo Ca Choo’, Kenny’s ‘The Bump’, and Barry Blue’s ‘Dancin’ (On A Saturday Night)’. Pilot’s #1 ‘January’ comes ahead of two incredible chart debuts: Roxy Music’s defining ‘Virginia Plain’ is followed by Sparks’ ‘This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us’ which raced to #2 helped by their iconic never-forgotten performances on ‘Top of the Pops’. The disc continues with #1s from Chicory Tip and Norman Greenbaum’s ‘Spirit In The Sky’ which spent two weeks at the top in 1970 along with Paper Lace’s 1974 chart-topper ‘Billy, Don’t Be A Hero’. Smokie’s ‘If You Think You Know How To Love Me’ comes before Slik’s 1976 #1’Forever And Ever’ which leads to a pair of huge chart debuts closing the first disc for David Essex with ‘Rock On’ and Leo Sayer with ‘The Show Must Go On’.

CD2 opens with a run of irresistible pop ear-worms from The Archies with their massive #1 ‘Sugar Sugar’, 1910 Fruitgum Company’s ‘Simon Says’, Jackie Lee’s ‘Rupert’ and Michael Jackson’s ‘Rockin’ Robin’. Middle Of The Road’s ‘Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep’ comes next; a UK No.1 for five weeks and leading into Pickettywitch’s ‘That Same Old Feeling’ and more chart-toppers from Dawn feat. Tony Orlando with ‘Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree’, Christie’s ‘Yellow River’ and The New Seekers with ‘I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing (In Perfect Harmony)’ an enduring hit (originally written for and adapted from an advertising campaign). A run of  Eurovision favourites is next including #1s from Dana, Sandie Shaw with 1967’s ‘Puppet On A String’ plus Lulu, Clodagh Rodgers and Teach-In alongside the ‘70s holiday anthem from Sylvia Vrethammar, ‘Y Viva Espana’. Shocking Blue’s ‘Venus’ and Steam’s ‘Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye’ add further pop classics and lead to the trio of closing tracks for this disc from Edison Lighthouse with ‘Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)’ Peters & Lee’s ‘Welcome Home’ and The 5th Dimension’s easy-pop classic ‘Up, Up And Away’ from 1968.

CD3 is packed with instantly recognisable 70s pop classics, opening with two huge #1s: The Rubettes with ‘Sugar Baby Love’ and Bay City Rollers’ ‘Bye Bye Baby’ – 1975’s biggest seller in the U.K. A run of pure-pop nuggets follows from Pilot with ‘Magic’, Jigsaw with ‘Sky High’, Carl Douglas’ massive #1‘Kung Fu Fighting’, Sailor’s ‘A Glass Of Champagne’ and Sparks’ ‘Looks, Looks, Looks’. A trio of chart champs are up next from Terry Jacks with ‘Seasons In The Sun’, David Essex’s ‘Gonna Make You A Star’ and Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel’s iconic ‘Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me). Driving pop from Smokie with ‘I’ll Meet You At Midnight’ and The Arrows’ ‘I Love Rock ’n’ Roll’ come ahead of Glam-pop anthems from Sweet with ‘Teenage Rampage’ and Wizzard’s ‘Angel Fingers’. A run of one-off unforgettable feel-good pop includes Kursaal Flyers’ ‘Little Does She Know’, Blue Swede’s ‘Hooked On A Feeling’, Harpo’s ‘Moviestar’, David Dundas’ ‘Jeans On’, and The Mixtures’ ‘The Pushbike Song’. Bringing the disc to a close, Tony Orlando & Dawn’s second appearance with the #1‘Knock Three Times’ and Tony Christie’s enduring ‘(Is This The Way To) Amarillo’ – a Top 20 hit on its original release – it hit the top over 30 years later with an iconic music video for Comic Relief.

CD4 rounds off the collection with a joyful celebration of some of the era’s most instantly recognisable pop favourites, opening with #1s from T. Rex with their glam masterpiece ‘Hot Love’, Suzi Quatro’s ‘Devil Gate Drive’, Sweet’s ‘Blockbuster’ and Mud with their ’74 best-seller ‘Tiger Feet’. Elton John’s ‘Honky Cat’ is up next ahead of Captain & Tennille’s ‘Love Will Keep Us Together’ alongside more Eurovision favourites: Mouth & MacNeal’s ‘I See A Star’ and Brotherhood Of Man’s winning ‘Save Your Kisses For Me’ – 1976’s biggest selling single. Dance-pop from Dana with ‘Fairytale’ and Billy Ocean’s ‘Love Really Hurts Without You’ lead into soulful pop from the Jackson 5 with ‘ABC’ and The Foundations’ much-loved ‘Build Me Up Buttercup’. Sweet Dreams enjoyed a hit covering Abba’s ‘Honey Honey’ and Stephanie De Sykes’ hit with a pop classic ‘Born With A Smile On My Face’. Continuing the run of timeless pop are The New Seekers’ with another #1‘You Won’t Find Another Fool Like Me’ and Guys ‘n’ Dolls with ‘There’s A Whole Lot Of Loving’ (another track originally recorded for an advert that went on to become a huge hit). Jacky had a hit with the theme to the tv programme ‘White Horses’ and Melanie’s ‘Brand New Key’ was Top 5 in the UK and a US #1. Ohio Express’ unforgettable ‘Yummy Yummy Yummy’ takes the collection to its final track from The Wombles – the UK’s biggest selling act in 1974 - with their Top 3 smash ‘Remember You’re A Womble’ - completing a packed celebration of the bright, joyful and enduring pop sounds of the era.

NOW That’s What I Call An Era – Ballroom Blitz: 1967-1976 – a celebration of the colourful, exuberant and unforgettable pop that defined one of the most distinctive eras in UK music.