VA - Jackie The Party Album (2010

Following its Summer Special and Love Songs collections, Jackie: The Party Album is the sixth installment to be released by the compilation series spinoff from the hugely popular 1970s teenage girls' magazine. The three-CD collection features 76 classic pop tracks from the era of the Cathy and Claire problem page, illustrated front covers, and pull-out posters of David Cassidy, who unsurprisingly appears here, with "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do." Alongside the first number one of the decade, Edison Lighthouse's "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)," there are also chart-toppers from ABBA ("Waterloo"), the Rubettes ("Sugar Baby Love"), and Baccara ("Yes Sir I Can Boogie"), and sounds from the world of disco (the Nolans), Motown (the Four Tops), glam rock (Slade), teen pop (Bay City Rollers), and heavy metal (Black Sabbath). In addition to tracks from iconic pop stars still as popular now as they were in the '70s (Elton John, Rod Stewart, David Bowie), there are also one-hit wonders such as John Paul Young, Norman Greenbaum, and George Baker Selection, and songs that have also reached number one in the noughties through various cover versions ("Lady Marmalade," "Thunder in My Heart"). Highlights from the first disc include the Foundations' infectious "Build Me Up Buttercup," Desmond Dekker's reggae classic "You Can Get It If You Really Want," and the lounge-pop of Tony Christie's "Avenues and Alleyways." Heatwave's dancefloor favorite "Boogie Nights," Ike & Tina Turner's rock anthem "Nutbush City Limits," and the Police's ska-fused "Can't Stand Losing You" provide the standouts from disc two, while Jackson 5's joyous "I Want You Back," Diana Ross' seductive "Love Hangover," and Barry Manilow's party number "Copacabana" are the choice cuts from the third disc. Destined to evoke memories for any listener who grew up in the '70s, Jackie: The Party Album is a nostalgia-filled hit-packed compilation album that undoubtedly provides some of the most familiar and fun pop tunes of the decade.