20 Star Tracks Vol 1 (PP 2001)

Various Artists

In the early seventies, Ronco founder Ron Popeil began to release compilation albums following the success of those produced by K-Tel Records. The first album released in the UK was 20 Star Tracks Vol 1, in 1972.

The album cover was arguably similar to that of K-Tel’s 20 Dynamic Hits, released at same time.

20 Star Tracks Vol 1 featured British artists like Cat Stevens, Mott the Hoople, Mungo Jerry, and the Sweet alongside Canadian singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie, American Scott English, and English-Australian singer Olivia Newton-John. Also included was Laurie Styvers, who never had any hits in the UK, and songs for acts popular in the UK that did not chart.

Laurie Styver’s “Beat the Reaper” is missing from Spotify, as is the studio version of “Midnight Lady”, and the live edit of “Gimme Some Lovin'”. Otherwise, my playlist recreation is practically complete. Enjoy.

20 Star Tracks Vol 1 reached No 2 the UK albums chart in 1972 for two weeks, kept off the top spot by K-Tel’s 20 All Time Greats of the 50s. That’ll Be the Day was the next offering from Ronco, and there appears to have not been a 20 Star Tracks Vol 2.

PLAYLISTSIDE ONESIDE TWO

  1. Cat Stevens – Morning Has Broken
  2. Middle of the Road – Samson and Delilah
  3. Mott the Hoople – Midnight Lady*
  4. Greyhound – I Am What I Am
  5. The Sweet – Poppa Joe
  6. Atomic Rooster – Stand By Me
  7. Buffy Saint-Marie – Soldier Blue
  8. Jethro Tull – Life is a Long Song
  9. Laurie Styvers – Beat the Reaper*
  10. Lindisfarne – Lady Eleanor
  1. Procol Harum – Conquistador
  2. Joan Baez – The Night They Drove old Dixie Down
  3. Royal Scots Dragoon Guards – Amazing Grace
  4. Free – Little Bit of Love
  5. Labi Siffre – Get To the Country
  6. Mungo Jerry – In the Summertime
  7. Traffic Etc – Gimme Some Lovin’*
  8. Blue Haze – Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
  9. Scott English – Brandy
  10. Olivia Newton-John – Banks of the Ohio


*Missing from Spotify
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