Various Artists - Hear The Light, Vol. 2 (1984)

EARLY CD WEEK* (APRIL 18-23, 2022)

From the same people that brought you volume one, this one's got more variety and probably more useful as a demo disc as the salesperson could quickly find a piece that matched the listening habits of the prospective customer.

6 of the 13 tracks were new to my CD collection, including two I really enjoy. As this was produced prior to the loudness wars and the main goal of the disc was to sound great and drive sales, most tracks sound fantastic.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks:

1. Maniac - Michael Sembello, released 1983, #1 pop, #34 AC, #6 dance, #34 rock
   Also on the Flashdance soundtrack, 12 Inch Disco Originals Vol. 1, and the Billboard Top Hits 1980 - 1984 box set.
2. Fade To Grey - Visage, released 1980
   Also on the Now That's What I Call Music! 1981 compilation, the Here and Now: The Very Best of the 80s compilation, and Just Can't Get Enough: New Wave Hits of the '80s, Vol. 3.
3. Star Wars (Main Title) - John Williams And The London Symphony Orchestra, released 1977, #10 pop, #4 AC
   Also on John Williams - By Request.
4. Fame - Irene Cara, released 1980, #4 pop, #1 dance
   Also on the Billboard Top Hits 1980 - 1984 box set. This song won the Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Original Song, but I remember it more as the theme song for the Fame tv show. On this compilation we're treated to the five minute album version.
5. Lay Down Sally - Eric Clapton, released 1977, #3 pop, #25 AC, #26 country
   Also on Timepieces and The Best Of Eric Clapton. I can take it or leave it, but I just discovered that the wonderful Yvonne Elliman sings backing vocals on this one. Thanks, internet!
6. Joanna - Kool And The Gang, released 1983, #2 pop, #1 R&B, #2 AC
   Hey! Wait just a minute! Wasn't this track also on Volume 1?!? What gives, PolyGram?
7. Atlanta Blue - Statler Bros., released 1984, #3 country
   I'm sure this is a great country song if you like that sort of thing.
8. Greensleeves - Mantovani, released 1952
   This is the sort of Muzak-type stuff that reminds me of my maternal grandmother. She would keep the tv in her house tuned to the local cable station that played easy listening music while the community bulletin board ran.
   
   Funny how something that drives you bonkers in high school eventually becomes a cherished memory.
9. E.T. Flying Theme - John Williams And The Boston Pops, released 1982
   Also on John Williams - By Request. From 1984-88, I attended college at what was then known as East Texas State University. Most people just called it "ET" and we had a band director who thought it was clever to play this theme. I distinctly remember playing it in the fall of 1984, after that, who the hell knows.
10. Solitude (Theme From Missing) - Zamfir, released 1984
    Ye gods. Perhaps the less said about this thing, the better.
11. Caravan - Wes Montgomery, released 1964
    Now we're talking! A driving, upbeat, big band version of this 1936 standard with dazzling fretwork from Montgomery.
12. Desafinado - Stan Getz/Charlie Byrd, released 1962, #15 pop
    I have other versions of this classic, but this take - from the Jazz Samba album - is new to my shelves. Note to self: buy Jazz Samba album.
13. Darlin - Tom Jones, released 1981, #103 pop, #45 AC, #19 country
    It's not unusual for an artist to pivot to another genre later in a recording career, but this one's not for me.  Like I mentioned earlier, looks like there's something for everybody on this disc.

This compilation has quite a few soundtrack pieces, huh? Immediately recognizable to people of all ages, I imagine track 3 was quite popular when showing off the sonic capabilities of CDs to prospective buyers.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

---

*I recently compiled complete chart data for compact disc charts from both Billboard and CashBox magazines. While doing so, I saw the names of a number of very early sampler/demonstration discs with which I was completely unfamiliar. I found a few early CDs that charted, as well as similar discs from 1983-85, and am featuring those this week.