To try to tell the kids today about the power of K-Tel records and those awesome television commercials wouldn’t do it justice. Even the Gen X and Y and Spotify mix tapes don’t really explain the allure and enduring power of the 1970s yacht rock compilation.
I must admit, when I was challenged by several friends to name the influential albums of my life, that I didn’t think I would ever again see the image of this 1970s gem.
I owned three K-Tel albums. I can’t even find a picture of the third one but this one came into my life first – with a large assist to the first band and album I shared a week ago: Kiss. They were like a gateway band to my life in music.
This particular slice of vinyl was purchased at the Farmer’s Market on Route 40 by my maternal mother because I don’t think they had Kiss albums there. Or they were probably sold out. When she saw that the studio version of “Rock and Roll All Nite” was on it, I had to have it. (I think I also got the 45 of “You’re Sixteen” by Ringo Starr that day.)
