Songs of Joy: The Complete Captain & Tennille Collection

The Captain and Tennille were the first concert I ever went to (CA Mid-State Fair, 1977), and they have remained among my favorite groups ever since. I don't have much to add that hasn't already been said by the other reviewers, but numbers count, so here is my take:THE GROUP - C&T are wonderful musicians. Toni's voice fills the room with sonorant beauty and is capable of great subtlety and great passion. Daryl's arrangements run the entire gamut of musical genre, and are wildly energetic when needed, as well as tender and subtle when appropriate. Any musician will take note of his arranging, playing and producing skills, but his instrumentation never takes center stage away from Toni's amazing vocals.One thing I love about this couple is their "geek" factor. They are not afraid to sing about happy things. "Love is Spreading All Over the World" is a prime example of a great song with a positive message - yes, a little bit "Up with People," but also just great music. There's a tendency for me to think that anything I loved as a teenager isn't as sophisticated as my current tastes, but C&T are different. They exude innocence and positivity, but with a great deal of musical sophistication - just as refreshing to listen to today as they were exciting to listen to 30 years ago.THE COLLECTION - Wow! I have never heard better mastering on a collection of material. I have had their Greatest Hits CD for years. An A-B comparison of "Come In From The Rain" from the Greatest Hits CD and this collection is no contest. So far I've just listened through my Harman Kardon computer speakers, but the stereo imaging on the new song, and the lush EQ, and presence, are dramatically improved. In fact the sound quality is so excellent that it actually draws attention to itself. This is one amazing release.THE PROS - The sound quality, the first 3 albums, C&T themselves, the comprehensiveness of the collection, the honest and self-effacing booklet notes written by ToniTHE CONS - I haven't really warmed up to the two later albums, "Make Your Move" and "Keeping Our Love Warm". Also, many of the synth sounds are fairly dated. The box design is weird, with the album cover art on the sleeves, rather than the CD booklets, and the back cover of every booklet is an ad for the DVD.THE END - The world needs more of Captain and Tennille. Do your part. GET THIS COLLECTION!

I won't review each individual album of this 6-disc set. In general, Captain & Tennille are very enjoyable. I was a fan at age 10 with the LOVE WILL KEEP US TOGETHER album. Hearing it 30 years later was a treat. As an adult I was struck by how hopelessly romantic C&T's music is ... and that's a good thing! Toni Tennille can sing a ballad or love song like nobody's business! I was less familiar with the later albums (DREAM, MAKE YOUR MOVE, and KEEPING OUR LOVE WARM), but there are "songs of joy" on them that the average listener will discover for the first time. Some of Daryl Dragon's arrangements can get too "synthesized" and do not hold up all these years later. But that's a minor quibble. Most of the songs are pop magic. I had forgotten what a soulful, bluesy singer Tennille can be. Some of my favorite tracks are straight-up blues tunes ("Mind Your Love" and the fantastic "Never Make A Move Too Soon"). Deep cuts which I recommend are: "Disney Girls" (brilliant!) ... "Love Me Like A Baby" (by Tennille ... gorgeous!) ... "Ladybug" (lyrics are a bit obvious, but Tennille's gentle vocal is supreme) ... "Happy Together" (an Arabian sound adventure - it's so OVER THE TOP that it's a guilty pleasure).Lastly, I just wanted to comment about how much joy this CD set has brought me. The big duo from the 70s that seems to get all the attention is The Carpenters. And while Karen Carpenters voice was fantastic, I believe Captain and Tennille are usually the brunt of jokes, rather than respected artists. After listening to the entire set of their albums, I believe they are true pop song-smiths ... Tennille is one of our best pop singers -- right up there with Carpenter, Olivia Newton-John, and Streisand.

Captain & Tennille were the top husband-wife MOR pop duo of the mid-to-late 1970s,spawing massive smash hits like the #1s "Love Will Keep Us Together" and "Do That To Me One More Time" and the Top Tenners "Lonely Nights(Angel Face)","The Way I Want Touch You","Shop Around","You Never Done It Like That"and the love-it-or-hate-it "Muskrat Love".There have been many complilations in recent years,but their albums (save"LWKUT"and"SOJ")have been out of print-until now.Each of the 6 album's original Daryl Dragon master tapes have been brillantly remastered by Robert Vosgien and Don Murray on CD,making them more lush and sweet than ever on great album tracks like "Cuddle Up","Mind Your Love","Honey Come Love Me","Happier Than The Morning Sun","Easy Evil","Back To The Island"and"Baby You Still Got It",as well as the AC radio faves "Circles","Song Of Joy","I'm On My Way","You Need A Woman Tonight","Wedding Song(There Is Love)"and the goofy yet fun disco cover Of "Happy Together".The CD inserts include notes by Toni Tennille(you get to know the REAL meaning of "Do That To Me One More Time"-not as risque as I thought)and pictures of 45s,memorabilla and,of course,C&T.The only drawback is the lack of unreleased bonus tracks,but that's nitpicking.So forget about this "guilty pleasure" nonsense-this music will give you nothing but musical pleasure.

When I was growing up, The Captain & Tennille were my favorite along with Donny & Marie. I had and still have all of their vinyl albums. I knew all of the words to their songs. I still do! They were my first concert when I was 9 years old. It's really nice having the entire collection all together in this set. I can sing along and it feels like the old days when life was carefree. Love Will Keep Us Together. You know you want to sing along too! ;)