Neil Sedaka - Laughter in the Rain: The Best of Neil Sedaka, 1974-1980

Tracks Include: 'standing on the Inside,' 'laughter in the Rain,' 'oh! Carol,' 'sing Me,' 'new York City Blues,' 'love Will Keep Us Together,' 'sad Eyes,' 'bad Blood' and More. Album Details

Sedaka Sings Elevator Music

Listening to this, I truly realized that Sedaka made his greatest contributions to pop music in the '50's and '60's. Aside from the few hits (Laughter in the Rain, Bad Blood, Lonely Nights, etc.) he produced in the '70's, Sedaka's M.O.R. "Second career" mainly produced songs for the Geritol set. Buy yourself a good early Sedaka compilation (Sings the Hits comes to mind) and give this one to your grandparents. April 5, 2007

Great Collection, Though I Have One Reason To Question Its The Best.

My favorite song of Neil Sedaka's is "Amarillo". I can still picture when I saw him on a Midnight Special doing the song, smiling cheerfully, pointing his finger for the two quarter beats on the chorus. How can I seriously consider this to be his greatest hits without "Amarillo"?

Aside from that, I enjoyed it. I either was unaware or had forgotten he wrote "Love Will Keep Us Together", "Lonely Night (Angel Face)", and "Solitaire", three songs I enjoyed when performed by the Captain and Tenille and the Carpenters. I remember one day I had the flu, and I was lying down, listening to Captain Tenille's "Lonely Night" and Sedaka's slow version of "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do". (One problem I had with some of his hits was thinking it was a girl singing at first.)

It was a treat to hear my second favorite hit of Sedaka's, "You Gotta Make Your Own Sunshine." March 26, 2007

This Truly is the Best of Neil Sedaka

This truly is the best of Neil Sedaka. I hadn't heard alot of these songs in so long, it is very nice to enjoy his music and remember years past. If you are a Neil Sedaka fan, this is a "must have". March 18, 2006

1970s MOR Pop Poster Boy

Karen and Richard Carpenter's music ("Greatest Hits," the CD and its LP predecessors) was deservedly among the most purchased and listened to MOR Pop recordings of the 1970s. But for me, no American LP album is more representative of the time period than "Sedaka's Back" -- in a sense, the 1970s MOR Pop Poster Boy. It is one of those historical asterisks that Neil Sedaka (during his 70s comeback), was once a highly popular opening act for the Carpenter's Lake Tahoe appearances (often pushing back Karen and Richard's start times due to ovations).

The Carpenters' ballads have sometimes been unfairly scorned as suburban, white, conservative middle class culture (which isn't all bad, is it?); whereas, Sedaka's music is painted as gritty, ethnic, urban inner city, and politically sensitive. If these comparisons have some validity, it may be because the mom and pop music of the 1940s probably peaked with the Carpenters in the 70s; and Sedaka's edgier ballads were a transition to the pop - rock, musical mélange -- the social and cultural diversification -- thereafter. Of course, the Beatles invasion, from across "the pond," was no small influence on US musical culture.

"Sedaka's Back" (Rocket Records MCA 4963 - 1974) is maturation and broadening for Sedaka - influenced by his relationship with Carole King and other contemporaries, and subsequent contact with Elton John (a positive musical force for many) - overcoming inner city isolation reflected in his songs of the 1950s - 60s. But this is still typically Sedaka, as we shall always remember him -- sentimental, innocent, and with his heart fully exposed on his shirtsleeve. The music is upbeat (even the sad songs) and memorable - "Love Will Keep Us Together" is a favorite for my wife and me, for obvious reasons. "Sedaka's Back," with his biggest all-time hit, "Laughter in the Rain" has too much energy to be time capsule material, though it can evoke reminiscences and nodding smiles.

The CD, "Sedaka's Back" is available under separate listing with four additional tracks, while this CD, "Laughter In The Rain, The Best Of Neil Sedaka, 1974 - 1980," omits three tracks from the original LP, "Sad Eyes," (done well by Maria Muldaur), "The Way I Am," and "A Little Lovin'." The original LP is best - "Sedaka's Back" (CD) is an acceptable substitute.




October 8, 2005

"Sedaka's Back"

This is an excellent collection of Neil's 70s songs. It should be a 2-disc set, the 1st CD being his 50s & 60s singles. Is that too much to ask? Apparently, it is. I am also perplexed as to why this CD was not released on his 70s label, Rocket, which was a subsidiary of MCA Records (still a major label). Although I am pleased with the songs themselves, the CD quality was indeed lacking, to my ears. They should've "re-remastered" it. I have heard better audio quality on many cassettes and vinyl. I recommend it if you are a fan of this very talented artist! July 23, 2005

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