Vinyl Dynamite #24: One on One Soundtrack

Seals & Crofts started out as quality musicians and songwriters. "Summer Breeze" is one of my favorite songs of all time - the feeling it evokes is overwhelming for me. No song brings back memories so vividly.  The duo rode the wave of the Singer-Songwriter explosion at the beginning of the seventies, exemplified by James Taylor. By the end of the decade, Seals & Crofts had become, well, sort of a joke. They began on par with James Taylor and ended up more like Christopher Cross. What happened?

Fans of Freaks and Geeks may remember that Seals & Crofts were the favorite band of the prudish Milly. Indeed, their lame reputation was well earned. Their music had lost its edge, and their Unborn Child album angered many pro-choice listeners.

Then there's this album. I found it at Peaches in New Orleans, and had to grab it. It's an amazingly bland album, but almost impossible to find. Plus there's this photo on the back cover - I couldn't pass it up. (click to enlarge)

I won't comment on the movie itself. It's your typical 70s teen movie - kid gets bullied, kid overcomes adversity, blah, blah, blah. Of course, we ate this sort of thing up back then, so I can't knock it. I should, however, mention that the music was composed by none other than Paul Williams - hands down, the most omnipresent musician of the 70s.

Fleetwood Mac, Elton John and The Bee-Gees may have had the most success in that decade, but Paul Williams was the most omnipresent.  His name seemed to be on the credits for every soundtrack. He was on variety shows, Cannonball Run, The Phantom of Paradise, Jim Henson's Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas, CHiPs,....he was EVERYWHERE.

And now he's here on Retrospace. The album skips a little at times, but overall the recording isn't too bad. It's probably worth a listen if you're into this kind of music. Download the album here or just listen to a sample below. Enjoy!

Track Listing

1. 
   
   the love theme from one on one
2. 
   
   this day belongs to me
3. 
   
   janet's theme
4. 
   
   john wayne
5. 
   
   picnic
6. 
   
   flyin'
7. 
   
   reflections
8. 
   
   love conquers all
9. 
   
   it'll be all right
10. 
    
    hustle
11. 
    
    time out
12. 
    
    the party
13. 
    
    the basketball game
14. 
    
    this day belongs to me (reprise)