K-Tel for me is the first half of the '70s, when abysmal junk--but sometimes fascinatingly abysmal junk--swamped Top 40 radio. The DeFranco Family, Sister Janet Mead, Rick Dees, Vicki Lawrence, etc. The Reservoir Dogs/K-Billy K-Tel. Some of that junk, of course--Edison Lighthouse, Wild Cherry, etc.--was pretty great. And I'm partly kidding: "K-Tel purist" is the ultimate oxymoron.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 21 February 2018 12:56 (six years ago) link
I would say 1977-78. I associate K-Tel with things like Disco Fever and Star Party from that era.
― the word dog doesn't bark (anagram), Wednesday, 21 February 2018 12:59 (six years ago) link
Also wondering why K-Tel's marketing department felt the need position this as a "rock" compilation (it's subtitled "Rock's Danceable Side"). Was this just a way to sell more copies by tricking Foreigner fans into listening to the Dazz Band? Or was the 1982 definition of rock really that elastic?
― enochroot, Wednesday, 21 February 2018 13:38 (six years ago) link
Like how they start with Human League, and then Hall & Oates, and finally - oh here's Rick James.
― pplains, Wednesday, 21 February 2018 14:02 (six years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Thursday, 22 February 2018 00:01 (six years ago) link