The South African Rock Encyclopedia > Vagabond’s World > Rock Lists > ’70s Compilation Albums that helped shape my music tastes
Originally posted on Brian Currin’s blog in May 2009, updated December 2023.
Growing up in the ’70s, I discovered a number of bands, and their back-catalogues, through compilations. This is a sampling of some of those albums that had a marked influence on me.
24 Golden Oldies
A double album released in South Africa only in 1973. Included “Cry To Me” by The Staccatos and “For Your Precious Love” by The Flames. I discovered Frijid Pink’s psychedelic version of “House Of The Rising Sun” because of this album.
The Rolling Stones – Hot Rocks
![The Rolling Stones - Hot Rocks [South Africa]](https://i0.wp.com/sarockmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/812af-rolling-stones-hot-rocks-2.jpg?resize=600%2C609&ssl=1)
The Beatles – The Red And The Blue Albums
Two double albums, with every song a masterpiece. When these were re-released on CD in 1993, I bought them the day they came out. And though the whole of the Red Album could have been fitted onto a single CD, I didn’t mind paying full double album price. How many double CDs have so many classic chart-topping and million-selling songs on them? Worth every cent.
Remixed and expanded in November 2023.
American Graffiti (soundtrack)
Along with the film “Let The Good Times Roll” this was my introduction to rock ‘n roll history.
The Who – Pinball And Other Wizards 1965-1975
This was a South African-only 2LP compilation released in 1975. I first heard “Tommy” in the early ’70s and had bought “The Who By Numbers” in 1975, and then this compilation introduced me to the furious madness of The Who’s pre-Tommy catalogue.
It has the same track listing as the French and German releases, “’64-’74 The Best Of The Last Ten Years“.
However, despite the years mentioned in the titles, these compilations only actually go up to 1971, so I have added tracks up to 1975, and also opened with ‘I Can’t Explain’, their first charting single, which had been omitted for some reason… I can’t explain why.
Deep Purple – Mark I & II
This compilation was the album that introduced me to the early days of Deep Purple. This collection of singles and album tracks from the Deep Purple Mark I and Mark II back-catalogue, was released in late 1973 in South Africa on the Purple Records label. It was also released around the world, but I have never seen an official CD re-issue.
This was the first album release in the world of “When A Blind Man Cries” (previously only available as the b-side of the “Never Before” single), which was a very popular track in South Africa in the ’70s and even received radio play. “Woman From Tokyo” was listed as only being 2.44 long (the single edit), but the full-length album version (5.47) was actually featured on my vinyl album.
Music Of Our Time
A CBS sampler from 1971, that was sold at a bargain price. Amazing collection. Still one of my favourites.
Sometime in the late ’70s I recorded this album onto a C90 cassette and expanded it with a few other favourite songs of mine.
Golden Earring – Hearing Earring
This album was a compilation of tracks from two previous European-only releases, “Seven Tears” (1971) and “Together” (1972).
Sound track recordings from the film Jimi Hendrix
A compilation of various live tracks and interviews. My main introduction to the live experience that was Jimi Hendrix.
Revelations
Triple album collection from Glastonbury Fayre in 1971. A strange mixture of artists and genres that introduced me to bands like Mighty Baby, Pink Fairies and Grateful Dead.
I bought this 3LP set in December 1975 as I was intrigued by the artist line-up; some of my favourites like Bowie, Edgar Broughton Band and Gong were featured, as well as bands I had heard of, but not heard before, like Grateful Dead, Pink Fairies, etc.
Thin Lizzy – The Continuing Saga Of The Ageing Orphans
Great album, that helped me discover the early years of Thin Lizzy, though I already knew Vagabonds Of The Western World, which is still one of my all-time favourite albums.
This Is The Moody Blues
A double compilation album with all the songs crossfading into each other. Like Pink Floyd’s Echoes collection many years later.
Suck It And See!
Double album sampler from Vertigo. From Folk (Magna Carta) to Metal (Black Sabbath) and most places in-between. The South African pressing had a different track listing to the overseas version. This was the only place to find Jade Warrior’s “Mwenga Sketch” for many years.
Honourary mention
Let The Good Times Roll (soundtrack)
Not really a compilation but the soundtrack to a film of a live rock and roll revival in 1973, that I saw over and over again. Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Little Richard, Chubby Checker and others just blew me away. And the sampled soundbites from old TV shows, backstage comments and DJ introductions made it even better.
Hello Brian, this is Neil from PMB, your list of compilation albums brought a huge smile to my face, back in the 70s when at school then moving onto Varsity when you think about it these compilation albums, esp the double LPs were a life saver, we simply couldn’t afford to buy the original albums and listening to these compilation LPs and doing a TDK C90 mix tape of all your favorite tracks from all one’s LPs was the best way to listen to music, we had as much fun making the tapes as listening to them through the years, agreed? I am still a Tapehead, still have my tapes from the 70s, 2 Nakamitchi decks and 5000 LPs, including my 1st LP I bought in 1968, a compilation of course, “Bubblegum Music is the Naked Truth Vol 2” Buddha records! Oh Boy, what memories, good days indeed! Thanks for prompting the smile…cheers
Hey Neil, thanks for stopping by and your cool comments. Yep, I get as much pleasure from making mixtapes as I do from listening to them!
My mixtapes are all digital now, though! You can hear them on http://mixcloud.com/briancurrin
The one that I remember with fondness was ‘El Pea’, a compilation of artists on the Island label from the 70’s. Started me off with Free, Fairport Convention, Traffic, ELP, and so many other great bands. So much so, that I eventually collected every release from the Island record catalogue of 1976, which I’m sure I still have somewhere.
Yeah, Island had some great sampler albums! I only discovered “El Pea” much later though!
Absolutely Brian! I recognised most of those album covers from my own collection of the day!! Strange thing is that the youth of today are also still listening to a lot of our old favourites…like Boston, “More than a feeling” for example. We were at Dizzy’s last Tuesday and my son and his mates sang “Hey Jude” (60’s) and “I will walk 500 miles” (80’s) – it’s remarkable. I suppose we loved Frank Sinatra along with our folks too.
Thanks for this – nice blast from the past and although we are trying not to be nostalgic and move with the times, music does serve as the most poignant of reminders of exactly what we were doing at the time, who we were with, who we loved etc. We can’t live without music that’s for sure!
Thanks for your comments Karen. I try and keep current, but the music of my youth just keeps on drawing me back.