Various Artists - Buttercups & Rainbows; The Songs of Macauley & Macleod

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Macaulay and Macleod – who are they? I didn't really know until I decided to buy a 2CD compilation called Buttercups & Rainbows: The Songs of Macauley & Macleod. I listened to the music and was thrilled. That was also when I learned that Tony Macaulay and John Macleod were, in fact, a British equivalent to the American bubblegum music industry – a winning songwriting team who scored many hit singles in the UK between 1965 and 1973.

The purpose of these songs was of course to get them to the charts and make as much money as possible but Macaulay, Macleod, the artists and musicians inrefutably created something truly wonderful in the process. The result was timelessness captured in dozens of beautiful pop songs – these two CDs contain fifty of them. It really seems that Macaulay and Macleod turned their ideas into gold in more than just one way. Their songs were golden even when the singles failed to chart.

This set is packed with awesome pop warmth. It is soulful, it is happy, it is sparkling… Just listen to the incredibly catchy melodies, excellent background vocals and superb string and horn arrangements and you’ll soon feel like celebrating. One of the most famous songs here is of course Build Me up Buttercup by the Foundations. You will probably also recognize Smile a Little Smile for Me, the great song by the Flying Machine. Besides these bands there are also numerous others and to me they were mostly new. Marmalade was familiar but I really had never heard of such bands as the Paper Dolls, Pickettywitch or Jefferson. Well, now I know and I couldn’t be happier!

Tracklist:

 CD 1:

 

01. Foundations - Build Me Up Buttercup

02. Pickettywitch - That Same Old Feeling

03. Rockin' Berries - When I Reach For The Top

04. Flying Machine - Smile A Little Smile For Me (single version)

05. Geno Washington - My Little Chickadee

06. Paper Dolls - Something Here In My Heart

07. David Essex - Just For Tonight

08. Marmalade - Baby Make It Soon

09. Tina Tott - Burning In The Background Of My Mind

10. Foundations - Baby, Now That I Found You

11. New Formula - My Baby's Coming Home

12. Long John Baldry - Mexico

13. Jefferson - Baby Take Me In Your Arms

14. Feminine Touch - Some Things Take A Little Time

15. Pickettywitch - (It's Like A) Sad Old Kinda Movie

16. Saffrons - Baby, Baby I Can't Let You Go

17. Foundations - Back On My Feet Again

18. Sandra Barry - Stop! Thief!

19. Long John Baldry - It's Too Late Now

20. Committee - Sleep Tight Honey

21. Carl Wayne - You're A Star

22. Paper Dolls - All The Time In The World

23. Foundations - Come On Back To Me

24. Flying Machine - Marie Take A Chance

25. Long John Baldry - Let The Heartaches Begin

 

CD 2:

 

01. David Garrick - Rainbow

02. The Foundations - Any Old Time (You're Lonely And Sad)

03. The Intentions - There's Nobody I'd Sooner Love

04. Bright Winter - Dreamin'

05. The Paper Dolls - My Life (Is In Your Hands)

06. The Sweetcorn - Catch Me, Catch Me

07. Pickettywitch - You Got Me So I Don't Know

08. The Saffrons - Give Me Time

09. Jefferson - Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)

10. David Lincoln - Hold Back The Day Break

11. The Foundations - I Can Take Or Leave Your Loving

12. The Committee - Memories Of Melinda

13. The Flying Machine - Send My Baby Home Again

14. Tina Tott - Take Away The Emptiness Too

15. Fitz & Dennis - Two Hearts Are Better Than One

16. Long John Baldry - Hey Lord, You Made The Night Too Long

17. Sandra Barry - I Won't Try To Change Your Mind

18. The Foundations - Mr. Personality Man

19. Jimmy James - Better By Far

20. Geno Washington - Alison Please

21. Pickettywitch - There He Goes

22. Carl Wayne - Bluebird

23. The Paper Dolls - Someday

24. The Foundations - In The Bad Bad Old Days (Before You...)

25. The Flying Machine - Look At Me, Look At Me

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