Greatest Hits

by Captain & Tennille

Overview

Soft rock duo Daryl Dragon and Toni Tennille definitely didn't fit everybody's notions of cool. "Muskrat Love" is a quintessential slice of novelty cheese that could only have scored during the '70s. But it's unfair to judge them by something they didn't write and isn't representative of their career. (However, Dragon's bare-chested poses on the original gatefold sleeve definitely fell into the "what were they thinking?" file.) Otherwise, there aren't any blemishes on this roundup of their first three A&M albums -- a commercial coup accorded to few acts so early in their careers. The buoyant "Love Will Keep Us Together" is the natural opener -- and set the template for a style centered around Dragon's lush, baroque keyboards and Tennille's breathy, intimate vocals. The song also showed the duo's good taste in material; it's one of three hits written by Neil Sedaka, whose "Lonely Nights (Angel Face)" is also included. Tennille is exceptional form, especially on "Wedding Song (There Is Love)" and an evocative version of "Disney Girls," by former Beach Boys vocalist Bruce Johnston. He also gave them "I Write the Songs," which naturally differs from the Barry Manilow hit version; the massed vocal choir at the intro shows the tricks that presumably rubbed off from Dragon's early-'70s touring days with the Beach Boys. 1990s-era compilations have supplanted this album's relevance, but the track listing shows how smart cherry-picking of a back catalog can serve casual and committed fans alike. Most of the tunes stand up, so why apologize for picking up this guilty pleasure? ~ Ralph Heibutzki

Product Details

Release Date:	10/25/1990
Label:	A&M
UPC:	0075021310520
Rank:	36103

Tracks

1. Love Will Keep Us Together
2. Muskrat Love
3. Circles
4. Wedding Song (There Is Love)
5. Come in From the Rain
6. Lonely Night (Angel Face)
7. Shop Around
8. I Write the Songs
9. The Way I Want to Touch You
10. Disney Girls
11. Can't Stop Dancing
12. We Never Really Say Goodbye

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Captain & Tennille   Primary Artist
Captain   Keyboards,Bass,Guitar
Dennis Dragon   Drums
Myrna Matthews   Vocals (Background)
Michael E. Mathis   Congas
Gene Morford   Bass (Vocal)
Gary Sims   Bass (Vocal),Vocals (Background)
Louisa Tennille   Vocals (Background)
Melissa Tennille   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Andy Boettner   Vocals (Background)
Hal Blanc   Drums,Congas,Percussion
Jane Tennille   Vocals (Background)
Michael Price   Trumpet
Hal Blaine   Drums,Congas,Percussion
Daryl Dragon   Bass,Piano,Guitar,Keyboards,Guitar (Bass)
Clark Burroughs   Vocals (Background)
Ed Greene   Drums
Toni Tennille   Piano,Vocals,Piano (Electric),Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Dennis Dragon   Mixing,Engineer
Roger Young   Mixing,Engineer
Roland Young   Mixing,Engineer,Art Direction
Neil Sedaka   Composer
Ray Stevens   Composer
Melissa Manchester   Composer
John Pritchard   Composer
Bruce Johnston   Composer
Rick Porter   Engineer
Mark Hanauer   Photography
Junie Osaki   Design
Ed Lever   Engineer
Dave Iveland   Engineer
Neal Preston   Photography
Paul Stookey   Composer
Bruce Arthur Johnston   Composer
John McCarthy   Sculpture,Cover Design
Tommy Oliver   Engineer
Morgan Cavett   Producer
Daryl Dragon   Mixing,Arranger,Composer,Engineer,Producer
Willis Alan Ramsey   Composer
Carole Bayer Sager   Composer
Smokey Robinson   Composer
Howard Greenfield   Composer
Tom Wallace   Engineer
Toni Tennille   Composer,Producer,Associate Producer
Noel Paul Stookey   Composer
Berry Gordy, Jr.   Composer
Captain   Arranger,Producer