"Sounds Like Hits" - overseas
In the UK, there were two parallel series called "Sounds Like Hits", released on the Rediffusion and Fontana labels respectively. Since a considerable number of the albums were issued on both labels, it makes little sense when looking at the overseas editions to separate them out - so we include below all the "Sounds Like Hits" releases.
Australia
Pictured left is an LP released in Australia on the EMI/Parlophone label. The track listing exactly matches the UK Fontana volume 1 - which contains the same songs as the UK Rediffusion volume 1, but in a different order. The cover image left also has "No 1" at the bottom, indicating this was the first in a run. (Note the brass instrument, which reminds us of the cover art on the Rediffusion series.) |
The Parlophone releases apparently didn't last long. Below are some more Australian albums which are basically from the UK Rediffusion series, released on the local Astor label (who were also issuing "Chartbusters" in Australia). Their logo is added to the covers inside a gold circle, which is probably a sticker. Rediffusion's logo (RiM for Rediffusion International Music) remains in the corners, as on the UK editions. Since Rediffusion's UK Volume 7 and 8 are the same as Fontana's UK Volume 6 and 7, these can technically be considered an overseas editions of either label's output, although the cover art matches UK Rediffusion.
France
France based their releases on a mix of the Rediffusion and Fontana series, and designed their own covers. Initially, the albums were issued on Rediffusion, through an agreement with the French President distribution company, whose logo can be seen on the covers, next to RiM.
An unusual pressing of Volume 12 is also given below. This is on the jle label, who were also issuing "Top of the Pops" records in France. They have re-titled Volume 12, "Crazy Pops ... In The Summertime", and again use a completely different cover.
An unusual pressing of Volume 12 is also given below. This is on the jle label, who were also issuing "Top of the Pops" records in France. They have re-titled Volume 12, "Crazy Pops ... In The Summertime", and again use a completely different cover.
It is interesting to see that on the first of these, Rediffusion/President use a female model on the cover - some months ahead of "Top of the Pops" introducing the idea for the UK. In fact the model is Marisa Mell in a scene from the 1968 Italian film, Danger: Diabolik. This photo was used as a promotional poster for the film, as shown left (click to enlarge). |
Greece
The single pictured here is on the Greek Parlophone imprint. It couples "Those Were The Days" with "I Close My Eyes And Count To Ten". Both of these songs may be heard on Fontana's Volume 3 (but not on the Rediffusion LPs) and tellingly, this single has "Sounds Like Hits No 3" on the label, indicating it is a Fontana spin-off. |
Netherlands
New Zealand
Portugal
Pictured below are a few Portugese EPs on the Roda label. Rediffusion are cited on the EP sleeves and labels, but the tracks themselves may be taken from either Rediffusion or Fontana UK LPs. The cover photo from EP number 8 is taken from Rediffusion's UK round-up LP, Best of 69, whereas the silhouette on EP 7 is very much like that on Rediffusion's LP 6.
The second EP in this series included on the back, listings for the first five, demonstrating that they were not issued in sequence, and possibly the five appeared at the same time.
Where images are lacking, we include what we know:
EP1: Get Back / Nowhere To Run / Dizzy / Pinball Wizard
EP2: Boom Bang A Bang / Ragamuffin Man / Hello World / Cupid
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EP3: The Boxer / Goodbye / Israelites
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EP4: Give Peace A Chance / Si Tu Dois Partir / Bringing On Back The Good Times / It Miek
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EP5: Sugar Sugar / Lay Lady Lay / I'll Never Fall In Love Again / Something
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EP7: Oh Well / Barabajagal / Surround Yourself With Sorrow / Blackberry Way
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EP8: Melting Pot / Michael and the Slipper Tree / Saved by the Bell / Tracy
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EP9: Knock Knock Who's There / When Julie Comes Around / Good Morning Freedom / Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye
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Spain
Albums and EPs are known - sampling both the UK Rediffusion and Fontana releases... The artowrk sometimes matches the UK Rediffusion set, sometimes not - and compare the cover of volume 2 with the French edition, above. The Spanish series is titled, Asi Suenan Los 'Hits'.
ALBUMS:
ALBUMS:
Volume 1
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Volume 2
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Volume 3
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Volume 4
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Volume 5
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Volume 7
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Volume 8
An unusual cassette album is also known. Only eight songs are known (as printed on the front), and all of them feature on the UK Rediffusion LPs 1 and 2 - so it appears to be a compilation of those tracks. However they do not match any of the Spanish LPs above. The cover photo is from the same shoot which gave rise to UK Rediffusion LP volume 4 and the Spanich LP 3. |
EPs
The release sequence is not known. Again they sampe across the Rediffusion and Fontana source albums.
Sweden
This LP was issued on the Swedish Haparanda label, and is called "No. 1". The tracks match the UK Fontana Volume 6 and Rediffusion Volume 7, but are shuffled around a little (the playing order is as per the front cover). The labels state "Made in Germany" but we believe this is indeed a Swedish release. |
West Germany
In addition, we know of an album called Britain's Hot 12 Vol. 2 (HLP 10 253). Volume 1 in the series was essentially a West German pressing from the Avenue/Marble Arch stable, which corresponds to one of the UK Super Hits albums (see there for details). By volume 2 they had switched their attentions to the Sounds Like Hits series, and the LP in question is a pressing of Rediffusion vol 7/Fontana vol 6. The songs are in the same sequence, and each is credited to an invented act:
Get Back: The Putters
Boom Bang A Bang: Alice Norman
The Boxer: Dean And Jean
Dizzy: Jimmy Reed
Nowhere To Run: Jack Martin & The Rivers
Pinball Wizard: The Putters
Goodbye: Alice Norman
Ragamuffin Man: The Putters
Cupid: Earl Newton
Michael And The Slipper Tree: Jack Martin & The Rivers
Hello World: The Dynamites
Israelites: Elvin Jones
Get Back: The Putters
Boom Bang A Bang: Alice Norman
The Boxer: Dean And Jean
Dizzy: Jimmy Reed
Nowhere To Run: Jack Martin & The Rivers
Pinball Wizard: The Putters
Goodbye: Alice Norman
Ragamuffin Man: The Putters
Cupid: Earl Newton
Michael And The Slipper Tree: Jack Martin & The Rivers
Hello World: The Dynamites
Israelites: Elvin Jones