Sounds Like Hits (Rediffusion) (1968 - 1970)
Rediffusion were a comparatively large organization. That being so, it is curious that Rediffusion’s covers albums are almost impossible to find, and must have sold in extremely limited numbers. As a consequence, our listing has several gaps including some cover photos - please contact us if you can help fill any omissions.
The “Sounds Like Hits” series was Rediffusion's first regular release, and while in service, was licensed out to the Fontana label who also issued their own editions of some of them (see separate page). In 1970, Rediffusion scrapped the series and embarked on a new one: “Hit Parade Special” (again, see separate page).
Some names famous within the budget albums arena appear on Rediffusion’s radar, including Allan Crawford and Bruce Baxter, both behind the rival “Top of the Pops” series, and Mike Morton, whose work in the field is ubiquitous. When Allan Crawford was producing (towards the series end) he was still working for "Top of the Pops", and the two album series featured a good number of tracks in common. Although these are different recordings, they are usually very similar, and several feature the same vocalists in different takes.
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Overseas editions CLICK THE ICON |
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Joanna / Young Girl / Days Of My Life / Simon Says / Lazy Sunday / Sleepy Joe / What A Wonderful World / Somewhere In The Country / Valleri / Jennifer Eccles / I Can't Let Maggie Go / Lady Madonna Comments: Producer Mike Berry [credit on Fontana edition].
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No 2 (ZS 08) Jun 1968
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Baby Come Back / D.W. Washburn / Hurdy Gurdy Man / Boy / Yummy Yummy Yummy / Jumping Jack Flash / Lovin' Things / Mony Mony / Yesterday Has Gone / Do You Know The Way To San Jose / Helule Helule / Last Night In Soho Comments: Producer Mike Berry.
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No 3 (ZS 11) Aug 1968
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Tracks not known |
No 4 (ZS 12) Oct 1968
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Eloise / Listen To Me / I'm A Tiger / Les Bicyclettes De Belsize / Wreck Of The Antoinette / With A Little Help From My Friends / Elenore / Harper Valley PTA / A Day Without Love / My World / Light My Fire Comments: Side 1 (unusually) has just five songs. |
No 5 (ZS 14) Dec 1968
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Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da / Private Number / Live In The Sky / Son Of A Preacher Man / Something's Happening / For Once In My Life / Build Me Up Buttercup / Albatross / Love Child / I Shall Be Released / Ain't Got No - I Got Life / Fox On The Run Comments: Producer Mike Berry.
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No 6 (ZS 16) Feb 1969
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Blackberry Way / Wichita Lineman / Monsieur Dupont / (If Paradise Is) Half As Nice / First Of May / Dancing In The Street (re-issue) / Where Do You Go To My Lovely / Surround Yourself With Sorrow / One Road / I'm Gonna Make You Love Me / Games People Play / To Love Somebody |
No 7 (ZS 17) Apr 1969
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Get Back / Boom Bang-A-Bang / The Boxer / Dizzy / Nowhere To Run / Pinball Wizard / Goodbye / Ragamuffin Man / Cupid / Michael And The Slipper Tree / Hello World / Israelites Comments: Producer Mike Berry
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No. 8 (ZS 23) Aug 1969
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Honky Tonk Women / Si Tu Dois Partir / It Mek / Goodnight Midnight / Saved By The Bell / I Can Sing A Rainbow-Love Is Blue / Give Peace A Chance / Curly / No Matter What Sign You Are / Goo Goo Barabajagal / Early In The Morning / Bringing On Back The Good Times Comments: Producer Mike Berry
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No 9 (ZS 37) Oct 1969
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Sugar Sugar / Maxwell's Silver Hammer / He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother / Lay Lady Lay / Everybody's Talkin' / Oh Well / I'll Never Fall In Love Again / And The Sun Will Shine / Love's Been Good To Me / I'm Gonna Make You Mine / Something / Put A Little Love In Your Heart Comments: Producer Mike Berry.
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No 10 (ZS 41) Jan 1970
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Ruby Don't Take Your Love To Town / Yester-Me Yester-You Yesterday / Suspicious Minds / Melting Pot / Onion Song / All I Have To Do Is Dream / Tracy / Durham Town (The Leavin') / Without Love / Highway Song / One Million Years / Wedding Bell Blues Comments: Producer Mike Berry.
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No 11 (ZS 46) Mar 1970
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Bridge Over Troubled Water / Knock Knock Who's There / Can't Help Falling In Love / Everybody Get Together / Nobody's Fool / When Julie Comes Around / Wand'rin' Star / Young Gifted And Black / Good Morning Freedom / Let It Be / All Kinds Of Everything / Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye Comments: Producer Allan Crawford. |
No 12 (ZS 52) Jul 1970
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Love Of The Common People / Something / In The Summertime / Abraham Martin And John / Here Comes Summer / Big Yellow Taxi / Lola / (It's Like A) Sad Old Kinda Movie / The Wonder Of You / Groupie Girl / I'll Say Forever My Love / Sugar Bee Comments: Producer Allan Crawford.
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Rediffusion started a new series in December, under the new banner "Hit Parade Special" - see separate page.
End-of-year collections
1969: Best of 69 (ZS 33)
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The Boxer / Surround Yourself With Sorrow / Saved By The Bell / Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da / First Of May / Give Peace A Chance / Honky Tonk Women / (If Paradise Is) Half As Nice / Where Do You Go To My Lovely / Israelites / Blackberry Way / Goodbye Comments: Cover photo by David Warne. Producer Mike Berry.
This cover photo was later used for a related EP released in Portugal - see overseas releases for details. |
1970: Pick of the Hits ’70 (ZS 64)
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Yester-Me Yester-You Yester-Day / Sugar Sugar / Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head / I'll Never Fall In Love Again / Wand'rin' Star / Jam Up & Jelly Tight / Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) / Bridge Over Troubled Water / Can't Help Falling In Love / Venus / In The Summertime / Something Comments: All tracks from the main series except four, which were only available on “Sounds Like Hits USA” (see below) ("Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head", "Jam Up & Jelly Tight", "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" and "Venus").
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Related album
The album below was a UK release but the contents were based on the current US charts. It was produced by Allan Crawford. NB - Rediffusion released another US-themed LP in 1971 - see under "Hit Parade Special" for details.
"Sounds Like Hits USA" (ZS 43) Feb 1970
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Jam Up & Jelly Tight / Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head / Leavin' On A Jet Plane / Jennifer Tomkins / Don't Cry Daddy / Someday We'll Be Together / Walk A Mile In My Shoes / Arizona / United We Stand / Temma Harbour / Venus / Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) |