Greatest Hits That Never Were

During the early 70's, at the end of each year there would be frequent TV ads on local stations for record albums featuring the "Greatest Hits of 19--, as performed by the Sound Effects." The ads would feature brief clips from the tunes, which, if you were tone-deaf, may have sounded something like a recent hit by a contemporary performer such as Elton John. In fact, it was the creation of some anonymous studio musicians and singers who strove to sound as close to the original hit record as possible. This band of unknown "artists" were called The Sound Effects. Their names were never made public, perhaps out of embarrassment.

The producers of the "Sound Effects" albums would try numerous tricks to mimic the records they copied. On their version of Elton John's "Bennie and the Jets," for example, they inserted recordings of applause at the same moments as when the audience was heard clapping on the original recording.

Sound Effects albums were not usually sold in serious record shops, although I did come across one at Woolworth's. Mostly they were a mail order item. Now and then you can find them at garage sales.