The Best of Middle of the Road

The Best of Middle of the Road

Before naming their group Middle of the Road, singer Sally Carr, drummer Ken Andrew, guitarist Ian McCredie, and his bassist brother Eric were called Part Four. But it was Giacomo Tosti’s extreme band makeover that made this Best Of compilation possible, starting with Middle of the Road's infectious first single: a cover of Lally Scott’s bubblegum tune “Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep.” Middle of the Road’s version, with stompy rhythms and handclaps, ended up selling more than 10 million copies. Carr’s childlike voice is better exemplified on the less catchy “Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum” and the band’s curiously titled attempt at country-pop, “Sacramento (A Wonderful Town).” And though the blonde bombshell lead singer was obviously the band’s nucleus, together the members could pull out some amazingly congruent vocal harmonies on par with ABBA—just listen to “Samson and Delilah,” with its marimba accompaniment, and the sun-dappled “Love Sweet Love.” The mellower “Try a Little Understanding” and “Rainin’N Painin’” show the band trying its hand at soft rock.

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