I was about to write that the Crystal Corporation (based out of “Nashville-New York”) was a Ronco/K-Tel predecessor who put out a fairly decent repackaging of hits in 1969 entitled,  20 Solid Gold Hits:

But then I noticed that the Peter Max-inspired album design was done by Ely Besalel – the same guy who did the rainbow-and-doves-coming-out-of-a-big-detergent-box cover for Ronco’s Do It Now.  Could there be a connection?  I’m not sure if that mystery will ever be solved.

Anyway, there are a few decent tunes on this hits mix amidst the usual suspects:  “Ain’t Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore” by The Young Rascals; the aforementioned Johnny Nash – accompanied by Lyn Taitt & the Jets – with his top 40 rocksteady hit, “Hold Me Tight”; and the great Bee Gees single, “To Love Somebody,” which was originally written at the request of their manager, Robert Stigwood, for Otis Redding who, alas, never had a chance to record it.

Interestingly, this album also includes a live track:  a rousing version of Dionne Warwick’s big hit from 1964, “Walk On By” – check out how appreciative this audience is:

[Pssst:  Click on the triangle above to hear a live performance of “Walk On By” by Dionne Warwick.]