The Sha Na Na cuts document the group's deterioration from an affectionate, phonographically ineffective bunch of copycats into a repellent Vegas oldies act. The Casey-Jacobs stage songs are entertaining and condescending takeoffs on '50s readymades, a little too good for Manhattan Transfer. And the updates provided for the movie by the Stigwood combine -- Valli's "Grease" (written by Barry Gibb) and Travolta and Newton-John's "You're the One That I Want" -- are two of 1978's better hit singles. That's probably how they should be bought, too, but this is far from a disgrace. C+

- Robert Christgau, Christgau's Record Guide, 1981.

Bonus Reviews!

Further reading on Super Seventies RockSite!: Single Review: Frankie Valli - "Grease" Single Review: John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John - "You're the One That I Want" DVD Review: Grease - Rockin' Rydell Edition Grease Soundtrack Lyrics

Sure, this disco-era ode to poodle skirts and greaser chic is hopeless kitsch, a pale imitation of '50s rock, featuring Sha Na Na's mauling of "Hound Dog." But original songs like "Summer Nights," "You're the One That I Want," and the title track are tuneful fun. For a generation young enough not to know better, these songs epitomize the blissful innocence of childhood in the '70s.

-Entertainment Weekly, 2001.

Grease will always be the word for hopelessly devoted generations of girls who wore out their record players partying with their own Pink Ladies to this soundtrack. A young, sinewy Travolta in tight pants, Olivia Newton-John singing like a bird and best thing Stockard Channing make pop culture history as they whisk us away to the '50s teeny bopper days. The high-camp classic boasts summer-loving hits that will be on karoake playlists until the end of time. * * * * *

- Zagat Survey Music Guide - 1,000 Top Albums of All Time, 2003.

Impressario Robert Stigwood was the man with the Midas touch in 1978. Saturday Night Fever was followed into the charts and movie theatres by his next project Grease. The musical had already established itself as a Broadway smash, but its transfer to the big screen with starring roles for John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John took it to an even higher level of popularity.

The movie version added four new songs that became the bedrock of its soundtrack. They included the John Farrar-penned "You're The One That I Want" (the eighth best-selling sngle of all time with over 1.8 million sales), which, alongside the original scores's "Summer Nights," became worldwide duet smashes for the film's two main stars. The Bee Gee's Barry Gibb penned the movie's them song, which sent Frank Valli to number one in the US for the first time in nearly 16 years. The album was Number One in the US charts for 21 weeks and spent 18 months in the Top Forty. In the UK sales were almost as impressive. Grease spent 12 weeks at Number One and nearly a year in the charts.

As of 2004, Grease was the #15 best-selling album of the 70s.