Customer Reviews

1985 - Rock On

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I couldn't call this the "definitive" music of 1985, but I do like the selection of songs; many of which are now hard to find.

Everyone was glued to their TV sets on Friday nights to watch Miami Vice. And catchy synth-pop group A-ha was the only band outside of Depeche Mode which was able to break through with an electronic dance hit. RFTW and Sheena Easton's hits were both strongly influenced by Prince (who, with Madonna, probably would've owned every spot on the list if selection was based on sales alone.) Finally, Sly Fox's rhythmic "Let's Go All the Way" was a unique chart topper and favorite of the MTV generation.

The above songs can be found on any 80's compilation. It's the other songs on the list that should influence your decision to buy. The only downfall of this compilation is the fact many people who may have liked General Public may not necessarily have liked Aretha Franklin, those who listened to New Edition may not have been listening to Night Ranger... (was anybody listening to Corey Hart after "Sunglasses at Night"?)

But that's what compilations are all about, and while we're not talking about just #1 hits, this is still a pretty good snapshot of 1985. Plus the price is right.

A-ha opens up Rock On's 1985 collection with "Take On Me" that is better known for its groundbreaking video, but is actually a catchy song that hit number one. Two of the biggest hits from television and the movies were Miami Vice and Beverly Hills Cop. Two songs appear from the later, Glenn Frey's number two hit "The Heat is On" and Harold Faltermeyer's instrumental number three hit "Axel F". Keyboard wizard Jan Hammer hit number one with the "Miami Vice Theme" and it is still the last instrumental to reach the top. The queen of soul, Aretha Franklin hit the top ten with "Who's Zoomin' Who" and New Edition's scored their first top ten hit with the sugary "Cool It Now". The Minneapolis music scene was hot in 1985 thanks to Prince and Minneapolis natives Ready For The World hit number one with "Oh Sheila" which has obvious Prince influences. One of the best forgotten songs of the 80's is Sly Fox's "Let's Go All The Way" which has a hypnotic vibe and on point lyrics.

If I remember correctly, none of the songs from this CD hit No. 1 spot on Billboard charts (all are Top 40 hits though), but every single songs from this CD are excellent. My personal favorite is Invincible by Pat Benatar. If you want to remember the mid 80s this is the cd for you. Get this and if you can get the complete collection from 1980-1989 for true 80s hits. Excellent !

Again Madacy has released a fine collection of 80's cd. All of the songs from this CD are excellent and the sound quality of the cd is quite good. A must to add to your collection. I would have given this a 5 stars because I think the inclusion of General Public "Tenderness" prevented me to do so. I think there are more deserving songs from 1985 that should belong to the collection instead of this one. But overall it is a great cd. Highly recommended.

The 80's started with a bang -- L.A. New Wave, New York Punk and cool Brits on MTV-- before the crash of 1985 washed away all hope. This collection from that horrid year epitomises all that was wrong with 80's music. Lifeless, sequenced arrangements driven by mechanically stale drum machines became all the rage. The energy of electric guitars was replaced with the hokiness of bad synthesizer patches. Generic, interchangeable artists sporting then stylish mullets, Revolutionary-War era jackets and enough make-up to repel Tammy Faye Baker took over MTV. Suddenly, all of the fun and energetic artists of the early 80's were either gone or sterilized by the Big Corporate Money Machine. Sadly, when most people reflect upon 80's music, it is often this schlock which comes to mind. The early 80's of the Plimsouls, Ramones, Go-Go's, etc. are sadly forgotten. Unfortuneatly, pop music has never recovered --just witness the endless array of horrid trends since '85: Synth Bands, Hair Bands, depressing Grunge, Alternative, Rap, Nu-Metal and Boy Bands. Unless your idea of good music is the theme from "Miami Vice" or "Beverly Hills Cop", avoid this at all costs. Only General Public's catchy "Tenderness" saves this collection from complete oblivion.