Customer Reviews

Rock On: 1981

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

 

 

This is an odd mixture of Top 40 songs from 1981 -- while individually most are enjoyable, they are not arranged in any coherent way and seem to have been selected at random. The range of styles on this disc is fantastic, from the almost-country "Somebody's Knockin'" by Terri Gibbs and "Queen of Hearts" by Juice Newton to Billy Squier's rocking "The Stroke" to perhaps the first rap hit in Blondie's "Rapture". Some of these songs (e.g. Marty Balin's "Hearts") are somewhat obscure today while others (such as "Centerfold" by J. Geils Band) have become pop/rock classics. If you simply like these songs and want a unique assortment of 1981 pop/rock hits (as I did), this disc is for you...but don't expect a tastefully crafted, well thought out compilation.

Rock On's 1981 collection might well be the best in the series. There is a not a bad song in the bunch. Blondie pays homage to, what was at the time a new musical genre, hip hop music with their number one hit "Rapture". The J. Geils Band number one hit "Centerfold" is an absolute classic and has stood the test of time. Foreigner spent a mind boggling ten weeks at number two with their synth laden power ballad "Waiting For A Girl Like You". Billy Squier has some fun with the lascivious and rocking "The Stroke". Disco survivors A Taste Of Honey had a number three hit with their remake of "Sukiyaki" while Juice Newton climbed to number two with her fun country remake of "Queen Of Hearts". Ex Jefferson Airplane/Starship lead singer Marty Balin scored his only top ten solo hit with the lush and lamenting "Hearts" and Canadian rockers April Wine contribute a strong power ballad "Just Between You & Me". The always reliable Little River Band take on a harder edge with the stinging "The Night Owls". Pat Benatar is at her best with the powerful "Fire & Ice". Gino Vanelli's "Living Inside Myself" is over the top, but still enjoyable and Teri Gibbs closes out the set with the creepily paranoid "Somebody's Knockin'".

I just have to say that it is sad that the Rock On 1980 CD only got two stars while this one got 4 1/2 stars! The 1980 one is far superior to this one.