Customer Reviews

Sedated in 80's 4

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

 

 

I easily own over 400 different CDs containing 1980s music, mixes, live performances, and rarities. This one blows them all away because it lacks the same old, tired 1980s songs such as "867-5309" and "Come on Eileen." Overall, this is one of my most cherished albums in my collection.

"Hanging on the Telephone [Live Version]" is much better than what was cranked out of the studio. This version feels more electric and more soulful. Unlike what the liner notes say, this song can be found on the "Picture This Live" CD by Blondie.

"Why is it so Hard" is one of my new favorite New Wave and Talk Talk songs. It has much feeling for me, and it certainly rates higher than hearing "Talk Talk" (the song) one more time on the CD player, Zune/Ipod, or Radio Station. This song had appeared on the "First Born" soundtrack (thanks to some quick investigative work on the Internet) and now appears on the double CD "Asides and Besides."

"Passion Planet" is a tough Thompson Twins song to find. Although it does get repetitive, it does cling to the feel of the other songs they produced during the same time frame.

"Trading in Gold", "Set the Killing Free", and "Deeside" are certainly ok filler material, but I usually skip them for the next few songs.

It really is ashame that "I'm the One" was not released by Missing Persons. I certainly would rate it one of the best songs of the group, and even in the competitive music charts of the 1980s, it would have faired at least a top 20 position if released. Based on the liner notes and what I read on the Internet, this track was lost because the group broke up before the album could be finished.

"Sense the Adventure" is another fine performance of The Fixx. As someone who owns the entire collection (15 CDs) of the "Rock of the 80s" series by Priority Records, this is a must to add to your Fixx collection. In other words, it's time to get your "Fixx."

"Satellite" is my favorite Tubes song, and unfortunately, it does not appear on the Tubes albums I had purchased until the time I got this CD. Do be aware that several other groups in the 1980s recorded songs with the same name, but this performance and song are all owned by the Tubes, sports fans!

"Blue Period" is a wonderfully crafted song, and it is really too bad I haven't run into The Smithereens on other compilations. Hopefully, I will find or listen to some of their albums in the future. I generally don't buy a group unless I get a good feel of what they have produced. For this song, it is a beauty to treasure.

"Killing Time" by the Motels -- like the Tubes and Missing Persons entries on this album -- is my favorite song by the group. Although I like their other songs, this one sticks with me longer since it has had little airtime. I have only heard this entry by buying this album.

Tears for Fears really struck me funny with "Pharaohs." This was not typical of the songs we are used to hearing like "Everybody wants to rule the World" and "Shout." It does stand on its own merits, and as a fan of classical music, it is a nice blend of smooth music with post-rock sound.

"A Pleasure" by The Railway Children also follows a similar pattern as "Pharoahs". This is not only good tracking of putting similar songs together, but is also builds upon a theme. I frankly like this track better than "Pharaohs" and tugs upon my heart strings.

While most of us know The Dream Academy for "Life in a Northern Town" (as even noted by the liner notes), most have not had heard of "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want." Although a decent track, I still like their hit track more (which is a rarity for groups with songs on this album, IMHO!).

Although I like "Private Revolution" by World Party, my favorite song that was a hit and that appears on this album is "No More Words" by Berlin. The Bonnie and Clyde video was one of my favorites from the classic MTV era. If you like this song, also find the Pure 80s series bonus disc of dance music where they tie "No More Words" with "Radio Killed The Video Star" -- it really works well together. As for this 12" mix, this track alone is worth the price of the album.

Although I would like to recommend other "Sedated in the 1980s" volumes, this is the only one worth buying for its entire roster. If you would like to purchase another edition", volume 5 is the only one that provides the entire two-part song by the Kings -- "This Beat Goes On" and "Switchin' To Glide" that I could find after purchasing so many 1980s CD compilations, albums, and other various types. Recommend volume 4 as the best with number 5 as second for the two-part track.

I have been tempted recently to buy this album for *just one song* that is nearly impossible to find: Talk Talk's Why is it So Hard. This mega-dance-maker should be re-titled Why is it So Hard to Find this Song? At least Sedated in the 80's Volume 4 has it. The only other source I have found is on the First Born soundtrack (1984) which is equally as difficult to find. Regardless of its rarity frustrations, The Talk Talk song blows all these other 80's "B sides" out of the water. I'm thankful for the Sedated in the 80's series for finally making it possible to add this impossible song to my collection.

Graduating Class of '87!

80's compilations are a dime-a-dozen. They lack any real creative spin. Vol. 4 of Sedated in the 80's is definitely the exception to the rule. It has put together a bunch of great B-sides which up to this point were very difficult (if not impossible) to find. Highlights include Talk Talk, The Smithereens, Tears For Fears, The Railway Children, The Dream Academy and World Party. Hopefully, there will be more 80's compilations like this released in the future. I mean, really, how many time do we need "Everybody Wants To Rule the World" on yet another "Best of the 80's cd? (Well, I guess, one more time, because even Sedated in the 80's Vol. 6 falls into that trap by including "EWTRTW". Oh, well, you still got Vol. 4 right on!).

You know you're in trouble when they start filling a cd with live versions, acoustic versions, extended versions and dance remixes. With so much GREAT music from the eighties, how could they not find enough to fill a compilation cd like this? Volumes 1 & 2 are awesome, what happened?

I got this in a package with all the other "Sedated in the 80s" volumes. For explanation, the liner notes of the CD says that these are all B-sides of otherwise famous songs.

They are B-sides for good reason. Growing up in the 80s, I can safely say I never heard any of these songs, save the original version of Berlin's "No More Words". This one has the extended dance remix... which is for serious Berlin fans only, all 2 of you out there.