Customer Reviews

Then: Totally Oldies 80's Again

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

 

 

This is a fine complement to Varese's first volume of '80s hits, providing a second helping bona-fide stars (Bangles, Cars, Pat Benatar), and one- (and possibly two-) hit wonders. The latter are particularly valuable, as collecting them on CD, especially the original single mixes, can be tough and pricy. In addition to true one-hit wonders like Dead or Alive ("You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)") and Total Coelo ("I Eat Cannibals"), the song list features bands whose flirtation with chart success only hints at their rich catalog and history. Artists like J. Geils, Devo, Greg Kihn, The Cult, and Love and Rockets all have album catalogs well worth exploring beyond these hits. It's amazing to think back to a time when this much variety - new wave, rock, soul, could all be heard on the same radio station (not to mention a time when MTV played videos end-to-end). A generous 18 tracks make this a good party record, and song-by-song chart info and liner notes fill out the story for collectors.

I have to say that I like Rhino and Varese Sarabande's CDs so much more that the slapped-together compilations that I find in the "cheap racks" at Tower (and other stores). This CD has a ton of great '80s hits on it...and the liner notes are really fact-filled, too. Get this and the Rhino New Wave CDs...you'll be set for your '80s fix!

This is the only CD that I have found that has the true U.S. single release version of the Stars On 45 Beatles medley (at least most of the songs were Beatles songs.)
It immediately starts off with the "Venus" intro instead of the Stars On 45 theme that I have found on other CDs. This is a good find.

It was great to hear these songs again. I bought the cd specifically to get "electric blue" which I have had a lot of trouble finding anywhere else.

I bought this CD for one song "Get Wet's Just So Lonely".
It is the album version and not the original single version as claimed on the cover. The original single version does fade out before the funny change of key part at the end.
Otherwise the CD is OK. I am still looking for the original single version of the song.