Now That's What I Call The 80s - Various Artists

Advantages: A few good tracks.
Disadvantages: Too many bad tracks, poorly put together

Now That's What I call The 80's was one of the cd's I found in my Christmas stocking this year, all my family knows I love cheesy 80's music so I wasn't surprised by this choice. Initially it seemed like a really good cd, at least on first appearances, part of the Now series and featuring one of my favourite musical decades you would think it could do no wrong, sadly there are too many flaws making this cd a major let down. Consisting of 3 discs ...
...compilation of all time. The Now series of albums have in the past been known to feature a few really strong successful tracks backed up by lesser known songs and artists, but when they specifically release a 3 disc set dedicated to one era of music you think they would have put a little more effort into the cd and made sure it was full of the best music of the time. Unfortunately they seem to have kept to their old formula mixing a few good songs ... Read review

Advantages: Great 80s Tunes
Disadvantages: Kate Bush TWICE

...which brings me on to Now That's What I Call The 80's. Ordinarily I don't tend to buy a large quantity of compilation albums because you tend to find that the same tracks appear on a small selection of albums so normally buying one or two of the same genre give you the majority of tracks anyway. However, generally that does not apply with this triple album. A further reason for investing in this selection is that those of a certain age will remember ...
...album, and in particular the Now That's What I Call Music series, and it is only fitting that this album is produced to such a high standard. My only real criticism of the album is that a number of individuals and bands who significantly influenced the 80's music scene such as Michael Jackson (whatever your opinion of him as an individual), Madonna, Wham and Culture Club to name but a few are not included. Notwithstanding that, there are a wide selection ... Read review

Advantages: The ten or so good tracks
Disadvantages: The fourty- odd bad ones

...are numbered anyway. We can now just download the tracks we like and leave the rest to rot. CD 1 1,Elton John - I'm Still Standing 2. a-ha - Take On Me 3. David Bowie & Mick Jagger - Dancing In The Street 4. Nik Kershaw - I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me 5. Philip Oakey & Giorgio Moroder - Together In Electric Dreams 6. Duran Duran - A View To A Kill 7. Spandau Ballet - Gold 8. Matthew Wilder - Break My Stride 9. DeBarge - Rhythm Of The Night ...
...11. Scritti Politti-Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin) 12. The Cure - The Lovecats 13. Soft Cell Say Hello, Wave Goodbye 14. Genesis - Mama 15. Paul McCartney - No More Lonely Nights 16. Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time 17. Yazoo - Only You 18. Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush - Don't Give Up 19. Phil Collins - In The Air Tonight CD 2 1. The Proclaimers - I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) 2. The Bangles - Walk Like An Egyptian 3. Run-DMC feat. Aerosmith - Walk ... Read review