Very Best Of Fantastic 80's, The - Various Artists

...number but once again a very good track.

=== Track 8 - Terence Trent D'Arby - If You Let Me Stay ===

Although Terence enjoyed a fair amount of success, if I was asked to name any other of his songs I would be hard pushed to answer. Having said that though this is a great pop tune.

=== Track 9 - Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun ===

In what seems to be a recurring theme here, Cyndi ...
...===

A very strange title, but nevertheless Billy enjoyed great success with this number.

=== Track 18 - Men At Work - Down Under ===

The Boys from Oz arrived in a flash with this track and disappeared just as quickly. A very quirky track, and it is probably for this reason that they were unable to follow up this success.

=== Track 19 - Mental As Anything - Live It Up ===

Mental ... more

Over the past few weeks I have been that busy reading and rating other people's reviews that I have neglected to publish any of my own, with the notable exception of a couple which I posted in the Ciao Café. I guess therefore it is time to rectify that and hopefully this will be the first of many which I have planned to share with you over the next few weeks.

Background

I was browsing in CEX for some cheap second hand games for either my sons X-Box or Nintendo DS when I happened to notice this CD jumping out at me. Given my love of 80's music which my previous reviews will testify, and the fact this was available for a whole pound, how could I resist.

Cover Design

To put it bluntly the cover of the album is pretty bland, but having said that it still managed to catch my eye with its many different colours. Basically it consists of a mixed up Rubik's Cube which was all the rage for that era (I wish I had kept hold of mine because it appears they are going to be the must-have toy this Christmas Lol). Anyway I digress a little but essentially the cover is made up of yellow, blue, green, red, orange and white squares, which together form a 3 dimensional square, with nine smaller squares on each face.

What do you get for your money

In a nutshell, you are getting a double CD with twenty 80s classics appearing on each of the 2 CDS. To distinguish between the two discs, disc 1 is red in colour and disc 2 is black in colour.

And what about the individual tracks?

As I said it comes on two discs so where better to start than with disc 1 !!!

CD1

Track 1 - Wham - Wake me up before you Go-Go

This was the track which catapulted George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley to worldwide fame following up the success of earlier tracks including Wham Rap and Young Guns. In many ways this song is synonymous for the launch of the white T-Shirt bearing sublime messages in competition with Frankie Goes To Hollywood. A really good pop song which to this day still gets people on the dance floor as soon as Jitterbug is heard.

Track 2 - Culture Club - Do You Really Want To Hurt Me

When Culture Club first burst on the scene, I'm sure the question "Is that a girl or what?" were heard in living rooms up and down the country. Boy George probably did more for the make up industry that any individual has ever done. Whilst I am in way condoning the use of make-up on the male of the species, Boy George certainly got away with it, and paved the way for others such as Steve Strange and Marilyn to follow suit. Although I'm not a huge Culture Club fan, unlike my sister, I never actually tire of hearing this song.

Track 3 - Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Relax

Holly Johnson and the boys were nothing if not controversial. I mean who else would follow up their debut single extolling the virtues of gay sex with a video depicting the worlds two biggest leaders fighting it out toe to toe? It is debatable whether FGTH would have enjoyed the success which they did without the BBC banning Relax because of its sexual undertones mentioned previously. Almost inevitably it hit number one, and the BBC in their infinite wisdom had the opposite effect to which they had hoped for.

Track 4 - Adam & The Ants - Stand and Deliver

Adam, or Stuart Goddard to those closest to him, will probably be best remembered for the white war paint he used to have running across his face, which many a student replicated on their bags. Adam tried to be controversial, but didn't really succeed with this quasi punk number, although I did actually like the band.

Track 5 - Spandau Ballet - Through the Barricades

Whilst not as commercial as Gold or True which were both monster hits for Spandau Ballet this is actually one of their better numbers and highlights what a versatile voice Tony Hadley actually has.

Track 6 - Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up

Rick has attempted to make a bit of a comeback recently which is somewhat surprising given his fear of the limelight when he enjoyed his initial fame twenty plus years ago. This was typical manufactured Stock Aitken Waterman pop but isn't too bad and is actually quite cheerful.

Track 7 - Paul Young - Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)

Paul had a massive hit with this cover version, which he followed up with another couple of decent tracks including Love of the Common People. Quite a slow soulful number but once again a very good track.

Track 8 - Terence Trent D'Arby - If You Let Me Stay

Although Terence enjoyed a fair amount of success, if I was asked to name any other of his songs I would be hard pushed to answer. Having said that though this is a great pop tune.

Track 9 - Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

In what seems to be a recurring theme here, Cyndi is another artist who certainly created an impression on the UK audience. I certainly remember her first appearance on TOTP singing this with bright coloured hair and screaming "Hello Lizzie " in reference to the Queen. Although I can honestly say I hated her at the time being a typically brash OTT Yank, I warmed to her music over the years and can honestly say I quite like this song.

Track 10 - Kim Wilde - Kids in America

I am sure I am not alone in admitting to having a schoolboy crush on Kim Wilde - she was gorgeous. !! This is by far her best track.

Track 11 - Survivor - Eye of The Tiger

This is just one of those songs that as soon as you hear the intro you are immediately in Boxing mode, and feel you can take on the world. Brilliant song.

Track 12 - Europe - The Final Countdown

I've never been a huge fan of this song and as it gets rolled out everytime there is a major sporting final my hatred for it just continues to grow.

Track 13 - Bros - I Owe You Nothing

I beg to differ. Bros actually owe us an apology for thinking they could compete with NKOTD, and for making it fashionable to wear turn-ups on jeans AND wear white socks. This is actually one of their better songs but as you can probably tell I am not one of their biggest fans.

Track 14 - Wet Wet Wet - Sweet Little Mystery

For a band who enjoyed as much success as Wet Wet Wet did during the eighties I just feel they could have picked a far better song than this to showcase their talents. Don't get me wrong it's not a bad song but there are far better ones they could have included.

Track 15 - Buggles - Video Killed The Radio Star

Buggles are probably best known for being the first act to appear on Multi Coloured Swap Shop, and sadly for them their act stayed in the radio era instead of moving with the times. It is interesting to note that whilst the humble video recorded has now been consigned to its death, the little humble radio is still going strong !!!

Track 16 - Yazoo - Don't Go

Another great song to come from the "Upstairs at Eric's" album, whilst not as good as Only You it is a typical synthesiser type pop tune which you would expect from Vince Clarke of Erasure fame. Great vocals from Alison Moyet.

Track 17 - Billy Ocean - Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car

A very strange title, but nevertheless Billy enjoyed great success with this number.

Track 18 - Men At Work - Down Under

The Boys from Oz arrived in a flash with this track and disappeared just as quickly. A very quirky track, and it is probably for this reason that they were unable to follow up this success.

Track 19 - Mental As Anything - Live It Up

Mental As Anything came from nowhere after the track featured in the Crocodile Dundee films. They never achieved success again on this side of the pond but enjoyed a highly successful career back in their homeland.

Track 20 - Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan - Especially For You

Pete Waterman obviously saw something which the rest of us didn't and was able to exploit the fact that people who watch soaps buy records so why not combine the two. In fairness to Kylie she has made such a success of her singing career that her new generation of fans probably don't realise that she was originally an actress. That said though, this is just so CHEEEEEEEESY.

CD2

Track 1 - Duran Duran - The Reflex

This is far from being Simon and the boys best track and for some reason always seems to be included on this type of album. Girls on Film or Rio are far better songs, and I'm not just saying that because of the videos !!!

Track 2 - Soft Cell - Tainted Love

Soft Cell / Marc Almond are both pretty much like Marmite - you either love them or you hate them. Whilst not strictly true, I was never a big fan of Soft Cell but I can appreciate a top song and this is definitely one of them.

Track 3 - Heaven 17 - Temptation

Sadly for Heaven 17 they always lived in the shadow of The Human League and as a consequence never really enjoyed the adulation which they deserved. This is by far one of their better efforts.

Track 4 - ABC - The Look of Love (Part 1)

ABC were one of those groups like Haircut 100, Spandau Ballet and Duran Duran who clearly appealed to a predominantly female audience with their good looks and dress sense. In many ways ABC and Haircut 100 were much of a muchness which is probably why neither were as successful as they could have been. This number is actually ABC's best offering and to be honest isn't a bad track.

Track 5 - Dead or Alive - You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)

In the days when Pete Burns was normal (well if you call having long hair and wearing make-up normal for a bloke) he fronted this band and this was by far and away their biggest hit. To be honest with you he really annoys me know but at the time I really enjoyed this record.

Track 6 - Human League - Mirror Man

This isn't the Human League's best known track, or indeed their best track but in many ways it is typical Human League material. I just with Phil Oakey had got his hair cut !!!

Track 7 - Erasure - Sometimes

Erasure were one of the early exponents of synthesiser pop and this is probably them at their finest. Admittedly Erasure were not everybody's cup of tea, but in my opinion they were very good at what they did. Vince Clarke is a musical genius.

Track 8 - Nik Kershaw - Wouldn't It Be Good

This was probably Nik's best offering and what he lacked in height he more than made up for in stature (he measured somewhere round about 5 feet 5 inches !!). I'm not his biggest fan but in the scheme of things this isn't too bad.

Track 9 - Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen

This was Dexy's follow up to Geno and amazingly had another massive hit with this. My only real criticism was why did you have to look so dirty and scruffy? You can't beat the foot stamping part of this song. A classic.

Track 10 - Thompson Twins - Hold Me Now

This was certainly an unusual name for a group consisting of three members, two of whom were white and one of whom wasn't !! I was never a huge Thompson Twins fan but this is probably their best single.

Track 11 - Altered Images - Happy Birthday

Claire Grogan for me pretty much fell into the Kim Wilde category, and I had a somewhat unhealthy obsession with her when I was in my teenage years. Whatever you do make sure you do not confuse this song with the Stevie Wonder one - this one is actually quite good !!

Track 12 - Bangles - Manic Monday

The Bangles were just one of another all female group which burst on the scene in the eighties, following in the footsteps of Bananarama. I wasn't a big Bangles fan but this is by far the best track they ever did.

Track 13 - Kylie Minogue - Hand On Your Heart

I touched on Kylie earlier before and Pete Waterman helped turn her into the ultimate in cheesy pop. This was typical eighties Kylie stuff along the lines of I Should Be So Lucky and The Locomotion. Unless you're a big Kylie fan I would suggest skipping this track.

Track 14 - Charlene - I've Never Been To Me

This Motown classic was originally released in the seventies, and it was only through an American DJ constantly playing it which forced its re-release. The rest as they say is history as Charlene hit the coveted number 1 spot in 1982.

Track 15 - Mel & Kim - Respectable

This was by far the biggest hit for the Appleby Sisters produced under the guidance of the Stock, Aitken and Waterman label. However, somewhat surprisingly it doesn't fall under the category of cheesy pop and although not played that often these days is a good track.

Track 16 - James Brown - Living In America

"The Godfather of Soul" recorded most of his hits in the sixties but had huge success with this one on the back of Rocky IV (James Brown sings this as Appollo Creed enters the ring).

Track 17 - KC & The Sunshine Band - Give It Up

When this was originally released I wasn't a big fan of it, but when it was converted into a Man City terrace anthem, I couldn't understand why anybody wouldn't like it !!! In all honesty it is completely cheesy.

Track 18 - The Jackson's - Can You Feel It

The Jackson's need no introduction, but I am surprised this has been included on the album because for me The Jackson's as a group had had their time by now. I would have much preferred to have seen something my Michael Jackson as a solo artist before he went completely weird (ie anything from Thriller or Bad).

Track 19 - Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse Of The Heart

Bonnie had one of those unique voices that sounded as if she had swallowed a load of broken glass. That said I do like this one though.

Track 20 - ABBA - The Winner Takes It All

This is probably one of ABBA's weakest tracks, but given that most of their hits were from the seventies it would have been difficult to choose any other of their hits. Personally I would have preferred the album to finish on a more upbeat number, such as Come on Eileen, but I'm sure it will still appeal to plenty.

Overall Opinion

Even though I only paid a pound for this CD, I would quite happily have paid more given that all the tracks were hits in their own right. Although you will tell from reading my review that there were one or two tracks which I wasn't as keen on, this is due entirely to my personal taste rather than the quality of the tracks themselves. You often find with albums like this that you always find a number of obscure tracks in the collection, which I am delighted to admit this album doesn't do.

I cannot speak more highly of this when I say if you only ever buy one 80's compilation album, make sure it is this one.

Thank you very much for reading and rating. 

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