Various Artists - Like, Omigod! The '80s Pop Culture Box (Totally)

Rock criticism has two schools of thought regarding the '80s. One complains that it was all crass, commercial crap, breathing a sigh of relief that we made it through that dreck (thanks to IRS, SST, jangle pop, college rock, and hardcore punk, of course). The other celebrates the album as "cheesy" fun, full of naïve, silly singles; bad haircuts; big synthesizers. It's a school intent on reducing it all as nostalgic fodder -- and whenever '80s music is written about in this fashion, it's always given ironic adjectives, straight out of the height of valley girl speak. All this ghettoizes an era in pop music that was rich in innovation, great one-hit wonders, oddities, and inexplicable flukes that make it a wonderful cross between the first days of the british invasion and the peak of am pop in the early '70s. It was the last great era for pop singles -- the last time that singles really mattered, the last time that something totally unexpected could capture the minds of the public, before radio consolidation meant hits couldn't build in a region, before MTV turned to non-music programming and cut off a national outlet for new music. Like, Omigod! It's the '80s Pop Culture Box (Totally) captures that era pretty well. Even if it occasionally succumbs to treating the decade's music as if it was nothing but silly ephemera (which, granted, some of it was -- but it was catchy, well-made silly ephemera), it does do a couple of things right: Namely, it relies on new wave, yet tempers it with soul, hip-hop, hard rock, and soft rock, while realizing that the prime period of the '80s was before 1985, and that the one-hit-wonders and spirit of new wave faded away after that. This box spends about five-and-a-half of its seven discs on that era, with the remaining disc-and-a-half having about a disc's worth of 1986-era hits before quickly wrapping it up as we approach the first Bush era and the height of superstar MTV (the years when only the big guys -- whether it was Michael Jackson, Madonna, Aerosmith, Don Henley, or Steve Winwood -- ruled the prime time MTV airwaves, and the network no longer had to rely on interesting, primarily British, oddities to fill time). That's a good thing, because that was the best time for pop music in the '80s, and this captures much of the giddy feel of that time. The main problem with the box is that its sheer size gives the impression that it's more definitive than it really is. Forget the complaints that there's nothing from critical favorites and heavy-hitters like Elvis Costello, Hüsker Dü, Joy Division, R.E.M., U2, Prince, Madonna, Springsteen, etc.; the real crime is that there are numerous great, definitive one-hit wonders and fluke breakthroughs by cult favorites missing. Dan Hartman's "I Can Dream About You," as good as any single released in the '80s, isn't here; there's nothing from Adam & the Ants, XTC, or the Violent Femmes; "Warm Leatherette" isn't here, nor is M's "Pop Muzik," "88 Lines about 44 Women," or "I Don't Like Mondays"; there's not a single from Squeeze, Split Enz, or the Jam; no "Someday, Someway," no "Mexican Radio," no "The Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades"; no "I Know What Boys Like" or "I Melt With You"; Peter Wolf's "Lights Out," never present on any '80s hits collection, isn't here; "The Safety Dance" is missing; no Flock of Seagulls or Baltimora. It's hard not to miss any of the above, once you realize they're not here, especially since apart from Joey Scarbury's "Theme From 'Greatest American Hero'" and a host of novelties that it would be better off leaving behind (Bob and Doug McKenzie, Billy Crystal's "You Look Mahvelous," Don Johnson's "Heartbeat" - it's a wonder Eddie Murphy's "Party All the Time" isn't here), there's nothing unexpected here (other than it's amazing that Rhino has finally managed to release an '80s collection without the Plimsouls' "A Million Miles Away."). Still, many great singles are here, there's diversity in the selection, and it's a fun listen, so many collectors may prefer this to Rhino's classic, new wave-centric Just Can't Get Enough series. Just don't think that it's the final word on the '80s -- there was too much great pop music for it to be contained on a mere seven discs. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits 7 Dwarfs Producer After the Fire Performer Afternoon Delights Performer Air Supply Performer Alan Parsons Producer Alan Tarney Producer Alan Winstanley Director Alex Sadkin Producer Amy Utstein Project Assistant Animotion Performer April Milek Project Assistant Arif Mardin Producer Armin Sabol Producer Bananarama Performer Bernard Edwards Producer Bertie Higgins Performer Big Country Performer Bill Inglot Remastering, Compilation Producer Bill Withers Performer Billy Crystal Performer Billy Idol Performer Billy Squier Performer Blondie Performer Bob & Doug McKenzie Performer Bob Clearmountain Producer Bob Sargeant Producer Bob Tischler Producer Bobby McFerrin Performer Bonnie Tyler Performer Bow Wow Wow Performer Bruce Fairbairn Producer Bryan Adams Producer Buckner & Garcia Producer Buggles Producer Centerfold Performer Chas Sandford Producer Chris Barbosa Producer Chris Frantz Producer Chris Hughes Producer Chris Kimsey Producer Chris Thomas Producer Christopher Cross Performer Chuck Plotkin Producer Clive Langer Director, Producer Colin Fairley Producer Colin Thurston Producer Corey Hart Performer Cory Frye Editorial Supervisor Craig DeGraff Project Assistant Crowded House Performer Culture Club Performer Cyndi Lauper Performer D. Foster Producer Dan Epstein Liner Notes Dan Hersch Remastering Danny Elfman Producer Daryl Hall Producer Dave Edmunds Producer Dave Schultz Remastering Dave Stewart Producer David Cole Producer David Foster Producer David Gilmore Producer David Kahne Producer David Kershenbaum Producer David Malloy Producer David McLees Compilation Producer David Thoener Producer Dead or Alive Performer Debbie Gibson Performer Deodato Producer Devo Producer Dieter Dierks Producer Dolly Parton Performer Donnie Iris Performer Dorothy Stefanski Project Assistant Duran Duran Performer Eddie Rabbitt Performer Eddy Grant Producer Emily Cagan Product Manager Escape Club Performer Eurythmics Performer Frank Zappa Producer Franke & the Knockouts Performer Fred Zarr Producer Gary Gersh Producer Gary Numan Producer Gary Richrath Producer General Public Producer George Duke Producer George Nicholson Producer Ginger Dettman Project Assistant Giorgio Moroder Producer Golden Earring Performer Gordon Skene Compilation Producer Greg Allen Project Assistant Greg Kihn Band Performer Greg Mathieson Producer Gregg Perry Producer Grover Washington, Jr. Producer Haircut 100 Performer Harold Faltermeyer Producer Harry King Producer Hugh Brown Art Direction Human League Producer INXS Performer J King Producer J.B. Moore Producer Jan Hammer Producer Jay Fernandez Editorial Research Jeff Baxter Producer Jeff Glixman Producer Jeremy Smith Producer Jim Steinman Producer Joe Jackson Producer Joey Scarbury Performer John Austin Licensing John Boylan Producer John Eden Producer John Oates Producer John Parr Performer John Ryan Producer John Waite Producer Jon Astley Producer Julee Stover Project Assistant Julie Vlasak Art Direction Kajagoogoo Performer Katrina & the Waves Producer Keith Forsey Producer Keith Olsen Producer Ken Perry Remastering Kenny Laguna Producer Kenny Loggins Producer Kevin Beamish Producer Kevin Cronin Producer Kim Carnes Performer Klaus Voormann Producer Kool & the Gang Producer Kurtis Blow Performer Laid Back Producer Lance Quinn Producer Larry Carlton Performer Laura Branigan Performer Laurie Latham Producer Lee DeCarlo Producer Leigh Hall Project Assistant Linda Goldstein Producer Lonnie Simmons Producer Loverboy Performer Mack & Billy Producer Manfred "Manne" Praeker Producer Marc Giacomelli Producer Mark Avsec Producer Mark Liggett Producer Martin Briley Performer Martin Rushent Producer Matt Aitken Producer Matthew King Kaufman Producer Maurice Starr Producer Meco Monardo Producer Melissa Manchester Performer Men at Work Performer Michael Jonzun Producer Michael Omartian Producer Michael Sembello Producer Mike Post Producer Mike Stock Producer Mike Thorne Producer Mitchell Froom Producer Mr. Fresh ? Mr. Mister Producer Naked Eyes Performer New Kids on the Block Performer Nick Laird-Clowes Producer Nick Rhodes Producer Night Ranger Performer Nile Rodgers Producer Oingo Boingo Performer Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Producer Pat Collier Producer Pat Glasser Producer Paul Dean Producer Paul DeVilliers Producer Pete Townshend Performer Pete Waterman Producer Peter Coleman Producer Peter Collins Producer Peter McLan Producer Peter Schilling Producer Peter Solley Producer Phil Ramone Producer Philip Chapman Producer Queen Producer Quiet Riot Performer Ralph MacDonald Producer Randy Perry Project Assistant Ray Parker, Jr. Producer Reinhold Heil Producer REO Speedwagon Performer Richard Marx Producer Richard Perry Producer Rick Astley Performer Rick Chertoff Producer Rick James Producer Rick Rubin Producer Rick Springfield Performer Rick Timas Producer Ritchie Valens Arranger, Adaptation Robert Ford, Jr. Producer Robert Margouleff Producer Robie Porter Producer Rodney Mills Producer Roy Thomas Baker Producer Rupert Hine Producer Russell Simmons Producer Scorpions Performer Scott Maclellan Producer Seth Justman Producer Shawn Amos Editorial Coordinator Sheila E. Producer Shell Schellekens Producer Sheryl Farber Project Assistant Simple Minds Performer Simply Red Performer Soft Cell Performer Sonny Limbo Producer Starr Co. Producer Steve Bartek Producer Steve Levine Producer Steve Lillywhite Producer Steve Verroca Producer Steve Woolard Discographical Annotation Steven Chean Editorial Research Steven P. Gorman Project Assistant Steven Stanley Producer Stewart Levine Producer Stray Cats Performer Styx Producer The Alan Parsons Project Performer The Angles Performer The Art of Noise Producer The Dream Academy Performer The Fabulous Thunderbirds Performer The Fixx Performer The Georgia Satellites Performer The Motels Performer The Outfield Performer The Pointer Sisters Performer The Vapors Performer Thomas Dolby Producer Tim Friese-Greene Producer Tim Scanlin Editorial Coordinator Timex Social Club Performer Tina Weymouth Producer Tom Lord-Alge Producer Tom Tom Club Performer Tom Werman Producer Toni Basil Performer Tony Bongiovi Producer Tony Mansfield Producer Tracey Ullman Performer Trevor Horn Producer Trevor Veitch Producer Twisted Sister Performer Val Garay Producer Vanessa Atkins Project Assistant Vic Coppersmith-Heaven Producer Vincent Brantley Producer Vini Poncia Producer Wang Chung Performer William Wittman Producer