Search - Various Artists :: Then: Totally Oldies 80's Again

Stars and one-hit wonders of the '80s

hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 07/02/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Great Selection

hyperbolium | 07/03/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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!"