 Various Artists Of the many labels licensing and repackaging hits of yesteryear, Rhino Records has been the most dependable chronicler of pop music from the 60s through the 90s. Many of their series are definitive (Have a Nice Day: Super Hits of the 70s, Didn't it Blow Your Mind: Soul Hits of the 70s, Just Can't Get Enough: New Wave Hits of the 80s), while others present otherwise unheralded niches within pop (Fat Beats & Brastraps, Brown Eyed Soul). The Billboard Top Hits series, while enjoyable, has been less consistent in that it purports to offer the 10 most popular songs from each year of the pop era (based on Joel Whitburn's Billboard archives), but because of licensing problems, often you'll notice conspicuous omissions and questionable inclusions. The 1983 volume is the best single volume in the series, covering all the big songs from the year and actually coming off something like an album. Any disc containing both "Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Bonnie Tyler and "Making Love Out of Nothing at All" by Air Supply is bound to be great, but when you throw in "True" by Spandau Ballet, you've crossed over into a glorious new level. But then there's Toto's "Africa" as well! This is like aural catnip for anyone who came near a radio in 1983. Actually, even the songs that have been tired by smirking "retro-80s" radio and club play come off fresh ("Down Under" by Men at Work, "Electric Avenue" by Eddy Grant, "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" by Culture Club), and Michael Sembello's "Maniac" is always a pleasure. The only songs that really need to be buried away for another five years or so before they can be enjoyed again are "Stray Cat Strut" by the Stray Cats, and "Jeopardy" by the Greg Kihn Band. When you'd actually still rather hear the "Weird Al" Yankovic parody of a song over song itself, it's officially tired. "I Lost on 'Jeopardy' … baby!" Ha! But I'll pardon those problems, as both were big hits and ought to be included, I suppose. It's probably impossible to make a collection like this that'll satisfy everyone, but this volume comes very, very close. The sequencing is perfect, with Jim Steinman's twin epics ("Total Eclipse" and "Making Love") separated, and with "True" sitting dead center. This is an 80s compilation you don't have to feel foolish owning. I would have liked "Ewok Celebration" on there, but then my midget fetish really isn't the issue here.
Review by Bjorn 4 Porn |