PURE 80’s (by Various Artists)

SUMMARY:           RUNNING TIME: Approx. 1 Hr., 14 Min.

Released in 1999 by Universal Music Special Markets, Inc., this compilation delivers twenty ‘New Wave’ pop-rock tunes.  Not presented in any historical order, the tracks are:    

1. “Video Killed The Radio Star”  (The Buggles)                          (3:14)                          1979
2. “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This”)  (The Eurythmics)          (3:35)                          1983
3. “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” (Wang Chung)                      (4:42)                          1985
4. “One Thing Leads To Another” (The Fixx)                              (3:15)                          1983
5. “Hungry Like The Wolf” (Duran Duran)                                 (3:24)                          1981
6. “Karma Chameleon” (Culture Club)                                       (3:58)                          1982
7. “Something About You” (1985)                                                (3:42)                          1985
8. “Everybody Wants to Rule The World” (Tears for Fears)         (4:07)                          1984
9. “Tainted Love” (Soft Cell)                                                       (2:38)                          1982
10. “Obsession” (Animotion)                                                        (3:58)                          1984
11. “Higher Love” (Steve Winwood)                                             (4:13)                          1986
12. “Addicted To Love” (Robert Palmer)                                       (4:00)                          1985
13. “Relax” (Frankie Goes Hollywood)                                         (3:53)                          1984
14. “Come On Eileen” (Dexy’s Midnight Runners)                       (4:00)                          1982
15. “Rock This Town”  (Stray Cats)                                              (3:22)                          1982
16. “Centerfold” (J. Geils Band)                                                   (3:35)                          1981
17. “Jessie’s Girl” (Rick Springfield)                                            (3:12)                          1980
18. “Our House” (Madness)                                                          (3:22)                          1983
19. “Hold Me Now” (Thompson Twins)                                        (4:10)                          1983
20. “Tempted” (Squeeze)                                                               (3:580                          1981                          

REVIEW:

Surpassing ordinary ‘Best of the ‘80s’ mixes, Pure 80’s delivers a surplus of pristine radio memories for a bargain.  One could question how well some of these tunes have necessarily aged (i.e. Culture Club’s “Karma Chameleon”).  The same thought applies to the fact that Pure 80’s represents only half of the decade.  Still, as is, this playlist is a dynamite compilation. 

The track selection easily fits as a home playlist for either working or workouts.  Best of all, at nearly seventy-five minutes, Pure 80’s makes an ideal option to take along for road tunes.      

PACKAGING:

The outer case accurately lists all twenty tracks and their artists.  The insert provides each track’s relevant info: artist, running time, composers, copyright date, record company, and its highest radio chart ranking.  Also included is the imagery of assorted music video stills in cubed form. 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                   8 Stars