I was in the mood for some Eighties music and these two compilation CDs were handy. The 80s Party Playlist (2000) includes hits like “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and The Waves–which has made over $100 million by being featured in 300 TV commercials over the years. I’m a fan of “867-5309/Jenny” by Tommy Tutone. And I’m sure most of remember “Walk Like An Egyptian” by The Bangles–the top selling song of 1986!
Hot Ladies of the 80s (1990) includes Taylor Dayne’s dance music hit, “Don’t Rush Me” and the infectious “Head to Toe” by Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam.
Both CDs include songs that are seldom played on local Oldies radio. They sure jogged my memories! GRADES: The 80s Party Playlist: B; Hot Ladies of the 80s: B-
TRACKLIST:
We got the beat / The Go-Go’s (2:30)
Walking on sunshine / Katrina & the Waves (3:59)
Come on Eileen / Kevin Rowland & Dexy’s Midnight Runners (4:14)
Take on me / A-ha (3:49)
Karma chameleon / Culture Club (4:12)
Centerfold / J. Geils Band (3:38)
My Sharona / The Knack (4:54)
867-5309 /Jenny / Tommy Tutone (3:47)
Whip it / Devo (2:40)
Walk like an Egyptian / Bangles (3:22)
Everybody have fun tonight / Wang Chung (4:48)
Mony mony (live) / Billy Idol (4:08)
Rebel yell / Billy Idol (4:46)
Miss me blind / Culture Club (4:29)
Love stinks / J. Geils Band (3:37)
Good girls don’t / The Knack (3:09)
Do you want crying / Katrina & the Waves (3:33)
TRACK LIST:
| 1 | Paula Abdul– | Forever Your Girl Written-By – Lieber* | 4:58 |
| 2 | Taylor Dayne– | Don’t Rush Me Written-By – Steinberg, Kelly* | 3:47 |
| 3 | Neneh Cherry– | Buffalo Stance Written-By – McVey*, Morgan*, Cherry*, Ramacon* | 5:42 |
| 4 | Pebbles– | Mercedes Boy Written-By – Pebbles | 5:10 |
| 5 | Samantha Fox– | I Wanna Have Some Fun Written-By – Full Force | 4:08 |
| 6 | Karyn White– | The Way You Love Me Written-By – Babyface, Simmons*, L.A. Reid | 4:56 |
| 7 | Tina Turner– | Typical Male Written-By – Lyle*, Britten* | 4:14 |
| 8 | Lisa Lisa And Cult Jam*– | Head To Toe Written-By – Full Force | 5:01 |
| 9 | Exposé– | Come Go With Me Written-By – Martineé* | 4:15 |
| 10 | Sheena Easton– | Strut Written-By – Dore*, Littman* | 3:59 |
Karma Chameleon and Walking Like an Egyptian were so big. You heard them everywhere.
Neeru, “Karma Chameleon” and “Walking Live an Egyptian” were global hits back in the 1980s!
“Walk Like an Egyptian”…not my favorite Bangles song, but I was/am a stone Bangles fan…though I’ve only saw them twice (so far!) live, once in 1984, before the stampede, and once in 2004 in Philly, I believe on the first reunion tour. At the 1984 gig at DC’s 9:30 Club, I was one of the only few dancers in a crowd of local hipsters standing and staring at them, which had Debbi Peterson smiling at me.
Todd, I didn’t realize that “Walk Like an Egyptian” was the top selling song of 1986!
For the better Bangles songs, seek out the likes of “Dover Beach” and “All About You” and “Hero Takes a Fall”, …meanwhile, as the Canadian wildfire smoke finally seeps down the mid-Atlantic way, they are cutting into the blacktop a hundred yards down the road to further mess up the local air, and provide a delightful soundtracck to the morning that might even make one prefer Samantha Fox music. No envy for the workers nor the cop sitting outside with them.
Todd, all of Western NY is being warned not to go out into the smoky air until a N95 mask is worn.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6g2SgjAeUEI “Dover Beach”
Todd, thanks for the link!
And Vicki Peterson (who in her youth resembled the young Jane Fonda) of the Bangles was on today’s WAIT, WAIT, DON’T TELL ME. https://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/
I know most of the first CD, none of the second. Paula Abdul was a dancer and choreographer who made Jabet Jackson’s voice sound strong. Samantha Fox, if I remember it correctly, was a British Page Three/Page Six here centerfold. She sang?
The first CD had a lot of catchy songs.
Jeff, remember: HOT LADIES OF THE 80s stressed looks, not singing ability! More Canadian smoke here today with an Air Quality Warning!
Here too. We hit about 150 AQI yesterday before the rain knocked it down. We canceled the eye doctor, since I wouldn’t be able to drive. It was just a yearly followup.
Jeff, Western NY air is over 200 on the Bad Scale. Everyone is warning about the poor air quality. I don’t plan to leave the house today. Tomorrow, we may get some rain which will wash some of the smoke away.
Meh. Most of these are from a time when I really wasn’t listening to music. Was disappointed to see that neither Kitty nor Diane were included in the Hot Ladies of the Eighties.
Jerry, Diane was busy raising Patrick–who arrived in 1983–and Katie who showed up in 1986. I was working three jobs while Diane was on her Maternity Leaves.
I don’t even remember the names of most performers here and generally 80s music was nothing for me.
The only one for me and my wife was Tina Turner’s concert in the middle 80s in Frankfurt which was a big surprise for us. We were lucky that an old friend of mine (we went to school together) gave us gis guest room.
And I still remember the surprise when she started “Tonight” and suddenly David Bowie appeared out of nowhere!
Wolf, Tina Turner became a huge star in the 1980s after her divorce from Ike.
More like remained a huge star, Geotge. Ike Turner’s abusive jealousy was no doubt in part about keeping her in his orbit.
Todd, I think Ike Turner’s alcohol and drugs helped fuel his rage.
That and self-pity. Does seem likely.
I vastly prefer the first CD: even though several acts—Billy Idol, Culture Club, Katrina & the Waves, J. Geils—are represented by two songs each, it’s still a good sampling of music from that era, and I probably wouldn’t change the station on any of them. The second CD does very little for me, other than maybe the Tina Turner song—and even that is not one of her best, imho. As for Taylor Dane, why isn’t her best song/biggest hit, “Tell It to My Heart” (not yo be confused with the Hosier song if the same title from a few years ago), included? THAT was a hot song of the 80s!
Deb, Taylor Dayne songs got plenty of airplay on the radio in the 1980s. It might surprise you to learn that Taylor Dayne performed in North Tonawanda at our local Rivera Theater in 2018. Sadly, I couldn’t see that show because of some scheduling conflicts.
Sadly I need to hear many of the songs to recognize them, but there’s some good ones there
A few decent ones snuck in, but mostly its eighties crap!
Bob, I’ve noticed you don’t give 80s music much respect!
All that it merits! I find a gem here and there, but overall, I’m not fond of the entire decade!
Bob, I admit I’m a fan of Big Hair and Heavy Metal–both dominated the 1980s!
George, just saw the AQI in Chicago is 355!
Yikes.
Jeff, Buffalo is at 267! You can’t even see Niagara Falls because everything looks foggy!
Taylor Dayne, Lisa Lisa, Bangles, Culture Club. Can’t stand Centerfold!
Fred, I share your distain for “Centerfold” although I do like other songs by the band.
It is intentionally funny, if over the top. The Knack and Wang Chung songs are far more annoying to me, and partcularly the Knack’s, the Epstein Island band of that era.
Todd, Epstein had a “knack” for attracting a Certain Element to his Island.