REVIEW: Various Artists, The Electronic Eighties Volume 1 & 2
(Chronicles/PolyGram Records)
- Joann D. Ball
Still trying to locate some of those oldies but goodies from the 1980s? Then you might want to check out The Electronic Eighties Volume 1 &2 from the good folks at Chronicles/PolyGram Records.
A celebration of the electronic new wave that was a high school soundtrack for many twenty and thirty-somethings, both CDS feature songs you know by heart, some you may have forgotten and a couple you may have missed. The highlights of The Electronic Eighties Volume 1 include Bronski Beat's "Smalltown Boy," Yello's "I Love You," and 12" versions of Peter Godwin's "Baby's in the Mountains" and Visage's "Fade to Grey." Of particular importance is Kraftwerk's influential "Trans Europa Express," which has never popped up on the most readily available '80s compilations. The Electronic Eighties Volume 2 is a bit less adventurous, but does includes Ultravox's captivating "Dancing With Tears in My Eyes" and Level 42's "Starchild" along with Gary Numan's smash hit "Cars."
Available at Sound Savers prices, The Electronic Eighties Volume 1 &2 is perfect for parties, reunions or pre-millenium celebrations. The releases also make excellent gifts for those aging new wavers and youngsters who wanna know what it was all about. Vol. 1 TRACK LISTING [artist in brackets]: Sex (I'm A...) [Berlin], Smalltown Boy [Bronski Beat], She Blinded Me With Science [Thomas Dolby], Things Can Only Get Better [Howard Jones], Trans Europa Express [Kraftwerk], Lucky Number [Lene Lovich], Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go [Soft Cell], Fade to Grey [Visage], Baby's In The Mountains [Peter Godwin], I Love You [Yello] Vol. 2 TRACK LISTING [artist in brackets]: The Look of Love [ABC], Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) [Eurythmics], One Thing Leads to Another [The Fixx], Starchild [Level 42], Safety Dance [Men Without Hats], Cars [Gary Numan], Shout [Tears For Fears], Da Da Da (I Don't Love You You Don't Love Me) [Trio], Dancing With Tears in My Eyes [Ultravox], Everybody Have Fun Tonight [Wang Chung]
