It’s become a tradition on Jacaranda 94.2 to welcome back spring every year with a full weekend dedicated to 80’s music over the first weekend in September. This year was no exception… 56 hours of 80’s hit after 80’s hit after 80’s hit. If you missed Spring Back to the 80’s Weekend or want more of the same, here’s the solution… 100 80’s Hits. That’s 6 hours of hits from the decade that brought us Knight Rider, MC Hammer, funny hair styles and even funnier dance crazes.

Some of the artists featured on this 5-disc CD set make more than one appearance. Including 4 Duran Duran and 4 Culture Club songs on the compilation almost manages to turn it into a Greatest Hits of sorts for the bands, but with another 92 tracks to go, you get a fair idea of why some people love the 80’s and some try and hide the fact that they once succumbed to fashion tips when Bros was big.

First, let’s acknowledge that the compilers had to please the majority by including some of the biggest 80’s anthems you’re likely to find… and also likely to find on a lot of other 80’s compilations. Tina Turner’s The Best? Check. Ultravox’s Vienna? Check. Climie Fisher’s Love Changes (Everything)? Check. Katrina & The Waves’ “walking on Sunshine? Yup. Great songs. But what makes this compilation truly awesome is the inclusion of the not-so-likely classics from the 80’s.

Remember Living in a Box? Their 80’s hit about, err, living in, err, a box, is here and is as nonsensical as only a true 80’s hit can be. Billy Idol is present with 3 hits including the to-be-expected Mony Mony, but Rebel Yell and White Wedding are also included. Proving that rock was alive and well in the 80’s. Erasure is present, and refreshingly, with two hits of theirs you battle finding on other CD’s… Stop! And A Little Respect. Which might as well sum up the dance type songs on the CD’s… You just can’t Stop dancing to them and if you’re showing off your best moves from the 80’s, it will be proof that you have very Little Respect of what others might think of you.

If you found love in the 80’s, CD2 might be your best option of the five for a romantic neon-lit evening. Robert Palmer’s She Makes My Day is just beautiful. As is T’Pau’s China In Your Hand. And Spandau Ballet’s True could very well take you back to your first kiss behind the bicycle shed/on your mom’s shocking green lounge suite/at the school dance (tick whatever is appropriate).

For me the stand-out tracks are the ones you have forgotten about. See if you can score 5 out of 5 if you can remember the following songs from the 80’s:

1. Keep on Movin’ – Soul II Soul
2. Rush Hour – Jane Wiedlin
3. It ain’t what you do it’s the way that you do it – Fun Boy Three & Bananarama
4. Everyday is Like Sunday – Morrissey
5. I want that man – Deborah Harry

It’s been a while since a good 80’s compilation came out and to make this a 5-disc compilation is sheer genius. By the time you get to track 19 on CD 1, you cannot help but agree with Sly Fox’s sentiment’s… Let’s Go All The Way.