Various Artists - Just Can't Get Enough: New Wave Hits of the '80s, Vol. 8 (1994)

This is the 8th volume of a fantastic 15 volume set released in the mid-'90s by the always wonderful Rhino Records. The detailed liner notes alone are almost worth the price. Some of the volumes are out-of-print, so if you see any in a used CD bin, pick them up.

Tracks:

• Come On Eileen - Dexys Midnight Runners (#1 pop, #6 rock)
  An eighties one-hit wonder classic. Everybody I knew thought this song was great but unlike anything else on the Too-Ray-Aye album, leaving some album purchasers disappointed.
• Red Skies - The Fixx (#101 pop, #13 rock)
  Not my favorite song by this band, but not bad. Sounds like Duran Duran should have recorded it.
• Walking in L.A. - Missing Persons (#70 pop, #12 rock)
  My favorite single from this group. Love Dale Bozzio's voice.
• Jeopardy - Greg Kihn Band (#2 pop, #5 rock, #1 dance)
  Like it; don't love it. Can't hear it without thinking of Weird Al's parody.
• She's a Beauty - The Tubes (#10 pop, #1 rock)
  I was a fan of this group and had the Inside/Ouside LP this appeared on. Great tune, awful video as I recall.
• Cath - The Bluebells
  Was unfamiliar with this group and song until I heard it on this CD, and I was okay with that. Not a bad song, just not very memorable.
• Voo Doo - Rachel Sweet (#72 pop)
  (same comment as the previous song) What a waste of Rachel's singing talents.
• If You Leave Me, Can I Come Too? - Mental As Anything
  Yet another song I hadn't heard prior to this CD purchase, but this song is enjoyable. With that cynical title, how could it not be a little entertaining?
• She Blinded Me With Science - Thomas Dolby (#5 pop, #6 rock, #3 dance)
  This is one of about 6 or 7 different recordings I have of this song (if that tells you anything).
• Mexican Radio - Wall of Voodoo (#58 pop, #41 rock)
  One of the great singles of the '80s that was never as popular as it should have been. Stan Ridgway doesn't have a great voice, but it is perfect for this song. FYI for the band's hardcore fans: the version included on this compilation is the 7" Oleo mix.
• Lies - Thompson Twins (#30 pop, #1 dance)
  Not their best single, but it put them on the map.
• Whirly Girl - Oxo (#28 pop)
  Great, happy dance song. New wave meets Motown. Their self-titled album contains plenty of the same.
• Kiss Me - Tin Tin (#13 dance)
  One of the best songs of the 80's that I didn't hear until the '90s. Thankful for its inclusion on this compilation. 7 1/2 minute version included here.
• (We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang - Heaven 17 (#29 dance)
  Big fan of this group. I probably have 6 or 7 versions of this song, too. This song was banned by the BBC because it labels Ronald Reagan a fascist. The song does beg the question "what exactly is a fascist groove thang?"
• Escalator of Life - Robert Hazard (#58 pop)
  This song is best avoided. Hazard is also known as the writer of Cyndi Lauper's Girls Just Want To Have Fun, which bears no resemblance to this song.
• Goodbye to You - Scandal (#65 pop, #5 rock)
  My favorite song by this group. I remember buying their self-titled EP on the strength of this single.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Different songs have different memories; some are mentioned above.