Various Artists - Living In Oblivion: The 80's Greatest Hits, Volume 4 (1994)

The fourth of five volumes from EMI Records Group. A couple of months back, I featured Volume 1 of the series and wrote these words: "I'll give you odds on whether or not I'll eventually pick up other volumes in this series (warning: don't take that bet cuz I've got a CD addiction to feed)." And soon after that, I found this CD in a used bin and here we are, as predicted.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks, with both US and UK chart peaks and links to previous appearances on this blog:

Song	Artist	Year	US	UK	Prev.
Dance Hall Days	Wang Chung	1984	16	21	1, 2, 3, 4
One Thing Leads To Another	The Fixx	1983	4	-	1, 2
True	Spandau Ballet	1983	4	1	1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Come On Eileen	Dexys Midnight Runners	1982	1	1	1, 2
Digging Your Scene	The Blow Monkeys	1986	14	12
Sister of Mercy	Thompson Twins	1984	-	11	1, 2
Under The Milky Way	The Church	1988	24	-
Lean On Me (Ah-Li-Ayo)	Red Box	1985	-	3
Since Yesterday	Strawberry Switchblade	1984	-	5	1
You Don't Know	Scarlett & Black	1988	20	-
Some People	Belouis Some	1985	67	33	1
Shock	The Motels	1985	84	-
Belly Of The Whale	Burning Sensations	1983	-	-
Tenderness	General Public	1984	27	-	1, 2, 3, 4
Get Out Of London	Intaferon	1983	-	93
Go	Tones On Tail	1984	-	-	1
Slang Teacher	Wide Boy Awake	1982	-	-
Lawnchairs	Our Daughter's Wedding	1981	-	49	1
Mexican Radio	Wall Of Voodoo	1982	58	64	1, 2

So 8 of the 19 tracks are new to my CD shelves, a pleasant ratio of new and familiar to be sure. Here's my thoughts on those eight:

• Digging Your Scene: I was surprised to find I didn't already have this on CD as I've been listening to it for years and downloaded the thing via Napster around the turn of the century. The great sophistipop music belies the serious, timely lyrical content. But sweet sassy molassey that's some smooth groove. The version on this compilation is the "U.S. Mix," clocking in at 4:41.
• Under The Milky Way: Another one I thought I already had somewhere. I think The Church were ahead of their time because now when I hear them, they sound more '90s than '80s to me. Regardless, this is a great dream pop song and a huge hit internationally (it also reminds me of The Cure, but I digress). I dig how it builds from the acoustic part at the beginning before it seamlessly moves to synth pads, bagpipe synth, and so on. Has it really been over 20 years since Donnie Darko was released?
• Lean On Me (Ah-Li-Ayo): This one was new to me - I guess they didn't play it on MTV back in '85, maybe? It's a little too precious for these ears, the chorus sounds like it was lifted from a Proclaimers b-side.
• You Don't Know: a shuffle in the same vein as Everybody Wants To Rule The World but what a fantastic hook on the chorus. Never has a song about the end of a relationship sounded so joyous. A one-hit wonder on multiple continents, but at least we got this single.
• Shock: not a particularly well-written tune, it is over-produced and a complete waste of Martha Davis's unique voice.
• Belly Of The Whale: I can't help but move to this feel they've got working here. I don't know if 'calypso rock' is a genre, but regardless, there should be more songs like this. I dig the verse more than the driving chorus, but it's a good song, I vaguely remember the video on MTV, and Burning Sensations is a helluva band name.
• Get Out Of London: the band does the best they can with the material as the arrangement is much better than the writing. Maybe credit producer Martin Rushent for that. I don't hate it, but I don't love it.
• Slang Teacher: New to me on this disc, but sounds exactly like something I would have loved in '82. Catchy as all get-out and easy to sing/chant along with.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None, but repeat the above warning.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Volume 1 (1993)