Various Artists - Now 12" 80s: 1983, Part Two (2024)

EU Import

If a little is good, more is better.

Tracks plus chart peaks on the Billboard dance/disco charts and, if a particular remix has previously appeared on the blog, a link to that other disc (★):

CD 1 (71:54)
Artist	Song	Time	Dance	CD
Wham!	Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do) (Special U.S. Mix)	6:41	-
Spandau Ballet	Gold (12" Mix)	7:14	-	★
Eurythmics	Who's That Girl (Extended Mix)	6:53	-
Bananarama	Cruel Summer (Extended Version)	4:56	11
Culture Club	I'll Tumble 4 Ya (US 12" Remix)	4:39	14
Marilyn	Calling Your Name (Extended Version)	6:54	-
Kajagoogoo	Too Shy (Midnight Mix)	5:28	25
The Lotus Eaters	The First Picture Of You (12" Version)	5:30	22
Nick Heyward	Take That Situation (Rhythm Mix)	3:52	-	★
Men Without Hats	The Safety Dance (Extended Version)	4:33	1	★
Flash And The Pan	Waiting For A Train (Disco Version)	5:38	79
Joe Jackson	Steppin' Out (Full Length Version)	4:23	45
Mike Oldfield	Moonlight Shadow (12" Version)	5:13	-

CD 2 (71:44)
Artist	Song	Time	Dance	CD
New Order	Blue Monday	7:30	5
The Cure	The Lovecats (Extended Version)	4:37	52
Echo & The Bunnymen	Never Stop (Discotheque)	4:45	-
Public Image Ltd.	This Is Not A Love Song (12" remix)	4:27	-
Aztec Camera	Walk Out to Winter (Extended Version)	7:47	-
Madness	The Sun And The Rain (12" Extended Version)	4:40	-
The Belle Stars	Sweet Memory (Extended 12" Remix)	6:36	-
Tracie Young	Give It Some Emotion (Extended Version)	5:28	-
Tracey Ullman	Breakaway (Monitor Mix)	4:57	-
Paul Young	Love Of The Common People (Extended Version)	5:52	42
Rick Springfield	Human Touch (Extended Mix)	7:13	23
Yes	Owner Of A Lonely Heart (Special Remix Dance Version)	7:50	3	★

CD 3 (73:08)
Artist	Song	Time	Dance	CD
Lionel Richie	All Night Long (All Night) (12" Version)	6:42	5
KC & The Sunshine Band	Give It Up (John Luongo Disco Mix)	5:17	24
Donna Summer	She Works Hard For The Money (Club Mix)	6:18	3
Indeep	Last Night A DJ Saved My Life	5:41	2
Divine	Love Reaction (Extended Version)	5:33	-
Malcolm McLaren	Double Dutch (12" Version)	8:03	47
Rock Steady Crew	(Hey You) The Rock Steady Crew (Extended Version)	5:26	38
Modern Romance	High Life (Extended Version)	8:16	-
Shalamar	Dead Giveaway (12" Version)	5:01	18
Booker Newberry III	Love Town	5:16	66
Billy Griffin	Hold Me Tighter In The Rain (Extended Version)	5:23	-
Level 42	The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up) (Extended Version)	6:10	-

CD 4 (72:15)
Artist	Song	Time	Dance	CD
Duran Duran	Is There Something I Should Know (Monster Mix)	6:42	34	★
Heaven 17	Temptation (Extended Mix)	4:39	34	★
Tears For Fears	Change (Extended Version)	5:55	-
O. M. D.	Telegraph (Extended)	5:37	-
Blancmange	That's Love, That It Is (Extended)	6:34	56
Japan	All Tomorrows Parties (Steve Nye Extended Remix)	5:16	-
Annabel Lamb	Riders On The Storm (Extended Version)	5:59	-
Limahl	Only For Love (12" Mix)	5:43	28
Thompson Twins	Love On Your Side (Rap Boy Rap Full Length Version)	7:28	6
Yello	I Love You (Extended Version)	7:05	16
Talk Talk	My Foolish Friend (Extended Mix)	5:29	-	★
Midge Ure & Mick Karn	After A Fashion (Extended Version)	5:44	-

Bold move putting Love Reaction in the same compilation with Blue Monday.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: See previous post.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Now 12" 80s: 1983, Part One (2024)
Now 80s Alternative (2023)
Now That's What I Call 12" 70s (2022)
Now That's What I Call Christmas! (2001)
Now That's What I Call Music! 1981: The Millennium Series (1999)

Various Artists - Now 12" 80s: 1983, Part One (2024)

EU Import

The title is self-explanatory: 12" mixes of songs from 1983. Over 5 hours of music across 4 discs. This particular compilation attracted me for several reasons: 1) 1983 is smack dab in the middle of my high school days, 2) there's a nice mix of familiar and unfamiliar tunes here, and 3) there are at least three extended versions on the compilation that I've been looking for on CD for a good long while. Those three are the Jellybean Benitez remix of Say Say Say by Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson, which should have been included on the 2015 Archive Collection edition of Pipes Of Peace.

The Jellybean Benitez remix of Billy Joel's Tell Her About It, which I owned on vinyl back in 1983, I mentioned in my post on An Innocent Man, and should have been included in the mediocre box set, My Lives.

The Special Remix Version of Our Lips Are Sealed by Fun Boy Three. I also owned that 12" single and played both sides frequently back in '83 and '84. Side one contained the mix found here on CD Three, track 9. Side two had the single edit and a mesmerizing Urdu version which I tracked down on the 1997 compilation disc, Really Saying Something: The Best of Fun Boy Three.

So for a guy like me, this purchase was a foregone conclusion. And for anyone who danced their ass off to these tracks at school dances, this is fantastic set and well worth the price (I paid $22.64, your mileage may vary.)

Tracks: Speaking of dancing, I've included chart peaks on the Billboard dance/disco charts and, if a particular remix has previously appeared on the blog, a link to that other disc (★).

CD 1 (78:42)
Artist	Song	Time	Dance	CD
Wham!	Bad Boys (12" Version)	4:58	28
Eurythmics	Right By Your Side (12" Remix)	12:22	32
Duran Duran	Union Of The Snake (The Monkey Mix)	6:27	33	★
Spandau Ballet	Communication (Club Mix)	4:27	59	★
The Human League	(Keep Feeling) Fascination (Extended Version)	4:58	1
Howard Jones	New Song (Extended Version)	5:36	4
O. M. D.	Genetic Engineering (312MM Version)	5:10	-
Blancmange	Blind Vision (Long Version)	9:38	3
Ultravox	We Came To Dance (Extended Version)	7:38	-	★
Tears For Fears	The Way You Are (Extended Version)	4:33	-
Thompson Twins	Hold Me Now (12" Version)	9:46	1

CD 2 (77:45)
Artist	Song	Time	Dance	CD
Adam Ant	Puss 'N Boots (Extended Version)	5:05	-
Bananarama	Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye (12" Version)	9:46	14
The Belle Stars	Sign Of The Times (Remixed Extended 12" Version)	5:36	43
Bucks Fizz	When We Were Young (Extended Club Mix)	6:27	-
Thompson Twins	We Are Detective (More Clues)	5:49	-
Haysi Fantayzee	Shiny Shiny (US Dance Mix)	4:34	-
Altered Images	Don't Talk To Me About Love (Extended Version)	6:59	-
Kajagoogoo	Ooh To Be Ah (The Construction Mix)	6:37	-
Paul Young	Come Back And Stay (Extended Club Mix)	7:24	42
Heaven 17	Crushed By The Wheels Of Industry (Extended Dance Version)	6:19	34	★
Soft Cell	Soul Inside (12" Mix)	11:57	-
Taco	Puttin' On The Ritz (Extended Version)	6:04	37

CD 3 (79:13)
Artist	Song	Time	Dance	CD
Irene Cara	Flashdance...What A Feeling (Remix)	7:11	1
Freeez	I.O.U. (Megamix)	8:44	3
New Order	Confusion (12" Version)	8:14	5
Rockers Revenge	The Harder They Come (Extended Version)	8:35	13
Forrest	Rock The Boat (High Dynamic Re-Mix)	8:44	9
Modern Romance	Don't Stop that Crazy Rhythm (Extended Version)	6:33	-
Level 42	The Chinese Way (Extended Version)	7:03	-
Madness	Wings Of A Dove (12" Blue Train Mix)	6:09	-
Fun Boy Three	Our Lips Are Sealed (Special Remix Version)	6:06	-
The Style Council	Long Hot Summer (Extended Version)	7:02	-
Nick Heyward	Whistle Down The Wind (12" Version)	4:52	-	★

CD 4 (77:46)
Artist	Song	Time	Dance	CD
Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson	Say Say Say (12" Version)	5:42	2
Billy Joel	Tell Her About It (Special Remix Version)	5:36	38
The Fixx	One Thing Leads To Another (Extended Version)	8:00	14
Debbie Harry	Rush, Rush (Extended Version)	4:47	28
Laura Branigan	Gloria (12" Version)	5:55	4
Miquel Brown	So Many Men, So Little Time (12" Vocal)	8:14	2
Divine	Shake It Up (12" Vocal)	6:08	-
Ryan Paris	Dolce Vita (Extended Disco Mix)	7:31	-
Lydia Murdock	Superstar (Long Version)	9:07	-
Phil Fearon & Galaxy	Dancing Tight (Dance Mix)	6:14	-
Donna Summer	Unconditional Love (Extended Version)	5:16	-
Tina Turner	Let's Stay Together (Album Version)	5:15	1

With very few exceptions, my personal sweet spot for lengths of "extended mixes" is somewhere between 5½ - 7 minutes, so when we get to 9+ minutes, my cup runneth over.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: After home high school football games on Friday nights, a school club (Interact, maybe?) sponsored "Victory Dances." Admission: $2. The dances were held in an old city-owned building simply known as the "Service Center" which was a former USO building built during World War II. Amazingly, it is still in use today. I'm not sure when the victory dances kicked off after the end of the football game (pun intended and I apologize for nothing), but by the time I got home from the game, changed out of my marching band uniform into an outfit that more than likely included a skinny tie, and made it to the Service Center, it was usually 10:45 or 11 PM. Stairway To Heaven was normally scheduled for 11:50, so that doesn't leave much dance time for young Mark. Nevertheless, I danced as if I was hopped up on cocaine and returned home sufficiently exhausted.

Postscript: at my recent high school reunion, I was once again a dancing fool and one female classmate commented that I "still got it" so I've got that going for me, which is nice. The aforementioned fool at the aforementioned 40 year reunion:

Previously revisited for the blog:
Now 80s Alternative (2023)
Now That's What I Call 12" 70s (2022)
Now That's What I Call Christmas! (2001)
Now That's What I Call Music! 1981: The Millennium Series (1999)

Various Artists - Now 80s Alternative (2023)

EU import

Musically, my Gen X contemporaries living in the UK had a very different '80s than I. So when I saw a post regarding this 4 disc compilation over at superdeluxeedition, I pre-ordered the thing based on my unfamiliarity with many of the titles. Turns out it was a good pick-up: of the 80 tunes offered up, a full 41 (51.25%) tracks were new to me. Well, "new-to-me" to the best of my (increasingly faulty) recollection, at least. But if I had somehow been introduced to these tracks upon release, most would have been welcome additions to the soundtrack of my high school and college years.

Reminds me of the Left Of The Dial: Dispatches From The 80s Underground 4 disc set released by Rhino back in 2004.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Not released in US

Tracks, with chart peaks from UK (Official Charts) and US (Billboard Hot 100) plus an indication if this compilation was my introduction to the track:

CD ONE (78 minutes)
Song	Artist	Year	UK	US	New
Thieves Like Us	New Order	1984	18	-
Beethoven (I Love To Listen To)	Eurythmics	1987	25	-	✔
Love Will Tear Us Apart	Joy Division	1980	13	-
Red Guitar (7" version)	David Sylvian	1984	17	-	✔
Party Fears Two (single edit)	The Associates	1982	9	-	✔
Stories Of Johnny	Marc Almond	1985	22	-	✔
Oblivious	Aztec Camera	1983	18	-
Come Back	The Mighty Wah!	1984	20	-	✔
Broken Land (7" version)	The Adventures	1988	20	95	✔
Shades	Iggy Pop	1987	87	-	✔
Talk Of The Town	Pretenders	1980	8	-
So. Central Rain	R.E.M.	1984	-	85
Monkey Gone To Heaven	Pixies	1989	60	-
President Gas	The Psychedelic Furs	1982	-	-
Planet Claire	The B-52's	1979	-	-
Mad Eyed Screamer	The Creatures	1981	24	106	✔
The Cutter	Echo & The Bunnymen	1983	8	-
That's Entertainment	The Jam	1981	21	-
Listen To The Radio: Atmospherics	Tom Robinson	1983	39	-	✔
Shipbuilding	Robert Wyatt	1982	35	-	✔

CD TWO (78 minutes)
Song	Artist	Year	UK	US	New
O Superman	Laurie Anderson	1981	2	-
I'm In Love With A German Film Star	The Passions	1981	25	-
European Female	The Stranglers	1982	9	-	✔
Getting Away With It (7" edit)	Electronic	1989	12	38
Dr. Mabuse	Propaganda	1984	27	-
Vicious Games	Yello	1985	-	-	✔
No Memory	Scarlet Fantastic	1987	24	-	✔
Suddenly Last Summer	The Motels	1983	-	9
Always Something There To Remind Me	Naked Eyes	1983	59	8
I Got You	Split Enz	1980	12	53
Lawnchairs	Our Daughter's Wedding	1981	49	-
Whip It	Devo	1980	51	14
After A Fashion (7" version)	Midge Ure & Mick Karn	1983	39	-	✔
Gentlemen Take Polaroids (edit)	Japan	1980	60	-
Dreams Of Immigrants	Sandii & The Sunsetz	1984	-	-	✔
African And White	China Crisis	1981	45	-	✔
The First Picture Of You	The Lotus Eaters	1983	8	-	✔
Flowers	Zaine Griff	1982	-	-	✔
He! Stranger	Anne Pigalle	1985	-	-

CD THREE (78 minutes)
Song	Artist	Year	UK	US	New
This Corrosion	Sisters Of Mercy	1987	7	-
Peek-A-Boo	Siouxsie & the Banshees	1988	16	53
Kick In The Eye (remix single version)	Bauhaus	1981	45	-	✔
A Forest (shortened edit)	The Cure	1980	31	-
Atmosphere	Joy Division	1980	-	-
Birthday	The Sugarcubes	1987	65	-
Pop Song	David Sylvian	1989	83	-	✔
Snobbery & Decay	Act	1987	60	-
The American	Simple Minds	1981	59	-
Down In The Subway (extended single version)	Soft Cell	1984	24	-	✔
There's A Ghost In My House	The Fall	1987	30	-	✔
Grimly Fiendish (album edit version)	The Damned	1985	21	-	✔
Liberator	Spear Of Destiny	1984	67	-	✔
Do You Believe In The Westworld? (7" version)	Theatre Of Hate	1982	40	-
This Is England	The Clash	1985	24	-	✔
Edie (Ciao Baby) (edit)	The Cult	1989	32	93	✔
Tower Of Strength (radio edit)	The Mission	1988	12	-	✔
Martha's Harbour	All About Eve	1988	10	-	✔
Hit The Ground	The Darling Buds	1988	27	-	✔
Head Over Heels (album version)	The Go-Go's	1984	-	11
I Know What Boys Like	The Waitresses	1982	-	62

CD FOUR (79 minutes)
Song	Artist	Year	UK	US	New
Hand In Glove (single version)	The Smiths	1983	124	-	✔
Love Is A Wonderful Colour	The Icicle Works	1983	15	-	✔
Driving Away From Home (Jim's Tune) (single version)	It's Immaterial	1986	18	-	✔
The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades	Timbuk 3	1986	21	19
Mexican Radio	Wall Of Voodoo	1982	64	58
Senses Working Overtime	XTC	1982	10	-
Remembrance Day	B-Movie	1981	61	-
The Last Film	Kissing The Pink	1983	19	-	✔
I Love A Man In A Uniform	Gang Of Four	1982	65	-
Der Kommissar (7" version)	After The Fire	1983	47	5
Dead Pop Stars	Altered Images	1981	67	-	✔
Ieya (single version)	Toyah	1980	-	-	✔
Cartrouble	Adam & The Ants	1980	33	-
World Shut Your Mouth	Julian Cope	1986	19	84
Crash	The Primitives	1988	5	-	✔
Sonic Boom Boy	Westworld	1987	11	-	✔
Def. Con. One	Pop Will Eat Itself	1988	63	-	✔
Medicine Show	Big Audio Dynamite	1986	29	-	✔
Radio Africa	Latin Quarter	1985	19	-	✔
The "Sweetest Girl"	Scritti Politti	1981	64	-	✔

Of the "new-to-me" bunch, my favorites are Red Guitar, European Female, No Memory, African And White, Tower Of Strength, Martha's Harbour, Hit The Ground, Sonic Boom Boy, and Def. Con. One; while my least favorites are Mad Eyed Screamer, Pop Song, and Ieya.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Now That's What I Call 12" 70s (2022)
Now That's What I Call Christmas! (2001)
Now That's What I Call Music! 1981: The Millennium Series (1999)