Living In Oblivion: The 80’s Greatest Hits, Volume 4

1994: EMI 7243 8 28339 2 5

1. Dance Hall Days
   

   Wang Chung

2. One Thing Leads To Another
   

   The Fixx

3. True
   

   Spandau Ballet

4. Come On Eileen
   

   Dy’s Midnight Runners

5. Digging Your Scene [US Single Version]
   

   The Blow Monkeys

6. Sister of Mercy [Single Version]
   

   Thompson Twins

7. Under the Milky Way
   

   The Church

8. Lean On Me (Ah-Li-Ayo)
   

   Red Box

9. Since Yesterday
   

   Strawberry Switchblade

10. You Don’t Know
    

    Scarlett & Black

11. Some People
    

    Belouis Some

12. Shock [Single Remix]
    

    The Motels

13. Belly Of the Whale
    

    Burning Sensations

14. Tenderness
    

    General Public

15. Get Out of London
    

    Intaferon

16. Go
    

    Tones On Tail

17. Slang Teacher
    

    Wide Boy Awake

18. Lawnchairs
    

    Our Daughter’s Wedding

19. Mexican Radio
    

    Wall Of Voodoo

I’ve had this probably since it came out, as for some reason ’80s compilations were very popular among some of us in the mid-’90s despite the recordings being barely 15 years old. For me they were an interesting way to enjoy many more one-hit-wonder tracks that hadn’t reached my remote world as well as to recelebrate some that had.

The absolutely killer track on this particular disc is “Get Out of London,” which packs more energy per beat than nearly anything else I heard from the era (and it was a very energetic and vital era for music; probably the English Beat’s “She’s Going” is its nearest rival in that assessment, ska in general being fairly frenetic but not so focused and driven). Just when it seems like it’s come to its crest, it turns another corner and goes roaring up another hill. An awesome, fun ride indeed.

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Comments © 2015 Mark Ellis Walker, except as noted, and no claim is made to the images and quoted lyrics.