Originally written by Colin Weston · 15 December 2002
My dad was a DJ (did he have a mullet? - ed!) and I spent most weekends with him and I am sure knowing the words to every Black Lace song and every dance move to 'Superman' can not be healthy especially as I was only 7 or 8 at the time! The eighties, I feel, got a bad rep because of the trends of the time, not the music. I mean, shoulder pads, Dynasty, filofax, yuppies, rat tails and Timmy Mallet isn't exactly something you want in a time capsule is it? But then on the other hand there was 80's TV (better then any decade when you can call on The A-Team, Only Fools & Horses, Transformers, Thundercats and Knightmare to name but a few) and, of course, the music scene which can be viewed as kitsch in places but in others is just as amazing and influential as any of their contemperaries (Faith No More, Guns & Roses, A-Ha, Gary Numan are some I missed off my earlier list).
Anyway, after hours of scouring around the 'net, let's mix up the best of both worlds. Make yourself a great 80's compilation album by original artists and covers by some great, some indifferent and some just plain odd bands! Sit back, stare at your Michael J Fox poster and wish you were just like Ferris Bueller all over again.
• Like A Prayer - Glitterbug (Original by Madonna)
• You Spin Me (Like A Record) - Caffeine (original by Dead Or Alive)
• Ghostbusters - Vomitron (Original by Ray Davis Jr.)*
• Making Your Mind Up (Live) - Terrorvision (original by Bucks Fizz)
• Paradise City (Live) - Hole (Original by Guns & Roses)
• Never Ending Story - Dragonland (original by Limahl)
• Baby Got Back - 2 Phase Method (original by Sir Mix Alot)
• 99 Luftballons - Punishment Park (original by Nena and this is a cover of the ORIGINAL German version)
• The Touch - Stan Dare (From Transformers - The Movie)
• Enjoy The Silence - No Use For A Name (original by Depeche Mode)
• Enola Gay - Digital Explosion (original by OMD)
• Making Plans For Nigel - Pitchshifter (Original by XTC)
• Chain Of Love (Live) - Erasure