Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 06/24/1997
The Big 80's, a half-hour of classic videos from the glory days of
MTV, was one of
VH1's most popular programs, so it wasn't a surprise that they decided to release a compilation of songs regularly featured on the show. Once that disc became a hit -- it was one of
Rhino's biggest sellers in years --
VH1: More of the Big 80's was just around the corner, and unlike most sequels, it is every bit as much fun as its predecessor. In fact, it's hard to believe that such
new wave classics as
Dexy's Midnight Runners'
"Come on Eileen," Stray Cats'
"Stray Cat Strut," Toni Basil's
"Mickey," After the Fire's
"Der Kommissar," and
A Flock of Seagulls'
"I Ran (So Far Away)" weren't featured on the first volume. The rest of the collection is filled with similar gems from the likes of
Animotion,
the Romantics, and
Devo, and while there are a few items that haven't aged well --
Wang Chung's
"Everybody Have Fun Tonight" is better in memory than it is in reality -- they work well as nostalgia. Besides, such missteps can be forgiven, since the collection does feature such songs as
Godley & Creme's
"Cry," which isn't often included on '80s compilations.
~Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide