Great CD   May 8, 2004

10.Making Love Out of Nothing at All-Awesome Air Supply tune. I know part of the words to this song. ''I don't want to live without you, I'll never let you fall, I'm never gonna make it like you do, making love out of nothing at all, making love, out of nothing at all.'' 5 out of 5.


1983: Rock, new wave and pop ballads.   August 9, 2002
  2 out of 2 found this review helpful

NOTES: Rhino's Billboard Top Hits series features ten popular songs from a given year. They may not be the exact biggest hits of the year (due to licensing restrictions from some major artists, etc.) but, more or less, provide an accurate snapshot of the year in pop music.

THIS REVIEW IS FOR 1983:

1983 was a great year when MTV truly came into its own. New Wave was in its peak. AOR radio was big, as were superstars Michael Jackson and The Police. 70's styled pop ballads were also still a fairly big draw on both Top 40 and adult contemporary stations (though even they would begin to decline in popularity).

1. "Down Under" Men at Work -- The collection kicks off with the Aussie band's second huge hit. The dancable and humorous flute-tinged new wave rock might be the only song in pop history to mention a vegemite sandwich.

2. "Africa" Toto -- Interestingly, this is the second song in a row which was a later hit from their previous year's album(s). You can't go wrong with this unique, slightly balladic lite arena rock hit with its catchy bridge.

3. "Stray Cat Strut" Stray Cats -- This retro pop/rocker manages to mix a 50's rockabilliy sound with '80s pop and succeeds. Sung in first person as a humorous story seen through the eyes of an alley cat.

4. "Maniac" Michael Sembello -- If there's a song here that screams "80's!" this frantic, rock based classic dance tune would be it. It was a big hit from FLASHDANCE, and oddly enough, was written about a serial killer on the loose (though its happy sound helps offset that).

5. "Electric Avenue" Eddy Grant -- Another one hit wonder is presented here with this tropical sounding, catchy 80's pop/rock influnced reggae.

6. "True" Spandau Ballet -- The second side is more ballad heavy, as influeced by this great, emotional and catchy synth pop hit, which has since become both an 80's and a soft rock classic.

7. "Total Eclipse of the Heart" Bonnie Tyler -- This is a thatrical and pretty, dramatic love song and pop ballad. It's probably my least favorite song here. It's still good, but I have to be in a certain mood for it.

8. "Jeopardy" Greg Kihn Band -- The pace picks back up with this slightly New Wave tinged AOR rocker (later parodied by Weird Al Yankovic). An interesting note of trivia: Kihn is now a morning DJ on a classic rock station here in the SF Bay Area.

9. "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me" Culture Club -- Though it was a bit overplayed, it's still a great mid tempo synthesized pop/soul ballad slightly recalling the 60's in sound.

10. "Making Love out of Nothing At All" Air Supply -- Though their music is usually too bland and sappy for me, this is a rare winner for them. Produced by Jim Steinman, it becomes a theatrical, sweet synth rock styled power ballad akin to something Journey or Styx could do.

If there's any flaws, it's only that it's a teeny bit heavy on ballads. I would've replaced "Total Eclipse" with another song listed below (especially since "Making Love" is very similar in style).

As I mentioned earlier, the two biggest acts of the year (Michael Jackson and the Police) are absent, but that's understandable, due to licensing reasons. The same is true for Lionel Richie, with hits like "All Night Long" or "Hello," as well as "She's a Beauty" from the Tubes, or even the other FLASHDANCE hit, "What a Feeling."


Some of the great Top Hits   May 16, 2000
  3 out of 3 found this review helpful

Billboard Top Hits 1983 has some great songs on it and it is well balanced. The first half of it is good rock 'n roll hits and it has one of my favorites of all time: "Africa" by Toto. The second half of the album are all love songs and most of them are pretty good. "True" and "Total Eclipse of The Heart" are two songs that definitely belong on this album and make it shine.

The only drawback I saw to it was one that might just be me. I wasn't crazy about the songs, "Stray Cat Strut" or "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me." But you might like those songs, that's just my opinion. The other 8 songs are great and this album is worth buying any day of the year. It's one of the best of the Billboard's Top Hits series from the 80's.


Excellent!!   July 13, 1999
  3 out of 4 found this review helpful

I graduated high school in 1983 and this CD really brings back the memories! All original songs, and high quality recordings. I had all 10 of these songs on 45s and it's great to hear them like new again! You will love it, and if you are in your 30's, I guarantee it'll bring back all the great memories of the 80's! Buy it!


80's music rocks   July 12, 1999
  0 out of 4 found this review helpful

I love Down Under, Africa, Maniac, Making Love Out of Nothing At All, but I didn't like Culture Club or True.