Title   : Billboard Top Hits 1985-1989 (5 CD set)
Label   : Rhino Records
Medium  : CD
TTime   : 1985: 41:12
          1986: 39:51
          1987: 41:40
          1988: 41:58
          1989: 42:48
Notes   : Pictures of some of the artists, and a timeline of the major
          events of that particular year.
Reviewer: Ruiner
Paid    : $50, but each CD can be purchased seperately for $10.
Rank    : 4 out of 5 as a set; 3 out of 5 seperately.

Track Listing:

Title:                              Artist:

_1985_
1. Loverboy                         Billy Ocean
2. Shout                            Tears for Fears
3. The Heat is On                   Glenn Frey
4. Broken Wings                     Mr. Mister
5. Miami Vice Theme                 Jan Hammer
6. Oh Sheila                        Ready for the World
7. We Built this City               Starship
8. The Power of Love                Huey Lewis &the News
9. Can't Fight this Feeling         REO Speedwagon
10. St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion) John Parr

_1986_
1. Addicted to Love                 Robert Palmer
2. Danger Zone                      Kenny Loggins
3. Take Me Home Tonight             Eddie Money
4. Stuck with You                   Huey Lewis &the News
5. Sara                             Starship
6. Venus                            Bananarama
7. When the Going Gets Tough, the
Tough Get Going                     Billy Ocean
8. Burning Heart                    Survivor
9. Kyrie                            Mr. Mister
10. Walk Like an Egyptian           Bangles

_1987_
1. With or Without You              U2
2. You Keep Me Hangin' On           Kim Wilde
3. C'est La Vie                     Robbie Nevil
4. I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) Aretha Franklin &George Michael
5. At this Moment                   Billy Vera &the Beaters
6. I Heard a Rumour                 Bananarama
7. Heaven is a Place on Earth       Belinda Carlisle
8. Don't Dream It's Over            Crowded House
9. Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now      Starship
10. The Lady in Red                 Chris De Burgh

_1988_
1. Wishing Well                     Terence Trent D'Arby
2. Shattered Dreams                 Johnny Hates Jazz
3. Seasons Change                   Expose
4. Get Outta My Dreams, Get into
My Car                              Billy Ocean
5. Anything for You                 Gloria Estefan &Miami Sound Machine
6. Hold on to the Nights            Richard Marx
7. Wild, Wild West                  The Escape Club
8. The Flame                        Cheap Trick
9. Baby, I Love Your Way/Freebird
Medley (Free Baby)                  Will to Power
10. Don't Worry Be Happy            Bobby McFerrin

_1989_
1. When I See You Smile             Bad English
2. Eternal Flame                    Bangles
3. Sowing the Seeds of Love         Tears for Fears
4. Toy Soldiers                     Martika
5. Heaven                           Warrant
6. Don't Wanna Lose You             Gloria Estefan
7. Soldier of Love                  Donny Osmond
8. Hangin' Tough                    New Kids on the Block
9. Right Here Waiting               Richard Marx
10. Lost in Your Eyes               Debbie Gibson

Comments:  This set is one of two that Billboard/Rhino Records makes for the 1980's,
the other one being for 1980-1984.  This set is very good together, but like all
other ones, it has its problems.  One of them is the fact that it only has #1 songs
on it, thus leaving out some really good songs that didn't quite make it then, but
are remembered now.  This is an extremely good set for straight pop hits, but it
leaves out the hard rock/heavy metal/college radio hits.  The other major problem
that I have with this set is the length of the discs themselves.  These CD's only
have ten songs on them each, and that amounts out to about $1 a song, which isn't
all that bad, but it isn't all that good, either.  Seperately, these discs whet
your appetite for more, and then you have to go buy the next CD.  A very good job
on the part of the marketers, but wholly unsatisfying for us poor college students
on a limited budget.  I only have one more major problem with this set:  they
actually put NKOTB on it!!! It might have been a #1 hit back in '89, but hey, so
was Milli Vanilli, and they aren't on there.  I'm sure there were more than
10 #1 hits in 1989...why couldn't they have picked another song?  The people who
want that song already have the album with that song on it...

All in all, I think that this is one of the better sets that I've come across when
it comes to those songs you can play at parties and everyone will sing along and
not complain about...but then only an idiot would complain about an 80's song!

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