80s Music Explosion!

~ Release by Various Artists (see all versions of this release, 2 available)

Tracklist

1CD: Straight Up (disc 1)
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Ghostbusters
producer:
Ray Parker Jr.
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Arista Records, Inc. (manufacturing and distribution company, do not add releases here) (in 1984) and RCA Records (not for release label use! for the imprint, please use “RCA” instead) (from 2016 to present)
part of:
Billboard Hot 100: 2025-11-15 (number: 22)
recording of:
Ghostbusters
lyricist and composer:
Ray Parker Jr.
publisher:
Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships), EMI Golden Torch Music Corp., EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), IQ Music Ltd., Warner Chappell Music Ltd. (no slash; used 1988–1996), Warner/Chappell Music Ltd. (1996–2019), Golden Torch Music Corp. (in 1984) and Raydiola Music (in 1984)
part of:
The 57th Academy Award for Best Original Song (number: 2)
is based on:
I Want a New Drug
Ray Parker Jr.3.94:07
2Karma Chameleon
recording of:
Karma Chameleon
writer:
Mikey Craig (Culture Club bassist), George O’Dowd, Roy Hay (Member of Culture Club and composer for film and television), Jon Moss and Phil Pickett (songwriter, producer, keyboard player)
publisher:
BMG Music Publishing Ltd., Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships), EMI Virgin Music Ltd. (do not use this as a release label!), EMI Virgin Music Publishing Australia P/L, J. Albert & Son Pty. Ltd., Pendulum Music Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd. (Australian subsidiary of Universal Music Publishing Group), Virgin Music (Publishers) Ltd., Warner Bros. Music Ltd. (UK subsidiary, so named between 1970/01/23–1971/04/26 and 1972/04/25–1988/08/23) and BMG VM Music Ltd. (from 2013-05 to present)
Culture Club3:55
3Down Under
additional engineer:
Paul Ray (70s/80s US engineer)
engineer:
Jim Barbour and Peter McIan
producer:
Peter McIan
bass:
John Rees
drums (drum set):
Jerry Speiser (drummer for Men at Work)
guitar:
Ron Strykert
keyboard and woodwind:
Greg Ham (member of Men at Work)
vocals:
Colin Hay
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
CBS Records Australia Limited (do not use as a release label! for copyrights use only) (in 1981), Columbia Records (EMI‐owned 1931–1990, worldwide except US, CA, MX, ES, & JP; largely defunct since Jan 1973) (in 1981), Sony BMG Music Entertainment (Australia) Pty Limited (not for release label use! AU subsidiary of SBME 2004–2009) (in 1981), Sony Music Entertainment (Australia) Pty. Ltd. (not for release label use! AU subsidiary of SME since 2009) (in 1981), Sony Music Productions Pty. Ltd. (for copyrights use only) (in 1981, in 1982), CBS, Inc. (US broadcasting company; file no releases here!) (in 1982), Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (company owned by Sony Corporation of America from 1991–2004, operated worldwide except in JP; normally not a release label) (in 1982) and Diski CBS AEBE (Greek CBS affiliate, preceded by CBS Records of Greece S.A.) (in 1986)
recorded at:
Richmond Recorders in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
part of:
VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the 80’s (compiled in 2006) (number: 96)
recording of:
Down Under (Men at Work song, “Do you come from a land down under?”)
lyricist:
Colin Hay
composer:
Colin Hay and Ron Strykert
publisher:
April Music Pty. Ltd., EMI Blackwood Music Inc., EMI Music (do not use as release label! this is a music publisher), EMI Music Australia Pty. Limited (not for release label use!), EMI Songs, EMI Songs Australia, EMI Songs Australia Pty. Ltd., EMI Songs Ltd., フジパシフィック音楽出版 SBK事業部 (Fujipacific Music Inc. SBK Division) (until 2014-12-31) and フジパシフィックミュージック SBK事業部 (Fujipacific Music SBK Department) (from 2015-01-01 to present)
Men at Work3.953:38
4Venus
producer:
Stock Aitken Waterman
drums (drum set):
Linn 9000 (Linn 9000)
vocals:
Bananarama
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
London Records Ltd. (not release label) (in 1986)
part of:
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Lip Sync Performances (season 1) (number: 2)
cover recording of:
Venus (Shocking Blue (I’m Your Venus))
lyricist and composer:
Robbie van Leeuwen
publisher:
ATV Music Ltd., Dayglow Music (publisher) and The International Music Network
is based on:
The Banjo Song
Bananarama3.953:40
5The Tide Is High
assistant engineer:
Gary Boatner (engineer) and Doug Schwartz (mastering engineer)
engineer:
Lenise Bent
producer:
Mike Chapman (Australian producer and songwriter)
bass guitar:
Nigel Harrison (in 1980)
drums (drum set):
Clem Burke (in 1980)
guest percussion:
Alex Acuña (in 1980), Ollie E. Brown (US drummer, session musician & record producer) (in 1980) and Emil Richards (in 1980)
guitar:
Frank Infante (in 1980) and Chris Stein (in 1980)
keyboard:
Jimmy Destri (in 1980)
timpani:
Chris Stein (in 1980)
background vocals [girl-group backup vocals]:
The ‘B’ Girls and Deborah Harry
lead vocals:
Deborah Harry (in 1980)
instruments arranger:
Jimmie Haskell
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Chrysalis Records (don’t use as an imprint; please use “Chrysalis” instead) (in 1980), Chrysalis Records Ltd. (not for release label use! company behind the Chrysalis imprint) (in 1980), Chrysalis Records, Inc. (not for release label use!) (in 1980, in 2001), Capitol Records (imprint of Capitol Records, Inc.) (in 2001), Capitol Records, Inc. (not for release label use; US company behind the “Capitol Records” imprint) (in 2001) and Capitol Records, LLC (not for release label use! fka Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007) (in 2001)
recorded at:
Power Station Studios (Power Station at BerkleeNYC, fka Power Station 1977–1996, then Avatar Studios 1996–2017) in Hell's Kitchen, New York, New York, United States (in 1980) and United Western Recorders in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States (in 1980)
cover recording of:
The Tide Is High (in 1980)
additional writer:
Howard Barrett and Tyrone Evans
writer:
John Holt
publisher:
B & C Music Corp., Campbell Connelly (Australia) P/L, Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships), Embassy Music Corporation, Gemrod Music Inc., Sparta Florida Music Group and Sparta Florida Music Group Ltd.
Blondie4.154:43
6Pass the Dutchie
producer:
Peter Collins (producer)
bass guitar:
Patrick
drums (drum set):
Junior
guitar:
Kelvin
keyboard:
Michael (Keyboard player for Musical Youth)
vocals:
Dennis
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MCA Records Ltd. (do not use as an imprint; UK subsidiary of MCA Records) (in 1982)
part of:
VH1’s 100 Greatest One‐Hit Wonders of the ’80s (number: 25)
cover recording of:
Pass the Kouchie
writer:
“Deadly” Headley Bennett, Lloyd “Judge” Ferguson, Huford Brown (Jamaican reggae deejay), Robbie Lyn, Jackie Mittoo, Leroy Sibbles (Jamaican reggae) and Fitzroy “Bunny” Simpson
part of:
My Kind of People
Musical Youth43:25
7Heaven Is a Place on Earth
recording engineer:
Steve McMillan
drums (drum set) [drum] programming:
Charles Judge (American guitarist, pianist, arranger and songwriter) and Rick Nowels
additional engineer:
Stacy Baird and Robert Feist
assistant engineer:
Matthew Freeman (engineer), Clark Germaine, Brian Scheuble and Joe Schiff
additional producer:
Robert Feist (other vocals [vocal]) and Ellen Shipley (other vocals [vocal])
producer:
Rick Nowels
mixer:
Shelly Yakus
acoustic guitar [acoustic guitars]:
Rick Nowels
additional guitar:
Tim Pierce (US session guitarist)
additional guitar [guitars]:
Michael Landau
additional keyboard [keyboards]:
Thomas Dolby
additional percussion:
Jimmy Bralower and Paulinho da Costa (Brazilian percussionist)
bass:
John Pierce (US session bassist)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Kenny Aronoff and Curly Smith (Jo Jo Gunne musician)
electric guitar [electric guitars]:
Dan Huff, John McCurry and Rick Nowels
guitar [air guitar] and lead vocals:
Belinda Carlisle
keyboard [keyboards]:
Charles Judge (American guitarist, pianist, arranger and songwriter) and Rick Nowels
other instruments [fairlight]:
Rhett Lawrence
piano [acoustic piano]:
Charles Judge (American guitarist, pianist, arranger and songwriter)
vocals:
Beth Anderson (US pop vocalist), Charlotte Caffey, Donna Davidson, Donna Delory, Edie Lehmann, Rick Nowels, Michelle Phillips and Ellen Shipley
arranger:
Rick Nowels
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Artist Management Services Ltd. (in 1987), MCA Records, Inc. (do not use as a release label! a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) (in 1987), Virgin Records Ltd (not for release label use! for company relationships only) (in 1987) and Demon Music Group Ltd. (for release labels, use “Demon Music Group”; subsidiary of BBC Studios Distribution) (in 2019)
additionally recorded at:
Cherokee Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States, Hollywood Sound in Los Angeles, California, United States and Music Grinder Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
recorded at:
American Recording and Ocean Way Studio in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
mixed at:
A&M Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
part of:
Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 400)
recording of:
Heaven Is a Place on Earth
writer:
Rick Nowels and Ellen Shipley
publisher:
BMG Bumblebee (A BMI-affiliated publishing entity of BMG Rights Management), BMG Rights Management (see annotation), Bug Music Ltd., EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!), EMI Virgin Music Publishing Australia P/L, EMI Virgin Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd, Spirit Music Publishing Limited, Virgin Songs, Inc., Future Furniture Music (in 1987) and Shipwreck Music (publisher) (in 1987)
sub-publisher:
Fujipacific Music, Inc.
Belinda Carlisle4.153:54
8Don’t You Want Me
assistant programming:
David M. Allen (UK producer/engineer/remixer, mainly new‐wave/synth‐pop/goth) (in 1981)
programming:
Martin Rushent (in 1981)
assistant engineer:
David M. Allen (UK producer/engineer/remixer, mainly new‐wave/synth‐pop/goth)
producer:
The Human League and Martin Rushent
synthesizer:
Ian Burden (in 1981), Jo Callis (in 1981) and Philip Oakey (in 1981)
background vocals:
Joanne Catherall (in 1981) and Susan Ann Sulley (in 1981)
lead vocals:
Philip Oakey (in 1981) and Susan Ann Sulley (in 1981)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Virgin Records Ltd. (not for release label use! for company relationships only)
recorded at:
Genetic Studios in West Berkshire, England, United Kingdom (in 1981)
music videos:
Don’t You Want Me by The Human League
part of:
TV Cream: Real 100 Best Singles Ever (number: 1), VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the 80’s (compiled in 2006) (number: 79) and Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 82)
recording of:
Don’t You Want Me (Human League song) (in 1981)
lyricist:
Philip Oakey
composer:
Jo Callis, Philip Oakey and Philip Adrian Wright (Human League)
publisher:
Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships)
The Human League3.853:59
9Centrefold
engineer:
Dave Thoener
producer:
Seth Justman
arranger:
Seth Justman
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Capitol Records, Inc. (not for release label use; US company behind the “Capitol Records” imprint) (in 1981), Capitol Records, LLC (not for release label use! fka Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007) (in 1981), EMI Records USA (formerly EMI USA, renamed since early 1990s) (in 1981) and EMI Catalog (in 2006)
recorded at:
Long View Farm in North Brookfield, Massachusetts, United States
mixed at:
Mix Room, Record Plant (NYC) in New York, New York, United States
part of:
TV Cream: Real 100 Best Singles Ever (number: 38), Billboard: Greatest of All Time Hot 100 Songs (number: 73) and Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 314)
recording of:
Centerfold (song by The J. Geils Band)
lyricist and composer:
Seth Justman
publisher:
Center City Music, Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships), Pal-Park Music, Rondor Music (London) Ltd., Warner Chappell Music Publishing Ltd. (no slash in name; in use since 2019‐05‐16) and Warner/Chappell Music Ltd. (1996–2019)
The J. Geils Band43:38
10Walk Like an Egyptian
producer:
David Kahne
mixer:
David Leonard (US producer and engineer)
bass guitar:
Michael Steele (American bassist, guitarist, songwriter, and singer)
drums (drum set):
Debbi Peterson (drummer for The Bangles)
guitar:
Susanna Hoffs and Vicki Peterson
lead vocals:
Susanna Hoffs, Vicki Peterson and Michael Steele (American bassist, guitarist, songwriter, and singer)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Columbia Records (not for release label use! company owned by Sony Music Entertainment, only use for manufacturing/distribution and copyright holding) (in 1985) and Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (company owned by Sony Corporation of America from 1991–2004, operated worldwide except in JP; normally not a release label) (in 1985)
part of:
VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the 80’s (compiled in 2006) (number: 14)
recording of:
Walk Like an Egyptian
lyricist and composer:
Liam Sternberg (until 1984-01)
publisher:
Peer International Corporation (BMI)
part of:
ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 Part3 スターダストクルセイダース (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 3: Stardust Crusaders, 2014 anime soundtrack)
The Bangles4.23:24
11Girls Just Want to Have Fun
additional engineer:
John Jansen (US recording engineer and producer) and Rod O’Brien
assistant engineer:
John Agnello (engineer & producer)
engineer:
William Wittman
associate producer:
William Wittman
producer:
Rick Chertoff
bass:
Eric Bazilian
electric guitar:
Rick DiFonzo
electronic drum set:
Anton Fig
keyboard [keyboards] and synthesizer [synthesizers]:
Rob Hyman
background vocals:
Krystal Davis, Ellie Greenwich, Cyndi Lauper, Jules Shear, Maretha Stewart and Diane Wilson (vocals)
lead vocals:
Cyndi Lauper
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
CBS, Inc. (US broadcasting company; file no releases here!) (in 1983) and Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (company owned by Sony Corporation of America from 1991–2004, operated worldwide except in JP; normally not a release label) (in 1983, in 1994)
produced for:
Red Sox Music Productions, Inc.
recorded at:
The Record Plant (New York) in Midtown Manhattan, New York, New York, United States
music videos:
Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper
part of:
VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the 80’s (compiled in 2006) (number: 23), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 63)
recording of:
Girls Just Want to Have Fun
lyricist and composer:
Robert Hazard
publisher:
Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships), EMI Blackwood Music Inc., Novelene Music, Sony Tunes, Inc., Sony/ATV Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Tunes LLC (ASCAP) and Heroic Music (publisher) (in 1983)
sub-publisher:
ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング A事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., A Division)
Cyndi Lauper4.13:56
12Buffalo Stance
programming and engineer:
Mark Saunders (UK record producer)
producer and mixer:
Tim Simenon
lead vocals:
Neneh Cherry
arranger:
Booga Bear, Neneh Cherry, Mark Saunders (UK record producer) and Tim Simenon
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Circa Records Ltd. (not an imprint; for ©/℗ rights use only) (in 1988)
recorded at:
Hot nights Ltd in London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom
mixed at:
Roundhouse Studios in London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom
part of:
TV Cream: Real 100 Best Singles Ever (number: 14), VH1’s 100 Greatest One‐Hit Wonders of the ’80s (number: 50), Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 238) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 412)
recording of:
Buffalo Stance
writer:
Neneh Cherry, Cameron McVey, Jamie J. Morgan (Director, Photographer, Musician) and Phil Ramacon (soul/R&B/reggae songwriter)
is based on:
Looking Good Diving With The Wild Bunch
Neneh Cherry45:44
13We Built This City
assistant engineer:
Paul Ericksen (recording engineer)
engineer:
Jeremy Smith (producer/engineer)
producer:
Jeremy Smith (producer/engineer) and Peter Wolf (Austrian classical/jazz composer/producer, keyboards for Zappa)
mixer:
Bill Bottrell
other vocals [DJ voice]:
Les Garland (American entertainment executive) (in 1985)
arranger:
Peter Wolf (Austrian classical/jazz composer/producer, keyboards for Zappa)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
BMG Music (in 1985) and RCA Records (not for release label use! for the imprint, please use “RCA” instead) (in 1985)
mixed at:
Fantasy Studios (Berkeley) in Berkeley, California, United States
remixed at:
The Soundcastle (former LA location) in Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California, United States
recording of:
We Built This City (in 1985)
writer:
Dennis Lambert, Martin Page, Bernie Taupin and Peter Wolf (Austrian classical/jazz composer/producer, keyboards for Zappa)
publisher:
BMG Music, BMG Songs, Inc., Careers Music, Inc., Careers–BMG Music Publishing, Inc., Concord Copyrights London Limited, Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships), Little Mole Music, Petwolf Music, Tuneworks Music Co., Universal Music Careers, Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd. (Australian subsidiary of Universal Music Publishing Group), Universal Music–MGB Songs, Warner/Chappell Music Ltd. (1996–2019), Zomba Enterprises (ASCAP-affiliated) and Zomba Enterprises, Inc.
sub-publisher:
シンコーミュージック・エンタテイメント (Shinko Music Entertainment Co., Ltd.) and ユニバーサル・ミュージック・パブリッシング Synch事業部 (Universal Music Publishing, Synch Division)
Starship3.94:49
14Lets Hear It for the Boy
producer:
George Duke
mixer:
Tom Perry (engineer), Tommy Vicari and Erik Zobler
analog synthesizer [Prophet V], electronic drum set [Linn Drums], Minimoog [Mini-Moog] and Moog [Memory Moog]:
George Duke
guitar:
Paul Jackson, Jr. (fusion/urban jazz composer, arranger, producer and guitarist)
percussion:
Paulinho da Costa (Brazilian percussionist)
background vocals:
George Merrill, Shannon Rubicam and Deniece Williams (US soul/funk vocalist/songwriter)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Columbia Records (not for release label use! company owned by Sony Music Entertainment, only use for manufacturing/distribution and copyright holding), CBS, Inc. (US broadcasting company; file no releases here!) (in 1984), Sony Music Entertainment (NOT FOR RELEASE LABEL USE! company owned by Sony Corporation of America since Oct 1, 2008; operates worldwide except in JP) (in 1984) and Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (company owned by Sony Corporation of America from 1991–2004, operated worldwide except in JP; normally not a release label) (in 1984)
recording of:
Let’s Hear It for the Boy
lyricist:
Dean Pitchford
composer:
Thomas Snow (US keyboardist/songwriter)
publisher:
Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships), Ensign Music Corporation and Famous Music Corporation (renamed since 2007‐05 as Sony/ATV Harmony/Melody)
part of:
The 57th Academy Award for Best Original Song (number: 2)
Deniece Williams3.64:22
15La Bamba
recording of:
La bamba (additional lyrics by Ritchie Valens)
additional lyricist:
Ritchie Valens
lyricist and composer:
[traditional] (special purpose artist)
arranger:
Ritchie Valens
publisher:
Carlin Music Corporation, EMI Longitude Music and M.P.A. (M.P.A.)
version of:
La bamba
Los Lobos52:48
2CD: Straight Up (disc 2)
3CD: Together Forever (disc 1)
4CD: Together Forever (disc 2)
5CD: True Colours (disc 1)
6CD: True Colours (disc 2)
7CD: Simply Irresistible (disc 1)
8CD: Simply Irresistible (disc 2)
9CD: Hit Me With Your Best Shot

Credits

Release group

part of:Time Life Music (order: 4)