Original Megahits of the 80’s

~ Release by Various Artists (see all versions of this release, 1 available)

Tracklist

1▼CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Celebration
background vocals:
Kelly Barretto, Ronald Bell, George Brown (US percussionist of Kool & the Gang), Dee Dee Bryant, Gwen Hester, Cynthia Huggins, Joan Motley, Meekaeel Muhammad, Robert Bell, Robert Mickens, Elaine Sims, James “J.T.” Taylor (US R&B vocalist for Kool & the Gang), Cedric Toon and Earl Toon, Jr.
lead vocals:
James “J.T.” Taylor (US R&B vocalist for Kool & the Gang)
performer:
Kool & the Gang
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1980, in 2020)
part of:
Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 298)
recording of:
Celebration
writer:
Robert “Kool” Bell, Ronald Bell, George Brown (US percussionist of Kool & the Gang), Eumir Deodato, Robert Spike Mickens, Claydes Smith, James “J.T.” Taylor (US R&B vocalist for Kool & the Gang), Dennis “D.T.” Thomas (Kool & The Gang) and Earl Toon, Jr.
publisher:
Delightful Music Publishing Ltd., Double F Music Co., EMI Music Publishing Australia Pty Ltd (not for release label use!), EMI Music Publishing WP Ltd., Fresh Start Music, Intersong-Förlagen AB, Planetary Nom (London) Ltd., Warner/Chappell Music Ltd. (1996–2019), Warner–Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (publisher; do NOT use as release label) (in 1980) and WB Music Corp. (1929–2019) (in 1980)
Kool & the Gang4.44:58
2Stop
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
A&M Records, Ltd. (in 1988)
recording of:
Stop
writer:
Bruce Brody, Sam Brown (UK singer/songwriter) and Gregg Sutton
publisher:
Doolittle Music, Irving Music (BMI), Rondor Music Ltd. (publisher) and WayBlue Ltd. (publisher)
Sam Brown44:00
3Boat on the River
engineer:
Rob Kingsland and Gary Loizzo
producer:
Styx (rock band from Chicago)
performer:
Styx (rock band from Chicago)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
A&M Records Inc., Los Angeles (in 1979)
recorded at:
Pumpkin Studios in Oak Lawn, Illinois, United States
recording of:
Boat on the River
lyricist and composer:
Tommy Shaw (of Styx)
publisher:
Almo Music Corp. (USA, affiliated with ASCAP) and Stygian Songs (publishing company for the rock band Styx)
Styx3.53:10
4Live Is for Living
Barclay James Harvest3:37
5Nightshift
associate producer:
Peter Wolfe (Austrian classical/jazz composer/producer, keyboards for Zappa) and Jeremy Smith (producer/engineer)
producer:
Dennis Lambert
arranger:
Peter Wolfe (Austrian classical/jazz composer/producer, keyboards for Zappa)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Company, L.P. (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1984)
edit of:
Nightshift by Commodores (US funk/soul band with Lionel Richie)
recording of:
Nightshift
writer:
Franne Golde, Dennis Lambert and Walter Orange
arranger:
Peter Wolf (Austrian classical/jazz composer/producer, keyboards for Zappa)
publisher:
BMG Platinum Songs US, Careers–BMG Music Publishing, Inc., Franne Golde Music, Reservoir Media Music, Rightsong Music Inc., Universal Music Careers, Warner–Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (publisher; do NOT use as release label) and Zomba Enterprises, Inc.
Commodores4.354:19
6Brand New Toy
recording of:
Brand New Toy
writer:
Dirk Darmstaedter and Christoph Maria Kaiser
publisher:
Antenna Musik GmbH
Jeremy Days4:02
7Your History
recording of:
You’re History
writer:
Marcella Detroit, Siobhan Fahey and Richard Feldman
Shakespear's Sister4:29
8Blueprint
recording of:
Blueprint
lyricist:
Katharina Franck
composer:
Michael Beckmann (bassist, producer and composer), Katharina Franck and Wolfgang Glum
publisher:
Edition Intro Meisel and Intro Music, Inc.
The Rainbirds5:30
9Maniac
producer:
Phil Ramone and Michael Sembello
vocals:
Michael Sembello (in 1983)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Polygram Records, Inc. (New York) (not for release label use! US division of PolyGram) (in 1983) and The Island Def Jam Music Group (American holding company, not normally a release label) (in 1983)
recording of:
Maniac (in 1983)
writer:
Dennis Matkosky and Michael Sembello
publisher:
Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships), Famous Music Corporation (renamed since 2007‐05 as Sony/ATV Harmony/Melody), Intersong Music, Intersong Music Ltd., Intersong USA, Inc. (publisher), Riva Music Ltd., Rondor Music (London) Ltd., Sony/ATV Harmony, Warner Bros. Music Co. Inc., Warner Bros. Music Corp. and WB Music Corp. (1929–2019)
part of:
The 56th Academy Award for Best Original Song (number: 2) and Academy Award for Best Original Song (number: 1983 nominee)
Michael Sembello4.154:02
10Walk the Dinosaur
recording of:
Walk the Dinosaur
writer:
Randy Jacobs (guitarist and songwriter), David Was and Don Was
publisher:
MCA Gilbey, MCA Music Ltd., MCA Music Pub. (renamed since c. 1996 as Universal Music Publishing Group), Monkeys Dogs Cattle Ltd., Semper Fi and Universal Music Corp. (USA, affiliated with ASCAP)
Was (Not Was)4:22
11Desire
producer:
Yello (Swiss electronica duo)
guest drums (drum set):
Beat Ash
guest guitar:
Chico Hablas
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Mercury Records GmbH (in 1985) and Phonogram GmbH (in 1985)
recorded at:
Yello Studio in Zurich (Zürich), Zürich (Canton of Zürich), Switzerland
recording of:
Desire
lyricist:
Dieter Meier (member of Yello)
composer:
Boris Blank
publisher:
Neue Welt Musikverlag GmbH München and Neue Welt (in 1985)
Yello3:41
12Wonderful Life
producer:
Dave Dix (Dave Dix)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
A&M Records, Ltd. (in 1987)
music videos:
Wonderful Life by Black (UK indie pop musician Colin Vearncombe)
recording of:
Wonderful Life
lyricist and composer:
Colin Vearncombe
publisher:
Rondor Music Ltd. (publisher)
Black4.354:48
13Upside Down
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Record Corporation (company credits only; do NOT use as release label) (in 1980)
recording of:
Upside Down
writer:
Bernard Edwards (American bassist and record producer) and Nile Rodgers
publisher:
Bernard’s Other Music, Sony/ATV Songs LLC and Tommy Jymi Inc.
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), ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label) and ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部 (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division)
Diana Ross43:38
14Cruel Summer
producer:
Steve Jolley and Tony Swain (songwriter, producer)
lead vocals:
Sara Dallin (in 1983-04), Siobhan Fahey (in 1983-04) and Keren Woodward (in 1983-04)
performer:
Bananarama (in 1983-04)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
London Records 90 Ltd. (renamed as Warner Records 90 Ltd. on 2011-08-26) (in 1983) and London Records Ltd. (not release label) (in 1984)
part of:
VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the 80’s (compiled in 2006) (number: 44) and Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 414)
recording of:
Cruel Summer (in 1983-04)
lyricist:
Sara Dallin, Siobhan Fahey, Steve Jolley, Tony Swain (songwriter, producer) and Keren Woodward
composer:
Leo Birenberg (soundtrack composer), Sara Dallin, Siobhan Fahey, Steve Jolley, Kari Kimmel (singer, songwriter, composer, producer, piano, guitar), Tony Swain (songwriter, producer) and Keren Woodward
publisher:
In a Bunch Music Ltd., PolyGram Songs, Red Bus Music Ltd., Reverb Music Ltd., Sony Music Publishing (UK) Ltd. (2003–2008, 2021–present), Sony Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK) Ltd., Warner Chappell and Warner Chappell Music Ltd. (no slash; used 1988–1996)
Bananarama43:33
15Don’t Leave Me This Way
producer:
Mike Thorne (UK producer & keyboardist)
vocals:
Sarah Jane Morris
cover recording of:
Don’t Leave Me This Way (Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes song)
writer:
Kenneth Gamble (songwriter for Philadelphia International), Cary Gilbert and Leon Huff (Philly soul producer, of Gamble & Huff)
publisher:
Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships) and Warner–Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
Communards3.44:30
16Smalltown Boy
recording of:
Smalltown Boy
writer:
Steve Bronski, Jimmy Somerville and Larry Steinbachek
publisher:
BMG Music Publishing Ltd., BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd. (not for release label use! see annotation), Bronski Music Ltd., Bucks Music Ltd, EMI Virgin Music Ltd. (do not use this as a release label!), Fujipacific Music, Inc., The Copyright Collective, Warner/Chappell Music Japan, Synch division (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division) and Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (holding company – do not use as release label)
part of:
Gotcha! (1985 film soundtrack)
Bronski Beat3:53
2▶CD