Simply the Best 1980s

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

Tracklist

1▶CD
2▼CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Walk This Way
producer:
Rick Rubin (US record producer, former co‐president of Columbia Records) and Russell Simmons
guest guitar:
Joe Perry (guitarist for Aerosmith)
guest vocals:
Steven Tyler
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Arista Records, LLC (holding company - file NO releases here!) (in 1986), Profile Records, Inc. (distributor / holding / manufacturer) (in 1986) and RCA Records (not for release label use! for the imprint, please use “RCA” instead) (in 1986)
edit of:
Walk This Way by Run‐D.M.C.
music videos:
Walk This Way (music video) by Run‐D.M.C.
recording of:
Walk This Way
writer:
Joe Perry (guitarist for Aerosmith) and Steven Tyler
publisher:
Daksel LLC, Daksel Music Corp., Music of Stage Three, Music of Stage Three Aerosmith Account, Song and Dance Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Ltd., Stage Three Music Ltd., Stage Three Music Publishing Limited and Vindaloo Productions, Inc.
cover recording of:
Walk This Way
writer:
Joe Perry (guitarist for Aerosmith) and Steven Tyler
publisher:
Daksel LLC, Daksel Music Corp., Music of Stage Three, Music of Stage Three Aerosmith Account, Song and Dance Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Ltd., Stage Three Music Ltd., Stage Three Music Publishing Limited and Vindaloo Productions, Inc.
Run‐D.M.C.3.73:37
2Push It
part of:
Grammy Award: Best Rap Performance nominees (number: 1989), VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the 80’s (compiled in 2006) (number: 54), Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 374) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 440)
recording of:
Push It
writer:
Hurby Azor and Ray Davies (UK singer/songwriter, member of The Kinks)
publisher:
Next Plateau Music Inc. and Turn Out Brothers Publishing
Salt ’n’ Pepa3.753:29
3Take On Me
bass programming:
Magne Furuholmen
producer:
Alan Tarney
mixer:
a‐ha (Norwegian synth‐pop band) and John Ratcliff
drum machine and guitar:
Paul Waaktaar-Savoy (guitarist, songwriter and singer)
keyboard:
Magne Furuholmen
background vocals:
Magne Furuholmen and Paul Waaktaar-Savoy (guitarist, songwriter and singer)
lead vocals:
Morten Harket
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Rhino Entertainment Company (not for release label use!) (in 1985), Warner Bros. Records Inc. (not for release label use, company behind the “WB Records” imprint) (in 1985) and WEA International Inc. (not for release label use! copyrights holder, distributor for the world outside of the US) (in 1985, in 2004)
music videos:
Take On Me (official music video, 2019 4K remaster of 1985 version with diegetic audio) by a‐ha (Norwegian synth‐pop band) and Take On Me (official music video, 1985 Steve Barron version) by a‐ha (Norwegian synth‐pop band)
part of:
VH1’s 100 Greatest One‐Hit Wonders of the ’80s (number: 3), VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the 80’s (compiled in 2006) (number: 24), Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 26), The Downloader’s Music Source Book (number: 284) and BILLIONS CLUB
recording of:
Take On Me
writer:
Magne Furuholmen, Morten Harket and Paul Waaktaar-Savoy (guitarist, songwriter and singer)
publisher:
ATV Music Ltd. and EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!)
version of:
Miss Eerie
a‐ha4.253:48
4White Wedding
producer:
Keith Forsey (drummer, producer and songwriter)
bass:
Phil Feit (in 1982)
drums (drum set):
Steve Missal (in 1982)
guitar:
Billy Idol (English rock singer‐songwriter) (in 1982) and Steve Stevens (US guitarist and songwriter) (in 1982)
lead vocals:
Billy Idol (English rock singer‐songwriter) (in 1982)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Capitol Records, Inc. (not for release label use; US company behind the “Capitol Records” imprint) (in 1982) and Chrysalis Records, Inc. (not for release label use!) (in 1982)
edit of:
White Wedding, Part 1 by Billy Idol (English rock singer‐songwriter)
music videos:
White Wedding, Pt. 1 by Billy Idol (English rock singer‐songwriter)
part of:
VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the 80’s (compiled in 2006) (number: 53)
recording of:
White Wedding (in 1982)
lyricist and composer:
Billy Idol (English rock singer‐songwriter)
publisher:
Boneidol Music, Chrysalis Music (music publisher, ASCAP-affiliated), Chrysalis Music Group Inc., Chrysalis Music Holdings GmbH (DE subsidiary of Chrysalis Group PLC), Chrysalis Music Ltd. (music publisher, affiliated with PRS), Chrysalis Music Publishing Ltd., Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships) and Rare Blue Music Inc
Billy Idol2.653:31
5Rock Lobster
producer:
Chris Blackwell (Island Records)
edit of:
Rock Lobster by The B‐52s
part of:
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 146) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 300)
recording of:
Rock Lobster
writer:
Kate Pierson, Fred Schneider (US singer‐songwriter, frontman of The B‐52s), Keith Strickland, Cindy Wilson and Ricky Wilson (The B‐52’s)
publisher:
Boo-fant Tunes, Inc. (publisher)
B‐52’s34:56
6Poison Arrow
engineer:
Gary Langan
producer:
Trevor Horn
bass guitar:
Mark Lickley
lead vocals:
Martin Fry
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Mercury Records Ltd. (not for release label use!) (in 1982), Mercury Records Ltd. (London) (for copyrights use only) (in 1982), Phonogram Ltd. (not for release label use!) (in 1982) and Phonogram Ltd. (London) (company name, NOT a label!) (in 1982)
mixed at:
Sarm Studios (1973–2013, fka Sarm Studios from 1973–1982) in Aldgate, Tower Hamlets, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (in 1982)
part of:
The Downloader’s Music Source Book (number: 76)
recording of:
Poison Arrow
writer:
Martin Fry, Mark Lickley, Stephen Singleton and Mark White (ABC/Vice Versa)
publisher:
10 Music Ltd., Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships), Neutron Music, Neutron Music Ltd., Virgin Music (publisher and label, only for releases with Virgin MUSIC logo), Virgin Music (Publishers) Ltd. and Virgin Music (Publishing) Ltd.
part of:
Mantrap (ABC long-form film)
ABC4.43:24
7You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)
producer:
Pete Waterman
performer:
Dead or Alive (UK new wave band) (in 1984)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited (not for release label use! post-2008 subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment) (in 1985)
music videos:
You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) (On 'Blue Peter') (TX 10/01/2003) by Dead or Alive (UK new wave band)
part of:
VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the 80’s (compiled in 2006) (number: 52)
recording of:
You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)
writer:
Pete Burns, Steve Coy, Tim Lever and Mike Percy
publisher:
Burning Music Ltd., Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships), Métisse Music, Warner Chappell Music France, Warner Chappell Music Ltd. (no slash; used 1988–1996) and Westbury Music Ltd.
part of:
American Psycho
Dead or Alive4.153:14
8I Feel for You
bass, drum machine and guitar:
Reggie Griffin (in 1984)
chromatic harmonica:
Stevie Wonder (in 1984)
drums (drum set):
Steve Ferrone (in 1984)
keyboard and synthesizer:
Robbie Buchanan (Canadian producer) (in 1984), David Frank (American keyboardist, producer, writer; The System) (in 1984), Reggie Griffin (in 1984) and Philippe Saisse (in 1984)
background vocals and lead vocals:
Chaka Khan (in 1984)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Warner Bros. Records (1958–2019; “WB” logo, with or without “records” beneath or on banner across) (in 1984)
part of:
Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 395)
cover recording of:
I Feel for You (in 1984)
lyricist and composer:
Prince (“The Artist Formerly Known as…”)
publisher:
Controversy Music
Chaka Khan3.755:47
9Smalltown Boy
recording engineer:
Pete Griffiths (UK studio technician, programmer & producer)
producer:
Mike Thorne (UK producer & keyboardist)
mixer:
Harvey Goldberg
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 Beat3.655:04
10Oh Yeah
producer:
Yello (Swiss electronica duo)
guest drums (drum set):
Beat Ash
guest guitar:
Chico Hablas
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Phonogram GmbH (in 1985)
recorded at:
Yello Studio in Zurich (Zürich), Zürich (Canton of Zürich), Switzerland
part of:
VH1’s 100 Greatest One‐Hit Wonders of the ’80s (number: 48)
recording of:
Oh Yeah
lyricist:
Dieter Meier (member of Yello)
composer:
Boris Blank
publisher:
Datasound AG, TBU Music, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc. and Neue Welt (in 1985)
Yello43:07
11Everybody Wants to Rule the World
engineer:
David Bascombe
producer:
Chris Hughes (producer, aka “Merrick”)
mixer:
Steven Wilson (founder of Porcupine Tree)
bass guitar:
Curt Smith (in 1984)
drums (drum set):
Manny Elias (in 1984)
guitar and solo guitar:
Neil Taylor (guitarist) (in 1984)
keyboard:
Ian Stanley (in 1984)
background vocals:
Roland Orzabal (UK musician, songwriter and producer) (in 1984)
lead vocals:
Curt Smith
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Mercury Records Ltd. (not for release label use!) (in 1985, in 2014) and Phonogram Ltd. (not for release label use!) (in 1985)
music videos:
Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears
part of:
Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 28) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 319)
recording of:
Everybody Wants to Rule the World (in 1984)
writer:
Christopher Hughes (producer, aka “Merrick”), Roland Orzabal (UK musician, songwriter and producer) and Ian Stanley
publisher:
10 Music Ltd., Amusements Ltd., BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd. (not for release label use! see annotation), Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships) and Virgin Music (Publishers) Ltd.
sub-publisher:
フジパシフィック音楽出版 BMG事業部 (until 2014-12-31) and フジパシフィックミュージック BMG事業部 (Fujipacific Music Inc., BMG Division) (from 2015-01-01 to present)
Tears for Fears3.94:08
12Smooth Operator
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd. (not for release label use! pre-Aug 2004 subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment Inc.) (in 1994)
recording of:
Smooth Operator
lyricist and composer:
Sade Adu and Raymond St. John
publisher:
Angel Music Ltd., Peer Music, Peermusic (UK) Limited, Peermusic Ltd. (BMI), SM Publishing (UK) Limited (Sony Music, 2009–2020), Sony/ATV Songs LLC, 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) and ピアーミュージック (Peer Music Japan, Japan, subsidiary of Nichion)
Sade4.654:18
13Never Gonna Give You Up
keyboard [Fairlight] programming:
Ian Curnow (in 1986-10)
additional engineer:
Jamie Bromfield (member of SNJ Works, The Extra Beat Boys, Recall), Mike Duffy (mixing for Nitzer Ebb), Phil Harding (engineer, producer and remixer) and Karen Hewitt
assistant engineer:
Boky, Peter Day, Gordon Dennis (engineer at PWL Studios), Jonathan King and Yoyo (UK producer/engineer/mixer Yoyo Olugbo)
engineer:
Mark McGuire (UK producer/engineer)
producer:
Aitken, Stock (of Stock Aitken Waterman), Stock Aitken Waterman and Waterman
mixer:
Mixmasters Pete Hammond (UK producer aka “Mixmaster”) (on 1987-01-01)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
A Linn (Linn 9000) (in 1986-10)
guitar [guitars]:
Matt Aitken (in 1986-10)
keyboard [keyboards]:
Matt Aitken (in 1986-10) and Mike Stock (of Stock Aitken Waterman) (in 1986-10)
background vocals [backing vocals]:
Dee Lewis (in 1986-10), Shirley Lewis (in 1986-10), Mae McKenna (vocalist) (in 1986-10) and Suzanne Rhatigan (in 1986-10)
lead vocals:
Rick (English singer, songwriter and radio personality) (in 1986-10)
arranger:
Gordon Jenkins
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
BMG Records (UK) Ltd. (1987–1996) (from 1987 to present), BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd. (not for release label use! see annotation) (in 1987), Pete Waterman Ltd. (copyrights holder) (in 1987) and PWL (in 1987)
miscellaneous support:
PWL (task: original sound recordings made by)
recorded at:
PWL Studio 1 (in 1986-10), PWL Studio 2 (in 1986-10) and PWL Studios (London) in London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (in 1986-10)
mixed at:
PWL Studio 1 (on 1987-01-01) and PWL Studio 2 (on 1987-01-01)
music videos:
Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley (English singer, songwriter and radio personality)
part of:
Cachitos Nochevieja 2022 (number: 48) and Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 244)
recording of:
Never Gonna Give You Up (in 1986-10)
writer:
Matt Aitken, Mike Stock (of Stock Aitken Waterman) and Pete Waterman
publisher:
All Boys Music Ltd., BMG Music, Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships), Hammer Music (German publisher), Mike Stock Publishing Limited, Sid’s Songs Limited, Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing, Universal Music Careers, Universal–Songs of PolyGram International, Inc. and Terrace Music (in 1987)
sub-publisher:
Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc. (song publisher, never a release label), Universal Music Publishers MGB Australia Pty Ltd, シンコーミュージック・エンタテイメント (Shinko Music Entertainment Co., Ltd.), ヤマハミュージックEH(CM) (Yamaha Music EH(CM)) 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)
Rick Astley4.43:33
14Maniac
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 Sembello4.154:04
15Venus
producer:
Stock Aitken Waterman
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
London Records Ltd. (not release label) (in 1986)
produced for:
PWL Productions
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
Bananarama57:23
16Let’s Dance
engineer and mixer:
Bob Clearmountain
producer:
David Bowie (English singer‐songwriter) and Nile Rodgers
assistant mixer:
David Bowie (English singer‐songwriter) and Nile Rodgers
solo guitar:
Stevie Ray Vaughan
lead vocals:
David Bowie (English singer‐songwriter)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
David Bowie (English singer‐songwriter) (in 1983)
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 (from 1982-12 until 1983-01)
recording of:
Let’s Dance (from 1982-12 until 1983-01)
lyricist and composer:
David Bowie (English singer‐songwriter)
publisher:
Essex (publisher), Jones Music (publishers associated with David Bowie), Jones Music America, RZO Music Ltd and Watanabe Music Publishing CM division
David Bowie44:09
1799 Red Balloons
producer:
Jay Faires, Tricia Holloway, Reinhold Heil (from 1982 until 1983) and Manne Praeker (from 1982 until 1983)
lead vocals:
Nena (the person, performing solo since 1987) (in 1983)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
CBS Schallplatten GmbH (in 1983), Sony BMG Music Entertainment (Germany) GmbH (use as © & ℗ holders or as distributors only, between 2005/03/24–2009/01/14) (in 1983) and Sony Music Entertainment (Germany) GmbH (not for release label use! for © & ℗ or distributor only, defunct since 2005/03/09) (in 1983)
recorded at:
Spliff Studio in Berlin, Germany (from 1982 until 1983)
part of:
TV Cream: Real 100 Best Singles Ever (number: 64)
recording of:
99 Red Balloons (from 1982 until 1983)
lyricist:
Carlo Karges (in 1982)
composer:
Jörn‐Uwe Fahrenkrog‐Petersen (in 1982)
translator:
Kevin McAlea (in 1983)
publisher:
Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships) and EMI Songs Ltd.
translated version of:
99 Luftballons
Nena3.83:53
18Wake Me Up Before You Go‐Go
assistant engineer:
Paul Gomersau
engineer:
Chris Porter (engineer and producer)
producer:
George Michael
keyboard:
Tommy Eyre
saxophone:
David Baptiste (U.K. Saxophonist, flutist, percussionist, vocalist, & backing vocalist)
arranger:
George Michael
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
CBS Records (CBS, CBS Records’ international imprint from 1962–1990; renamed since 1991 as Columbia) (in 1984), Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd. (not for release label use! pre-Aug 2004 subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment Inc.) (in 1984, in 2006) and Diski CBS AEBE (Greek CBS affiliate, preceded by CBS Records of Greece S.A.) (in 1986)
music videos:
Wake Me Up Before You Go by Wham! (British pop-duo)
part of:
VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the 80’s (compiled in 2006) (number: 28) and Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 269)
recording of:
Wake Me Up Before You Go‐Go
lyricist and composer:
George Michael
publisher:
Chappell Music (UK), Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships), Morrison Leahy Music Ltd., Warner Chappell Music (holding behind all publishing activities of Warner Music Group, 2019–), Warner Chappell Music Ltd. (no slash; used 1988–1996) and Warner/Chappell Music Ltd. (1996–2019)
Wham!3.853:53
19Don’t You (Forget About Me)
producer:
Keith Forsey (drummer, producer and songwriter)
mixer:
Jez Coad
performer:
Simple Minds (Scottish rock band) (on 1984-07-10)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Simple Minds Ltd, Virgin Records Ltd. (not for release label use! for company relationships only) (in 2001), Union Square Music Ltd. (for copyright use only, holding company of Union Square Music) (in 2018) and Universal Music Operations Ltd. (not for release label use! UK&IE subsidiary of UMG, legal name of Universal Music UK) (in 2018)
part of:
Paste: The 50 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of All Time (number: 25) and Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 340)
recording of:
Don’t You (Forget About Me) (on 1984-07-10)
writer:
Keith Forsey (drummer, producer and songwriter) and Steve Schiff
publisher:
Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships), MCA Music Ltd. and Universal Music (plain logo: “Universal Music”)
Simple Minds4.254:22

Credits

Release

ASIN:US: B000UWZ22O [info]