Every episode of BBC Radio 2’s popular Sounds Of The 80s show takes listeners on a journey back to a well-loved decade with its distinctive musical landscape. Hosted by Gary Davies (and formerly Sara Cox) the show delves into the various genres that made the 80’s so musically diverse from classic and alternative pop to rock, dance and hip-hop. UMC and the BBC have teamed up to compile a set of official Sounds Of The 80s branded collections that will showcase the decade’s fabulous sounds in three bite-size chunks. Each carefully compiled 3CD album will include UK Chart smash hits taken from every major music catalogue including Universal, Sony, Warner and BMG to do the show and the decade the justice it deserves. I Think We’re Alone Now celebrates the biggest and best hits from the last three years of the decade and features the likes of New Order, The Bangles, Boy George, The Stranglers, Terence Trent D’Arby and many more…
Recorded live at the Gaumont Theatre, Ipswich in spring 1984 this superb film of the 'Hawks' features their most eccentric of front men Nik Turner in fine form. Resembling a creation from one of Dr.Who's least convincing episodes, Turner wanders around the stage like a maniac, motor -mouthing his way through what is a truly impressive set of some of Hawkwind's best material…
If there is one Mendelssohn symphonic recording that makes the case for a more favorable reassessment [of the composer], it's this pairing of the Italian Symphony and some of the Midsummer Night's Dream music by Sir Charles Mackerras…. The clarity of texture here [in the Symphony] is extraordinary, even when the brass and winds add their clout. As a result, every line of Mendelssohn's orchestration comes through clearly, leaving a listener with a renewed respect for this composer's inventiveness…. The Midsummer Night's Dream music is even more miraculous….