 | 1 by The Beatles
Buy new: £7.46 / Used from: £2.97 By no means an exhaustive compilation, but this is as good an introduction as any to the Fab Four's music. And every one did reach the top of the charts....
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 | It's Madness Vol. 1 by Madness
Buy new: £1.01 / Used from: £0.01 The Nutty Boys at their madcap best. This and the accompanying Vol 2 are essential buys for 80s fans.
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 | The Very Best of Bananarama by Bananarama
Buy new: £4.64 / Used from: £2.40 Proved (with a little help from S,A & W) that girl groups could succeed in the New Romantic/New Wave era. Focusses mainly on their 80s heyday, and that's no bad thing.
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 | The Definitive Singles Collection 1984-2004 by A-Ha
Buy new: £5.98 / Used from: £7.13 Twenty years-worth of classic music (e.g "I've Been Losing You") - and they can still cut it even now.
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 | The Best of a Flock of Seagulls by A Flock Of Seagulls
Buy new: £3.98 / Used from: £3.01 Forget about Mike Score's tragic haircut, and just enjoy these classic electropop tunes.....
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 | A Life of Surprises: the Best of Prefab Sprout by Prefab Sprout
Buy new: £2.80 / Used from: £0.88 I still can't quite work out how they came up with their name, or some of their lyrics. But I do know their songs are wonderful.
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 | Through a Big Country: The Greatest Hits by Big Country
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £3.50 A fine testement to the song-writing talents of the late Stewart Adamson......
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 | Essential by Nik Kershaw
Buy new: £3.97 / Used from: £2.08 Another talented tunesmith who made his name in the 80s - if you like your synthpop, then you should buy this.
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 | The Essential Billy Joel (2CD) by Billy Joel
Buy new: £7.64 / Used from: £5.99 The Piano Man's been around a long time, so finding a single compilation containing all his good stuff is all but impossible. This is a pretty good attempt though.
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 | So Far So Good: a Collection of the Best of Bryan Adams by Bryan Adams
Buy new: £8.22 / Used from: £2.42 Adams is another artist with staying power - if like me you prefer his earlier 80s work, then this is the album to go for.
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 | In a Lifetime - The Best of Clannad by Clannad
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £4.19 A fine introduction to Clannad's wonderful, atmospheric sound. Perfect to relax to.
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 | The Best of the Corrs by Corrs
Buy new: £2.98 / Used from: £1.79 Those girls look great, and sound wonderful. Jim can play a bit too......
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 | The Very Best Of by Soft Cell
Buy new: £2.98 / Used from: £2.60 Sleazy but superb synthpop from the Leeds duo - no 80s fan should be without this.
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 | The Best of OMD by OMD
Buy new: £4.01 / Used from: £0.98 Yet another collection of classic 80s electropop - some slow & atmospheric, others catchy & cheerful.
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 | Evolution: the Hits by Dead Or Alive
Buy new: £4.00 / Used from: £2.08 Pete Burns is one seriously weird dude, but he sure knows how to sing. Some real dance floor stompers to be found here.
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 | Best Of by Def Leppard
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £4.96 Yorkshire's premier hard rock band have turned out some good stuff down the years, and much of it's on here.
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 | Ultimate Collection by Eurythmics
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £2.44 Oh look - another 80s synthpop act (see a trend here?). And rather good they were/are too.
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 | Reasons to Be Cheerful: the Best of Ian Dury by Ian Dury
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £4.50 One of the most unlikely pop stars ever, and an absolute genius. All his best stuff's present here, and it's less than six quid. Bargain!
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 | Very Best of Midge Ure & Ultravox by Midge Ure
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £2.40 Ah the nostalgia.... It still rankles me that "Vienna" was kept off the top of the single charts by Joe Dolce! It's here, along with most of their other classics.
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 | Turn It on Again: the Hits by Genesis
Buy new: £9.98 / Used from: £1.89 By no means definitive, but it does give a good overview of their biggest hits and as such is a good place to start if you want to get into their music.
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 | Immaculate Collection: the Best of Madonna by Madonna
Buy new: £4.60 / Used from: £2.47 You can't have a definitive Greatest Hits list without a Madge compilation in it. So here it is.....
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 | The Very Best of Kim Wilde by Kim Wilde
Buy new: £3.98 / Used from: £2.49 Forget the the naff Holland & Barrett ads - back in her heyday Kim Wilde was one of the best female vocalists going. If you don't believe me, check this out and be pleasantly surprised.
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 | A Slight Case of Overbombing: Greatest Hits Vol.1 by Sisters Of Mercy
Buy used from: £3.99 And now for something completely different! - mean, moody & magnificent goth-rock.
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 | Modern Art: The Best of John Foxx by John Foxx
Buy new: £3.97 / Used from: £2.25 Classic 80's electronica from the former Ultravox frontman.
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 | The Very Best of Howard Jones by Howard Jones
Buy new: £8.63 / Used from: £6.99 Yet another artist to make his name in the 80s, he's still going strong - as you'll see if you pick this up.
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Listmania!
