Classic Compilation – Out Now!! 2 (1985)

Most of us remember making mixtapes, or at least mix-CDs, and even the youngest among us has made a playlist, but a mix-LP? Believe it or not the compilation LP was a very real thing back in the day.

While digging through boxes of used vinyl at Pequot Library’s summer sale I found a number of these compilation LPs from various decades, and some were even double LPs. Of course I picked them up, and of course I’m now writing about them.

First up is Out Now!! 2, a double LP from 1985 that features 28 songs that span the gamut of genres, and record labels.

Based on the gatefold, the album was intended as a promotional tool to get people to buy the full length albums of the artists (click to enlarge).

I’m not about to go through all 28 songs (you can see the full track listing on Discogs), but here are some of the highlights from the compilation.

Side 1 

Dire Straits – Money for Nothing

 

“Money for Nothing” has, arguably, one of the best guitar riffs of all-time. In fact, I’m pretty sure you’re required by law to play air guitar whenever the song comes on.

Out Now!! 2 has the edited version of “Money for Nothing,” which means the second verse is omitted. For those who may not remember, the second verse features a homophobic slur that was used in the ‘80s, and it features it three times. In the context of the song, the blue collar worker character is using it to describe his thoughts on how the rock stars of the era look in the music videos on MTV. Mötley Crüe was convinced it was about them.

The verse was also omitted from the music video, and Dire Straits’ Greatest Hits album.

Another interesting fact about this song is that Sting sings background vocals, including the “I want my MTV” intro.

Billy Idol – White Wedding

 

When you’re talking about ‘80s rock icons, Billy Idol needs to be one of the first names you mention, and “White Wedding” is just one of the many reasons he ranks so high. Another reason is coming up in just a little bit.

Suffice to say, ’85 was a heck of a year for Idol worship.

Dan Hartman – I Can Dream About You

 

If we’re being completely honest here, I had totally forgotten the artist who did this song, as Dan Hartman rarely gets mentioned in retrospectives about the music of the ‘80s, but with “I Can Dream About You” being such a damned good pop song, his omission is confusing.

In just 1985 alone he had this hit, and he co-wrote and produced James Brown’s “Living in America.”

With all that in mind, isn’t it time Dan Hartman gets some much deserved props?

Amii Stewart – Knock on Wood (Remix)

 

Amii Stewart’s cover Eddie Floyd’s “Knock on Wood” (which was co-written by Steve Cropper) was a disco smash in 1979, so, you may ask, what is it doing on a compilation from 1985? Well, contrary to what P. Diddy may think, the remix was invented way before he got into music, and the remix to Amii Stewart’s version of “Knock on Wood” gave the song a whole new life six years after it was a must-spin at every disco in the universe.

I gotta say, the 1985 version sounds like an attempt to turn it into a Jock Jam – even if it pre-dates the phrase Jock Jam – but not in a bad way. You could totally imagine the beat pulsating through a hockey arena before a game.

Side 2 

Huey Lewis & The News – The Power of Love

 

Huey Lewis & The News made some damned good tunes – even if you aren’t murdering someone in your living room – and “The Power of Love” was one of their best. The fact that it happened to be on the soundtrack of one of the most beloved movies of the decade – Back to the Future – makes it even more of an ‘80s classic.

René & Angela – I’ll Be Good

 

There’s a pretty good chance that if you’re of a certain age you remember this song because of the way it was sampled on Foxy Brown’s “I’ll Be,” featuring Jay-Z. In fact, as soon as you hear the lyrics “I’ll be good,” you may even spit Jay-Z’s chorus, but you know what – that version only works so well because the original was so damned good!

Side 3 

Billy Idol – Rebel Yell

 

I promised you more Billy Idol, and side three of this compilation delivers more Billy Idol!

“Rebel Yell” is an all-time great song that you have to crank up every time it comes on the radio.

It isn’t just that the music holds up well, it’s that it still sounds totally f*cking awesome nearly 40 years later. His songs would kick the ass of so many of the rock bands of the present, it wouldn’t even be a fair fight.

Bananarama – Do Not Disturb

 

When I arrived at this song on the compilation my first thought was – why haven’t I heard this Bananarama song before?

My second thought was – This would’ve sounded awesome covered by t.A.T.u.

While I’ll probably never get my wish on the second item, when it comes to the first a little research gave me all the answers I was looking for.

For starters, the song was never released in the U.S. as a single. It was only released in the U.K., Australia, Germany, and Japan, and only charted in the U.K. Second, the band hated the song. It eventually ended up on their third album True Confessions, and despite it being the seventh song on the 11 track album, the band says it was the last song included. They even made a point of saying they originally intended on only having ten songs on the album.

One of those songs was their cover of “Venus,” so “Do Not Disturb” didn’t stand much of a chance of being remembered anyway, even if it really isn’t all that bad.

Ready for the World – Oh Sheila

 

While sometimes overshadowed by the advancements in pop music, and the ascent of both hip-hop, and hair metal, the ‘80s had some really fun R&B music. I dare anyone to listen to “Oh Sheila” and not want to get up and dance.

Also, good luck ever getting the chorus out of your head!

Animotion – Obsession

 

Let’s be very thankful this song was released in the ‘80s, because I feel like there’s no way we’d be able to get away with these lyrics today.

The chorus of, “You are an obsession, you’re my obsession / Who do you want me to be to make you sleep with me?” might be the tamest of the incredibly wild lyrics of this song … and we wouldn’t have it any other way!

Side 4 

Pat Benatar – Shadows of the Night

 

Pat Benatar was awesome, is awesome, and will always be awesome.

Having “Shadows of the Night” close out Out Now!! 2 ends things on such a high note you’ll probably want to listen to the entire thing all over again.

Hey, I have the time!

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