The 1980s were probably the last real decade for the
pop single. It was certainly the last one in which every
record that made the Hot 100 was an actual vinyl single.
Radio was still breaking big hits and new artists, rather
than TV talent shows and the still-nascent Internet. And
people still rushed to their local record store to buy
what their local station was playing, rather than
streaming or downloading it.
Having successfully anthologised the American charts
of the 50s, 60s and 70s over a long period of time, Ace
is delighted this month to premiere "Rockin' In The
USA", its first anthology of 1980s US Hot 100 hits.
80s radio made hits for a lot of new names. As had
been the case in earlier eras, many of them are still
around 30 to almost 40 years later, while the careers of
others virtually began and ended with their lone hit. Our
earlier series have always embraced both the renowned
and the obscure, and this is no different.
Here are almost two dozen of the finest US hits of that
decade, all presented as they were originally heard
coming over FM Pop radio right across America. Many
were also UK hits, and all of them should have been.
Some of the best pop and rock of the 80s you will ever
hear on the same CD is present on "Rockin' In The
USA". We are sure it will prove to be as popular as its
sister series "The Golden Age Of American
Rock'n'Roll", "Chartbusters USA" and "The Hit List".
