It’s another of those unexpectedly strong weeks for ’80s Best Of albums, led by George Michael’s Ladies & Gentlemen climbing again to 13. Whitney Houston’s The Ultimate Collection re-enters at 18, David Bowie’s Legacy climbs to 20, Number Ones by Michael Jackson re-enters at 32 and there are also re-entries for Billy Joel’s Piano Man (43), Prince 4Ever (44) and Paul Simon’s The Ultimate Collection (57).
A new 3CD set New Order Presents Be Music compiles the band members’ production work for other artists including Section 25, Quando Quango and Tim Burgess. The Lambrettas return with a new single Go 4 It and Neville Staple (of the Specials and Fun Boy Three) releases a new solo album Return of Judge Roughneck. Anthrax reissue their recent album For All Kings in a new Tour Edition with five bonus demo recordings, while Sony Music Austria celebrates what would have been Falco’s sixtieth birthday with a new box set Falco 60. In budget corner there are new 2CD compilations by Paul Young (Wherever I Lay My Hat), Ian Dury & the Blockheads (What a Waste) and Status Quo (Keep ‘Em Coming, covering mainly the last twenty years of the band’s career). Finally, for the uninitiated, the 100 Hits series sets its sights on 80s Pop with a new budget priced 5CD set including a number of unexpected choices among the predictable hits.
