MTV Class of 1983

• Artist: Various Artists
• Release Date: 1995
• Type: Collection (various artists), Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Rock

Review

The double-disc MTV Class of 1983 attempts to distill the essence of early MTV to 30 tracks from the biggest names and most popular one-hit wonders of that year. The approach works remarkably well, as the compilation features many new wave classics that effortlessly evoke 1983. The sheer size of MTV Class of 1983 distinguishes it from other new wave collections, as does the presence of the Pretenders ("Back on the Chain Gang"), David Bowie ("China Girl"), Talking Heads ("Burning Down the House") and Herbie Hancock ("Rockit"). However, most new wave collectors will have this material already, especially if they own the 15-volume Just Can't Get Enough, so it's only appealing to casual fans. Even so, any new wave or early MTV compilation that doesn't include Duran Duran could hardly be called definitive. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Tracks

CD 1

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
She Blinded Me with Science	Jo Kerr, Thomas Dolby, Joe Kerr	Thomas Dolby	(5:09)
Come on Eileen	Jimmy Paterson, Kevin Rowland, Kevin Adams	Dexys Midnight Runners	(4:15)
Always Something There to Remind Me (Lyrics)	Hal David, Burt Bacharach	Naked Eyes	(3:43)
Mirror Man (Lyrics)	Philip Oakey, Jo Callis, Ian Burden	Human League	(3:53)
Cool Places (Lyrics)	Ron Mael	Sparks, Sparks & Jane Wiedlin, Jane Wiedlin	(3:26)
Love My Way (Lyrics)	Richard Butler, Tim Butler, Vince Ely, John Ashton	The Psychedelic Furs	(3:41)
China Girl (Lyrics)	David Bowie, Iggy Pop	David Bowie	(5:33)
Twilight Zone (Lyrics)	George Kooymans	Golden Earring	(4:52)
Rock This Town (Lyrics)	Dave Edmunds, Brian Setzer	Stray Cats	(2:41)
The Walls Came Down	Michael Been	The Call	(3:46)
Lies (Lyrics)	Joe Leeway, Billy Currie, Tom Bailey	Thompson Twins	(3:15)
True (Lyrics)	Gary Kemp	Spandau Ballet	(5:44)
Mexican Radio	Wall of Voodoo	Wall of Voodoo	(4:11)
Why Me?	Tony Carey	Planet P Project	(4:09)
I Melt with You (Lyrics)	Modern English	Modern English	(3:48)

CD 2

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Our House (Lyrics)	Chris Foreman, Carl "Chas Smash" Smyth	Madness	(3:24)
Too Shy	Nick Beggs, Kajagoogoo, Limahl	Kajagoogoo	(3:46)
Burning Down the House (Lyrics)	Tina Weymouth, David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison	Talking Heads	(4:04)
Back on the Chain Gang (Lyrics)	Chrissie Hynde	The Pretenders	(3:53)
Strip (Lyrics)	Adam Ant, Marco Pirroni	Adam Ant	(4:01)
One Thing Leads to Another (Lyrics)	Alfie Agius, Rupert Greenall, Cy Curnin, Jamie West-Oram, Adam Woods	The Fixx	(3:20)
Do You Really Want to Hurt Me (Lyrics)	Mikey Craig, Jon Moss, Roy Hay, George O'Dowd, Culture Club	Culture Club	(4:25)
In a Big Country (Lyrics)	Stuart Adamson, Mark Brzezicki, Bruce Watson, Pretty Tony, Big Country	Big Country	(3:54)
Working Girl	Nicky Tesco	Members	(4:11)
Jukebox (Don't Put Another Dime)	Bobby Orlando	The Flirts	(3:45)
I Eat Cannibals	Barry Blue	Toto Coelo	(3:35)
Reap the Wild Wind (Lyrics)	Chris Cross, Midge Ure, Billy Currie, Warren Cann	Ultravox	(3:45)
Talking in Your Sleep (Lyrics)	Coz Canler, Wally Palmar, Jimmy Marinos, Peter Solley, Mike Skill	The Romantics	(3:58)
Goodbye to You (Lyrics)	Zachary Smith, Z. Smith	Scandal	(3:49)
Rockit	Michael Beinhorn, Bill Laswell, Herbie Hancock	Herbie Hancock	(5:21)

Credits

The Flirts (Performer), Thompson Twins (Performer), Big Country (Performer), Kajagoogoo (Performer), Toto Coelo (Performer), Scandal (Performer), Madness (Performer), Spandau Ballet (Performer), Wall of Voodoo (Performer), Planet P Project (Performer), Stray Cats (Performer), Modern English (Performer), Herbie Hancock (Performer), Dexys Midnight Runners (Performer), Human League (Performer), Golden Earring (Performer), Talking Heads (Performer), David Bowie (Performer), Naked Eyes (Performer), Sparks (Performer), Culture Club (Performer), Thomas Dolby (Performer), The Psychedelic Furs (Performer), The Pretenders (Performer), Jane Wiedlin (Performer), The Romantics (Performer), The Fixx (Performer), Ultravox (Performer), The Call (Performer), Members (Performer), Adam Ant (Performer)