As a budget-priced collection goes, EMI-Capitol Special Markets' Big Hits of the '80s is quite nice. Many budget-line collections stop at ten or 12 tracks, and occasionally contain remakes. Big Hits of the '80s doesn't skimp -- it has 20 tracks, all in their original hit versions. There might not be many surprises among those 20, but since it contains hits like "Mickey," "Centerfold, " "C'est La Vie, " "Abracadabra, " "Promises, Promises, " "Don't Dream It's Over, " "Only the Lonely, " "Never Surrender, " "Mary's Prayer, " "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone), " "Walking on Sunshine, " "Miss Me Blind, " "Morning Train (Nine to Five)" and "Don't Shed a Tear, " it's certainly an entertaining listen that's well worth its budget price. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
