VA - The Classic Christmas 80s Album (2016)

This Yuletide set from Sony/Legacy delivers 15 holiday cuts from the original neon decade. The selection features a mix of '80s star power and second-tier acts with artists like Whitney Houston "Do You Hear What I Hear?" and Wham! "Last Christmas" representing the former and the Waitresses "Christmas Wrapping" and Fishbone "Slick Nick, You Devil You" the latter. Three decades on, tracks like New Kids on the Block's schlocky "This One's for the Children" are best left on the shelf and the Bangles' cover of Simon & Garfunkel's "Hazy Shade of Winter," while nicely done, isn't really a Christmas song. Overall, though, songs like Bob & Doug McKenzie's goofy "Twelve Days of Christmas" and Run-D.M.C.'s "Christmas in Hollis" are still entertaining enough to repackage for another generation.

Track List:

1. The Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping
2. Wham! - Last Christmas
3. The Bangles - Hazy Shade of Winter
4. Run-DMC - Christmas In Hollis
5. Daryl Hall & John Oates - Jingle Bell Rock
6. Whitney Houston - Do You Hear What I Hear?
7. Billy Squier - Christmas Is the Time to Say "I Love You" (Single Version)
8. Dave Edmunds - Run Rudolph Run
9. Buster Poindexter & His Banshees of Blue - Zat You Santa Claus
10. The Pointer Sisters - Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
11. Ray Parker, Jr. - Christmas Time Is Here
12. Bob McKenzie & Doug McKenzie - The Twelve Days of Christmas
13. New Kids On the Block - This One's for the Children
14. Fishbone - Slick Nick, You Devil You
15. The Hooters - Silent Night