The Eighties are the new Seventies. They were my decade, so it's disappointing not to see the best of Eighties music reflected in this 40-track double CD.

Like all decades, there are songs which are best forgotten, so it's inexcusable that they have popped up here to haunt us all over again: Nena's 99 Red Balloons, Aneka's Japanese Boy, Men At Work's Down Under and The Final Countdown by Europe are just four.

Many Eighties legends make it to the final cut, but their best songs don't: Wham! (I'm Your Man), Adam & The Ants (Prince Charming) and The Human League (Keep Feeling Fascination).

Among the glaring omissions are Talking Heads, Japan, Eurythmics and Soft Cell.

On the plus side, it was great to hear again Terence Trent D'Arby's If You Let Me Stay, Duran Duran's Hungry Like The Wolf and Frankie Goes To Hollywood's Relax. Final verdict: take Holly Johnson's advice and Don't Do It.

Updated: 09:39 Thursday, August 05, 2004