Wild, Wild West

In addition to Rolling Stone-affiliated volumes and assorted condensed variations on the same theme, Time Life's Sounds of the Eighties series also spawned year-specific discs, each of which takes a fairly broad swipe at mainstream hits with little concern for stylistic cohesion. The 1988 installment features Bobby McFerrin's "Don't Worry, Be Happy," the Escape Club's "Wild, Wild West," Johnny Hates Jazz' "Shattered Dreams," Richard Marx's "Hold on to the Nights," and Cheap Trick's "The Flame." With only a few exceptions, this volume is based around some of the most hated pop songs of the '80s, and they all just happened to be released during the same year. ~ Andy Kellman