This is a brilliant compilation of 80's Breakdancing music- largely Hip-Hop songs, but also electronica, funk and disco tracks too. So even if Rap isn't your thing, I'd still recommend it. There are some beautiful melodies and singing here.

I have to say it's one of the best dance compilations I have ever bought, with beats and synthesisers that are so infectious- forget head-nodding, I'm talking BODY-BENDING here!

There are plenty of Breakdancing classics here Chaka Khan's beautiful "I Feel For You", Break machine's "Street Dance" Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight", and The Rocksteady Crew's infectious "Hey You, Rocksteady Crew".

There are a few classic B-Boy anthems which are missing from this compilation, like Grandmaster Flash's "The Adventures of Flash on the Wheels of Steel" and Malcom McClaren's "Buffalo Gals"

But as a bonus we do get the FULL LENGTH versions of classics like "The Message", "Planet Rock"

There's also smoother, sexy tracks like "Paid In Full" and The Real Roxanne's "Bang Zoom" (wonder where she is now).

But it isn't all party music, some of the songs are very serious. Songs like "The Message", "Say No Go" "Paid In Full" and "White Lines" are poetic moral tales about criminals and drug dealers and what happens to them.

And there are more political tip's like Public Enemy's "Don't Believe the Hype" where Chuck D talks about Rappers who are falsely labelled criminals and reverse-rascists by the media. And there is also Paul Hardcastle's "19" which talks about the Vietnam war and all the young soldiers who were killed.

So basically this is something for everyone- whether you want to hear radical message songs or party music- whether you like Rap or not. Parents worried about their kids and Rap music because of the controversy about today's violent and sexist rappers, like Eminem- Worry not! This is all from a completely different time and a much more innocent one. It's perfect for all ages.

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Essential Trip Down Memory Lane  Nov 05, 2004 By Reginald L. Davenport
Oh my goodnes!!!

I saw the track listings and saw one song that made me get the CD: Hey DJ. I had wanted to get that song since 1984. I then looked at the other tracks and knew that this was the one CD I would be proud to have in the collection.

This CD really takes me back to my childhood days, when just about everything that was on the radio was hot. That includes the Pop and Soft Rock that was coming over from the UK and everywhere else in the world. Breakdancing was "in" and boy, was it fun to watch. In fact, there was a guy in my elemetary school class by the name of Maurice Hatter. Man, this guy could "break"! He did the Pop-Lock, Moonwalk, Helecopter, and Robot all the time!! He was so good that he was easily voted as best dancer by the 8th Grade graduating class. I was only able to do the Worm, the Centipede, and the occasional Knee Spin. I also saw the movie Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo at that time. But, this time around I will get my chance to catch up on the other Breakin' movie as well as Beat Street.

Why did I just go into such detail about my childhood? Blame it on CD One: Tracks 2, 3, 4, 10 and 13, as well as CD Two: Tracks 2, 3, 7, and 11!

Now that I'm done with this review it's time for me to get Volume 2!