1.Down Under-A gteat summer theme song. Love the flute. I think this is a great awesome song. 4 out of 5.

2.Africa-One of my top favorite songs. I even know the chorus. ''It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you, there's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do, I bless the rains down in Africa, it's gonna take some time to do the things we never haaaaad.'' 5 out of 5.

3.Stray Cat Strut-Uhhhhh! Too rockabilly for me. I am not a big fan of 50's music. Sorry! 3 out of 5.

4.Maniac - I saw the Blockbuster commercial with hamsters dancing to this song we all know from Flashdance. The ultimate 80's theme. 4 out of 5.

5.Electric Avenue-Another summer song. Though it gets repetitive, I still like the song. 4 out of 5.

6.True-This is a song that is by a band that is similar to Culture Club. I know part of the words to this song. ''I bought a ticket to the world, but now I've come back again, why do you find it hard to write the next line, I want the truth to be said. Huh-huh-huh, huh-huh, I know that's my chance, true.'' A great wedding song. 5 out of 5.

7.Total Eclipse of the Heart-This is a very dark and drippy ballad, kind of like Culture Club's ''Victims.'' I know the words to this song also. It hit #1 and one of the most breakup songs of all time. I prefer the long version better. ''I really need you tonight, forever's gonna start tonight, forever's gonna start tonight, once upon a time I was falling in love, now I'm only falling apart, nothing I can say, a total eclipse of the heart.'' 5 out of 5.

8.Jeopardy-My mom had the 45 to this song, and also had the LP. ''I'm lost in jeopardy, baby, oooooh.'' My mom would dance to this song. 5 out of 5.

9.Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?-OMG!!!! My favorite 80's band of all time, Culture Club!!!!!!!!! Boy George!!!!!!!! I know all the words to this song and I listen to Culture Club's CD's in the car and I listen to it every day while in Muskegon at the race track!!!!!!!!!! Awesome song!!!!! Goooooooooo Boy George!!!!!!!!!!! Euan Morton sang it so good at the Royal Albert hall with his hat, makeup and BG costumes!!!!!!!! 1,0000 out of 5.

10.Making Love Out of Nothing at All-Awesome Air Supply tune. I know part of the words to this song. ''I don't want to live without you, I'll never let you fall, I'm never gonna make it like you do, making love out of nothing at all, making love, out of nothing at all.'' 5 out of 5.

However, 1983 was not all about one-hit wonders- in fact, some of the biggest hits of the year were from seasoned artists, and these types of hits can still be heard on radio today. Those particular hits include "Every Breath You Take" (the number one song of the year); "Billie Jean"; "Say Say Say"; "Flashdance (What a Feeling)"; "All Night Long (All Night)"; and "Beat It." Unfortunately, most likely due to licensing restrictions, none of those songs made it to this collection! And 1983 can not be fully represented without the likes of Michael Jackson and the Police, the year's two biggest headlining artists!

But other than those (decidedly major) flaws, the 1983 volume in this series actually works very well with what it can get its hands on. It still has the share of the good hits of one-hit wonders, including "Electric Avenue"; "Maniac" (which gives the movie FLASHDANCE representation; a definite plus); "True"; and "Jeopardy." And it's not like any of the songs here weren't big hits- there are still classics in the forms of "Total Eclipse of the Heart"; "Down Under"; "Africa"; and "Making Love Out of Nothing At All." With these eight songs, plus "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" and "Stray Cat Strut," the BILLBOARD TOP HITS: 1983 volume works quite fashionably as a very enjoyable listen, even if it is not definitive as it could have been. But sometimes, an enjoyable collection is preferable over a definitive collection, and that may just be the case here.

The only drawback I saw to it was one that might just be me. I wasn't crazy about the songs, "Stray Cat Strut" or "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me." But you might like those songs, that's just my opinion. The other 8 songs are great and this album is worth buying any day of the year. It's one of the best of the Billboard's Top Hits series from the 80's.

If there's any one song that really screams 'I came from the '80's!' it's "Maniac." Frantic but classic dance tune which, funnily enough was written about a psychotic serial killer. One hit wonder Eddy Grant's catchy reggae-pop "Electric Avenue" is nice. The retro rocker "Stray Cat Strut" manages to be '50s and '80s at the same time. Humorous story seen through the eyes of an alley cat.

The second side starts to get a little boring. Spandau Ballet's slow, emotional, but catchy synth pop of "True" is another classic one-hit wonder. The same for Greg Kihn's slight New Wave tinged rocking "Jeopardy." For those who don't know, he's now a morning DJ here in the SF Bay Area. Bonnie Tyler's dramatic ballad "Total Eclipse of the Heart" is pretty, yet I have to be in a certain mood for it. However Air Supply's "Making Love out of Nothing at all" sounds too similar to that song. Normally I can't take their music. I'm into love songs, but they're just too sappy. However because of the more theatrical, poppy production it's actually the one song by them I like. Culture Club's "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me" gets annoying fast, I wonder if that title should be taken literally.