New Wave Hits [Rhino 1996-1997]

 

The discs featured today were originally planned for '80s Compilation Week here on The Hideaway in July and August 2013. They remained in the Drafts folder when they didn't make the cut. We've rewritten the post, found some graphics, and are proud to finally publish them.

Rhino's Special Editions are skimpy 10-track, stripped-down, bare-bones versions of some of their previously-released full-length discs from some of their prestigious and illustrious series (as well as single artist compilations) at budget-line prices. The earliest Special Editions releases appeared in 1992 featuring cookie-cutter artwork with a big red Special Editions banner prominently featured on the cover art and a single sheet cover insert with only songwriting and copyright information listed on the flipside.

By 1996, Rhino had revised its Special Editions cover art so that the horizontal red Special Editions banner was now a vertical black Special Editions banner that ran up the left side of the cover art. On the flip side of the single sheet insert, you could still find the songwriting info, an offer to get on the Rhino mailing list, and info on one of several public service campaigns Rhino was supporting.

One of Rhino's coolest, most essential, and thoroughly enjoyable series is Just Can't Get Enough - New Wave Hits of the '80s featuring nineteen compact discs and two sampler discs. In 1996, Rhino released three Special Editions under the simple title New Wave Hits with tracks culled from those Just Can't Get Enough discs.

Shortly after the three volumes of New Wave Hits were released in 1996, Rhino created an entirely new label, Flashback Records, with the stated mission to "...Bring you quality music at an amazing price. Flashback to the best times of your life."

New Wave Hits, Vol. 1 was given new cover art and reissued in 1997 as Essential New Wave Hits featuring the same ten songs in the same order. Musically, this is a 7 out of 10 for us. If you are buying your first new wave collection, you could do worse than New Wave Hits, Vol. 1 aka Essential New Wave Hits though, for our money, the album only contains three essential new wave hits.

Ultimate New Wave Hits is New Wave Hits, Vol. 2 in disguise with cover art depicting an illustration of the Union Jack and the Stars & Stripes. Once again, the same ten songs appear in the same order. This disc is a 6 out of 10 and far from living up to its title.

With a simple cover art makeover, 1996's New Wave Hits, Vol. 3 was reissued as Definitive New Wave Hits in 1997. We'll give the Flashback versions of New Wave Hits credit for listing all ten of the respective album's artists on the cover instead of the measly three artists featured on the covers of New Wave Hits. For the third time, the songs remain the same. Definitive New Wave Hits disappoints with a 6 out of 10.

Julee Stover is credited for the three columns of liner notes and current Rhino President Mark Pinkus is credited as compilation producer for each of the 1997 reissues which were also available as a value-priced brick.