Collectables' The Ultimate Hits of the 80's pretty much ignores large portions of what was going on in the 1980s. You will find no rap here, or any black music at all, save the Pointer Sisters. Hair metal is represented only by Quiet Riot's "Cum on Feel the Noize." There is not much new wave apart from the Psychedelic Furs' "Love My Way." The focus instead is on happy and lightweight music like Nena's "99 Red Balloons" or Tommy Tutone's incredibly catchy "867-5309/Jenny" and heartfelt ballads like Paul Young's "Everytime You Go Away" and Til Tuesday's wrenching "Voices Carry." A couple of the selections are a bit questionable, like picking Men at Work's "Overkill" instead of "Who Can It Be Now," but for the most part if you were a fan of mainstream '80s music, this collection will be a nice reminder of those heady days. ~ Tim Sendra, All Music Guide