Formel Eins – Sun ‘N’ Fun (EMI, 1989)

Review
Sun ‘N’ Fun arrived at the end of 1989’s scorching summer. It’s loaded with familiar hits, four of which had featured on Now That’s What I Call Music 15. There’s Soul II Soul’s grandstanding artistic triumph Back To Life; their debut LP Club Classics Vol. One remains one of the greatest ever British albums. Take a trip on De La Soul’s anti-crack warning Say No Go. Marvel at Jive Bunny’s cut ‘n’ paste Swing The Mood. Get so emotional and complete the quartet with Natalie Cole’s heartfelt Miss You Like Crazy.

Rage for love. And grapefruit. To get us in the mood, Sun ‘N’ Fun launches with Queen’s Breakthru. It’s taken many years for me to appreciate its searing energy. The track would later be included on Now That’s What I Call Music 16. Eurodisco meets eurodance on Mysterious Art’s Das Omen. It reminds me of Propaganda and Old Spice advertisements. Miami Vice was just finished so Don Johnson was crooning Tell It Like It Is. In other news, The Bangles followed up A Eternal Flame with the less sparkly Be With You. And Roxette were looking so sharp on the casual Friday anthem Dressed For Success. Happy times.

Watch out for Adeva’s red alert on the funky Warning. Also purchased at the same time was Monie Love’s quality hip house banger Grandpa’s Party. Both would be gathered up on Smash Hits Party ’89. After the SOS Band on Formel Eins – Spring Fever, we get another Tabu Official Bootleg Megamix, this time from Alexander O’Neal – Fake, Hearsay, Criticize, Innocent. The enigmatic Soulsister sing the laidback Like A Mountain before Sinitta’s catchy Right Back Where We Started kicks in. Last: a message from charity. #1: Ferry Cross The Mersey. #2: SOS United an LP produced to raise money for the SOS Children’s Villages organisation. Chris Thompson sings Lullaby For Grownups.

Favourite tracks
Queen – Breakthru

Roxette – Dressed For Success

Lest we forget
Monie Love – Grandpa’s Party