The Hits Album: The Alternative Pop Album - Various Artists [CD]

This is 'The Alternative Pop Album', a brilliant collection of songs by artists who may have started their careers away from the glare and glitter of the Top 40 chart, but whose sometimes experimental sound caught the ears and eyes of music journalists, trend-setting DJs, and knowledgeable fans, to go beyond critical acclaim, and build a loyal and large following that made it impossible for these acts to remain on the fringes. 'The Alternative Pop Album' includes groups who emerged from their Indie roots to go on and occupy the No. 1 slot, including Adam & The Ants ('Dog Eat Dog'), Blondie ('(I'm Always Touched By Your) Presence Dear'), The Jam ('That's Entertainment'), The Human League ('Nightclubbing'), Dead Or Alive ('Brand New Lover'), The Clash ('Should I Stay Or Should I Go'), and Manic Street Preachers ('A Design for Life'). Alongside them you'll find acts who made memorable songs but only crossed over into the singles chart once, including Martha and the Muffins ('Echo Beach'), The Passions ('I'm In Love With a German Film Star'), The Lotus Eaters ('The First Picture of You'), Swans Way ('Soul Train'), Furniture ('Brilliant Mind'), and 4 Non Blondes ('What's Up'). Blending genres, avoiding cliches, introducing experimental new sounds, the wonderful and occasionally unique songs collected here may have sounded different at first listen, but they have stood the test of time, undoubtedly the mark of great Pop.

Disc 1
1. Dog Eat Dog - Adam & The Ants
2. Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division
3. (I'm Always Touched By Your) Presence, Dear - Blondie
4. Kid - The Pretenders
5. Echo Beach - Martha and The Muffins
6. I'm in Love With a German Film Star - The Passions
7. The Killing Moon - Echo & the Bunnymen
8. Oblivious - Aztec Camera
9. Is She Really Going Out With Him? - Joe Jackson
10. That's Entertainment - The Jam
11. Treason (It's Just a Story) - The Teardrop Explodes
12. The Art of Parties - Japan
13. Careless Memories - Duran Duran
14. Nightclubbing - The Human League
15. Glittering Prize - Simple Minds
16. The First Picture of You - The Lotus Eaters
17. So Good to Be Back Home Again - The Tourists
18. Chihuahua - Bow Wow Wow
19. See Those Eyes - Altered Images
20. My Sharona - The Knack
21. Baby, I Love You - Ramones
Disc 2
1. Pretty in Pink - The Psychedelic Furs
2. Peek-a-boo - Siouxsie and the Banshees
3. This Is Not a Love Song - Public Image Ltd
4. E=MCý - Big Audio Dynamite
5. Same Old Scene - Roxy Music
6. Strange Little Girl - The Stranglers
7. Soul Train - Swans Way
8. Broken Land - The Adventures
9. Radio Africa - Latin Quarter
10. Election Day - Arcadia
11. Life's What You Make It - Talk Talk
12. Brilliant Mind - Furniture
13. I Love a Man in Uniform - Gang of Four
14. Brand New Lover - Dead Or Alive
15. Love & Pride - King
16. Revolution Baby - Transvision Vamp
17. International Rescue - Fuzzbox
17. Crash - The Primitives
18. We Got the Beat - The Go-Go's
18. Sonic Boom Boy - Westworld
19. The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades - Timbuk3
19. Ready to Go - Republica
20. Twilight Cafe - Susan Fassbender
20. You and Me Song - The Wannadies
21. Me Myself I - Joan Armatrading
21. What's Up? - 4 Non Blondes
Disc 3
1. Should I Stay Or Should I Go - The Clash
2. Lust for Life - Iggy Pop
3. A Design for Life - Manic Street Preachers
4. Friday I'm in Love - The Cure
5. Disappointed - Electronic
6. Spaceman - Babylon Zoo
7. Yes - McAlmont and Butler
8. Family Man - Roachford
9. Real Gone Kid - Deacon Blue
10. Linger - The Cranberries
11. Twist in My Sobriety - Tanita Tikaram
12. Fools Gold - The Stone Roses
13. There She Goes - The La's
14. Change - The Lightning Seeds
15. Hush - Kula Shaker
16. Are You Gonna Go My Way - Lenny Kravitz