Danger High Voltage, The Supercharged Hits of Today, K-Tel (fondly referred to, in my head, K-Tel From Hell). 1981.  My taste levels were not stellar in 5th grade.  This was one of my Christmas wishlist items based solely on my desire for Eddie Rabbitt’s “I Love a Rainy Night.” Why did it never occur to me to just ask for the 45 single?

I’m not sure that these greatest hit singles of the year albums have improved much since 1981, but oh lordy this one is all over the place.  There are some good songs (The Police “Don’t Stand So Close to Me,”) but some really awful ones, too (Gino Vannelli “Living Inside Myself” and, yes, “I Love a Rainy Night”).

I’ve been weirdly nostalgic about listening to this album and after finally dragging it out of the vault, that nostalgia is seriously misplaced.  This once-through listen has been more than enough to scratch that itch.

If you are curious, here is the track listing:

Side 1: Gino Vannelli “Living Inside Myself,” Franke & the Knockouts “Sweetheart,” Styx “Too Much Time On My Hands,” The Police “Don’t Stand So Close To Me,” Phil Seymour “Precious to Me,” The Alan Parsons Project “Games People Play,” Hall and Oates “Kiss On My List”

Side 2: Kool & the Gang “Celebration,” Delbert McClinton “Giving It Up For Your Love,” Heart “Tell It Like It Is,” Pat Benatar “Treat Me Right,” Loverboy “Turn Me Loose,” Cliff Richard “Dreaming,” Eddie Rabbitt “I Love A Rainy Night”