GenQ - For the not so straight individual

In the immortal words of Duffman “Who wants to party?� Well these two 2-disc releases will get you rocking out, especially if you’re a fan of the old school classic rock. Classic Hits says it all, whereas the label Rocktober sounds as if you’re going to get a range of generations of rock music. However its focus is very much seventies and eighties with legendary big band names on its track list.

There’s a bit of everything in Rocktober. For the Aussie rock fan, Choirboys, Cold Chisel and Men at Work are just a sample of some of the bands hailing from down under. And don’t think the boys are the only ones who can rock. The girls make their voices heard in the form of Pat Benetar, Tina Turner and Blondie. Even Queen recognises the impact of women in the rock and roll universe as they sing “fat bottomed girls, you make the rocking world go round.� Then songs like ‘Don’t You Forget About Me’, ‘Funky Town’ and The Cars’ Let’s Go’, the eighties’ synthetisers happily underscore throughout. Robert Palmer ruins it for me but I’m a sucker for the synthetised songs.

In Classic Hits the same sort of rules apply, only with a slightly more poppier edge. Older, well made famous songs like Kiss’ ‘I Was Made For Loving You Baby’ and Meat Loaf’s ‘You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth� will make anyone suddenly become a karaoke drag queen or king. The girls feature more prominently here with Belinda Carlisle, Cher, Abba and Donna Summer all giving their best pop songs a whirl. Blondie makes it into this collection too. Just when you think its simply another old pop CD, the mood switches with melancholic songs from Peter Gabriel and the song made famous by the movie “Stand By Me�. Another top notch compilation to add to the pile. My only qualm was the lack on both CDs of the infamous ‘Everybody Wang Chung Tonight�.

So despite the focus on the music that was charting two or three decades ago, it doesn’t mean these two albums are simply just for the oldies, oh hell no. Together, Rocktober and Classic Hits are the perfect companion while driving with the top open (or windows down), letting loose at an open house party in the summer or just alone at home, dancing in your undies.