Album Notes
Greatest Hats is the second compilation album released by Canadian synth-pop group Men Without Hats, released in 1996.
Review
Men Without Hat’s bouncy classic “The Safety Dance” remains one of the defining moments of the early 1980s with its irresistibly catchy bass-line and Ivan Doroschuk’s bold “We can go when we want to, the night is young and so am I.” Beyond their biggest hit, these Canadian synth-popsters also put out a couple of exceedingly chipper albums. Songs like “Pop Goes the World” and “I Got the Message” overflow with giddy innocence and cascades of cheesy Casio riffs. They even manage to perk up a Roxy Music cover (“Editions of You”). While the aspirations to meaning, and the faux-urgency, don’t hold up, this disk is guaranteed to bring smiles at any 1980s-style dance party. ~Heidi MacDonald
Greatest Hats is the second compilation album released by Canadian synth-pop group Men Without Hats, released in 1996.
Review
Men Without Hat’s bouncy classic “The Safety Dance” remains one of the defining moments of the early 1980s with its irresistibly catchy bass-line and Ivan Doroschuk’s bold “We can go when we want to, the night is young and so am I.” Beyond their biggest hit, these Canadian synth-popsters also put out a couple of exceedingly chipper albums. Songs like “Pop Goes the World” and “I Got the Message” overflow with giddy innocence and cascades of cheesy Casio riffs. They even manage to perk up a Roxy Music cover (“Editions of You”). While the aspirations to meaning, and the faux-urgency, don’t hold up, this disk is guaranteed to bring smiles at any 1980s-style dance party. ~Heidi MacDonald
Biography
The new wave synth pop collective Men Without Hats were formed in 1980 by brothers Ivan and Stefan Doroschuk. Ivan was the leader of the group, writing the majority of the songs and providing the lead vocals; Stefan was the guitarist; and other members changed frequently throughout the course of the group’s career. They independently released their debut EP, Folk of the ’80s, in 1980; it was reissued the following year by Stiff in Britain. During 1982, the band consisted of Ivan, Stefan, another brother Colin Doroschuk (keyboards), along with drummer Allan McCarthy; this is the lineup that recorded Men Without Hats’ 1982 debut album, Rhythm of Youth. Taken from their debut, the single “The Safety Dance” became a major hit, peaking on the American charts at number three in 1983. Driven by an insistent three-chord synthesizer riff, the song was one of the biggest synth pop hits of the new wave era.
The group wasn’t able to exploit its success, however. Folk of the ’80s (Part III) stalled at number 127 on the charts in America and made even less of an impact in other parts of the world. Thanks to the minor-hit title track, 1987’s Pop Goes the World was a bigger success, yet it didn’t recapture the audience their first album had gained. Released two years later, The Adventures of Women & Men Without Hate in the 21st Century failed to chart, as did its follow-up, 1991’s Sideways. The two albums’ lack of success effectively put an end to Men Without Hats’ career. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
The new wave synth pop collective Men Without Hats were formed in 1980 by brothers Ivan and Stefan Doroschuk. Ivan was the leader of the group, writing the majority of the songs and providing the lead vocals; Stefan was the guitarist; and other members changed frequently throughout the course of the group’s career. They independently released their debut EP, Folk of the ’80s, in 1980; it was reissued the following year by Stiff in Britain. During 1982, the band consisted of Ivan, Stefan, another brother Colin Doroschuk (keyboards), along with drummer Allan McCarthy; this is the lineup that recorded Men Without Hats’ 1982 debut album, Rhythm of Youth. Taken from their debut, the single “The Safety Dance” became a major hit, peaking on the American charts at number three in 1983. Driven by an insistent three-chord synthesizer riff, the song was one of the biggest synth pop hits of the new wave era.
The group wasn’t able to exploit its success, however. Folk of the ’80s (Part III) stalled at number 127 on the charts in America and made even less of an impact in other parts of the world. Thanks to the minor-hit title track, 1987’s Pop Goes the World was a bigger success, yet it didn’t recapture the audience their first album had gained. Released two years later, The Adventures of Women & Men Without Hate in the 21st Century failed to chart, as did its follow-up, 1991’s Sideways. The two albums’ lack of success effectively put an end to Men Without Hats’ career. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
| EC1034 | Men Without Hats – Greatest Hats |
| Label: | Aquarius Records |
| Catalog#: | Q2 – 00579 |
| Format: | CD |
| Made in: | Canada |
| Released: | 1996 |
| Barcode: | 0 060270057920 |
| Style: | New Wave, SynthPop |
============================================================================ Men Without Hats – Greatest Hats ============================================================================
01 – The Safety Dance
02 – Living In China
03 – Antarctica
04 – I Got The Message
05 – I Like
06 – Where Do The Boys Go?
07 – Freeways (Euromix)
08 – Pop Goes The World
09 – On Tuesday
10 – Sideways
11 – Editions Of You
12 – The Safety Dance (Extended Version)
13 – Where Do The Boys Go? (Extended Version)
Total Time: 00:55:39
Companies, etc. ▼
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Aquarius Records
Glass Mastered At – Disque Americ – 0TVB2
Credits ▼
Written-By – Ivan Doroschuk (tracks: 1 to 7, 9, 10, 12, 13), Men Without Hats (tracks: 6 to 9, 13), Stefan Doroschuk (tracks: 10)
Notes ▼
℗ 1996 Aquarius Records.
Made in Canada.
Barcode and Other Identifiers ▼
Barcode (Printed): 0 06027 0057920
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