Compilation Album Review: "Wiggle 'N' Sweat '91"

 

Compilation: Wiggle 'N' Sweat '91
Released: 1991 – BMG/Arista
Number of tracks: 18
Number one singles: 2 – "I've Been Thinking About You" by Londonbeat, "Sucker DJ" by Dimples D
Other top ten singles: 3
Best track: "Sucker DJ" by Dimples D
Hidden gem: "Whatcha Do To My Body" by Lee Aaron (boy, is this cheesy)

Here we have a splendidly-named collection from 1991, and didn't you love how, in the pre-100% Hits and Hit Machine days, the compilers would make up the names based on one of the song titles? I miss that.

Looking at the tracklisting, there are six songs on here that also appear on Video Smash Hits Dance Mix, which came out around the same time, and actually seven if you count "Mary Had A Little Boy" by Snap! which appears as part of the "Snap! Megamix" on the Video Smash Hits album, which you ought to, of course...

Then there's the fact that out of those six songs, all of them except one (Londonbeat) also appear on Smash Hits '91. I have no explanation for this – a bit of record company wheelin' n' dealin', perhaps? I have no idea why "Games", New Kids On The Block's lame attempt to sound like actual rough n' tough rappers, needs to be included on three compilation albums released in the same year, but I wasn't calling the shots so what do I know?

That aside, there's still a couple of good'uns amongst the doubled-up tracks. "Where Are You Baby?" by Betty Boo is still a fine tune and well worth the price of admission, and Daryl Braithwaite's "Rise" still sounds good too. Dazza and Warrant also appear on Smash Hits '91, but with different singles.

And, well, that's about it. Good clean fun. And for those curious, Lee Aaron hasn't aged a day.

Rating: 6/10