A veritable greatest-hits package unto itself,
Hangin' Tough introduced the five rough-hewn yet magazine-cover-ready teens from Boston who would have a remarkable influence in the decade to follow.
New Kids on the Block, while a creation of
Maurice Starr, set the mold for the boy-band invasion of the following decade. Furthermore, their 1988 debut is packed full of delectable pop singles of all shades, from the rebellious singalong title track to the peppy time capsule "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" to the delicate and underrated R&B ballad that introduced them, "Please Don't Go Girl." Perhaps not a classic, but certainly a slice of compelling '80s pop music. ~ Jason Thurston