On this day in 1980, Video Stars reached its peak at #5 in the third of its 10 weeks on the UK Albums Chart.
As if anticipating MTV, which began in 1981, K-Tel decided to produce a collection of popular pop hits that had promo videos. However, MTV morphed from Sight on Sound, which launched in the US in 1977, using Video Jockeys (VJs) instead of DJs. MTV came to Europe - and the UK - ten years later. So, Video Stars (K-Tel, NE 1066, 1979) was ahead of its time when it was released in the UK & Ireland. However, they didn't think of releasing a video compilation alongside it. That was left to Now That's What I Call Music in 1983. Better late than never, I have cobbled together a YouTube playlist as best I could. If YouTube is to be believed, not all the acts on the album actually released promo videos for the tracks included on it...
There's a good cheesy mix here with the likes of Suzi Quatro, Kool & the Gang, The Bellamy Brothers, Racey, and Darts, plus Cats UK with their "it so bad it's good" offering "Luton Airport". The album finishes with The Village People's "Ready for the 80s", which about sums up the time and the reason for this record.
The album entered the UK Albums Chart w/e January 12, 1980 at #25 and spent three of its 10 weeks in the Top 10.