In this day and age were CDs are said to be no longer the worthiest items for music lovers to keep, compilations with really good numbers serve as antidote to the problem and make CD collecting still the call of day. Here are some various artists projects released this year which simply say that it’s all about good songs in order to make lasting impressions.

‘Love On The Rocks‘

This two-CD set boasts of a compelling track list of familiar tunes mostly from the 80s and early 90s, enough to convince listeners that those years were too musically competitive talents had to bring out undoubtedly fine numbers to earn slots in the airwaves. Definitive power ballads fill up the 32-song collection of famed recordings from the guys that originally popularized them.

Disc One has treasure in Heart’s “Alone,” Survivor’s “The Search Is Over,” Foreigner’s “I Wanna Know What Love Is,” Journey’s “Faithfully,” Bad English’s “When I See You Smile”, and Peter Cetera’s “The Glory of Love.” Cetera’s distinguishing vocal closes the first CD and opens the second with him fronting for Chicago’s “Hard To Say I’m Sorry.” That connection means that good picks continue in Disc Two, as it contains 80s gems such as Toto’s “I Won’t Hold You Back,” The Cars’ “Drive,” Alan Parson’s Project’s “Eye In The Sky”, and “Mr. Mister’s “Broken Wings.”

Though less melodic as compared with 80s tunes, the 90s music did deliver some now-classic compositions like Extreme’s “More Than Words,” “Mr. Big’s “To Be With You,” Patti Symth and Don Henley’s ”Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough”, and 4 Non-Blondes’ “What’s Up.” These, too, deservingly made it to the cut.

The oldest hits in the roster are Kansas’ “Dust In The Wind” (1977) and Styx’s “Babe” (1979). No problem, they do belong since it’s a party for lasting, singable records.

‘Beautiful Songs‘

Billed as the “Finest Collection of Timeless Love Songs,” this double disc offering has, to some extent, memorable and strong melodies. Unlike the one above, this compilation is more laidback, newer as for the era that spanned the songs, with the oldest release being Suzanne Vega’s “Luka” and the freshest, Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours” which came out only this year. These two and few others make the collection timeless in some way.

Other songs of note are The Corrs’ “What Can I Do,” Maroon 5’s “This Love,” Beverly Craven’s “Promise Me,” Frente!’s “Bizaare Love Triangle,” Sinead O’ Connor’s “Nothing Compares To You,” Binocular’s “Deep” and Lisa Loeb’s “Stay (I Missed You).

The big songs in this 32-song package is not that many, though it’s likewise a collector’s item especially if you’re researching deeper into the music of names with recall like Shawn Colvin, Tori Amos, Craig David, Jams Blunt, Simply Red, Julia Fordham, and All-4-One.

‘Hits 2‘

Several of the biggest hits released last year which have become soundtrack to local listeners the past several months are in this compilation. R&B fans are in for some good treat here with Ne-Yo’s “Because of You,” Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop The Music,” Sean Kingston’s “Beautiful Girls,” Florida’s “Low,” and Chris Brown’s “With You” on top of parade. These particular pieces have given many people songs to dance and show off in a sexy way. The Tagalized-version of “Low” actually made it big via ‘masa’ FM stations.

Good fillers, if you can call them such, are Timbaland and Republic’s “Apologize,” Alicia Keys’ “No One” and Linkin Park’s “Shadow of the Day.” James Blunt also scored with “1973,” banked on good bass licks, as well as Maroon 5 with “Won’t Go Home Without You,” with its effective pop band arrangement that has grown to become the group’s trademark.

Of course, the big collaboration (involving Madonna and Justin Timberlake) called “4 Minutes” should not be missed and its appropriately given a special place as opening song to this 18-track present-time sonic journey.

‘Twilight (motion picture soundtrack)’

Twilighters have every reason to buy this CD featuring sounds of the movie that has captured fans of the book series in arguably the same way as that of those Potter fans who’ve been watching Daniel Radcliffe portray Harry. The sleeve is transformable into a 6-panel poster of Edward and Bella while one can collect ‘all 4 Twilight Trading Cards with every purchase of the CD.’

The 12-song soundtrack gives off two Paramore songs, with the better one “Decode” carrying the edgy tone that clicks with the picture.

Other interesting numbers are those from Collective Soul “Tremble For My Beloved” and Mutemath’s “Spotlight.”