Various Artists - NOW – Yearbook Extra 1981

NOW

£12.24

Format: 3 x CD
Catalogue No.: CDYBENOW81
Barcode: 196587067120
Release Date: 01 Jul 2022
Genre: Pop

Following the recent release of ‘NOW Yearbook 1981’, we continue to celebrate the remarkable year of pop that was 1981 with ‘NOW – Yearbook Extra 1981’ as a limited edition 3CD.

Featuring 66 fabulous tracks that we couldn’t fit on ‘NOW – Yearbook 1981’ – including massive hits and songs that debuted in 1981 and have become enduring favourites.

Disc 1 kicks off with some of the year’s biggest stars including gems from John Lennon with ‘Watching The Wheels’, U2 with ‘Gloria’, ‘Message Of Love’ from The Pretenders, plus the first single released from Ghost in the Machine by The Police with ‘Invisible Sun’. As a major force in 80s pop, synth-pop and new romantic tracks are featured from Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran, Soft Cell, Japan and Tom Tom Club. This disc also brings together soul smashes from Kool & The Gang, Shalamar, Randy Crawford, Grover Washington, Jr. feat. Bill Withers and Diana Ross.

1981 was a year of revolution for pop and Disc 2 leads off with pure pop magic from Adam & The Ants with ‘Ant Rap’, Toyah with ‘I Want To Be Free’, Altered Images with ‘I Could Be Happy’, and ‘Chequered Love’ from Kim Wilde – plus Shakin’ Stevens, Bucks Fizz and Madness. Electric Light Orchestra, REO Speedwagon, Rick Springfield, Graham Bonnet, and Daryl Hall & John Oates all feature representing rock and power ballads. This collection wouldn’t be complete without some brilliant novelty pop – CD 2 concludes with ‘Birdie Song’ by The Tweets and ‘Hooked On Classics’ by Louis Clark Conducting The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – with both reaching No.2 on the UK charts, and amongst the year’s best sellers.

Disc 3 opens with ‘Sound Of The Crowd’ – the commercial breakthrough from The Human League, and further celebrates synth-pop with Visage, Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, and the debut single from Tears For Fears. Simple Minds and New Order lead into superb new wave/pop crossover hits from Adam & The Ants, Bow Wow Wow and Public Image Limited, alongside timeless hits from The Jam and The Clash before closing with some reggae and ska influenced hits from Sugar Minott, Bad Manners and UB40.

The perfect addition to the ‘Yearbook’ family and an essential collection for all fans of 80s pop – enjoy this EXTRA helping with ‘NOW – Yearbook Extra 1981’.

Tracklist
CD 1
John Lennon - Watching The Wheels
The Police - Invisible Sun
U2 - Gloria
The Jam - Absolute Beginners
Pretenders - Message Of Love
The Teardrop Explodes - Treason (It's Just A Story)
The Human League - Open Your Heart
Spandau Ballet - The Freeze
Duran Duran - Careless Memories
Soft Cell - Bedsitter
Japan - Visions Of China
Heaven 17 - Play To Win
Visage - Visage
Tom Tom Club - Genius Of Love
Blue Rondo A La Turk – Me And Mr Sanchez
Madness - Return Of The Los Palmas 7
Kool & The Gang - Steppin' Out
Shalamar - Make That Move
The Pointer Sisters - Slow Hand
Randy Crawford - You Might Need Somebody
Grover Washington, Jr. feat. Bill Withers - Just The Two Of Us
Diana Ross - It's My Turn

CD 2
Adam & The Ants - Ant Rap
Toyah – I Want To Be Free
Kim Wilde – Chequered Love
Altered Images - I Could Be Happy
Susan Fassbender - Twilight Cafe
Godley & Creme - Wedding Bells
Graham Bonnet – Night Games
Electric Light Orchestra - Twilight
Daryl Hall & John Oates - You Make My Dreams (Come True)
Rick Springfield - Jessie's Girl
REO Speedwagon - Take It On The Run

CD 3
The Human League - The Sound Of The Crowd
Visage - Mind Of A Toy
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Joan Of Arc
Duran Duran - My Own Way
Japan - The Art Of Parties
Spandau Ballet - Musclebound
Tears For Fears - Suffer The Children
Our Daughter's Wedding - Lawnchairs
Simple Minds - The American
New Order - Ceremony
The Psychedelic Furs - Pretty In Pink
Adam & The Ants - Kings Of The Wild Frontier
Bow Wow Wow - Chihuahua
Public Image Limited - Flowers Of Romance
Siouxsie And The Banshees - Arabian Knights
The Teardrop Explodes - Passionate Friend
The Jam - Funeral Pyre
The Clash - The Magnificent Seven
Sugar Minott - Good Thing Going (We've Got A Good Thing Going)
Bad Manners - Walking In The Sunshine
UB40 - Don't Slow Down