Now Yearbook 74

The Now What’s That I Call Music Team continue their ‘Yearbook’ series with NOW Yearbook ’84 an 80-track four-CD set and 3LP coloured vinyl package that features 42 defining hits that ruled the charts in 1984, including number ones from Lionel Richie, Chaka Khan, Duran Duran, Frankie Goes To Hollywood and George Michael (solo and with Wham!), together with huge hits from U2, Spandau Ballet, and Deniece Williams.
As with NOW Yearbook ’83 the four-CD set is available in deluxe hardcover book set with a 28-page book with track annotations and music quiz laid out in classic ‘eighties’ style. This is limited to 5,000 units. A slightly cheaper non-deluxe is also available (but you really don’t want to be buying that one).
NOW Yearbook ’84 is out on 29 October 2021. Be aware that both the 3LP coloured vinyl and the 4CD deluxe of NOW Yearbook ’83 are already out-of-print, despite only being released in June, so don’t miss out.

NOW is proud to present the next instalment in our ongoing ‘Yearbook’ series – and looks back to 37 years ago – with 80 tracks on 4 CDs, to celebrate an incredible year of Pop singles… NOW – Yearbook 1987.

NOW is proud to present the next instalment in our ongoing ‘Yearbook’ series – and taking our longest trip back in pop history so far – 50 Years – with 83 tracks on 4 CDs, to celebrate a landmark year of Pop singles… NOW – Yearbook 1973.

NOW is proud to present the next instalment in our ongoing ‘Yearbook’ series – and looks back to 37 years ago – with 80 tracks on 4 CDs, to celebrate an incredible year of Pop singles… NOW – Yearbook 1987.

The year that NOW’s story began, and where we started our ‘Yearbook’ series back in 2021. An incredible year in Pop music, and between that first ‘Yearbook’, it’s ‘Extra’, and more of the year’s hits featuring on the ‘80-84 Final’ and it’s ‘Extra’ we have featured over 150 tracks on CD so far in our appreciation of 1983. Those tracks were generally the bigger hits of the year with their Chart achievement a factor in their inclusion - however – that’s not the whole story, and our celebration of 1983 wouldn’t be complete without shining a light on some of the year’s singles that have been compiled much less frequently over the past 40 years… Welcome to the THE VAULT for 1983…Some of the tracks were Top 40 hits, some missed the Chart completely, and some were huge in the U.S. and not in the U.K. – but all are part of the wonderful Pop story of 1983.

NOW was recently proud to announce the ‘Yearbook’ for 1985, as we move forward to the second half of the 1980s, and we were delighted with the response to the 1979 edition back in September. However, we haven’t quite finished with those golden pop years 1980 – 1984.Compiling the ‘Yearbook’ series is a true labour of love, but given that between 1980 and 1984 there were more than 1500 new entries on the UK Top 40 – and on the ‘Yearbooks’ and their ‘Extras’ for the period we have presented 726 tracks – which means there are a number of brilliant songs that we didn’t get to feature… yet. .

The year that NOW’s story began, and where we started our ‘Yearbook’ series back in 2021. An incredible year in Pop music, and between that first ‘Yearbook’, it’s ‘Extra’, and more of the year’s hits featuring on the ‘80-84 Final’ and it’s ‘Extra’ we have featured over 150 tracks on CD so far in our appreciation of 1983. Those tracks were generally the bigger hits of the year with their Chart achievement a factor in their inclusion - however – that’s not the whole story, and our celebration of 1983 wouldn’t be complete without shining a light on some of the year’s singles that have been compiled much less frequently over the past 40 years… Welcome to the THE VAULT for 1983…Some of the tracks were Top 40 hits, some missed the Chart completely, and some were huge in the U.S. and not in the U.K. – but all are part of the wonderful Pop story of 1983.

NOW Music is proud to present the newest addition to the ‘Yearbook’ series: NOW – Yearbook 1981. 4 CDs of 85 tracks that defined the charts in 1981. This special edition CD is housed in ‘hard-back book’ packaging, including a 28-page booklet with a summary of the year, a track-by-track guide, a quiz, and original singles artwork, and as a standard 4-CD package. Kicking off with legendary No. 1s from Queen and David Bowie (‘Under Pressure’), The Police (‘Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic’), and The Specials (‘Ghost Town’), disc 1 is packed with classics that represent the influx of new artists that dominated the year, and would set the pop and fashion agenda for the next few years… with songs which sound as fresh and vital today as they did in 1981, from Ultravox, Visage, Duran Duran, Japan, the No. 1 ‘Tainted Love’ from Soft Cell, and the year’s biggest selling single (and Xmas No. 1) ‘Don’t You Want Me’ from The Human League. Adam & The Ants make three appearances on this Yearbook and actually had 5 huge hits this year, Toyah and Kim Wilde made huge chart debuts with ‘It’s A Mystery’ and ‘Kids In America’, and chart regulars Blondie, ABBA and Olivia Newton-John enjoyed continued success with massive singles. Shakin’ Stevens had two No. 1’s (both present here), and Madness produced a classic cover of ‘It Must Be Love’. Disc One closes with two more No. 1’s from soul legends Smokey Robinson with ‘Being With You’ and Michael Jackson, who enjoyed his first UK No. 1 with ‘One Day In Your Life’ a re-discovered track from his Motown recordings.

Following the recent release of ‘NOW – Yearbook 1982’, we are continuing the celebration of that phenomenal year of pop with ‘Now – Yearbook Extra 1982’; a limited edition 3CD.
62 essential tracks that we couldn’t fit on ‘Yearbook 1982’ include smash hits from The Jam, Soft Cell, Madness, Monsoon, Trio, Simple Minds, Japan, The Stranglers and Dexys Midnight Runners.
1982 saw a huge influx of new synth and pop bands in the charts – with many finding worldwide success complimented by the rise of MTV. Duran Duran cemented their success with the release of their ‘Rio’ album, and its title track is the perfect first track here. ABC, Adam Ant, Spandau Ballet and Culture Club with their Top 3 ‘Time (Clock Of The Heart)’ all follow, as do ABBA with ‘Head Over Heels’, the second single released from ‘The Visitors’ – the last studio album from the band for nearly 40 years. Disc 1 signs off with Captain Sensible’s No. 1 cover of ‘Happy Talk’, and Chas & Dave’s biggest ‘Ain’t No Pleasing You’.

NOW Music proudly presents 57 more essential singles from the iconic year of Pop that was 1993.
CD1 sets the stage with a blend of classic hits across multiple genres. Pet Shop Boys kick off with "I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind Of Thing," followed by New Order with "Ruined In A Day" and Duran Duran’s "Too Much Information." Next come the powerful vocals of Annie Lennox with "Little Bird" followed by classics from defining albums: Sting with "If I Ever Lose My Faith In You” from ‘Ten Summoner’s Tales’ and R.E.M.'s "Nightswimming" from ‘Automatic For The People’. Up next are a stellar run of beautiful songs from Saint Etienne, Sade, Go West and Sananda Maitreya. SNAP! and M People scored huge Pop-Dance hits, and Heaven 17 and Visage saw remixed versions of their classics become hits once again. The first disc draws to a close with a great collaboration between David Sylvian and Robert Fripp plus Suzanne Vega, Chris Rea, and finishing with Elton John’s “Simple Life”.