VA 60's Ballads

NOW is proud to present the next instalment in our ongoing ‘Yearbook’ series – and take a trip back 50 years in Pop history – with 82 tracks on 4 CDs, to celebrate a stellar year of Pop singles… NOW – Yearbook 1974. This format is Special Edition 4CD set housed in ‘hard-back-book’ packaging, including a 28-page booklet featuring a summary of the year, a track-by-track guide, a quiz. Opening with ‘Killer Queen’ the first Top 5 single for Queen, and followed by the classic ‘Jet’ by Paul McCartney & Wings, and the still breathtakingly original, and hugely influential ‘This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us’ from Sparks - this epic beginning to the 1974 Yearbook continues with a run of ‘glamtastic’ Pop from Sweet and Slade, and including #1s from Suzi Quatro, Alvin Stardust and the years’ biggest seller ‘Tiger Feet’ from Mud. The #1’s keep coming with Pop gold from David Essex, The Rubettes and Paper Lace, plus a huge hit from Pilot and the first Top 3 singles for the Bay City Rollers with ‘Shang-A-Lang’, and Leo Sayer with ‘The Show Must Go On’. 1974’s biggest selling singles act was The Wombles, and their debut ‘The Wombling Song’ is up next along with the global smash ‘Kung Fu Fighting’ from Carl Douglas.

NOW is proud to present the next instalment in our ongoing ‘Yearbook’ series – and take a trip back 50 years in Pop history – with 82 tracks on 4 CDs, to celebrate a stellar year of Pop singles… NOW – Yearbook 1974. This format is Special Edition 4CD set housed in ‘hard-back-book’ packaging, including a 28-page booklet featuring a summary of the year, a track-by-track guide, a quiz. Opening with ‘Killer Queen’ the first Top 5 single for Queen, and followed by the classic ‘Jet’ by Paul McCartney & Wings, and the still breathtakingly original, and hugely influential ‘This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us’ from Sparks - this epic beginning to the 1974 Yearbook continues with a run of ‘glamtastic’ Pop from Sweet and Slade, and including #1s from Suzi Quatro, Alvin Stardust and the years’ biggest seller ‘Tiger Feet’ from Mud. The #1’s keep coming with Pop gold from David Essex, The Rubettes and Paper Lace, plus a huge hit from Pilot and the first Top 3 singles for the Bay City Rollers with ‘Shang-A-Lang’, and Leo Sayer with ‘The Show Must Go On’. 1974’s biggest selling singles act was The Wombles, and their debut ‘The Wombling Song’ is up next along with the global smash ‘Kung Fu Fighting’ from Carl Douglas.

A selection of rare funk and soul from America’s West Coast. There is a Californian myth of sun, sand and tanned blondes of both sexes enjoying a life of carefree exuberance. For black America, the Golden State offered a different dream and throughout the 20th century the lure of a booming economy attracted millions to the most populous state in the Union. Where there is money, an entertainment industry invariably appears to relieve people of it, and all over California– especially in Los Angeles and San Francisco’s Bay Area – clubs, bars and record labels sprang up. In the immediate post-WWII years these attracted black musicians from all over the country hoping to make their fortune.

Like its companion volume, Sanctified Soul, this scours the Atlantic vaults for obscure soul ballads of the 1960s and early '70s. Although this in no way should be construed as a sampler of the best Atlantic had to offer in that category, for those who have digested all the famous classic soul by Atlantic stars and are ready for more, this is highly recommended. No big stars are found on this 26-track anthology, with the exception of the Isley Brothers, whose exquisite 1964 heartbreaker, "The Last Girl," is hardly something (unfortunately) that you're likely to hear on oldies stations.

If variety is the spice of life, then listening to American radio during the early part of the 1960s was certainly a spicy experience! Legend has it that the period covered by these 3CDs was a low point in pop, roughly bordered by Elvis enlisting in the Army in 1958, and the American breakthrough of The Beatles in 1964. But even the briefest look at these titles - or the quickest of listens, will disprove that legend. Here is a delicious menu of dance sensations, virtuoso instrumentals, novelty hits, heart-breaking ballads together with some of the perkiest pop you could wish for.

Presented here for the first time ever in digital format are twenty-four Italian songs with a strong emotional impact, all recorded between the late 1960s and mid-70s. Originally released as forty-five rpm records, these tracks enjoyed only a brief moment in the spotlight. Yet, their power to evoke nostalgia and emotion remains undiminished. They transport listeners to a carefree provincial Italy, a land where musicarello films and photoromance magazines, alongside live music contests like Cantagiro and televised variety shows like Canzonissima, dominated popular culture and entertainment. The airwaves were filled with breezy pop hits, languid ballads, and soulful vocals. Amidst the cultural transformations of the era, these songs offer a poignant reminder of a simpler time. From romantic gems like "La strada di Soho" to melancholic tracks with a soul and R&B vibe like "Ti voglio come sei," and upbeat, cheerful little marches like "Che bel tipino," the collection showcases a diverse range of styles, but with the common themes of hope, longing, and unrequited or impossible love woven throughout.

Presented here for the first time ever in digital format are twenty-four Italian songs with a strong emotional impact, all recorded between the late 1960s and mid-70s. Originally released as forty-five rpm records, these tracks enjoyed only a brief moment in the spotlight. Yet, their power to evoke nostalgia and emotion remains undiminished. They transport listeners to a carefree provincial Italy, a land where musicarello films and photoromance magazines, alongside live music contests like Cantagiro and televised variety shows like Canzonissima, dominated popular culture and entertainment. The airwaves were filled with breezy pop hits, languid ballads, and soulful vocals. Amidst the cultural transformations of the era, these songs offer a poignant reminder of a simpler time. From romantic gems like "La strada di Soho" to melancholic tracks with a soul and R&B vibe like "Ti voglio come sei," and upbeat, cheerful little marches like "Che bel tipino," the collection showcases a diverse range of styles, but with the common themes of hope, longing, and unrequited or impossible love woven throughout.

NOW Music is proud to present NOW That’s What I Call Timeless…The Songs.
Across 4 CDs, 78 of the greatest songs from the past six decades from some of the most-loved artists ever. Queen’s anthem ‘Somebody To Love’ begins, with ‘Every Breath You Take’, the fifth No. 1 from The Police, and 10cc’s classic ‘I’m Not In Love’ following. Disc 1 also includes 70s smashes ‘Mr. Blue Sky’ from Electric Light Orchestra, ‘Baker Street’ from Gerry Rafferty, ‘Heart Of Glass’ from Blondie – and ‘Wuthering Heights’ – the song that not only launched the career of Kate Bush but became the first No. 1 in the UK self-penned by a female artist. The Beach Boys, Ike & Tina Turner, Dionne Warwick and Aretha Franklin are all present with their 60s signature songs, alongside more contemporary classics ‘Beautiful Day’ from U2, ‘Mr. Brightside’ from The Killers, ‘The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite’ from R.E.M. and iconic female voices on ‘Brass In Pocket’ (Pretenders), ‘Back To Black’ (Amy Winehouse), and Sinead O’Connor’s incredible interpretation of Prince’s ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’.

In the pre-Beatle era, when British pop was a veritable smorgasbord of genres and musical ideas without a dominant narrative, Joe Meek sampled almost everything on offer. From novelty hits to sound effect laden masterpieces, straight forward pre-beat pop and light instrumentals to cinematic ballads, his work with excellent singers such as JOHN LEYTON and MIKE BERRY, alongside talented writers like GEOFF GODDARD and RAY DEXTER, always carried his signature studio techniques, still years ahead of many major commercial studios.