Patti Smith

Five CD set bringing a comprehensive, big-tent look at the early years of punk rock in the US and Canada. Over six hours of music. Includes benchmark tracks by the scene's most influential bands plus many rare singles making their first appearance on CD. This five CD includes influential NYC bands - Patti Smith Group, The Ramones, Television, Blondie, The Voidoids, etc. - as well as the scene's other pioneers such as Pere Ubu and The Dead Boys (both Cleveland, Ohio), Dead Kennedys and Crime (San Francisco), Devo (Akron, Ohio), The Germs and The Weirdos (Los Angeles) and Mission of Burma (Boston, Massachusetts). Blank Generation offers a deliberately broad definition of punk, encompassing contributions from such outré acts as Suicide, The Cramps and The Residents through to new wave/power pop combos (Sneakers, Chris Stamey & the dB's, etc.). While the US punk scene was arguably always more diverse musically than that of the UK, the music evolved quickly, as evinced by the choices heard on Discs 4 and 5. Many of the acts here such as X, The Replacements, The Feelies, Redd Kross, The Dream Syndicate, The Gun Club and Minor Threat would make an even greater impact as the 1980s wore on. It's hard to overestimate the seismic shocks caused by the music on 'Blank Generation', not only on everything in alternative music which followed in North American, from the 80s hardcore scene and the music heard on the whole alternative college radio network through to grunge and beyond. And yet this era has never before been treated to a comprehensive retrospective of this kind.

Get ready to crank up the volume and let the music take you on a journey through 79 epic hits, spread across 4 CDs.
CD1 kicks off with Queen's outstanding ‘Don't Stop Me Now’, followed by Def Leppard's anthemic ‘Pour Some Sugar On Me’ and Meat Loaf's classic ‘Bat Out of Hell’. Bon Jovi's ‘Livin' On A Prayer’ and Survivor's powerhouse #1 ‘Eye Of The Tiger’ keep the adrenaline pumping, leading into another #1 from Europe with ‘The Final Countdown’. Still sounding fresh today, RUN DMC’s collaboration with Aerosmith - ‘Walk This Way’ and Billy Joel’s ‘We Didn’t Start The Fire’ are featured alongside an amazing run of ‘80s hits from Rock giants, including Iron Maiden, Motörhead, Pretenders, Cher, ZZ Top and Pat Benatar, plus another hit collaboration between Gary Moore and Phil Lynott. The disc draws to a close with The Waterboys’ contemporary classic ‘The Whole Of The Moon’, and ‘Wonderous Stories’ from Yes.

Five CD set bringing a comprehensive, big-tent look at the early years of punk rock in the US and Canada. Over six hours of music. Includes benchmark tracks by the scene's most influential bands plus many rare singles making their first appearance on CD. This five CD includes influential NYC bands - Patti Smith Group, The Ramones, Television, Blondie, The Voidoids, etc. - as well as the scene's other pioneers such as Pere Ubu and The Dead Boys (both Cleveland, Ohio), Dead Kennedys and Crime (San Francisco), Devo (Akron, Ohio), The Germs and The Weirdos (Los Angeles) and Mission of Burma (Boston, Massachusetts). Blank Generation offers a deliberately broad definition of punk, encompassing contributions from such outré acts as Suicide, The Cramps and The Residents through to new wave/power pop combos (Sneakers, Chris Stamey & the dB's, etc.). While the US punk scene was arguably always more diverse musically than that of the UK, the music evolved quickly, as evinced by the choices heard on Discs 4 and 5. Many of the acts here such as X, The Replacements, The Feelies, Redd Kross, The Dream Syndicate, The Gun Club and Minor Threat would make an even greater impact as the 1980s wore on. It's hard to overestimate the seismic shocks caused by the music on 'Blank Generation', not only on everything in alternative music which followed in North American, from the 80s hardcore scene and the music heard on the whole alternative college radio network through to grunge and beyond. And yet this era has never before been treated to a comprehensive retrospective of this kind.

We are also the home of a number of labels spanning all genres and price-points. From high-value limited edition CD and vinyl, multi-format CD and digital releases, through to iconic labels. The Best Rock & Power Ballads Album is packed full of huge tracks across Rock & Pop and features some of the biggest hits from artists including Meat Loaf, Europe, Survivor, Boston, Kansas, Bonnie Tyler, Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Journey, Toto and many more.

NOW That's What I Call Music! presents 'NOW That's What I Call Power Ballads: Total Eclipse Of The Heart'. More than 70 epic anthems across 4 CDs, demanding a loud sing-a-long and lots of accompanying air guitar! Kicking off with the beautiful 'Who Wants To Live Forever'. The '80s big-hitters continue with The Police, Foreigner, Robert Plant, John Mellencamp.

Three CD set containing no fewer than 63 of the biggest and best anthems from the decade that spawned some of the greatest rock stars to ever exist. With hits from well-loved rock groups such as Blondie, Status Quo and Thin Lizzy sat alongside icons like Elvis Presley, Meat Loaf and Rod Stewart, this collection is the perfect showcase for the very best of the greatest genre from the greatest decade - it really is The Best 70s Rock Album In The World… Ever!

In celebration of one of the most dynamic and diverse periods ever in the singles charts, NOW are proud to present ‘NOW That’s What I Call An Era: The Sound Of The Suburbs’ – this special edition 4-CD features 80 tracks, spanning multiple genres that contributed to the rich diversity of the era – including punk, new wave, reggae, ska, mod and electronic – between 1977 and the end of 1980, and all of which would inspire the wave of new art and club influenced pop that would come to define the musical landscape of the early 80s….

Pure… Singer/Songwriter is a brave album that showcases strong song writing, sometimes by avoiding the artists most prominent work in lieu of a lesser known piece. Simon & Garfunkel, John Denver, Lou Reed, Bob Marley, Van Morrison, George Michael and Bruce Hornsby are all represented by one of their better known tracks. However, Bowie, Hall & Oates, Alicia Keys, Nillson and even Sarah Bareilles are represented but obscure tracks. As well as the well known artists this compilation also goes back to includes lesser known artists from the 60s and 70s such as Colin Blunstone, Laura Nyro and Phoebe Snow.

Tyranny and Mutation was the second album by hard rock band, Blue Öyster Cult, released in 1973. The album was recorded from tunes written while touring in support of their eponymous first album. BOC continued to develop their style of "intelligent heavy metal" on this record. This was the first BOC album to feature a contribution from punk poetess Patti Smith, who would go on to co-write several songs for the band and at one time dated Allen Lanier as well.