NOW – Yearbook 1985-1989: Vinyl Extra

Each release in our ‘Yearbook’ series includes a vinyl edition, featuring a selection of tracks taken from the full line-up found on the CD version, plus we have also released an accompanying CD ‘Extra’ for each of the years… Inevitably, this has meant that a huge number of incredible tracks have not been included on the LP versions….

NOW are proud to present NOW – Yearbook 1985 – 1989: Vinyl Extra – a 5LP boxset featuring an album per year for the period 1985-1989, each featuring an incredible line-up of tracks taken from either the ‘Yearbook’ or ‘Extra’ that haven’t been included on a ‘Yearbook’ vinyl edition before.

72 moments of Pop magic in a numbered limited-edition boxset – with each vinyl pressed in the colour of the years’ original ‘Yearbook’.

1985: Opening with Wham!’s UK No.1 ‘I’m Your Man’, before a run of huge hits including from Go West, Dead Or Alive, Level 42 with ‘Something About You’, Tears For Fears’ ‘Head Over Heels’ and sophisticated pop from Bryan Ferry with ‘Don’t Stop The Dance’ and Dee C. Lee’s ‘See The Day’ …Flip the LP for Simple Minds’ anthemic ‘Alive And Kicking’, alongside The Dream Academy, Billy Idol and John Parr’s ‘St. Elmo’s Fire (Man in Motion)’ – and following Pat Benatar, Paul Young’s U.S. chart-topper ‘Every Time You Go Away’ and UK No.1 duet ‘I Know Him So Well’ from Elaine Paige & Barbara Dickson.

1986: a-ha and UB40 open a stellar side that features Billy Ocean’s #1 ‘When the Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going’, the funk smash ‘Word Up!’ from Cameo and Whitney Houston’s ‘How Will I Know’, as well as superb vocals from. Gwen Guthrie and Anita Baker… Turn the record over for rock and pop smashes from Bon Jovi with ‘You Give Love A Bad Name’, Europe’s ‘The Final Countdown’ and The Bangles’ US chart topper ‘Walk Like An Egyptian’, ahead of pop-dance favourites from Bucks Fizz, Nu Shooz, Mel & Kim and Five Star.

1987: Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Tunnel of Love’ kicks off a side that includes essential tracks from Jan Hammer, Black, The Cure, Siouxsie And The Banshees, New Order and Duran Duran. On Side Two, pure-pop excellence from Bananarama, The Communards and Boogie Box High lead into the Oscar-winning ‘(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life’ from Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes, before more huge tracks from Alison Moyet, Cliff Richard and T’Pau with the 5-week #1 smash ‘China In Your Hand’.

1988: Kim Wilde opens a side packed with energy including from Inner City with the huge dance anthem ‘Big Fun’ and Taylor Dayne’s ‘Tell It To My Heart’. Rick Astley’s US #1 ‘Together Forever’ and Wet Wet Wet’s UK #1 cover of ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’ are up next ahead of power-pop from Jane Wiedlin and summertime smashes from Belinda Carlisle and Chris Rea. Flip the record for Pet Shop Boys’ peerless ‘Domino Dancing’, and Tanita Tikaram and Julia Fordham with brilliant self-penned hits. Sananda Maitreya, Danny Wilson and Deacon Blue lead to the closer; the beautiful ‘Keeping the Dream Alive’ from Münchener Freiheit.

1989: A huge year closes the collection, beginning with Alice Cooper’s ‘Poison’ and featuring Roxette’s ‘The Look’, huge hits from Transvision Vamp and Debbie Gibson, plus a trio of Stock, Aitken and Waterman productions :- Donna Summer with ‘I Don’t Wanna Get Hurt’, Kylie Minogue with the #1 ‘Hand on Your Heart’, plus the massive end of year smash for Jason Donovan, ‘When You Come Back To Me’. The final side opens with Soul II Soul & Caron Wheeler’s hugely influential ‘Keep On Movin’’, and second Top 5 hits for Neneh Cherry with ‘Manchild’, and Holly Johnson with ‘Americanos’. Legends Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello and Roy Orbison follow, ahead of closing tracks (with very similar titles); Tina Turner with ‘I Don’t Wanna Lose You’ and Gloria Estefan’s huge US #1 ballad ‘Don’t Wanna Lose You’.

For ‘Yearbook’ collectors and vinyl fans alike – NOW – Yearbook 1985–1989: Vinyl Extra – 72 amazing tracks celebrating the pop magic of the era.