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Now Yearbook 85

Back to the 80s for the Yearbook series

By Paul Sinclair

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The NOW Yearbook series continues and returns to the 1980s for Now Yearbook 85.

If 1984 was the best year in pop, then this compilation reminds us that 1985 was almost as good, with post-Live Aid Queen opening in strident fashion with ‘One Vision’, newcomers a-ha almost reaching number one in the UK with ‘Take On Me’, and Tears For Fears deciding to ditch the bedsitter synth-pop, get the guitars out and go ‘global’ with ‘Shout’ and Everybody Wants To Rule The World’.

There’s a ludicrous number of MASSIVE songs here including Eurythmics‘ only UK chart-topper ‘There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart)’, Phil Collins and Phil Bailey’s ‘Easy Lover’, The Power Station’s ‘Some Like It Hot’ (along with Arcadia’s ‘Election Day’!), Foreigner’s ‘I Want To Know What Love Is’, Go West’s ‘We Close Our Eyes’ and the title track from Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s debut (the only single not to get to number one in the UK from that album).

The 4CD deluxe hardcover book edition of Now Yearbook ’79 (click image to enlarge)

Frankie label-mates Art of Noise pop-up on CD 4 with ‘Close (to the Edit)’ and the same disc offers a hero’s welcome to Paul Hardcastle’s ’19’, sticks bananas up the tailpipe of Harold Faltermeyer’s classic ‘Axel F.’, sympathises with Colonel Abrahams’ predicament in the legendary ‘Trapped’, and says “I’m not sure” to The Smiths‘ questioning ‘How Soon Is Now’.

Sting’s excellent ‘If You Love Somebody Set Them Free’ is on here, although that wasn’t the big hit you might remember, while Midge Ure’s ‘If I Was’ did, of course, get to number one in Britain. There will surely be a full public enquiry into how Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill’ DOESN’T end up on a compilation celebrating 1985 (especially one that that is released in 2022). Yes, the meteorological #20 hit ‘Cloudbusting’ is included, but COME ON!?

Also where is Pet Shop Boys’ ‘West End Girls’? That’s another major omission but presumably the NOW team requested it and said ‘Please’, only to be refused. Disappointing.

The 3LP green vinyl edition of Now Yearbook 85

There’s more from the ZTT ‘songbook’ courtesy of Propaganda’s ‘Duel’ on CD 3 along with songs from Howard Jones (‘Things Can Only Get Better’), Stephen Duffy’s hit (‘Kiss Me’), Nik Kershaw’s ‘Wide Boy’, Fine Young Cannibals’ ‘Johnny Come Home’ and King’s ‘Love and Pride’.

There’s loads more (79 tracks on the 4CD set) so check out the full track listings below. As usual the formats are: 4CD in posh hardcover book (limited), 3LP coloured vinyl (in this case, green vinyl and like the deluxe 4CD set, it’s limited) and standard 4CD edition (in the cheap card sleeve).

Now Yearbook 85 will be released on 4 November 2022.

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Tracklisting

Now Yearbook 85 Various Artists /

    • CD 1
      1. Queen – One Vision
      2. Philip Bailey & Phil Collins – Easy Lover
      3. Eurythmics, Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart – There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart)
      4. UB40 & Chrissie Hynde – I Got You Babe
      5. Sting – If You Love Somebody Set Them Free
      6. Midge Ure – If I Was
      7. Tears For Fears – Everybody Wants To Rule The World
      8. a-ha – Take On Me
      9. The Power Station – Some Like It Hot
      10. Go West – We Close Our Eyes
      11. Dead Or Alive – You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)
      12. Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Welcome To The Pleasuredome (Alternative To Reality)
      13. Simple Minds – Don’t You (Forget About Me)
      14. Tina Turner – We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)
      15. Phyllis Nelson – Move Closer
      16. Bryan Ferry – Slave To Love
      17. Paul Young – Every Time You Go Away
      18. Elton John – Nikita
      19. U2 – The Unforgettable Fire
    • CD 2
      1. Foreigner – I Want To Know What Love Is
      2. Marillion – Kayleigh
      3. Huey Lewis & The News – The Power Of Love (From “Back To The Future” Soundtrack)
      4. Bonnie Tyler – Holding Out For A Hero
      5. Pat Benatar – Love Is A Battlefield
      6. ZZ Top – Legs
      7. Billy Idol – White Wedding – Pt. 1
      8. John Parr – St. Elmo’s Fire (Man In Motion)
      9. Dan Hartman – I Can Dream About You (From “Streets Of Fire” Soundtrack)
      10. Maria Vidal – Body Rock
      11. DeBarge – Rhythm Of The Night (From “The Last Dragon” Soundtrack)
      12. Steve Arrington – Feel So Real
      13. Ashford & Simpson – Solid
      14. Chaka Khan – This Is My Night
      15. Princess – Say I’m Your Number One
      16. Loose Ends – Hangin’ On A String (Contemplating)
      17. Amii Stewart – Friends
      18. Kool & The Gang – Cherish
      19. Whitney Houston – Saving All My Love For You
      20. Lionel Richie – Say You, Say Me
    • CD 3
      1. Kate Bush – Cloudbusting
      2. The Smiths – How Soon Is Now?
      3. The Cure – Close To Me
      4. The Cult – She Sells Sanctuary
      5. Art Of Noise – Close (To The Edit)
      6. Propaganda – Duel
      7. Arcadia – Election Day
      8. Tears For Fears – Shout
      9. Howard Jones – Things Can Only Get Better
      10. Nik Kershaw – Wide Boy
      11. Stephen Duffy – Kiss Me
      12. Red Box – Lean on Me (Ah-li-ayo)
      13. King – Love & Pride
      14. Scritti Politti – The Word Girl
      15. Simply Red – Money’s Too Tight (To Mention)
      16. Fine Young Cannibals – Johnny Come Home
      17. The Style Council – Walls Come Tumbling Down
      18. The Dream Academy – Life In A Northern Town
      19. Bananarama – Do Not Disturb
      20. Strawberry Switchblade – Since Yesterday
    • CD 4
      1. Paul Hardcastle – 19
      2. Harold Faltermeyer – Axel F (From “Beverly Hills Cop”)
      3. Colonel Abrams – Trapped
      4. Bronski Beat with Marc Almond – I Feel Love / Johnny Remember Me
      5. Divine – Walk Like A Man
      6. Baltimora – Tarzan Boy
      7. Animotion – Obsession
      8. Dee C. Lee – See The Day
      9. Sade – The Sweetest Taboo
      10. Alison Moyet – That Ole Devil Called Love
      11. Feargal Sharkey – A Good Heart
      12. Katrina & The Waves – Walking On Sunshine
      13. Sheila E. – The Belle Of St. Mark
      14. Level 42 – Something About You
      15. Billy Ocean – Loverboy
      16. Five Star – All Fall Down
      17. Sister Sledge – Frankie
      18. Elaine Paige & Barbara Dickson – I Know Him So Well
      19. Jennifer Rush – The Power Of Love
      20. Shakin’ Stevens – Merry Christmas Everyone

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