Now Yearbook 1971

The period in the early 70's when music was taking a big chunk of my interests as a seven year old in Infants still listening on 247 and 208 metres Medium Wave on my handed down portable radio and the family stereogram in an era when pop music was AM only and I plug the Sharp portable tape recorder in the back to copy stuff I liked.

Really this era wasn't much compiled missing 1972's tv advertised sets on Ronco and K Tel so it was re-recording on Music For Pleasure's Hot Hit's and Hallmark's Top of the Pops series each with a "dolly bird" on the cover and eleven or twelve songs and much later on in some "Glam Rock sets" so it's great to have this although there's no Ringo, George and Rolling Stones in this 80 song set.

Disc One opens with Elton John’s signature song ‘Your Song’, followed by Paul McCartney’s debut solo single ‘Another Day’, and Rod Stewart with his first chart-topper ‘Maggie May’ alongside the second #1 for T.Rex with ‘Get It On’. 

U.S. classics also feature such as Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline’ is as popular today as it was in ’71, as is John Denver’s ‘Take Me Home Country Roads’  that I liked plus country-pop hits for Lynn Anderson and Olivia Newton-John come ahead of singer-songwriter gold from Cat Stevens and Carly Simon.

Diana Ross hit #1 with ‘I’m Still Waiting’ which wasn't an A side in America and the Jackson 5 hit the top in the U.S. with one of their most beloved tracks, ‘I’ll Be There’ all followed by peerless soul ballads from The Delfonics and Al Green along with big pop hits for R. Dean Taylor, Blue Mink, The Fortunes, Sweet and The Kinks before Tom Jones completes the first disc with ‘She’s A Lady’. 

Disc Two opens with Judy Collins’ version of ‘Amazing Grace’ was massive hit and would end up spending an incredible 67 weeks on the UK charts followed by Peter Noone enjoying a big hit covering David Bowie’s ‘Oh You Pretty Things’  from Honky Dory and Cilla Black was back in the Top 3 with ‘Something Tells Me…’.’Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves’ gave Cher a U.S. #1 and comes ahead of a run of pure-pop gems from Clodagh Rodgers (with 1971’s UK Eurovision entry), The Mixtures, Jackie Lee, Lobo and ‘Knock Three Times’, the first #1 for Tony Orlando & Dawn. 

Easy Listening gold up next from Andy Williams, Perry Como, Elvis Presley, Tom Jones and Tony Christie, plus more of the years’ pop hits from Bay City Rollers their first ever #9 hit , Gilbert O’Sullivan, Marmalade, New World, Hurricane Smith and to close the disc a Top 10 hit, ‘I Believe (In Love)’ for Hot Chocolate. 

Disc Three celebrates 1971’s groundbreaking soul, rock and singer-songwriter classics, opening with Marvin Gaye’s landmark masterpiece ‘What’s Going On’, although this wasn't a UK hit single in truth  before the Oscar-winning ‘Theme From "Shaft"’ from Isaac Hayes. Ike & Tina Turner’s electrifying ‘Proud Mary’ is followed by the sublime ‘Spanish Harlem’ from Aretha Franklin, while Diana Ross and Gladys Knight & The Pips deliver two of the year’s finest Motown ballads with ‘Remember Me’ and ‘If I Were Your Woman’. 

The second half of the discs see a superb run of rock classics, from Titanic’s international smash ‘Sultana’ and Deep Purple’s ‘Strange Kind Of Woman’ to Badfinger’s ‘No Matter What’, before one of the defining anthems of the era, The Who’s epic ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’. 

Three Dog Night’s U.S. #1 ‘Joy To The World’ leads into further highlights from Curved Air, Family, C.C.S. and Atomic Rooster, while Redbone’s ‘The Witch Queen Of New Orleans’ and Free’s ‘My Brother Jake’ showcase two more unforgettable rock-oriented chart hits. 

This peerless collection closes with three timeless recordings: Buffy Sainte-Marie’s powerful ‘Soldier Blue’, Joan Baez’s interpretation of ‘The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down’, and finally Janis Joplin’s posthumous hit – the classic ‘Me And Bobby McGee’. 

Disc 4 opens with another run of unforgettable chart smashes and #1s from Rod Stewart with ‘Reason To Believe’ and T. Rex with ‘Hot Love’ one three that year , plus early glam-pop favourites from Sweet and Slade. 

Mungo Jerry keep the #1s coming before Dave & Ansel Collins' groundbreaking chart-topper ‘Double Barrel’ became the second ever reggae single to hit the UK #1 spot – and another #1 for The Tams with the re-released Northern Soul classic ‘Hey Girl Don’t Bother Me’. 

This is followed the Four Tops, The Temptations, Bill Withers, The Delfonics, Jackson 5 and The Supremes delivering a stunning run of timeless Soul classics, joined by the Northern Soul favourites ‘I'm Gonna Run Away From You’ from Tami Lynn, and ‘Heaven Must Have Sent You’ from The Elgins. 

Pop favourites from Middle Of The Road with their #1 ‘Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep’whose moves I still remember, Tony Orlando & Dawn and The New Seekers lead into two of the year's most memorable #1s – both tv-personality led - that book-ended the year as Clive Dunn's ‘Grandad’ is followed by Benny Hill's ‘Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West)’ - the Xmas #1 for 1971 that many of remember from his tv show - to bring this spectacular Yearbook collection to a smile-inducing close. 

Issued on October 9th the now familiar three cd extra set here with some 61 tracks was released in the card tri fold expanding the collection.

Disc One opens with John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band’s Top 10 anthem ‘Power To The People’, before T. Rex bring early glam-rock with the Top 3 ‘Jeepster’. Sweet and Hot Chocolate follow with ‘Alexander Graham Bell’ and ‘You Could’ve Been A Lady’, ahead of tracks from Marmalade, The Byrds and Paul McCartney & Linda McCartney, who feature with the first of two tracks on this ‘Extra’… ‘Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey’ topped the U.S. chart in 1971, while Simon & Garfunkel, Cat Stevens and Gordon Lightfoot add more singer-songwriter favourites along with Neil Diamond featuring with his Top 5 classic ‘I Am...I Said’. Elvis Presley, Gilbert O’Sullivan and The Fantastics lead into a run of huge soul essentials from The Four Tops & The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, The Delfonics, the Jackson 5 and Diana Ross with ‘Reach Out I’ll Be There’. Scott English and Dana complete the hugely varied opening disc. 

Disc Two begins with Elton John’s early classic ‘Levon’, followed by Jethro Tull, Bob Dylan and the collaboration between Georgie Fame and Alan Price on ‘Rosetta’. More British pop and rock follows from McGuinness Flint, C.C.S., Atomic Rooster, Medicine Head with their chart debut ‘(And The) Pictures In The Sky’ plus Deep Purple with their Top 20 hit ‘Fireball’. East Of Eden’s ‘Jig-A-Jig’ leads into a trio of pop gems from Middle Of The Road with ‘Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum’, another big UK hit following the huge ‘Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep’, Melanie and Gerry Monroe. Next up a superb run of easy-pop favourites from Glen Campbell, Tony Orlando & Dawn and Tony Christie, along with Top 20 hits for Perry Como and Frank Sinatra plus a further Top 10 success for Elvis Presley with ‘There Goes My Everything (with The Imperials Quartet). The disc closes with a truly unique ’71 hit for Waldo de los Rios’ with his pop interpretation of Mozart’s Symphony No. 40. 

Disc Three opens with a celebration of soul & funk featuring some of 1971's standout cuts: Curtis Mayfield’s timeless ‘Move On Up’, followed by Stevie Wonder’s cover of ‘We Can Work It Out’ and The Supremes’ ‘Nathan Jones’. The run continues with pop/soul crossover gold from Honey Cone, The Osmonds and the Jackson 5 before more superb soul from Smokey Robinson & The Miracles and Chairmen Of The Board. Northern Soul favourites from Frankie Valli, The Elgins, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas and The Velvelettes follow and lead to second appearances on the collection from Diana Ross with ‘Surrender’, and Marvin Gaye with the enduring ‘Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)’. Reggae hits take centre stage with Dave & Ansel Collins’ ‘Monkey Spanner’, Greyhound with ‘Black And White and The Pioneers with ‘Let Your Yeah Be Yeah’, before Mungo Jerry’s Top 5 ‘Lady Rose’ opens the trio of closing tracks, followed by Cat Stevens’ U.S. Top 10 ‘Peace Train’, which leads to the sign-off to 1971s ‘Extra’ from Paul McCartney & Linda McCartney with ‘The Back Seat Of My Car’.

NOW Yearbook 1971 – a celebration of what was the best musically of a year I well remember in all it's diversity.

Now Yearbook 1999

A changed format for this edition but we've had a new edition to the 1995-1999 arc of the Now Yearbook series which marks the point where afterwards the series for the 2,000nds starts with a four cd set for two years.

It was the last year of the century the point by which I'd moved to buying mainly albums albeit on record, cd or the so 90's MiniDisc that appeared to toss good sound and portability with digital convenience in finding tracks.

I opted for the book version as I no longer have the magazines such as Blues and Soul I used to read during this era and well I don't feel like hunting the internet to check when something was a hit and how high in the chart it got.

All our late 90's favourites are present from Indie, Rock, Modern R&B and Pop like the much talked about B*Witched from Ireland.

In August the now obligatory Extras set with 61 more hits arrived in a card wraparound sleeve that really jars with the quality of the main set.

Electric Barbarella by Duran Duran included in their Decade compilation appears as do so entries by former Spice Girls while brilliant funksters Jamiroquai feature with Supersonic and beloved of furry dice Ford Escort owners Lighthouse Family show up with Postcard From Heaven.

This is a great way to say goodbye to this decade when Top Of The Pop's still was the show to watch even if we had MTV and VH1 for classic shows such as The Lick with Trevor Nelson.

Now Yearbook 1972

After 1976 in September 2025, the juggernault that is Now Yearbook resumes with this much anticipated volume available in deluxe 4 cd form with book, a cheapskate card cover and a trunked 3 lp version as we revisit the early 1970's.

1972 was very much the year of Juniors with me, moving up, listening to Radio One and Luxembourg in the evenings when I could and watching shows on tv such as Hughie Green's Opportunity Knocks on ATV and when I had a stereo portable radiogram for playing my meagre collection of 45's and dolly bird fronted Top Of The Pops albums with remakes of the years hits.

1972 was the year of the TV Advertised lp and the likes of Ronco and KTel catered for that but many of them  had 24 tracks on a single record so they sounded thin and were brutally edited so the remakes sounded better.

Opening with an all-time favourite, usually reserved for Christmas-time listening, ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’ by John Lennon, The Plastic Ono Band, Yoko Ono & The Harlem Community Choir – and it leads an opening run of classics including Rod Stewart’s #1 ‘You Wear It Well’, Don McLean with ‘American Pie’, ‘A Horse With No Name’ from America and a song by the same name ‘America’ from Simon & Garfunkel, released as a single in 1972 to promote their ‘Greatest Hits’ collection. 

More legendary U.S. artists follow including Carly Simon, Bread, Harry Nilsson with his #1 ‘Without You’, and Neil Diamond with one of his signature tracks, U.S. #1, and the title of recent biopic ‘Song Sung Blue’. Gilbert O’Sullivan enjoyed his first chart-topper with ‘Clair’ while Colin Blunstone hit with ‘Say You Don’t Mind’ and Cat Stevens scored a Top 10 hit on both sides of the Atlantic with ‘Morning Has Broken’… 

Ten years before ‘Thriller’, Michael Jackson had his first solo hit with ‘Got To Be There’, and is followed by timeless ballads from Bill Withers and Labi Siffre with ‘It Must Be Love’. Johnny Nash enjoyed a massive hit with ‘I Can See Clearly Now’ and leads into Disc One’s closing run from four of the most celebrated artists of all time; Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney (& Wings), and finishes with Elvis Presley’s Top 10 ‘I Just Can’t Help Believin’.

1972 saw Glam Rock become hugely popular, and CD2 kicks off at the rock end of glam with Alice Cooper and the anthemic #1 ‘School’s Out’, and followed by the superb art-rock of Roxy Music on their debut ‘Virginia Plain’ – and Mott The Hoople with the David Bowie written and produced ‘All The Young Dudes’ hitting the Top 3. Ahead of their biggest commercial year in ’73, Sweet scored their third Top 5 hit with ‘Wig Wam Bam’ and Slade follow with the second of two #1’s in 1972, ‘Mama Weer All Crazee Now’. Elton John had a huge year and Top 5 smash ‘Crocodile Rock’ is up next alongside another glam-flavoured chart-topper ‘Son Of My Father’ by Chicory Tip and co-written by Giorgio Moroder. Jeff Beck had a hit with the re-released ‘Hi Ho Silver Lining’ and Terry Dactyl & The Dinosaurs made #2 with ‘Seaside Shuffle’.

The second half of the disc celebrates the year’s biggest rock-pop hits including from Blackfoot Sue, Family, Argent, Free, Lindisfarne, Marmalade, Jo Jo Gunne and The Move – plus the debut hit from Electric Light Orchestra, ‘10538 Overture’, which reached #9 and became the first of 13 Top 10 smashes they would enjoy in the ‘70s – and the huge ‘Silver Machine’ from Hawkwind featuring a pre-Motörhead Lemmy on lead vocals. The disc ends on a lighter note from a Rock ‘n’ Roll legend Chuck Berry, who hit #1 in both the UK and US with the novelty track ‘My Ding-A-Ling’.

Moving to CD3 we mark ‘72’s easy listening and pure pop classics opening in style with Shirley Bassey and her second ‘Bond’ theme ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ ahead of Andy Williams’ ‘Speak Softly Love’ – the theme from the year’s biggest film ‘The Godfather’. ‘The Way Of Love’ from Cher comes ahead of joyful pop nuggets from Sammy Davis Jr, Tom Jones and Tony Christie with ‘(Is This The Way To) Amarillo’ reaching #18 in 1972, Middle Of The Road had a Top 5 hit, while The New Seekers’ ‘Beg Steal Or Borrow’ reached #2 and came 2nd at 1972’s Eurovision Song Contest, losing out to Vicky Leandros with ‘Come What May’ which is next… 

It was a great year for soul music on the charts with Love Unlimited’s sublime ‘Walkin’ In The Rain With The One I Love’ leading an incredible run that features The Stylistics, Diana Ross, The Supremes, Jackson 5, The Drifters and The Staple Singers, plus Northern Soul favourites Donnie Elbert and Archie Bell And The Drells, with ‘Back Stabbers’ from The O’Jays announcing their ‘70s Philadelphia International era, while the disc closes with ‘Family Affair’ a huge hit and a massively-influential track from Sly & The Family Stone.

We conclude with CD4 is packed with huge hits and launches with one of Elton John’s signature songs, the #2, ‘Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going To Be A Long Long Time)’ while Rod Stewart provided the vocal on Python Lee Jackson’s ‘In A Broken Dream’ and Slade’s other #1 in ’72 ‘Take Me Bak ‘Ome’ is next, alongside a second appearance from Sweet. 

More second features from Elvis Presley, Gilbert O’Sullivan and Michael Jackson are included along with #1’s from Don McLean with ‘Vincent’ and The New Seekers with their massive selling ‘I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing’. Melanie enjoyed a Top 5 hit with ‘Brand New Key’ – and Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show reached #2 with ‘Sylvia’s Mother’.

Artists enjoying a later-in-career renaissance included Johnny Cash, Faron Young and The Fortunes with 'Storm In a Teacup' whilst newer artists Junior Campbell and Hurricane Smith are up next. 

The disc closes with singer/songwriter Peter Skellern’s ‘You’re A Lady’ reaching #3 and featuring backing vocals by The Congregation who are featured next with their own Top 5 hit ‘Softly Whispering I Love You’. U.S. talk show host and actor Les Crane’s spoken word reading of the poem ‘Desiderata’ was a Top 10 hit both here and in his home country.

 An instrumental that closes this 4 cd set, 1972’s biggest selling single featuring The Pipes and Drums Of The Military Band Of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards celebrated a huge selling version of Amazing Grace’ complete with bagpipe solo.

While playing as a record ties more into the experience I had in 1972, the 4 cd version provides a broader selection taking in follow up singles although there is no T Rex, David Bowie or Rolling Stones.

This set brings back much of that time and the memories I associate with it.

Come FridayJuly 3rd, the new legendary extra edition for cd came out in it's plain card tri-fold packaging which is a pity as a digipac with an insert talking about the selection would of been more fitting.

With this extra volume we gain 61-tracks celebrating more magical hits from a interesting year in pop.

CD1 opens with The Osmonds’ huge hit ‘Crazy Horses’ a really heavy track track, ahead of glam classics from T. Rex with the #1 ‘Metal Guru’, and Slade’s ‘Look Wot You Dun’. 

Elton John features with ‘Honky Cat’, while Sweet hit the Top 20 for the first of three times in ‘72 with ‘Poppa Joe’ followed by Paul Simon’s enduring ‘Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard’ sitting alongside pop gems from Lynsey de Paul and Colin Blunstone. 

Legendary artists Carly Simon, Neil Diamond and Rod Stewart feature before Bread’s timeless ‘Everything I Own’ a song which would give both Ken Boothe and Boy George #1 singles. 

This is followed by more chart hits follow from The Kinks, Gilbert O’Sullivan and Hot Chocolate before the disc closes with two all-time classics: The Chiffons with the re-released ‘Sweet Talkin' Guy’ and Michael Jackson’s Top 3 ear-worm ‘Rockin’ Robin’. 

CD2 begins with one of the defining soul records of the era, Al Green’s ‘Let’s Stay Together’, followed by the sublime duet ‘Where Is The Love’ from Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway.

 Michael Jackson appears once more with his version of ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ a Bill Withers number, ahead of standout soul cuts from The Stylistics, Gladys Knight & The Pips and The Supremes. 

The Temptations feature with ‘Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)’ before Bill Withers’ classic ‘Use Me’, plus smooth-grooves from Sly & The Family Stone and Jr. Walker & The All Stars. 

We then move to easy-pop hits from Middle Of The Road, The New Seekers and New World lead into U.S. smashes from Sonny & Cher and Buffy Sainte-Marie before the disc concludes  with Engelbert Humperdinck’s final Top 20 hit (to date) with ‘Too Beautiful To Last’. 

CD3 opens with one of Elton John’s most celebrated songs, ‘Tiny Dancer’, followed by Bread with ‘The Guitar Man’ and Blue Mink’s ‘Stay With Me’. 

The Moody Blues, a second appearance from Rod Stewart and Lindisfarne's famous Meet Me On The Corner are joined by more standout tracks from the Strawbs, Duncan Browne and The Hollies’ U.S. #2 ‘Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress)’. 

Glam heroes return with T. Rex’s second #1 to feature in the 1972 edition with ‘Telegram Sam’ plus Slade’s #2 ‘Gudbuy T’Jane’, ahead of rock-oriented hits from Mungo Jerry, Argent and C.C.S. 

Elvis Presley’s live version of ‘An American Trilogy’ hit the Top 10 in 1972 and features ahead of a run of reggae-infused pop from Greyhound, Johnny Nash, Dandy Livingstone and Bruce Ruffin before the collection closes with an evergreen festive favourite from the Jackson 5, ‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town’. 

While some the decisons about what to include seem baffling the Osmonds surely belonged on the main volume and 1972 was the year Gary Glitter broke out with massive hits regardless of his crimes so really ought to had been included for the hits they were, the whole set does do justice to 1972 in a way few other series really got into in any great depth.

Now Vault 1982

Now it has warmed up a little  we'll resume on a series of entries from 2024.

In June 2024 Now launched a sub series VAULTS, which aims to cover minor hits of the sort that tended to pad out our Ronco and K Tel sets as much as we may of preferred some of them to the big hits back in the day and also American Hits which unless someone did a American Hit compilation you didn't get so I'd buy the 45's where available.

Issued Friday 16 January, it follows the broad theme of things that for all the music industry talk didn't trouble the top 30 and american hits that weren't in the UK (and should of been I'd add).

Opening the set on disc 1 we have the era-defining style with ‘The Hanging Garden’ from The Cure, taken from their album ‘Pornography’, and Bauhaus with ‘Spirit’ ahead of the collaboration ‘Bamboo Houses’ from David Sylvian & Ryuichi Sakamoto. 

A single in the U.S., ‘Secret Journey’ from The Police comes ahead of ‘Athena’ from The Who, and ‘Valerie’ from Steve Winwood – which would be a bigger hit when remixed five years later and closing the first side a beautiful song – ‘Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)’ from Elton John.

Flipping to side two we have a run of new wave and post-punk gems including from Elvis Costello, The Clash, Theatre Of Hate and Gang Of Four. Melancholic pop from The Teardrop Explodes leads to disc 1's  closers from Mike Oldfield, and a classic ‘Tug Of War’ by Paul McCartney from the album of the same name.

Disc 2 kicks off with a run of pure pop: Culture Club’s ‘I’m Afraid Of Me’ was the single before their #1 breakthrough, and is joined by Spandau Ballet, Level 42, Bananarama and Toyah with a re-recording of her 1980 anthem ‘Ieya’. 

A trio of synth-pop essentials closes the side: Visage with ‘Pleasure Boys’ their third single in 1982, Blancmange with ‘Feel Me’ – their second single, (the next would be their Top 10 breakthrough) and ‘Flowers’ by singer-songwriter Zaine Griff – produced by Hans Zimmer and featuring unmistakable backing vocals by Kate Bush. 

Flipping over the side sees the fusions of Electronic Music with hip hop and disco celebrated, opening with three huge tracks: ‘Planet Rock’ from Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force, the floor-filling ‘Loopzilla’ from George Clinton and ‘Let It Whip’ a Top 5 U.S. smash from the Dazz Band – ’82 R&B from Aretha Franklin leads into retro-influenced pop from Mari Wilson and a jazz-influenced club classic from Blue Rondo A La Turk. The LP finishes with Imagination who created one of 1982’s essential albums with ‘In The Heat Of The Night’, from which this title track was taken as a single.

The concluding disc celebrates what was happening in the U.S. in 1982 on its first side. ‘Atlantic City’ from Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Nebraska’ leads, ahead of huge stars Billy Joel and John Mellencamp. 

1982 would be the year that Daryl Hall & John Oates broke through in the UK with two Top 10 hits – but here featuring their U.S. Top 10 ‘Did It In A Minute’, plus, Michael McDonald who hit the Top 5 in the States with his debut solo single ‘I Keep Forgettin’ while Quarterflash leads into Asia, who had the year’s biggest selling album in America, and Journey with their biggest hit, the massive ballad ‘Open Arms’ from their Escape album.

The final side opens with an instrumental theme to a TV series U.S. Police drama ’Hill Street Blues’ ran for six years and peaked in popularity in 1982 – with its theme by Mike Post featuring  Larry Carlton spending over five months on the chart, hitting the Top 10 in the U.S. and #25 in the UK. Fun Boy Three hit with their cover of ‘Summertime’, which comes ahead of Grace Jones and Men At Work. 

This is followed by U.S. new wave from The Go-Go’s, The Waitresses, and The B-52s and closing the collection Siouxsie And The Banshees’ stunning interpretation of the traditional French carol, ‘Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant’.

This set just fits nicely between my original Ronco, K Tel and Telstar compilations and the rather good Now Yearbook 1982 set, rounding out that years great colourful sounds.

Now Yearbook 1997&1998

After a bit of a gap February to be precise we get back on the trail of the late 1990's in the now established Now Yearbook series.

I love that packaging.

Tracklistings are on the rear and in order on the pages of notes and a quiz.

1997 was a year we saw the launch of Channel Five aided by the Spice Girls in a year that saw woman and woman lead groups do well, some great songs before Brit pop ceased to be a thing, Messres Barlow and Williams achive sucess outside of Take That, the continued intrest in dance music and hip hop which wasn't my maine thing by a long shot.

NOW Yearbook 1997 gathers up some 78 popular tracks across 4 CDs – housed in the deluxe version I bought ‘hard-back-book’ packaging, including a 28-page booklet featuring a summary of the year and a track-by-track guide which just great for bring back memories.

Disc one kicks off in style, with the stunning jazz-drenched ballad from legend George Michael, ‘Older’, before Natalie Imbruglia's huge debut single ‘Torn’. Texas scored a UK top 5 with ‘Say What You Want’ and Hanson hit the US & UK #1 with ‘MMMBop’. ‘Barbie Girl’ from Aqua and the Spice Girls’ anthemic ‘Spice Up Your Life’ were both #1s and lead a run of pure pop including Boyzone (‘Picture Of You’), Louise (‘Arms Around The World’), 911 (‘Bodyshakin’’) and Backstreet Boys (‘Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)’) alongside Steps with their debut ‘5, 6, 7, 8’, and Ricky Martin’s global smash ‘María’. Up next is Elton John’s superb ‘Something About The Way You Look Tonight’ - one half of the biggest selling single of all time. Eternal feat. Bebe Winans hit #1 with ‘I Wanna Be The Only One’ and All Saints made their debut with ‘I Know Where It’s At’. En Vogue’s powerful ‘Don’t Let Go (Love)’ and Gabrielle’s remake of ‘Walk On By’ lead into the discs closing trio: - the atmospheric ‘Out Of My Mind’ from Duran Duran, the genre-blending #1 ‘Your Woman’ from White Town, and Pet Shop Boys’ brilliant version of the musical classic ‘Somewhere’. 

On Disc two we open with another George Michael classic from his ‘Older’ album, the beautiful ‘You Have Been Loved’, ahead of a second contemporary masterpiece ‘Secret Garden’ from Bruce Springsteen. Next Up, Paul McCartney’s ‘Young Boy’ and Sheryl Crow’s top 10 hit ‘A Change Would Do You Good’. Meredith Brooks makes her debut with ‘Bitch’ and Robbie Williams’ ‘Old Before I Die’, became his second smash as a solo artist. Different styles of dance pop are celebrated in a run of floor fillers including Jamiroquai’s groovy ‘Alright’, and from Tina Moore (‘Never Gonna Let You Go (Kelly G. Bump-N-Go Vocal Mix)’), Whitney Houston (‘Step By Step’) and Lutricia McNeal (‘Ain’t That Just The Way’). Finley Quaye and Ginuwine feature before rap from LL COOL J enjoying his first UK #1 with ‘Ain’t Nobody’, and Coolio with the ear-worm ‘C U When U Get There’. Soulful vocals close this disc with Mary J. Blige’s ‘Everything’, ahead of great covers from Shola Ama with You Might Need Somebody’, and ‘Wonderful Tonight’ from Damage. 

Disc three kicks off with Radiohead’s defining ‘Paranoid Android' from the album OK Computer, and Oasis’s huge #1 ‘D’You Know What I Mean?’ – the lead single from their third album ‘Be Here Now’. Indie-pop anthems follow from The Seahorses (‘Love Is The Law’), Supergrass (‘Richard III’), from In It For The Money, The Charlatans (‘North Country Boy’) and Ocean Colour Scene (‘Hundred Mile High City’). 90s alt-pop continues with Cast’s ‘Free Me’ from the marvellous Mother Nature Calls, Kula Shaker’s hit cover of Deep Purple's 1968 single‘Hush’ and Embrace’s ‘All You Good Good People’. Echo & The Bunnymen returned in ‘97 with ‘Nothing Lasts Forever’, and James also scored a Top 10 hit with ‘She’s A Star’. The Cardigans had a #2 smash with ‘Lovefool’ and ‘Ready To Go’ gave Republica a Top 20 chart debut. Next up, some of the years’ electronic dance music highlights: - The Chemical Brothers with the massive ’Block Rockin’ Beats’ ahead of Moby with his re-imagining of the classic film-series theme: ‘James Bond Theme (Moby’s Re-Version)’. Orbital provided the theme to the remake of ‘The Saint’ and Smoke City provide trip-hop brilliance with ‘Underwater Love’, ahead of the disc finishing with the atmospheric version of 'You Showed Me’ by The Lightning Seeds’ and Suede’s plaintive ‘Saturday Night’. 

We complete the set with Disc four that features mainly dancefloor hits.

 Opening with the club juggernaut and #1 ‘Professional Widow’ from Tori Amos, remixed for single release by Armand Van Helden, ahead of the collaboration between Lisa Stansfield and The Dirty Rotten Scoundrels on the remix of ‘People Hold On’, Olive’s UK #1 ‘You’re Not Alone’, the huge ’97 ‘Now Voyager’ remix of ‘You Got The Love’ from The Source feat. Candi Staton, and ‘Remember Me’ from Blue Boy. Ultra Naté and Dannii Minogue had euphoric dance-pop smashes with ‘Free’ and ‘All I Wanna Do’, which are featured before pan-European hits from Sash! (‘Encore Une Fois’) and Dario G (‘Sunchyme’). Eurovision glory happened for the UK in 1997, and winners Katrina And The Waves with ‘Love Shine A Light’ are up next before gems from Céline Dion, Backstreet Boys and the second solo #1 for Gary Barlow with ‘Love Won’t Wait’. Gina G keeps things ‘Fresh’, No Mercy hit #2 with the infectious ‘Where Do You Go’, and N-Trance (featuring Rod Stewart) reimagined the classic: ‘Da Y Think I’m Sexy’. Five achieved a Top 10 debut with ‘Slam Dunk (Da Funk)’, East 17 enjoyed their 11th visit to the Top 10 with ‘Hey Child’, and Wet Wet Wet’s ‘If I Never See You Again’ was another Top 5 hit for the enduringly popular band celebrating their 10th anniversary. The journey back to 1997 closes with the huge #1 ballad from the Spice Girls – ‘Too Much’ – the year’s Christmas #1 and their 6th chart-topper in an unbroken run to date…which ends the collection on a perfect pop high. 

There are many tracks that bring back memories here.

The last time we looked at this series was in early November 2024 as we made our way back in time to 1977 but to our amazement it was announced the next edition would be this, the 1998 one which meant we started an new Arc in this series 1995 though to 1999.

As usual I opted for the deluxe edition with the book style presentation with notes on each featured track as that helps to bring back memories of that year as I continued in the main to follow "Brit Pop" but read magazines like Blues and Soul as I was also listening to a lot of Soul and modern R&B watching MTV's The Lick Show too.

Looking back at it the charts were more varied than you may of remembered so there is much I did enjoy at the time so with that, we'll look at what's on each disc in the set.

Disc 1 opens with George Michael’s ‘Outside’, that was the lead track from his massive ‘Ladies And Gentlemen’ collection, followed by Cher’s global smash ‘Believe’ which held the #1 spot for 7 weeks in the UK, becoming the biggest seller of the year. RUN-DMC vs. Jason Nevins’ dance-floor phenomenon ‘It’s Like That’ also claimed the top spot, cementing itself as an era defining track. 

The chart-topping ‘Never Ever’ from All Saints along with ‘The Boy Is Mine’ from Brandy & Monica (and it featured on BOTH their albums) showcases some of the best R&B pop from the year, while the Spice Girls’ ‘Stop’, Billie Piper’s ‘Because We Want To’ and B*Witched’s infectious ‘C’est La Vie’ bring a fresh, vibrant pure pop. 

With more enjoyable smash hits from Aqua, Steps, and Ricky Martin, before the disc draws to its close with Meja, Ace Of Base and The Corrs, who enjoyed a huge hit with their cover of Fleetwood Mac’s classic ‘Dreams’.

Disc 2 celebrates the best of ‘98’s alt-pop, my main preference then,  kicking off with Radiohead, R.E.M., and the Manic Street Preachers’ ‘If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next’, which became their first #1 single. Oasis’ epic ‘All Around The World’, topped the chart and became the longest-running UK #1 single of the year. 

The brilliant Jamiroquai enjoyed their first #1, The Cardigans’ ‘My Favourite Game’, Stereophonics’ ‘The Bartender and the Thief’ and Natalie Imbruglias’‘Big Mistake’ were among the years’ big successes for recently established chart hitmakers.

Disc 3 is a celebration of dance, club anthems, and infectious electronic beats – opening with Air and the timeless brilliance of ‘Sexy Boy’. Cornershop’s ‘Brimful Of Asha’ claimed the #1 spot, with a remix by Norman Cook who is up next as Fatboy Slim with ‘The Rockafeller Skank’, and also remixed ‘Renegade Master’ for Wildchild which became a defining dance floor anthem once again in 1998.

 Faithless’ ‘God Is A DJ’ continued their run of hits, while Sash., Vengaboys, Dario G, and Bus Stop & Carl Douglas enjoyed enjoyed crossover dance-pop smashes. More R&B/pop follows from Robyn, Ultra Naté, M People and Melanie B who became the first of the Spice Girls to achieve a #1 away from the group – with ‘I Want You Back’, a collaboration with Missy Elliott….and the disc finishes with another collaboration – between Texas and Wu-Tang Clan (& Robert F. “Price Rakeem Diggs) on a reworking of ‘Say What You Want’, extending the title to ‘Say What You Want (All Day Every Day)’.

The final disc delivers a combination of massive hit ballads and infectious pop anthems. 

Robbie Williams’ iconic ‘Angels’ became a career-defining track, while Céline Dion’s ‘My Heart Will Go On’ topped charts worldwide and became one of the best-selling singles of all time. Boyzone’s ‘No Matter What’ became their biggest hit, and Aqua hit #1 for the third time with ‘Turn Back Time’.

 Steps, 911, Cleopatra and Des’ree all made big impacts on the charts, and Catatonia, The Beautiful South and Fat Les all enjoyed huge hits, plus 1998 saw the return of Culture Club to the charts after a twelve year absence. 

We conclude this review of 1998’s hits with a run of the years’ biggest pop ballads including from the Backstreet Boys, K-Ci & JoJo, B*Witched before signing off with the Spice Girls with their #1 ‘Viva Forever'.

The now familiar extra made its appearence on March 28 with an extra 60 tracks across three well filled cds.

Disc 1 gets going withwith Robbie Williams’ classic ‘Let Me Entertain You’, followed by a run of hits from Stereophonics, Natalie Imbruglia, Sheryl Crow and The Corrs with the Tin Tin Out Remix of ‘What Can I Do’ – taken from 1998’s biggest selling album ‘Talk On Corners’. 

Space and Cerys Matthews’ collaboration on ‘The Ballad Of Tom Jones’ adds touch of alternative pop ahead of All Saints with their #1 version of ‘Lady Marmalade’, and Billie Piper’s #1 smash ‘Girlfriend’.

 More classic 90s pop anthems next with huge hits from B*Witched and Five, before Busta Rhymes, Usher and Brandy featuring Ma$e deliver unforgettable hip-hop and R&B smashes. The disc closes with superb vocals from the Lighthouse Family, Simply Red and Elton John!

Disc 2 opens with the raw energy of the Manic Street Preachers with ‘The Everlasting’, the second single from their platinum ‘This Is My Truth, Tell Me Yours’ album, followed by ‘Brand New Start’ from Paul Weller, ahead of a run of indie-pop from some of the most popular bands of the era:- Ocean Colour Scene, Embrace, James, Ash and The Bluetones. Alt-Pop hits from Republica and Catatonia lead to more gems from Simple Minds and Robbie Williams’ with his second feature on this collection with ‘No Regrets’. 

Unforgettable dance-floor anthems from Fatboy Slim, Faithless, Lovestation and Dario G come next, and the disc signs off with a couple of crossover pop- club smashes from Sash! with ‘La Primavera’ and Gloria Estefan’s ‘Oye’!

Disc 3 opens with some of the years’ best chilled pop: ‘War Of Nerves’ by All Saints, followed by Shania Twain’s ‘From This Moment On’ and Sarah McLachlan’s ‘Adia’. Paula Cole provided the theme to TV drama ‘Dawson’s Creek’ with ‘I Don’t Want To Wait’, and that’s up next ahead of more dance-pop gems from Lutricia McNeal, Tin Tin Out & Shelley Nelson and ‘98’s UK Eurovision entry from Imaani. 

Another run of massive pop from Louise, Boyzone, 911, E-17, Another Level and Hanson are ahead of sophisticated soul and R&B from Dina Carroll, Monica, Brandy and the Honeyz – while the final word is from the biggest pop band of the era – Spice Girls with their eighth #1- also 1998’s Christmas chart-topper, ‘Goodbye’.

Now Yearbook 1977

 Did say the other week new music releases were coming think and fast but this one slots in well with the overall theme of this blog well being more than a list all  your purchases and in run post because it takes me right back to my childhood, just a teen, in a radically changing musical environment. 

There is a cheap folded wrap around version but I opted for the book form editions as it gives you short entries about each featured track and even a little about the years main events which is why I buy these editions.

They are more like end of year pop annuals with hits and much talked about tracks included better for being centred around when it charted and in 1977 many of our favourites from the last four to five years lost momentum as the New Wave such as Elvis Costello, Jam and Stranglers crashed in but it wasa  year with very broad tastes which suited me fine.

Kicking off Disc 1 with a timeless anthem from Queen with ‘We Are The Champions’ as the "old wave" rose to the challenge of the new and followed by the huge instrumental rock of ‘Fanfare For The Common Man’ by Emerson, Lake and Palmer. The song that would open ‘Live Aid’ years later is next up from Status Quo with their signature ‘Rockin’ All Over The World’, and 1977 saw ‘Way Down’ from Elvis Presley go to #1 in the wake of his death. Classic pop-rock from 10CC with ‘Good Morning Judge’ is followed by a trio of ballads from Electric Light Orchestra with ‘Telephone Line’, Leo Sayer with his trans-Atlantic chart topper ‘When I Need You’, and David Soul actor in tv's Starsky and Hutch with another UK and US #1 ‘Don’t Give Up On Us’. Hot Chocolate enjoyed their first #1 with ‘So You Win Again’ and is followed by a superb run of dance-pop from Candi Staton, Patsy Gallant, Donna Summer, Boney M. and The Rah Band. More pop-rock from Suzi Quatro, Smokie and a hit from the soundtrack of the tv series ‘Rock Follies’ lead toward the emotionally charged closing tracks on the first disc – from Elkie Brooks with ‘Pearl’s A Singer’, Liverpool Express and ‘Every Man Must Have A Dream’, and the #1 ‘Don’t Cry For Me Argentina’ from the concept album for the upcoming musical ‘Evita’ by Julie Covington along with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.

Disc 2 opens with an amazing run of punk and new wave classics: The Stranglers with ‘No More Heroes’, Ramones with ‘Sheena Is A Punk Rocker’, The Clash with their debut ‘White Riot’, and The Jam with their first Top 20 hit ‘All Around The World’. The Boomtown Rats debuted with ‘Lookin’ After No.1’ and defining hits are featured from Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers, Mink DeVille and Elvis Costello with the peerless ‘Watching The Detectives’. A genre defying hit from the Tom Robinson Band leads into a sequence of hits that includes singer-songwriters Paul Simon, Boz Scaggs and Bryan Ferry, rock smashes from Boston and Santana, and to close the disc softer rock from Thin Lizzy and beautiful ballads from Racing Cars with ‘They Shoot Horses Don’t They’, and Yes with ‘Wonderous Stories’, where prog actually charted on the singles chart!

The charts in 1977 were fantastically diverse, and one of the biggest genres of hits was Disco and it is that that owns  Disc 3.

Arguably one of pop music’s defining moments came in 1977 with Donna Summer’s #1 ‘I Feel Love’ with it’s production showcasing the role of the synthesiser. European disco smashes found huge success: Baccara topped the charts with ‘Yes Sir, I Can Boogie’, along-side massive tracks from Belle Epoque and the debut ‘Daddy Cool’ for Boney M. – who a year later would become the biggest selling singles act of 1978. Meco re-worked the ‘Star Wars’ theme into a US disco chart topper, and The Trammps, Heatwave, The Emotions, Rose Royce, Thelma Houston and chart newcomers Chic all feature here in a stellar run of floor-filling hits. Marvin Gaye had a massive track with ‘Got To Give It Up – Pt.1’ and Gladys Knight & The Pips continued their run of hits with ‘Baby, Don’t Change Your Mind’. The disc finishes with 3 of 1977’s greatest soul tracks: Deniece Williams took ‘Free’ to #1, and the Commodores released an all-time classic, with ‘Easy’ from the album known as Zoom in the uk, featuring Lionel Richie on vocals, whilst Detroit R&B vocal group The Floaters scored their only UK hit in style with ‘Float On’ reaching #1 in August.

The final disc opens with 1977’s biggest seller – the first single to sell over two million copies, all time personal favourite – and the years’ Christmas #1, ‘Mull Of Kintyre’ from Paul McCartney & Wings. Two more #1s follow: Manhattan Transfer with ‘Chanson D’Amour’, and the second chart-topper in the year for David Soul with ‘Silver Lady’. Olivia Newton-John’s ‘Sam’ continues the run of ‘easy-listening’ pop that also includes #1 ‘Angelo’ from Brotherhood Of Man’, sublime tracks, ‘The Things We Do For Love’, from 10CC, ‘Oh Lori’ from Alessi Brothers, and the Boz Scaggs penned ‘We’re All Alone’ by Rita Coolidge, plus pop gems from Carole Bayer Sager and Meri Wilson all feature. Kenny Rogers hit #1 with ‘Lucille’, Billy Ocean enjoyed his second #2 smash with ‘Red Light Spells Danger’, while The Dooleys and Andrew Gold made their chart debuts.

Rock ‘n’ roll was enjoying a revival and two contemporary groups both enjoyed massive success - Showaddywaddy continued their run of hits with ‘Dancin’ Party’, and Darts arrived with a medley of ‘Daddy Cool’ and ‘The Girl Can’t Help It’….and the collection finishes with two instrumental hits, ‘Portsmouth’ from Mike Oldfield reached #3 in the first week of the year, whilst unexpectedly ‘The Floral Dance’ became a massive seller for the Brighouse & Rastrick Brass Band, spending the last four weeks of 1977 at #2 behind ‘Mull Of Kintyre’ which lead to the Terry Wogan version too.

Now 12 inch 80's Pt.II

 The World of NOW, gets bigger and bigger taking in numbered volumes of Now That's What I Call Music,, Now Yearbook, themed Now That's What I Call ..... and was joined by the cd only Now 12" 80's series which looks at 12" singles from a specific year rather than the three compilations of 80's 12 inch singles.

The first bunch 1980 to 1982 are on an earlier post.

My original intentions were to group post all the series together but the 1982 edition gained two volumes which doubles the post and you will note they've done the same with this edition so it seems that the remainder will follow the two part format.

That makes it more sensible to break them into chunks and update each.

As ever this is a bare bones card wrap around cover set which is a pity as a book form with some notes as with the Deluxe Now Yearbooks would of been better as this is amimed more at music fans and collectors but we live in their world....

Disc 1 opens with two of 1983’s biggest artists with Wham!’s "Bad Boys”, followed by Eurythmics’ (over 12 minutes remix of) "Right By Your Side”before being joined by Duran Duran with "Union Of The Snake (The Monkey Mix)", and the extended “Communication” by Spandau Ballet. The Human League keeps the momentum with their massive hit "(Keep Feeling) Fascination" which I bought straight on 12 single back then, while Howard Jones and Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark keeps up the Synth-Pop  with "New Song" and "Genetic Engineering" from the Dazzleships album respectively. Extended versions from Blancmange, Ultravox, and Tears For Fears  "The Way You Are" are also feature on the first disc.

Disc 2 celebrates Pop Gold with Adam Ant’s "Puss 'N Boots"one I remember from early Signal Radio here, Bananarama’s "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye", plus The Belle Stars, and Bucks Fizz. Pop and New Wave fused on fabulous tracks from Haysi Fantayzee, and Altered Images with the unforgettable "Don't Talk To Me About Love", and hits from a huge chart year for Kajagoogoo and Paul Young. The disc closes with more Synth-Pop from Heaven 17, Soft Cell and a huge U.S. hit for Taco with an unexpected cover choice in “Puttin’ On The Ritz”.

Disc 3 starts from the dancefloor with the iconic "Flashdance…What A Feeling", from Irene Cara, and the stunning Electropop work-out in extended form on Freeez’s "I.O.U. (Megamix)" a personal favourite. The legendary Arthur Baker produced “Confusion” for New Order, and “The Harder They Come” for Rockers Revenge, and Forrest enjoyed a smash covering “Rock The Boat” while Modern Romance and Level 42 bought Pop and Funk crossover to the charts. This disc works towards its finale with four UK acts who all enjoyed great success in ’83 with these 12” versions enhancing already great tracks – Madness, Fun Boy Three, The Style Council, and Nick Heyward who’s “Whistle Down The Wind” was his first solo hit.

Disc 4 offers a star-studded line-up opening with 12” and remixed versions of Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson’s "Say Say Say" that took much effort to steem a sudden drop in the charts and Billy Joel’s "Tell Her About It" before The Fixx appear with their huge US hit “One Thing Leads To Another” from the album Reach The Beach, followed by Debbie Harry, and Laura Branigan who achieved a global success with “Gloria” from her first album. Hi-Energy floor-fillers from Miquel Brown and Divine, are next alongside Ryan Paris’ pan-European smash “Dolce Vita”. The collection concludes with classic dance hits from Lydia Murdock and Phil Fearon & Galaxy and a great collaboration between the legendary Donna Summer and Musical Youth.

For gathering so many interesting and important 12 inch singles of the year, a good number I personally bought at the time, this set is well worth it filling next to Now Yearbook 1983 (and Extra+Vault) before the next instalment is released. 

On October 18 Part 2 duly arrived adding some additional 49 tracks to this years selection packaged in its now common place wrap around card sleeve.

Just why these cannot be in book form like "Yearbooks" or "Yearbook Vaults" really escapes me as the material more than justifies such treatment with pictures and commentary.

Disc 1 kicks off with the U.S. remix of Wham!’s classic "Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do?)", starting off a stellar run of huge hits in their 12” versions: Spandau Ballet with the iconic "Gold", "Who's That Girl?" by Eurythmics, Bananarama with "Cruel Summer", while Culture Club’s infectious "I'll Tumble 4 Ya" was a big U.S. and an essential 12” version. Some of 1983’s new chart stars are up next…the extended version of Marilyn’s "Calling Your Name" and Kajagoogoo’s "Too Shy (Midnight Mix)" feature alongside The Lotus Eaters, Men Without Hats and Flash And The Pan. The first disc wraps up with 12” gems including Joe Jackson’s cool, synth driven "Steppin' Out", and Mike Oldfield’s Top 5 hit ‘Moonlight Shadow’.

Within a collection of ‘80s 12” versions, Disc 2 couldn’t open with anything more legendary than New Order with their groundbreaking "Blue Monday" – released only on 12” in 1983. Some timeless new-wave follows including The Cure with the extended version of "The Lovecats", Echo & The Bunnymen’s "Never Stop (Discotheque)" and Public Image Limited with the remix of "This Is Not A Love Song". Aztec Camera’s "Walk Out To Winter" adds a touch of indie-pop before huge chart pop from Madness with "The Sun And The Rain", and TRACIE and Tracey Ullman providing a fun, upbeat interlude. The disc closes with extended versions of anthemic pop from Paul Young with "Love Of The Common People", Rick Springfield’s "Human Touch", and Yes with the ‘Special Remix Dance Version’ of “Owner Of A Lonely Heart”.

Disc 3 is all about the dancefloor, opening with one of the decades’ biggest floor-fillers from Lionel Richie with "All Night Long (All Night)", followed by KC & The Sunshine Band’s irresistible #1 "Give It Up". Donna Summer’s empowering "She Works Hard For The Money" is up next, followed by ‘80s disco classics, Indeep’s "Last Night A D.J. Saved My Life", and Divine’s “Love Reaction”. Enjoyable mash ups of hip-hop and electro-pop follow courtesy of Malcolm McLaren with the iconic ‘Double Dutch’ in its full 12” version, and Rock Steady Crew with the extended version of “(Hey You) The Rock Steady Crew”. More dance-pop from Modern Romance, and Shalamar, while Booker Newberry III’s soulful "Love Town", Billy Griffin’s ‘Hold Me Tighter In The Rain’ and Level 42’s smooth "The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up)" round off this funky disc.

Disc 4 begins with the Monster Mix of Duran Duran’s first #1 "Is There Something I Should Know" and Heaven 17’s timeless "Temptation". Tears For Fears deliver brilliant pop on the extended version of "Change", while Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark and Blancmange continue a superb run of synth-pop gold with “Telegraph” and “That’s Love, That It Is”, ahead of Japan’s cover of “All Tomorrows Parties” and Annabel Lamb’s cover of "Riders On The Storm". The disc concludes in style with Yello ahead of Talk Talk’s "My Foolish Friend" and Midge Ure’s collaboration with Mick Karn on "After A Fashion" – even more sublime in its’ extended version, wrapping up this second volume of 1983’s 12” essentials!

Now Yearbooks 1990

After looking at a few issues in this life, let's go back to 1990 and enjoy ourselves shall we?

Book format with chart information and  pictures are present in this edition of the Now Yearbook.

We last touched base as the cool kids say with Now Yearbook last September with the 1973 issue and it's worth saying I'd stopped buying compilations like the Now's apart from the mid to late 90's Shine Indies ones.

1990 was a transitional year format was as I'd moved from lp with Early 1989 with Now 14 to cd by Summer's Now 15 and that was to run on 1991 and many of main trends of 1989 continued into 1990.

As with the other titles it is also available in deluxe 4 cd book form and cheaper fold round card cd versions with more tracks apart from the vinyl release.

Starting the rewind back to 1990 are George Michael with ‘Praying For Time’, and Elton John with his #1 single ‘Sacrifice’, followed by Roxette’s ‘It Must Have Been Love’ from the soundtrack to ‘Pretty Woman’. Disc One includes #1s from New Order, New Kids On The Block sadly missing on the vinyl edition, Steve Miller Band, and The Beautiful South, as well as Pop smashes from The KLF, The B-52’s, Kylie Minogue, Whitney Houston Kim Appleby, and concluding with the theme from Twin Peaks, Julee Cruise’s ‘Falling’, Chris Isaak with ‘Wicked Game’ and Pet Shop Boys defining ‘Being Boring’.

Dance floor-fillers start off Disc 2 from Deee-Lite with ‘Groove Is In The Heart’, #1s from SNAP!, and from Adamski & Seal plus club classics from Bass-O-Matic and Adventures Of Stevie V with ‘Dirty Cash (Money Talks)’, plus the unexpected collaboration between DNA & Suzanne Vega. British R&B legends Innocence and Soul II Soul appear ahead of a run of Indie-Alt legends including Happy Mondays, The Stone Roses, The Charlatans, Primal Scream and The Cure – before finishing on Candy Flip’s cover of ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’, and ‘All Together Now’ from The Farm.

Disc 3 opens with the brilliant interpretation of Prince’s ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ from the late Sinéad O'Connor. Up next are film related hits; Maria McKee’s ‘Show Me Heaven’, from the ‘Days Of Thunder’ soundtrack, and the ‘Young Guns II’ track ‘Blaze Of Glory’ from Jon Bon Jovi. Faith No More had their UK Top 40 Chart debut with ‘Epic’, and the Grammy Award-winning US #1 for Alannah Myles ‘Black Velvet’ appears, alongside huge US artists Cher, Heart, and 1990’s biggest US hit from Wilson Phillips… and there’s still room for Pop-Reggae from UB40 and Maxi Priest, and the mega rap debut from M.C. Hammer and a further two #1 singles – both debuts - from Partners In Kryme with ‘Turtle Power’ and Vanilla Ice with ‘Ice Ice Baby’ that samples Queen's Under Pressure.

The tenth consecutive Top 10 hit for Pet Shop Boys ‘So Hard’ opens the concludiing disc, followed by the superb cover of the Disco classic ‘You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)’ from Jimmy Somerville, before a second appearance from Kylie Minogue with her Disco anthem ‘Step Back In Time’ and one of Stock, Aitken & Waterman’s greatest dancefloor tracks ‘Happenin’ All Over Again’ from Lonnie Gordon. Pop/Dance gold from 49ers, Blue Pearl, and Bananarama lead into timeless Pure-Pop from Dusty Springfield, Halo James, Jason Donovan, Adam Ant with Room At The Top and another track from the ‘Pretty Woman’ soundtrack – this time from Go West before the collection winds down with two classic covers from Deacon Blue and a-ha, closing with two ‘60s hits that became hits once again, Bobby Vinton’s ‘Blue Velvet’ following its use in film, and tv commercials, and The Righteous Brothers with their rendition of ‘Unchained Melody’ – featured in 1990’s biggest film ‘Ghost’ which helped catapult the song to #1, 25 years since its initial release, when it reached #14.

This is a more comprehensive selection than the period Now 17 and 18 albums I bought on compact disc that year.

Issued March 15th the Extra edition that tops up the main volume emerged in its simple card cover which may be effective but does stick out like a sore thumb next to the beautiful main edition.

This just finishes off nicely the year adding singles both major hits like How Am I Supposed To Live With You, a cover of the Laura Branigan hit  and Betty Boo's Doin' The Do and minor ones.

Now Yearbooks 1973

 Last week was different both at home for needing less on due to the very hot weather and of course having a content a bit different from the run of the mill on this blog.

After a brief run with alternative offerings, Now That's What I Call Music returned September 8th to the Yearbook series interestingly bypassing the last 1970's batch and going with 1973 which signals the series will run from 1970 to 1974 rather than opting for 1977 although I'm sure that'll emerge soon.

1973 is a year I know well - possibly even too well - being but a year out of double digits in a year that obviously included religiously watching Blue Peter and John Craven's Newsround where I learned about Skylab, I started to notice I liked girls clothes and a good deal of industrial action took place apart from catching The Sky At Night.

My older brother was a bit of influence musically, as I watched Top Of The Pops with him and he'd play records to me such as Roger Daltrey's (of the Who) Giving It All Away and I'm Free although I had my own suitably "tween" ones.

As with the reminder of this series on cd you have a bare bones folded card 4 cd edition and a book with a short write up on each song and a quiz which is what I opted for while for record fans there is a shorter 3 lp 47 track edition too.

I could easily criticize it for including a few songs that just were not UK hits like Blinded By The Light and Rocky Mountain Way as much as I like Bruce Springsteen and Joe Walsh plus for contractual reasons we don't have David Bowie's RCA era hits which include Drive-in Saturday and Sorrow plus missing out Gary Glitter who had two big number one singles and few others this year.M

We'll take a tour around this set.

Opening the first cd we have the iconic ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ from Elton John from the amazing double lp of the same name and followed by Paul McCartney & Wings’ Bond theme ‘Live And Let Die’ proof he's got past been seen as an ex-beatle but a serious solo artist, this epic beginning to this journey back to 1973 continues with a run of massive Glam-Rock infused hits from T. Rex, Mud and Alvin Stardust, and #1s from Suzi Quatro, Wizzard, 10cc, ‘Cum On Feel The Noize’ from Slade and Sweet with ‘Blockbuster’. 

Pop classics from Gilbert O’Sullivan with the #1 ‘Get Down’, and from Jackson 5, The Osmonds and the re-issued ‘The Laughing Gnome’ from David Bowie lead into some soulful vocalists including Aretha Franklin, Rod Stewart and Gladys Knight & The Pips to complete this first disc. 

Disc Two opens with an awe-inspiring run of legendary artists: John Lennon, Bob Dylan, and Paul Simon, plus the debut single from Bruce Springsteen with ‘Blinded By The Light’ and timeless signature releases from Billy Joel with ‘Piano Man’ another great non hit and ‘You’re So Vain’ from Carly Simon that got everybody wondering just who she meant.

Defining tracks from Ike & Tina Turner, Thin Lizzy and Stealers Wheel lead into Rock classics from Faces, Free, Electric Light Orchestra, Status Quo, Joe Walsh, Alice Cooper and Nazareth… and the disc closes with ‘Albatross’ from Fleetwood Mac – a #1 in 1969 and a #2 when re-released in 1973. 

A run of stunning ballads kicks off the third disc; Paul McCartney & Wings with ‘My Love’ which was to become a "standard", Roberta Flack with the peerless ‘Killing Me Softly With His Song’, and ‘Always On My Mind’ from Elvis Presley before Diana Ross with Touch Me In The  Morning ushers in an incredible line-up of Soul smashes including from, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes feat. Teddy Pendergrass, Billy Paul, Barry White, The Temptations, Michael Jackson and ‘Let’s Get It On’ from Marvin Gaye. 

In hindsight it is easy to forget just how much great soul music was on the chart from the Atlantic, Motown and Philadelphia International stables.

The final disc is all about more huge Pop smashes, opening with the era-defining ‘The Ballroom Blitz’ from Sweet, second inclusions for Suzi Quatro and Mud, plus Mott The Hoople, Roxy Music, Barry Blue and the debut hit from David Essex, ‘Rock On’. Donny Osmond’s #1 ‘Young Love’ and 1973’s biggest seller - Dawn feat. Tony Orlando’s ‘Tie A Yellow Ribbon...’ lead an Easy-Pop run including massive hits from Shirley Bassey, Perry Como, Olivia Newton-John, Eurovision singles; winner Anne-Marie David, Cliff Richard’s second contest entry, and #1s from Peters & Lee, plus ‘Eye Level’ - the theme to one of the year’s most popular TV shows by the Simon Park Orchestra. 

This Yearbook 1973 closes in magnificent style with two of the biggest and most loved Christmas classics of all time – Wizzard with ‘I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday’ and ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’ from Slade.

Back then Christmas hits were a thing and we loved those two.

In the main though when you look at all that it does deliver on those hits we did like, that take us back that year which is really the strength of this set as anthologies of this era back then were either the "soundalike" Hallmark Top of the Pops 12 track selections or ghastly sounding 22 or even 24 track K tel single lps with cut down songs and thin sound to get it all to fit.

I was bought the Top of the Pop's ones which at least sounded better on my portable stereo record player with built on AM radio which lived in my bedroom.

Strongly recommended.

As has become usual, there is a top up three cd set with 60 more hits from 1973 some of which did belong more as hits of the first set than what was included but, hey, there at least here covering everything from pop, soul, glam rock and even French crooners!

Disc: 1

1 Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me - Slade

2 Angel Fingers - Wizzard

3 Solid Gold Easy Action - T.Rex

4 Hell Raiser - Sweet

5 Daytona Demon - Suzi Quatro

6 Hypnosis - Mud

7 Do You Wanna Dance? - Barry Blue

8 All the Way from Memphis - Mott the Hoople

9 Pyjamarama - Roxy Music

10 Lamplight - David Essex

11 The Dean and I - 10cc

12 Why Oh Why Oh Why - Gilbert O'Sullivan

13 The Twelfth of Never - Donny Osmond

14 Daddy's Home - Jermaine Jackson

15 The Look of Love - Gladys Knight & The Pips

16 Break Up to Make Up - The Stylistics

17 Skywriter - The Jackson 5

18 I'm Doin' Fine Now - New York City

19 Ghetto Child - The Spinners

20 Why Can't We Live Together - Timmy Thomas

Disc: 2

1 Hi, Hi, Hi - Paul McCartney & Wings

2 Showdown - Electric Light Orchestra

3 Joybringer - Manfred Mann's Earth Band

4 Broken Down Angel - Nazareth

5 All Because of You - Geordie

6 Paper Plane - Status Quo

7 Frankenstein - The Edgar Winter Group

8 Hello Hooray - Alice Cooper

9 God Gave Rock 'N' Roll to You - Argent

10 The Free Electric Band - Albert Hammond

11 Ramblin' Man - The Allman Brothers Band

12 Pick Up the Pieces - Hudson-Ford

13 Loves Me Like a Rock - Paul Simon

14 Baby I Love You - Dave Edmunds

15 Hallelujah Day - The Jackson 5

16 Keep On Truckin' - Eddie Kendricks

17 Take Me Girl, I'm Ready - Jr. Walker & The All Stars

18 You're a Special Part of Me - Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye

19 Pillow Talk - Sylvia

20 Drift Away - Dobie Gray

Disc: 3

1 Daniel - Elton John

2 The Right Thing to Do - Carly Simon

3 Time in a Bottle - Jim Croce

4 Delta Dawn - Helen Reddy

5 Rocky Mountain High - John Denver

6 Dueling Banjos - Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandel

7 My Friend Stan - Slade

8 The Groover - T.Rex

9 Ball Park Incident - Wizzard

10 Honaloochie Boogie - Mott the Hoople

11 Randy - Blue Mink

12 Step Into a Dream - White Plains

13 Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose - Dawn

14 Pinball Wizard/See Me Feel Me - The New Seekers

15 Avenues and Alleyways - Tony Christie

16 I've Been Hurt - Guy Darrell

17 Spanish Eyes - Al Martino

18 Fool - Elvis Presley

19 The Old Fashioned Way (Les Plaisirs Démodés) - Charles Aznavour

20 Monster Mash - Bobby 'Boris' Pickett & The Crypt Kickers

Those were the hits I recall and it's nice to hear them all again.