The Compilation: NOW Yearbook 1987

The next NOW Yearbook will be 1987 and will be released at the end of August. This will feature 80 tracks on the 4CD editions (deluxe hardcover book and standard card sleeve) and 49 tracks on the 3LP orange vinyl.

This is a strong collection, featuring two tracks from George Michael (Faith and his Aretha Franklin duet "I Know You (Were Waiting), a pair from Pet Shop Boys (What Have I Done To Deserve This and Always On My Mind), and a couple from a-ha (The Living Daylights and Cry Wolf), New Order classic "True Faith" and sees Eurythmics go all experimental with the brilliant-but-bonkers (I Love To) Listen to Beethoven).

New artists on the scene in 1987 included Wet Wet Wet (Wishing I Was Lucky), Johnny Hates Jazz (Shattered Dreams), Curiosity Killed The Cat (Down to Earth) Terence Trent D’Arby / Sananda Maitreya (Wishing Well), Living in a Box (Living in a Box), Crowded House (Don’t Dream It’s Over), Rick Astley (Never Gonna Give You Up) and Mel & Kim (Respectable).

Other tracks of note include Rosie Vela’s Steely Dan-assisted Magic Smile, Paul McCartney’s last solo UK top 10 single (Once Upon A Long Ago), Alexander O’Neal’s Criticize, another appearance from George Michael (albeit ‘unofficial’) via Boogie Box High’s cover of the Bee Gees’ Jive Talkin, the first single from Sting’s second solo album Nothing Like The Sun (We’ll Be Together), Bruce Springsteen’s brilliant Brilliant Disguise and Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s swansong, Watching The Wildlife.

Dotted around these are loads of other great tracks, including Hue and Cry’s Labour of Love, The Blow Monkeys’ It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way, The Cure’s Why Can’t I Be You and the none-more-80s instrumental that is Jan Hammer’s Crockett’s Theme.

NOW Yearbook 1987 will be released on 30 August 2024.

 

Track List:  

 

CD 1

 

1. George Michael – Faith

2. Pet Shop Boys – Always On My Mind

3. New Order - True Faith

4. M/A/R/R/S – Pump Up The Volume

5. Eurythmics, Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart – Beethoven (I Love To Listen To)

6. Duran Duran - Skin Trade

7. a-ha - The Living Daylights

8. ABC – When Smokey Sings

9. Curiosity Killed The Cat – Down To Earth

10. Johnny Hates Jazz – Shattered Dreams

11. Wet Wet Wet – Wishing I Was Lucky

12. Ben E. King - Stand By Me

13. Percy Sledge - When A Man Loves A Woman

14. Swing Out Sister – Surrender

15. Alison Moyet – Is This Love?

16. Rosie Vela – Magic Smile

17. Suzanne Vega – Luka

18. Black – Wonderful Life

19. Pretenders - Hymn To Her

20. T’Pau – China In Your Hand

 

CD 2

 

1. George Michael & Aretha Franklin – I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)

2. Whitney Houston – I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)

3. Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes – (I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life (From “Dirty Dancing” Soundtrack)

4. Rick Astley – Never Gonna Give You Up

5. Bananarama - Love In The First Degree

6. Mel & Kim – Respectable

7. Sinitta – Toy Boy

8. Spagna – Call Me

9. Dead Or Alive – Something In My House

10. Male Stripper - Man 2 Man

11. The Communards - Never Can Say Goodbye

12. Boogie Box High - Jive Talkin’

13. Living In A Box – Living In A Box

14. Was (Not Was) – Walk The Dinosaur

15. Jellybean & Elisa Fiorillo – Who Found Who

16. Jody Watley – Looking For A New Love

17. Donna Summer – Dinner With Gershwin

18. Alexander O’Neal – Criticize

19. Five Star – Stay Out Of My Life

20. Sananda Maitreya – Wishing Well

 

CD 3

 

1. The Sisters Of Mercy - This Corrosion

2. Paul Simon – The Boy In The Bubble

3. Los Lobos - La Bamba

4. Sting – We’ll Be Together

5. Bruce Springsteen – Brilliant Disguise

6. Bon Jovi – Wanted Dead Or Alive

7. Kiss – Crazy Crazy Nights

8. Iggy Pop – Real Wild Child (Wild One)

9. Beastie Boys – (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!)

10. Siouxsie And The Banshees – This Wheel’s On Fire

11. The Jesus And Mary Chain - April Skies

12. The Cure – Why Can’t I Be You?

13. Billy Idol – Mony Mony

14. Tina Turner - What You Get Is What You See

15. Steve Winwood – Valerie

16. Crowded House – Don’t Dream It’s Over

17. Marillion - Sugar Mice

18. Elkie Brooks – No More The Fool

19. Alison Moyet – Love Letters

20. Simply Red - Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye

 

CD 4

 

1. Pet Shop Boys with Dusty Springfield - What Have I Done to Deserve This?

2. a-ha - Cry Wolf

3. Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Watching The Wildlife

4. Jan Hammer – Crockett’s Theme (From “Miami Vice II” Soundtrack)

5. Fine Young Cannibals - Ever Fallen In Love

6. Level 42 – Running In The Family

7. The Blow Monkeys – It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way

8. Hue & Cry – Labour Of Love

9. Bruce Willis – Respect Yourself

10. Maxi Priest – Some Guys Have All The Luck

11. Boy George – Everything I Own

12. Bananarama - I Heard A Rumour

13. Pepsi & Shirlie – Heartache

14. Kim Wilde & Junior – Another Step (Closer To You)

15. Nick Kamen - Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever

16. Karel Fialka – Hey Matthew

17. Cliff Richard - Some People

18. Ferry Aid (Zeebrugge) – Various Artists - Let It Be

19. Paul McCartney - Once Upon A Long Ago

20. The Pogues feat. Kirsty MacColl – Fairytale Of New York