The Compilation: Now Yearbook Vault '86

NOW Music's Yearbook Vault series continues next month, when the spotlight falls on 1986, and songs that were minor hits, hit-adjacent or, and let’s use the word, flops.

For this release, the usual "Yearbook" 4CD option of deluxe hardcover book packaging or more basic card sleeve edition, offers 77 tracks, while a 3LP coloured vinyl (purple) delivers 44 songs from 1986.

For this Vault compilation, because there's some relatively big names here such as Paul Young's first single from his third solo album, 1986's Between Two Fires, had been "Wonderland". Vault ’86 also reminds us that acts we know and love as one hit wonders did actually ‘try again’; they didn’t want to be one hit wonders, after all. So yes, Belouis Some did release a few singles that weren’t ‘Imagination’ and funnily enough one of them was called ‘Some People‘! It was a very minor hit, but if history teaches us anything, it’s that 1986 was not a year to release a song called ‘Some People’. ‘Ed’s Funky Diner‘ was actually a great follow-up to It’s Immaterial’s ‘surprise’ hit.

Other tracks include Nik Kershaw's ‘Nobody Knows’ (No 44) and Howard Jones’ All I Want (No 35), both artists, like Paul Young, experimenting with new producers (in Nik’s case himself!) and it not really working out. The Thompson Twins‘ ‘Nothing in Common’ wasn’t released in the UK, but it didn’t trouble the upper reaches of the American chart when it was issued there (their previous two singles had been top 10 hits Stateside). Three singles from Sting's brilliant The Dream of the Blue Turtles album failed to get into the UK top 40 which seems crazy, and ‘Moon Over Bourbon Street‘, when issued as the fifth 45 (A&M were probably enthused because ‘Russians’ had reached No 12) was the last of them (No 44). Sting would have to wait until 1994 before chalking up a solo UK top 10 single (‘When We Dance’).

Tears For Fears make an appearance on Vault ’86, with a song that was both the first and last single from Songs From The Big Chair: ‘Mothers Talk‘. Included here is the US Mix, not issued in the UK. In America, it reached 27 which sounds decent, until you recall that the first three singles from the album were No 1, No 1 & No 3!. Roland Orzabal told this writer that he much preferred the version re-recorded for the North American market: “I always thought we got ‘Mothers Talk’ slightly wrong. It was a bit too fast. The US version worked really well, we were happy”. There’s plenty more interesting selections on this new compilation; scroll down for full tracklistings.

NOW Yearbook Vault ’86 will be released on 18 September 2026.

 

4CD Track List:

 

CD 1

1. Paul McCartney – Only Love Remains

2. Eurythmics, Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart – The Miracle Of Love

3. The Lover Speaks – No More “I Love You’s”

4. Sting – Moon Over Bourbon Street

5. Chris Rea – On The Beach

6. The Bangles – If She Knew What She Wants

7. Belinda Carlisle – Mad About You

8. Billy Idol – To Be A Lover

9. Daryl Hall – Dreamtime

10. Paul Young – Some People

11. Wax – Right Between The Eyes

12. Nick Heyward – Goodbye Yesterday

13. Nik Kershaw – Nobody Knows

14. Thompson Twins – Nothing In Common

15. Howard Jones – All I Want

16. Ultravox – Same Old Story

17. Belouis Some – Some People

18. Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – We Love You

19. ABC – Ocean Blue

 

CD 2

1. David Sylvian – Taking The Veil

2. Talk Talk – Living In Another World

3. Arcadia – The Flame

4. John Taylor – I Do What I Do (Theme for 9 1/2 Weeks)

5. China Crisis – Arizona Sky

6. It’s Immaterial – Ed’s Funky Diner

7. The Mission – Stay With Me

8. The Jesus And Mary Chain – Some Candy Talking

9. Siouxsie And The Banshees – Candyman

10. Cocteau Twins – Love’s Easy Tears

11. Mint Juleps – Only Love Can Break Your Heart

12. Everything But The Girl – Come On Home

13. Sandie Shaw – Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken?

14. Big Audio Dynamite – C’Mon Every Beatbox

15. The Stranglers – Always The Sun

16. The Housemartins – Sheep

17. Fine Young Cannibals – Funny How Love Is

18. The Blow Monkeys – Wicked Ways

19. Simply Red – Jericho

20. Elton John – Cry To Heaven

 

CD 3

1. The Communards – Disenchanted

2. Bronski Beat – C’mon! C’mon!

3. Yello – Goldrush

4. Grace Jones – I’m Not Perfect (But I’m Perfect For You)

5. Aretha Franklin – Another Night

6. Chaka Khan – Love Of A Lifetime

7. Cameo – Candy

8. Hollywood Beyond – No More Tears

9. El DeBarge – Who’s Johnny

10. Matt Bianco – Dancing In The Street

11. Carmel – Sally

12. Dee C. Lee – Come Hell Or Waters High

13. Maxi Priest – Strollin’ On

14. UB40 – All I Want To Do

15. Loose Ends – Slow Down

16. Ruby Turner featuring Jonathan Butler – If You’re Ready (Come Go With Me)

17. Billy Ocean – Love Zone

18. Lionel Richie – Love Will Conquer All

19. Gloria Estefan – Words Get In The Way

 

CD 4

1. Tears For Fears – Mothers Talk (U.S. Remix)

2. Wang Chung – Everybody Have Fun Tonight

3. Stacey Q – Two Of Hearts

4. Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam (with Full Force) – All Cried Out

5. The Fixx – Secret Separation

6. The Outfield – Your Love

7. Glass Tiger – Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)

8. Pat Benatar – Le Bel Age

9. Heart – Nothin’ At All

10. Boston – Amanda

11. Don Johnson – Heartbeat

12. Meat Loaf – Rock ‘N’ Roll Mercenaries

13. ZZ Top – Stages

14. Mr. Mister – Is It Love

15. Huey Lewis & The News – Hip To Be Square

16. The Moody Blues – Your Wildest Dreams

17. Mike + The Mechanics – All I Need Is A Miracle

18. Billy Joel – A Matter Of Trust

19. Bruce Springsteen – War (Live at LA Coliseum)

The Compilation: Now Yearbook '89

Now Music is finally finish off the 1980s episode with their last Yearnook series focusing now on 1989.

This final Yearbook for the decade starts with Queen's "I Want It All" and ends with Band Aid II's "Do They Know It's Christmas" the 'unofficial' Band Aid single according to a revisionist Bob Geldof!.

In between are 76 other tracks including hits from Simple Minds, Soul II Soul, Neneh Cherry, Fine Young Cannibals, Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan,  Holly Johnson, New Order, Bros, Transvision Vamp, Roachford (“there’s no fog!”), The Beautiful South, Living in a Box, Tears For Fears, R.E.M., Pet Shop Boys, Duran Duran, The Cure, Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians, Sam Brown, The Bangles, Simply Red and many more.

The familiar formats are available: deluxe hardcover book 4CD edition, 3LP coloured vinyl in pink color with 42 tracks and the standard card sleeved 4CD set. NOW Yearbook 1989 will be released on 25 April 2025.

NOW Yearbook 1989 Track List:  

CD 1

1. Queen – I Want It All

2. Billy Joel – We Didn’t Start The Fire

3. Tina Turner – The Best

4. Cher – If I Could Turn Back Time

5. Belinda Carlisle – Leave A Light On

6. Deborah Harry – I Want That Man

7. Chris Rea – The Road To Hell Part 2

8. Mike + The Mechanics – The Living Years

9. Simple Minds – Belfast Child

10. Gladys Knight – Licence To Kill (From “Licence To Kill” Soundtrack)

11. Lisa Stansfield – All Around the World

12. Soul II Soul & Caron Wheeler – Back To Life (However Do You Want Me)

13. Neneh Cherry – Buffalo Stance

14. Fine Young Cannibals – She Drives Me Crazy

15. Roxette – The Look

16. Holly Johnson – Love Train

17. Jason Donovan – Too Many Broken Hearts

18. Kylie Minogue – Hand On Your Heart

19. Bananarama – Help! (feat. Lananeeneenoonoo)

 

CD 2

 

1. Marc Almond & Gene Pitney – Something’s Gotten Hold Of My Heart

2. Jimmy Somerville Featuring June Miles Kingston – Comment Te Dire Adieu

3. Donna Summer – This Time I Know It’s For Real

4. Sonia – You’ll Never Stop Me Loving You

5. Bros – Too Much

6. Debbie Gibson – Electric Youth

7. London Boys – Requiem

8. Liza Minnelli – Losing My Mind

9. New Order – Round & Round

10. Kon Kan – I Beg Your Pardon (I Never Promised You A Rose Garden)

11. Transvision Vamp – Baby I Don’t Care

12. Roachford – Cuddly Toy

13. Roy Orbison – You Got It

14. Sydney Youngblood – If Only I Could

15. Bobby Brown – On Our Own

16. New Kids On The Block – You Got It (The Right Stuff)

17. UB40 – Homely Girl

18. The Beautiful South – Song For Whoever

19. Living In A Box – Room In Your Heart

20. The Christians, Holly Johnson, Paul McCartney, Gerry Marsden & Stock Aitken Waterman – Ferry ’Cross The Mersey

 

CD 3

 

1. Tears For Fears – Sowing The Seeds Of Love

2. Duran Duran – All She Wants Is

3. Electronic – Getting Away With It

4. R.E.M – Orange Crush

5. The Cure – Lullaby

6. Yello – Of Course I’m Lying

7. Pet Shop Boys – It’s Alright

8. 808 State – Pacific 707

9. The Beloved – The Sun Rising

10. The Stone Roses – Fools Gold

11. The Cult – Edie (Ciao Baby)

12. Alice Cooper – Poison

13. Then Jerico – Big Area

14. Shakespears Sister – You’re History

15. Edie Brickell & New Bohemians – What I Am

16. Martika – Toy Soldiers

17. Will To Power – Baby I Love Your Way / Freebird (Free Baby)

18. Boy Meets Girl – Waiting For A Star To Fall

 

CD 4

 

1.  Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan – Especially For You

2. The Bangles – Eternal Flame

3. Sam Brown – Stop

4. Holly Johnson – Americanos

5. Paula Abdul – Straight Up

6. Donna Summer – I Don’t Wanna Get Hurt

7. Black Box – Ride On Time

8. Coldcut feat. Lisa Stansfield – People Hold On

9. Technotronic – Pump Up The Jam

10. The Beatmasters feat. Betty Boo – Hey DJ / I Can’t Dance (To That Music You’re Playing)

11. Kym Mazelle And Robert Howard – Wait

12. Malcolm McLaren & The Bootzilla Orchestra – Waltz Darling

13. Neneh Cherry – Manchild

14. Soul II Soul & Caron Wheeler – Keep On Movin’

15. Milli Vanilli – Girl I’m Gonna Miss You

16. Simply Red – If You Don’t Know Me By Now

17. Richard Marx – Right Here Waiting

18. Gloria Estefan – Don’t Wanna Lose You

19. Cliff Richard – I Just Don’t Have The Heart

20. Jason Donovan – When You Come Back To Me

21. Band Aid II – Do They Know It’s Christmas?

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

La Recopilación: Now Yearbook '88

 

Volviendo con las colecciones Now Yearbook, ahora toca enfocarse en el año 1988, viene en dos formatos un 4CD deluxe edition con un libreto en pasta dura y una versión de 4CD standard con un libreto mas sencillo, ambas estan buenas porque traen los 82 tracks, y otro en 3LP en vinilo coloreado pero con menos tracks, unos 45 en total. 

 

Enfocándonos en el set de 4CD, el primero abre con George Michael e incluye bandas como Duran Duran, Eurythmics, Pet Shop Boys, New Order, A-ha, Yello, y algunos artistas exclusivos de PWL como Kylie Minogue, Bananarama, Jason Donovan entre otros, en los otros discos aparecen artistas como Bruce Springsteen y curiosidades como Iron Maiden, Bon Jovi y Billy Idol, que usualmente no aparecen en estas versiones NOW.

 

Pet Shop Boys incluso aparece con otro corte en el disco 4 con "Left To My Own Devices", así como la brillante Eighth Wonder y el clásico "I'm Not Scared", que fue producida por Neil Tennant y Chris Lowe, junto a ella viene otras gemas de pop adolescente de la época como Dollar, Debbie Gibson, Tiffany, Bros, y Taylor Dayne. 

 

La recopilación saldrá al mercado el próximo 3 de Noviembre de 2023 a continuación el track list:

 

Now Yearbook '88 Track List:

 

CD1:

 

1. George Michael – Father Figure

2. Belinda Carlisle – Heaven Is A Place On Earth

3. Kim Wilde – You Came

4. Duran Duran – I Don’t Want Your Love

5. Eurythmics, Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart – You Have Placed A Chill In My Heart

6. Pet Shop Boys – Heart

7. New Order – Blue Monday ’88

8. Yello – The Race

9. a-ha – Stay On These Roads

10. The Adventures – Broken Land

11. Aztec Camera – Somewhere In My Heart

12. Tanita Tikaram – Good Tradition

13. Fairground Attraction – Perfect

14. Danny Wilson – Mary’s Prayer

15. The Communards – There’s More To Love (Than Boy Meets Girl)

16. Scritti Politti – Oh Patti (Don’t Feel Sorry For Loverboy)

17. UB40 & Chrissie Hynde – Breakfast In Bed

18. Everything But The Girl – I Don’t Want To Talk About It

19. Sade – Love Is Stronger Than Pride

20. Sting – Fragile

 

CD 2

 

1. Kylie Minogue – I Should Be So Lucky

2. Bananarama – I Want You Back

3. Rick Astley – Together Forever

4. Jason Donovan – Nothing Can Divide Us

5. Brother Beyond – The Harder I Try

6. Bros – I Owe You Nothing

7. The Timelords – Doctorin’ The Tardis

8. Bomb The Bass – Beat Dis

9. Yazz & The Plastic Population – The Only Way Is Up

10. S’Express – Theme From S-Express

11. Inner City – Good Life

12. Womack & Womack – Teardrops

13. Climie Fisher – Love Changes (Everything)

14. Breathe – Hands To Heaven

15. Glenn Medeiros – Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You

16. The Beach Boys – Kokomo

17. Belinda Carlisle – Circle In The Sand

18. Jane Wiedlin – Rush Hour

19. The Bangles – Hazy Shade Of Winter

20. Gloria Estefan / Miami Sound Machine – Anything For You

21. Elton John – Candle In The Wind (Live)

 

CD 3

 

1. Bruce Springsteen – Tougher Than The Rest

2. Deacon Blue – Real Gone Kid

3. Bon Jovi – Bad Medicine

4. Iron Maiden – Can I Play With Madness

5. Pat Benatar – All Fired Up

6. Billy Idol – Hot In The City

7. Sinéad O’Connor – Mandinka

8. Siouxsie And The Banshees – Peek-A-Boo

9. The Mission – Tower Of Strength

10. All About Eve – Martha’s Harbour

11. Cher – I Found Someone

12. Heart – These Dreams

13. Robin Beck – First Time

14. Maxi Priest – Wild World

15. Aswad – Don’t Turn Around

16. Will Downing – A Love Supreme

17. Mica Paris – My One Temptation

18. Sananda Maitreya – Sign Your Name

19. Brenda Russell – Piano In The Dark

20. Whitney Houston – One Moment In Time

 

CD 4

 

1. Pet Shop Boys – Left To My Own Devices

2. Eighth Wonder – I’m Not Scared

3. Dollar – O L’Amour

4. Desireless – Voyage Voyage

5. Sabrina – Boys (Summertime Love)

6. Hazell Dean – Who’s Leaving Who

7. Kylie Minogue – The Loco-Motion

8. Debbie Gibson – Only In My Dreams

9. Tiffany – I Think We’re Alone Now

10. Kim Wilde – Never Trust A Stranger

11. Transvision Vamp – I Want Your Love

12. Bros – When Will I Be Famous?

13. Wet Wet Wet – With A Little Help From My Friends

14. Wee Papa Girl Rappers – Wee Rule

15. Salt-N-Pepa – Push It

16. Pebbles – Girlfriend

17. Natalie Cole – Pink Cadillac

18. Taylor Dayne – Tell It To My Heart

19. Bananarama – Love, Truth & Honesty

20. Angry Anderson – Suddenly (7” Mix)

21. Cliff Richard – Mistletoe And Wine