Three CD set available July 1st

NOW That’s What I Call Music!, the world’s bestselling multiple-artist album series, has set NOW – Yearbook Extra 1981 for release across 3 CDs on July 1st. Featuring 66 tracks that couldn’t fit on NOW – Yearbook 1981 – including massive hits and songs that debuted in 1981 and have become enduring favorites.

Disc one kicks off with some of the year’s biggest stars including gems from John Lennon with “Watching The Wheels,” U2 with “Gloria,” “Message Of Love” from The Pretenders, plus the first single released from Ghost in the Machine by The Police with “Invisible Sun.” As a major force in 80s pop, synth-pop and new romantic tracks are featured from Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran, Soft Cell, Japan and Tom Tom Club. This disc also brings together soul smashes from Kool & The Gang, Shalamar, Randy Crawford, Grover Washington, Jr. feat. Bill Withers and Diana Ross.

1981 was a year of revolution for pop and disc two leads off with pure pop magic from Adam & The Ants with “Ant Rap,” Toyah with “I Want To Be Free,” Altered Images with “I Could Be Happy,” and “Chequered Love” from Kim Wilde – plus Shakin’ Stevens, Bucks Fizz and Madness. Electric Light Orchestra, REO Speedwagon, Rick Springfield, Graham Bonnet, and Daryl Hall & John Oates all feature representing rock and power ballads. This collection wouldn’t be complete without some brilliant novelty pop – CD two concludes with “Birdie Song” by The Tweets and “Hooked On Classics” by Louis Clark Conducting The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – with both reaching No. 2 on the UK charts, and amongst the year’s best sellers.

Disc three opens with “Sound Of The Crowd” – the commercial breakthrough from The Human League, and further celebrates synth-pop with Visage, Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, and the debut single from Tears For Fears. Simple Minds and New Order lead into superb new wave/pop crossover hits from Adam & The Ants, Bow Wow Wow and Public Image Limited, alongside timeless hits from The Jam and The Clash before closing with some reggae and ska influenced hits from Sugar Minott, Bad Manners and UB40.

3 CD

CD 1:

  1. John Lennon – Watching The Wheels
  2. The Police – Invisible Sun
  3. U2 – Gloria
  4. The Jam – Absolute Beginners
  5. Pretenders – Message Of Love
  6. The Teardrop Explodes – Treason (It’s Just A Story)
  7. The Human League – Open Your Heart
  8. Spandau Ballet – The Freeze
  9. Duran Duran – Careless Memories
  10. Soft Cell – Bedsitter
  11. Japan – Visions Of China
  12. Heaven 17 – Play To Win
  13. Visage – Visage
  14. Tom Tom Club – Genius Of Love
  15. Blue Rondo A La Turk – Me And Mr Sanchez
  16. Madness – Return Of The Los Palmas 7
  17. Kool & The Gang – Steppin’ Out
  18. Shalamar – Make That Move
  19. The Pointer Sisters – Slow Hand
  20. Randy Crawford – You Might Need Somebody
  21. Grover Washington, Jr. feat. Bill Withers – Just The Two Of Us
  22. Diana Ross – It’s My Turn

CD 2:

  1. Adam & The Ants – Ant Rap
  2. Toyah – I Want To Be Free
  3. Kim Wilde – Chequered Love
  4. Altered Images – I Could Be Happy
  5. Susan Fassbender – Twilight Cafe
  6. Godley & Creme – Wedding Bells
  7. Graham Bonnet – Night Games
  8. Electric Light Orchestra – Twilight
  9. Daryl Hall & John Oates – You Make My Dreams (Come True)
  10. Rick Springfield – Jessie’s Girl
  11. REO Speedwagon – Take It On The Run
  12. Juice Newton – Angel Of The Morning
  13. Bucks Fizz – One Of Those Nights
  14. Modern Romance – Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey
  15. Madness – Shut Up
  16. The Boomtown Rats – The Elephants Graveyard
  17. Kirsty MacColl – There’s A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He’s Elvis
  18. Shakin’ Stevens – You Drive Me Crazy
  19. Stray Cats – Stray Cat Strut
  20. Keith Marshall – Only Crying
  21. Barry Manilow – Bermuda Triangle
  22. The Tweets – Birdie Song
  23. Louis Clark Conducting The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – Hooked On Classics

CD 3:

  1. The Human League – The Sound Of The Crowd
  2. Visage – Mind Of A Toy
  3. Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – Joan Of Arc
  4. Duran Duran – My Own Way
  5. Japan – The Art Of Parties
  6. Spandau Ballet – Musclebound
  7. Tears For Fears – Suffer The Children
  8. Our Daughter’s Wedding – Lawnchairs
  9. Simple Minds – The American
  10. New Order – Ceremony
  11. The Psychedelic Furs – Pretty In Pink
  12. Adam & The Ants – Kings Of The Wild Frontier
  13. Bow Wow Wow – Chihuahua
  14. Public Image Limited – Flowers Of Romance
  15. Siouxsie And The Banshees – Arabian Knights
  16. The Teardrop Explodes – Passionate Friend
  17. The Jam – Funeral Pyre
  18. The Clash – The Magnificent Seven
  19. Sugar Minott – Good Thing Going (We’ve Got A Good Thing Going)
  20. Bad Manners – Walking In The Sunshine
  21. UB40 – Don’t Slow Down