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Now Yearbook Extra 1981 (UK 2022)

Release Date July 1, 2022
Country UK
Album Series

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Following the recent release of 'Now Yearbook 1981', we continue to celebrate the remarkable year of pop that was 1981 with 'Now – Yearbook Extra 1981' as a limited edition 3CD.

Featuring 66 fabulous tracks that we couldn't fit on 'Now – Yearbook 1981' – including massive hits and songs that debuted in 1981 and have become enduring favourites.

Disc 1 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 2 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 2 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 3 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 Ltd, 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.

The ideal addition to the 'Yearbook' family and an essential collection for all fans of 80s pop – enjoy this extra helping with 'Now – Yearbook Extra 1981'.

Releases

VersionRelease DateNumber of Tracks
Now Yearbook Extra 1981 (UK 2022 CD)1 July 202266

All Tracks on This Album

This is a full list of tracks (in alphabetical order) that appear on at least one format of this album. For further breakdown of each format version, please see links above.

(66 Tracks)

Track Stats and Chart Info

 Artist(s)First UK Chart AppearanceHighest UK Chart PositionFirst US Billboard Chart AppearanceHighest US Billboard Chart PositionOriginal YearUK Now Appearances
Adam and the Ants - Ant RapAdam and the Ants12 December 198131
Adam and the Ants - Kings Of The Wild FrontierAdam and the Ants2 August 198022
Altered Images - I Could Be HappyAltered Images12 December 198174
Bad Manners - Walking in the SunshineBad Manners26 September 1981101
Barry Manilow - Bermuda TriangleBarry Manilow11 April 1981151
Blue Rondo à la Turk - Me and Mr. SanchezBlue Rondo à la Turk1
The Boomtown Rats - The Elephants GraveyardThe Boomtown Rats31 January 1981261
Bow Wow Wow - ChihuahuaBow Wow Wow7 November 1981512
Bucks Fizz - One Of Those NightsBucks Fizz15 August 1981201
The Clash - The Magnificent SevenThe Clash25 April 1981341
Diana Ross - It's My TurnDiana Ross17 January 19811625 October 198091
Duran Duran - Careless MemoriesDuran Duran16 May 1981371
Duran Duran - My Own WayDuran Duran28 November 1981141
Electric Light Orchestra - TwilightElectric Light Orchestra24 October 19813024 October 1981381
Godley and Creme - Wedding BellsGodley and Creme15 November 198171
Graham Bonnet - Night GamesGraham Bonnet15 March 198161
Grover Washington Jr/Bill Withers - Just The Two Of UsGrover Washington Jr
Bill Withers
16 May 19813414 February 198123
Hall and Oates - You Make My Dreams (Come True)Hall and Oates1,9806
Heaven 17 - Play To WinHeaven 175 September 1981464
The Human League - Open Your HeartThe Human League10 October 198163
The Human League - The Sound Of The CrowdThe Human League2 May 1981125
The Jam - Absolute BeginnersThe Jam24 October 198142
The Jam - Funeral PyreThe Jam6 June 198141
Japan - The Art Of PartiesJapan9 May 1981482
Japan - Visions Of ChinaJapan7 November 1981321
John Lennon - Watching The WheelsJohn Lennon4 April 19814028 March 1981102
Juice Newton - Angel Of The MorningJuice Newton2 May 19814321 February 198146
Keith Marshall - Only CryingKeith Marshall29 March 1981121
Kim Wilde - Chequered LoveKim Wilde9 May 198143
Kirsty MacColl - There's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He's ElvisKirsty MacColl7 June 1981141
Kool and the Gang - Steppin' OutKool and the Gang31 October 1981121
Louis Clark and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - Hooked On ClassicsLouis Clark
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
25 July 1981231 October 1981103
Madness - The Return of the Los Palmas 7Madness24 January 198172
Madness - Shut UpMadness26 September 198171
Modern Romance - Ay Ay Ay Ay MooseyModern Romance7 November 1981101
New Order - CeremonyNew Order14 March 1981341
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Joan Of ArcOrchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark24 October 198152
Our Daughter's Wedding - LawnchairsOur Daughter's Wedding26 July 1981493
The Pointer Sisters - Slow HandThe Pointer Sisters22 August 19811030 May 198121
The Police - Invisible SunThe Police26 September 198122
Pretenders - Message of LovePretenders14 February 1981112
The Psychedelic Furs - Pretty In PinkThe Psychedelic Furs27 June 19811812 April 1986415
Public Image Ltd - Flowers Of RomancePublic Image Ltd4 April 1981241
REO Speedwagon - Take It On The RunREO Speedwagon27 June 19811921 March 198151
Randy Crawford - You Might Need SomebodyRandy Crawford30 May 1981111
Rick Springfield - Jessie's GirlRick Springfield17 March 19844328 March 198115
Shakin' Stevens - You Drive Me CrazyShakin' Stevens2 May 198121
Shalamar - Make That MoveShalamar28 March 19813025 April 1981602
Simple Minds - The AmericanSimple Minds23 May 1981593
Siouxsie and the Banshees - Arabian KnightsSiouxsie and the Banshees1 August 1981321
Soft Cell - BedsitterSoft Cell14 November 198144
Spandau Ballet - The FreezeSpandau Ballet24 January 1981173
Spandau Ballet - MuscleboundSpandau Ballet4 April 1981102
Stray Cats - Stray Cat StrutStray Cats19 April 19811125 December 198231
Sugar Minott - Good Thing Going (We've Got A Good Thing Going)Sugar Minott22 March 198144
Susan Fassbender - Twilight CafeSusan Fassbender11 January 1981211
The Teardrop Explodes - Passionate FriendThe Teardrop Explodes29 August 1981251
The Teardrop Explodes - Treason (It's Just A Story)The Teardrop Explodes2 May 1981182
Tears for Fears - Suffer The ChildrenTears for Fears31 August 1985521
Tom Tom Club - Genius Of LoveTom Tom Club4 October 19816523 January 1982311
Toyah - I Want To Be FreeToyah16 May 198182
The Tweets - Birdie SongThe Tweets12 September 198122
U2 - GloriaU217 October 1981552
UB40 - Don't Slow DownUB4023 May 1981162
Visage - Mind Of A ToyVisage8 March 1981133
Visage - VisageVisage5 July 1981213



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This page was last modified on Apr 27 2023