Now Yearbook Extra 1981 (UK 2022)

From Now That's What I Call Music Wiki

Site notice

Now Music Wiki is currently undergoing a few graphical and data display changes. Therefore a few things might not look as they should during early November 2024. Thank you for your patience!


Nowyearbook1981extra-front.jpg
Now Yearbook Extra 1981
Release Date
Country
UK
Album Series
Now Yearbooks
Album Short Name
Now Yearbook Extra 1981
Purchase on Amazon


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'.


Release Versions

Add Release Version and Tracklist
  • VersionRelease DateFormatNumber of Tracks
    Now Yearbook Extra 1981 (UK 2022 CD)1 July 2022CD66
    [edit]

    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)

    [edit]
     Artist(s)First UK Chart AppearanceHighest UK 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 Images3
    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 Rats1
    Bow Wow Wow - ChihuahuaBow Wow Wow1
    Bucks Fizz - One Of Those NightsBucks Fizz15 August 1981201
    The Clash - The Magnificent SevenThe Clash1
    Diana Ross - It's My TurnDiana Ross17 January 1981161
    Duran Duran - Careless MemoriesDuran Duran16 May 1981371
    Duran Duran - My Own WayDuran Duran28 November 1981141
    Electric Light Orchestra - TwilightElectric Light Orchestra24 October 1981301
    Godley and Creme - Wedding BellsGodley and Creme1
    Graham Bonnet - Night GamesGraham Bonnet1
    Grover Washington Jr/Bill Withers - Just The Two Of UsGrover Washington Jr
    Bill Withers
    16 May 1981343
    Hall and Oates - You Make My Dreams (Come True)Hall and Oates19805
    Heaven 17 - Play To WinHeaven 175 September 1981463
    The Human League - Open Your HeartThe Human League10 October 198163
    The Human League - The Sound Of The CrowdThe Human League2 May 1981123
    The Jam - Absolute BeginnersThe Jam24 October 198142
    The Jam - Funeral PyreThe Jam6 June 198141
    Japan - The Art Of PartiesJapan9 May 1981481
    Japan - Visions Of ChinaJapan7 November 1981321
    John Lennon - Watching The WheelsJohn Lennon4 April 1981402
    Juice Newton - Angel Of The MorningJuice Newton5
    Keith Marshall - Only CryingKeith Marshall1
    Kim Wilde - Chequered LoveKim Wilde9 May 198143
    Kirsty MacColl - There's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He's ElvisKirsty MacColl1
    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 198122
    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 Wedding3
    The Pointer Sisters - Slow HandThe Pointer Sisters22 August 1981101
    The Police - Invisible SunThe Police26 September 198122
    Pretenders - Message Of LovePretenders14 February 1981112
    The Psychedelic Furs - Pretty In PinkThe Psychedelic Furs5
    Public Image Ltd - Flowers Of RomancePublic Image Ltd4 April 1981241
    REO Speedwagon - Take It On The RunREO Speedwagon1
    Randy Crawford - You Might Need SomebodyRandy Crawford1
    Rick Springfield - Jessie's GirlRick Springfield17 March 1984435
    Shakin' Stevens - You Drive Me CrazyShakin' Stevens2 May 198121
    Shalamar - Make That MoveShalamar28 March 1981301
    Simple Minds - The AmericanSimple Minds23 May 1981592
    Siouxsie and the Banshees - Arabian KnightsSiouxsie and the Banshees1 August 1981321
    Soft Cell - BedsitterSoft Cell14 November 198143
    Spandau Ballet - The FreezeSpandau Ballet24 January 1981172
    Spandau Ballet - MuscleboundSpandau Ballet4 April 1981102
    Stray Cats - Stray Cat StrutStray Cats1
    Sugar Minott - Good Thing Going (We've Got A Good Thing Going)Sugar Minott4
    Susan Fassbender - Twilight CafeSusan Fassbender1
    The Teardrop Explodes - Passionate FriendThe Teardrop Explodes1
    The Teardrop Explodes - Treason (It's Just A Story)The Teardrop Explodes2
    Tears for Fears - Suffer The ChildrenTears for Fears31 August 1985521
    Tom Tom Club - Genius Of LoveTom Tom Club1
    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 1981161
    Visage - Mind Of A ToyVisage2
    Visage - VisageVisage2