Now Yearbook The Vault 1980 (UK 2025)

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Now Yearbook The Vault 1980 (UK 2025)
Release Date
Country
UK
Album Series
Now Yearbooks
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The year 1980 was a transformative period in pop music, as genres vied for attention on the charts, creating a vibrant and competitive landscape. While collections like the 1980 Yearbook and 80-84 Final Chapter have already highlighted over 150 of the year’s most prominent tracks, there’s much more to the story. Many exceptional singles from this era have been overlooked in compilations, and The Vault: 1980 aims to spotlight these hidden gems.

This curated selection features 80 tracks that capture the diversity of 1980’s music. Some were chart hits, while others gained recognition in specific regions or through influential albums. Together, they form a compelling narrative of the year’s eclectic sounds.

CD1 sets the tone with U.S. chart-toppers by iconic artists like Bruce Springsteen (Hungry Heart), Billy Joel (You May Be Right), and Blondie’s The Hardest Part, a track released stateside but not in the U.K. The energy of new-wave is showcased through The Ramones and The Revillos, leading into early releases from Echo & The Bunnymen and The Teardrop Explodes. As synth-pop began to define the decade, acts like Ultravox, The Human League, and Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark emerged as key players. Other highlights include Sparks, The B-52’s, Robert Palmer, and The Buggles, while quirky tracks like The Bucket Of Water Song from Tiswas regulars add a nostalgic touch.

CD2 kicks off with Dexys Midnight Runners’ Dance Stance, the precursor to their chart-topping hit Geno. Guitar-driven tracks by Secret Affair and Squeeze give way to post-punk classics from The Stranglers, The Ruts, and The Clash. Reggae and ska are represented by Junior Murvin and The Bodysnatchers, while Kurtis Blow’s The Breaks introduces the burgeoning hip-hop movement. Genre-blending songs follow, including jazz-infused soul from The Manhattan Transfer, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Wilton Felder’s collaboration with Bobby Womack on Inherit The Wind. Smooth jazz-pop from Shakatak and Level 42 leads into soulful ballads from Kool & The Gang, Brenda Russell, and The Manhattans, closing with the U.S. hit Shining Star.

CD3 delivers an electrifying lineup of dancefloor hits, starting with Donna Summer’s Sunset People, Amii Stewart’s rendition of The Letter, and Shalamar’s Right In The Socket. Powerful vocal performances by Gladys Knight, Joan Armatrading, and Phil Lynott’s solo debut Dear Miss Lonely Hearts set the stage for an energetic run of rock tracks from Judas Priest, Saxon, Girlschool, and Iron Maiden’s debut single. New-wave favorites from The Tourists, XTC, Skids, and Hazel O’Connor follow, with the disc concluding on a softer note with Gerry Rafferty’s The Royal Mile and Elton John’s heartfelt ballad Sartorial Eloquence.

CD4 shifts focus to singles that made an impact on the U.S. charts. It opens with timeless performances by Paul Simon (Late In The Evening), Linda Ronstadt (Hurt So Bad), and Carly Simon (Jesse). Pop-rock anthems from Kim Carnes, Pat Benatar, and Journey are complemented by soulful hits from Jermaine Jackson and Aretha Franklin’s version of What A Fool Believes. The disc transitions to smooth rock classics by Daryl Hall & John Oates, Christopher Cross, Boz Scaggs, and Kenny Loggins, culminating with Eddie Rabbitt’s Top 5 U.S. hit and Joe Walsh’s contribution to the Urban Cowboy soundtrack. The final track, ZZ Top’s Cheap Sunglasses, hints at the band’s U.S. success before their later U.K. breakout.

Now Yearbook The Vault 1980 is a fitting tribute to one of music’s most dynamic years, celebrating both the hits and the overlooked gems that defined the era.


Release Versions

Add Release Version and Tracklist
  • VersionRelease DateFormatNumber of Tracks
    Now Yearbook The Vault 1980 (UK 2025 CD)28 February 2025CD80
    Now Yearbook The Vault 1980 (UK 2025 Deluxe CD)28 February 2025Deluxe CD80
    Now Yearbook The Vault 1980 (UK 2025 Vinyl)28 February 2025Vinyl45
    [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.

    (80 Tracks)

    [edit]

    Number of Unique Tracks : 71 (ie these tracks only appear on this album on this whole site)

    *Bearing in mind that not all albums are yet added to this site. Current count of albums with tracklists is 451

    [edit]

    Number of Unique UK Tracks : 71 (ie these tracks only appear on this album in the UK)

    [edit]
     Artist(s)First UK Chart AppearanceHighest UK Chart PositionOriginal YearUK Now Appearances
    Amii Stewart - The LetterAmii Stewart19 January 1980392
    Aretha Franklin - What a Fool BelievesAretha Franklin6 December 1980462
    The B-52's - Give Me Back My ManThe B-52's1
    Bill Nelson - Do You Dream in Colour?Bill Nelson1
    Billy Joel - You May Be RightBilly Joel2
    Billy Ocean - Are You ReadyBilly Ocean1
    Blondie - The Hardest PartBlondie1
    The Bodysnatchers - Let's Do Rock SteadyThe Bodysnatchers1
    Boz Scaggs - Breakdown Dead AheadBoz Scaggs1
    Brenda Russell - In the Thick of ItBrenda Russell1
    Bruce Springsteen - Hungry HeartBruce Springsteen22 November 1980282
    The Buggles - Clean, CleanThe Buggles1
    Carly Simon - JesseCarly Simon1
    The Cars - Touch and GoThe Cars1
    Chic - Rebels Are WeChic1
    The Chords - Maybe TomorrowThe Chords1
    Christopher Cross - Ride Like the WindChristopher Cross3
    The Clash - The Call UpThe Clash1
    Dexys Midnight Runners - Dance StanceDexys Midnight Runners1
    Donna Summer - Sunset PeopleDonna Summer1
    Earth, Wind and Fire - In the StoneEarth, Wind and Fire1
    Echo & the Bunnymen - RescueEcho & the Bunnymen1
    Eddie Rabbitt - Drivin' My Life AwayEddie Rabbitt1
    Elton John - Sartorial EloquenceElton John1
    The Flying Lizards - TVThe Flying Lizards1
    Gerry Rafferty - The Royal MileGerry Rafferty1
    Girlschool - Race with the DevilGirlschool1
    Gladys Knight and The Pips - Bourgie', Bourgie'Gladys Knight and The Pips1
    Hall and Oates - Running From ParadiseHall and Oates1
    Hazel O'Connor - Give Me An InchHazel O'Connor1
    The Human League - Only After DarkThe Human League1
    Iron Maiden - Running FreeIron Maiden1
    Jermaine Jackson - Burnin' HotJermaine Jackson1
    Joan Armatrading - RosieJoan Armatrading1
    Joe Walsh - All Night LongJoe Walsh1
    John Foxx - Burning CarJohn Foxx1
    Journey - Any Way You Want ItJourney1
    Judas Priest - UnitedJudas Priest1
    Junior Murvin - Police & ThievesJunior Murvin3
    Karel Fialka - The Eyes Have ItKarel Fialka1
    Kenny Loggins - I'm AlrightKenny Loggins1
    Kim Carnes - More LoveKim Carnes1
    Kool and the Gang - Too HotKool and the Gang1
    Kurtis Blow - The BreaksKurtis Blow2
    Level 42 - Love Meeting LoveLevel 421
    Linda Ronstadt - Hurt So BadLinda Ronstadt1
    M - That's the Way the Money GoesM1
    The Manhattan Transfer - Twilight Zone/Twilight ToneThe Manhattan Transfer1
    The Manhattans - Shining StarThe Manhattans1
    The Motels - Whose Problem?The Motels1
    New Musik - This World of WaterNew Musik1
    Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Red Frame/White LightOrchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark1
    Pat Benatar - We Live for LovePat Benatar1
    Paul Simon - Late in the EveningPaul Simon6 September 1980582
    Phil Lynott - Dear Miss Lonely HeartsPhil Lynott1
    The Pointer Sisters - He's So ShyThe Pointer Sisters1
    Ramones - Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio?Ramones1
    The Revillos - Motorbike BeatThe Revillos1
    Robert Palmer - Looking for CluesRobert Palmer1
    Rupert Holmes - HimRupert Holmes1
    The Ruts - Staring at the Rude BoysThe Ruts1
    Sad Café - Strange Little GirlSad Café1
    Saxon - Wheels of SteelSaxon1
    Secret Affair - My WorldSecret Affair1
    Shakatak - Feels Like the Right TimeShakatak1
    Shalamar - Right in the SocketShalamar1
    Skids - Circus GamesSkids1
    Sparks - When I'm With YouSparks2
    Squeeze - Pulling Mussels (from the Shell)Squeeze1
    Stacy Lattisaw - Dynamite!Stacy Lattisaw1
    The Stranglers - Bear CageThe Stranglers1
    The Teardrop Explodes - When I DreamThe Teardrop Explodes1
    Tiswas presents The Four Bucketeers - The Bucket of Water SongTiswas presents The Four Bucketeers1
    Tom Browne - Thighs High (Grip Your Hips and Move)Tom Browne1
    The Tourists - Don't Say I Told You SoThe Tourists1
    UFO - Young BloodUFO1
    Ultravox - Passing StrangersUltravox1
    Wilton Felder/Bobby Womack - Inherit the WindWilton Felder
    Bobby Womack
    1
    XTC - Generals and MajorsXTC1
    ZZ Top - Cheap SunglassesZZ Top1