Now Yearbook Extra 1981 (UK 2022)
Now Yearbook Extra 1981 (UK 2022)
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
| Version | Release Date | Number of Tracks |
|---|---|---|
| Now Yearbook Extra 1981 (UK 2022 CD) | 1 July 2022 | 66 |
Adam and the Ants - Ant Rap
- Title: Ant Rap
- Artist: Adam and the Ants
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 6 December 1981
- UK Peak: #3 (Peak Date: 3 January 1982)
- UK Now Appearances: 1
Adam and the Ants - Kings Of The Wild Frontier
- Title: Kings Of The Wild Frontier
- Artist: Adam and the Ants
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 2 August 1980
- UK Peak: #2
- UK Now Appearances: 2
Altered Images - I Could Be Happy
- Title: I Could Be Happy
- Artist: Altered Images
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 6 December 1981
- UK Peak: #7 (Peak Date: 10 January 1982)
- UK Now Appearances: 4
Bad Manners - Walking in the Sunshine
- Title: Walking In The Sunshine
- Artist: Bad Manners
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 20 September 1981
- UK Peak: #10 (Peak Date: 11 October 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 1
Barry Manilow - Bermuda Triangle
- Title: Bermuda Triangle
- Artist: Barry Manilow
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 5 April 1981
- UK Peak: #15 (Peak Date: 3 May 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 1
Blue Rondo à la Turk - Me and Mr. Sanchez
- Title: Me and Mr. Sanchez
- Artist: Blue Rondo à la Turk
Click for full song details - UK Now Appearances: 1
The Boomtown Rats - The Elephants Graveyard
- Title: The Elephants Graveyard
- Artist: The Boomtown Rats
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 31 January 1981
- UK Peak: #26
- UK Now Appearances: 1
Bow Wow Wow - Chihuahua
- Title: Chihuahua
- Artist: Bow Wow Wow
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 1 November 1981
- UK Peak: #51 (Peak Date: 1 November 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 2
Bucks Fizz - One Of Those Nights
- Title: One Of Those Nights
- Artist: Bucks Fizz
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 9 August 1981
- UK Peak: #20 (Peak Date: 13 September 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 1
The Clash - The Magnificent Seven
- Title: The Magnificent Seven
- Artist: The Clash
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 19 April 1981
- UK Peak: #34 (Peak Date: 26 April 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 1
Diana Ross - It's My Turn
- Title: It's My Turn
- Artist: Diana Ross
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 11 January 1981
- UK Peak: #16 (Peak Date: 1 February 1981)
- US First Charted: 25 October 1980
- US Peak: #9
- UK Now Appearances: 1
Duran Duran - Careless Memories
- Title: Careless Memories
- Artist: Duran Duran
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 10 May 1981
- UK Peak: #37 (Peak Date: 17 May 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 1
Duran Duran - My Own Way
- Title: My Own Way
- Artist: Duran Duran
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 22 November 1981
- UK Peak: #14 (Peak Date: 13 December 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 1
Electric Light Orchestra - Twilight
- Title: Twilight
- Artist: Electric Light Orchestra
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 18 October 1981
- UK Peak: #30 (Peak Date: 1 November 1981)
- US First Charted: 24 October 1981
- US Peak: #38
- UK Now Appearances: 1
Godley and Creme - Wedding Bells
- Title: Wedding Bells
- Artist: Godley and Creme
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 15 November 1981
- UK Peak: #7 (Peak Date: 20 December 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 1
Graham Bonnet - Night Games
- Title: Night Games
- Artist: Graham Bonnet
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 15 March 1981
- UK Peak: #6 (Peak Date: 12 April 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 1
Grover Washington Jr/Bill Withers - Just The Two Of Us
- Title: Just The Two Of Us
- Artist: Grover Washington Jr, Bill Withers
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 16 May 1981
- UK Peak: #34
- US First Charted: 14 February 1981
- US Peak: #2
- UK Now Appearances: 3
Hall and Oates - You Make My Dreams (Come True)
- Title: You Make My Dreams (Come True)
- Artist: Hall and Oates
Click for full song details - Original Year: 1980
- UK Now Appearances: 6
Heaven 17 - Play To Win
- Title: Play To Win
- Artist: Heaven 17
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 30 August 1981
- UK Peak: #46 (Peak Date: 4 October 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 4
The Human League - Open Your Heart
- Title: Open Your Heart
- Artist: The Human League
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 4 October 1981
- UK Peak: #6 (Peak Date: 11 October 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 3
The Human League - The Sound Of The Crowd
- Title: The Sound Of The Crowd
- Artist: The Human League
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 26 April 1981
- UK Peak: #12 (Peak Date: 24 May 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 5
The Jam - Absolute Beginners
- Title: Absolute Beginners
- Artist: The Jam
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 18 October 1981
- UK Peak: #4 (Peak Date: 25 October 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 2
The Jam - Funeral Pyre
- Title: Funeral Pyre
- Artist: The Jam
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 31 May 1981
- UK Peak: #4 (Peak Date: 31 May 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 1
Japan - The Art Of Parties
- Title: The Art Of Parties
- Artist: Japan
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 3 May 1981
- UK Peak: #48 (Peak Date: 10 May 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 2
Japan - Visions of China
- Title: Visions Of China
- Artist: Japan
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 1 November 1981
- UK Peak: #32 (Peak Date: 8 November 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 1
John Lennon - Watching The Wheels
- Title: Watching The Wheels
- Artist: John Lennon
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 4 April 1981
- UK Peak: #40
- US First Charted: 28 March 1981
- US Peak: #10
- UK Now Appearances: 2
Juice Newton - Angel Of The Morning
- Title: Angel Of The Morning
- Artist: Juice Newton
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 26 April 1981
- UK Peak: #43 (Peak Date: 17 May 1981)
- US First Charted: 21 February 1981
- US Peak: #4
- UK Now Appearances: 6
Keith Marshall - Only Crying
- Title: Only Crying
- Artist: Keith Marshall
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 29 March 1981
- UK Peak: #12 (Peak Date: 3 May 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 1
Kim Wilde - Chequered Love
- Title: Chequered Love
- Artist: Kim Wilde
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 3 May 1981
- UK Peak: #4 (Peak Date: 17 May 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 3
Kirsty MacColl - There's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis
- Title: There's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis
- Artist: Kirsty MacColl
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 7 June 1981
- UK Peak: #14 (Peak Date: 12 July 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 1
Kool and the Gang - Steppin' Out
- Title: Steppin' Out
- Artist: Kool and the Gang
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 25 October 1981
- UK Peak: #12 (Peak Date: 29 November 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 1
Louis Clark and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - Hooked On Classics
- Title: Hooked On Classics
- Artist: Louis Clark, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 19 July 1981
- UK Peak: #2 (Peak Date: 9 August 1981)
- US First Charted: 31 October 1981
- US Peak: #10
- UK Now Appearances: 3
Madness - The Return of the Los Palmas 7
- Title: The Return of the Los Palmas 7
- Artist: Madness
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 24 January 1981
- UK Peak: #7
- UK Now Appearances: 2
Madness - Shut Up
- Title: Shut Up
- Artist: Madness
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 20 September 1981
- UK Peak: #7 (Peak Date: 4 October 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 1
Modern Romance - Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey
- Title: Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey
- Artist: Modern Romance
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 1 November 1981
- UK Peak: #10 (Peak Date: 29 November 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 1
New Order - Ceremony
- Title: Ceremony
- Artist: New Order
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 8 March 1981
- UK Peak: #34 (Peak Date: 15 March 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 1
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Joan of Arc
- Title: Joan Of Arc
- Artist: Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 18 October 1981
- UK Peak: #5 (Peak Date: 8 November 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 2
Our Daughter's Wedding - Lawnchairs
- Title: Lawnchairs
- Artist: Our Daughter's Wedding
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 26 July 1981
- UK Peak: #49 (Peak Date: 9 August 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 3
The Pointer Sisters - Slow Hand
- Title: Slow Hand
- Artist: The Pointer Sisters
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 16 August 1981
- UK Peak: #10 (Peak Date: 20 September 1981)
- US First Charted: 30 May 1981
- US Peak: #2
- UK Now Appearances: 1
The Police - Invisible Sun
- Title: Invisible Sun
- Artist: The Police
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 20 September 1981
- UK Peak: #2 (Peak Date: 27 September 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 2
Pretenders - Message of Love
- Title: Message Of Love
- Artist: Pretenders
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 8 February 1981
- UK Peak: #11 (Peak Date: 15 February 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 2
The Psychedelic Furs - Pretty In Pink
- Title: Pretty In Pink
- Artist: The Psychedelic Furs
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 21 June 1981
- UK Peak: #18 (Peak Date: 14 September 1986)
- US First Charted: 12 April 1986
- US Peak: #41
- UK Now Appearances: 5
Public Image Ltd - Flowers Of Romance
- Title: Flowers Of Romance
- Artist: Public Image Ltd
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 4 April 1981
- UK Peak: #24
- UK Now Appearances: 1
REO Speedwagon - Take It On The Run
- Title: Take It On The Run
- Artist: REO Speedwagon
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 21 June 1981
- UK Peak: #19 (Peak Date: 16 August 1981)
- US First Charted: 21 March 1981
- US Peak: #5
- UK Now Appearances: 1
Randy Crawford - You Might Need Somebody
- Title: You Might Need Somebody
- Artist: Randy Crawford
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 24 May 1981
- UK Peak: #11 (Peak Date: 12 July 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 1
Rick Springfield - Jessie's Girl
- Title: Jessie's Girl
- Artist: Rick Springfield
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 11 March 1984
- UK Peak: #43 (Peak Date: 1 April 1984)
- US First Charted: 28 March 1981
- US Peak: #1
- UK Now Appearances: 5
- USA Now Appearances: 1
(Data for USA Now releases is still being completed)
Shakin' Stevens - You Drive Me Crazy
- Title: You Drive Me Crazy
- Artist: Shakin' Stevens
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 26 April 1981
- UK Peak: #2 (Peak Date: 10 May 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 1
Shalamar - Make That Move
- Title: Make That Move
- Artist: Shalamar
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 22 March 1981
- UK Peak: #30 (Peak Date: 26 April 1981)
- US First Charted: 25 April 1981
- US Peak: #60
- UK Now Appearances: 2
Simple Minds - The American
- Title: The American
- Artist: Simple Minds
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 17 May 1981
- UK Peak: #59 (Peak Date: 24 May 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 3
Siouxsie and the Banshees - Arabian Knights
- Title: Arabian Knights
- Artist: Siouxsie and the Banshees
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 26 July 1981
- UK Peak: #32 (Peak Date: 16 August 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 1
Soft Cell - Bedsitter
- Title: Bedsitter
- Artist: Soft Cell
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 8 November 1981
- UK Peak: #4 (Peak Date: 29 November 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 4
Spandau Ballet - The Freeze
- Title: The Freeze
- Artist: Spandau Ballet
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 18 January 1981
- UK Peak: #17 (Peak Date: 1 February 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 3
Spandau Ballet - Musclebound
- Title: Musclebound
- Artist: Spandau Ballet
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 4 April 1981
- UK Peak: #10
- UK Now Appearances: 2
Stray Cats - Stray Cat Strut
- Title: Stray Cat Strut
- Artist: Stray Cats
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 19 April 1981
- UK Peak: #11 (Peak Date: 17 May 1981)
- US First Charted: 25 December 1982
- US Peak: #3
- UK Now Appearances: 1
Sugar Minott - Good Thing Going (We've Got A Good Thing Going)
- Title: Good Thing Going (We've Got A Good Thing Going)
- Artist: Sugar Minott
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 22 March 1981
- UK Peak: #4 (Peak Date: 19 April 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 4
Susan Fassbender - Twilight Cafe
- Title: Twilight Cafe
- Artist: Susan Fassbender
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 11 January 1981
- UK Peak: #21 (Peak Date: 1 February 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 1
The Teardrop Explodes - Passionate Friend
- Title: Passionate Friend
- Artist: The Teardrop Explodes
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 23 August 1981
- UK Peak: #25 (Peak Date: 27 September 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 1
The Teardrop Explodes - Treason (It's Just A Story)
- Title: Treason (It's Just A Story)
- Artist: The Teardrop Explodes
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 26 April 1981
- UK Peak: #18 (Peak Date: 17 May 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 2
Tears for Fears - Suffer The Children
- Title: Suffer The Children
- Artist: Tears for Fears
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 25 August 1985
- UK Peak: #52 (Peak Date: 1 September 1985)
- UK Now Appearances: 1
Tom Tom Club - Genius Of Love
- Title: Genius Of Love
- Artist: Tom Tom Club
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 4 October 1981
- UK Peak: #65 (Peak Date: 11 October 1981)
- US First Charted: 23 January 1982
- US Peak: #31
- UK Now Appearances: 1
Toyah - I Want To Be Free
- Title: I Want To Be Free
- Artist: Toyah
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 10 May 1981
- UK Peak: #8 (Peak Date: 31 May 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 2
The Tweets - Birdie Song
- Title: Birdie Song
- Artist: The Tweets
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 6 September 1981
- UK Peak: #2 (Peak Date: 4 October 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 2
U2 - Gloria
- Title: Gloria
- Artist: U2
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 11 October 1981
- UK Peak: #55 (Peak Date: 18 October 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 2
UB40 - Don't Slow Down
- Title: Don't Slow Down
- Artist: UB40
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 17 May 1981
- UK Peak: #16 (Peak Date: 24 May 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 2
Visage - Mind Of A Toy
- Title: Mind Of A Toy
- Artist: Visage
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 8 March 1981
- UK Peak: #13 (Peak Date: 29 March 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 3
Visage - Visage
- Title: Visage
- Artist: Visage
Click for full song details - UK First Charted: 5 July 1981
- UK Peak: #21 (Peak Date: 26 July 1981)
- UK Now Appearances: 3