NOW That’s What I Call 80s Dancefloor: R&B & FUNK (2LP) & NOW Yearbook – Collectors EP 7” Single

NOW Music is proud to present the fourth in our ongoing series of vinyl compilations, NOW That’s What I Call 80s Dancefloor. Each edition features an essential collection of tracks representing key genres of 1980’s Dance music. This volume, featuring 30 tracks across 2 LPs pressed on hot red and white vinyl, presents the best from the era of R&B & Funk.

The first side opens with the era-defining ‘Word Up!’ from Cameo, followed by two legendary vocalists - Barry White with his ’87 smash ‘Sho’ You Right’, and James Brown with ‘Living In America’ from the ‘Rocky IV’ soundtrack. Although originally released in the ‘70s, the next pair were massive as ‘rare-groove’ classics and set dance-floors on fire in 1987 - Maceo And The Macks with ‘Cross The Tracks’ and the Jackson Sisters with ‘I Believe In Miracles’. Huge Chart hits from Jermaine Jackson, Kool & The Gang and The Gap Band close out Side A. 

Side B finds its’ groove with two of the decades’ best from Alexander O’Neal with ‘Fake’ from his Jam & Lewis produced ‘Hearsay’ album and Aretha Franklin’s ‘Freeway Of Love’ from her superb album ‘Who’s Zoomin’ Who’, whilst the rest of this side features some of the slickest dance-floor fusions from Sheila E., Oliver Cheatham, The S.O.S. Band, and early 80s Britfunk from Freeez with the sublime ‘Southern Freeez’.

LP2 kicks off with a run of tracks that build on a foundation of funky R&B in conjunction with electronic beats and hooks – including ‘Let It All Blow’ from the Dazz Band, Sly Fox with the huge hit ‘Let’s Go All The Way’ and Rockwell with guest vocals from Michael Jackson on ‘Somebody’s Watching Me’. Funk pioneers Sly & Robbie & Shinehead scored their biggest crossover hit with ‘Boops (Here To Go)’, and UK Funk achieved major chart success for Level 42, and Shakatak.

The final side celebrates some of the decades’ new R&B superstars - Bobby Brown, and Jody Watley both achieved global success, Natalie Cole enjoyed a renaissance with ‘Pink Cadillac’ amongst other hits, and Keith Sweat, Pebbles, René & Angela and Vesta Williams are all featured with their signature floor-fillers.

A Limited edition pressing, and an essential addition to any collection. Perfect for collectors, DJs, and anyone who just wants to get down to the greatest dance-floor-fillers of the ‘80s. NOW That’s What I Call 80s Dancefloor: R&B & Funk is released on May 17^th 2024.

*Picture shows both sides of the cover and record for this 4-track 7” EP. In the past 14 months, we’ve presented the first 5 ‘NOW – YEARBOOK’ releases that have, along with their ‘extras’, celebrated the diversity, creative brilliance and pop magic of the singles charts between 1980 and 1984.

For Yearbook collectors and vinyl fans, we have created a very special 4-track 7” Single (the first ever from NOW!) that looks back to celebrate our first 2 Yearbook releases - 1983 and 1984.

A one-run limited pressing – exclusively available at nowmusic.com, with two tracks from the first two Yearbooks on each side.