NOW That’s What I Call An Era: Sound Of The Suburbs (Special Edition 4CD)

In celebration of one of the most dynamic and diverse periods ever in the singles charts, NOW are proud to present ‘NOW That’s What I Call An Era: The Sound Of The Suburbs’ – this special edition 4-CD is encased in ‘hardback book’ packaging, which includes a 28-page booklet packed with notes about all of the 80 featured tracks! Spanning multiple genres that contributed to the rich diversity of the era – including punk, new wave, reggae, ska, mod and electronic – between 1977 and the end of 1980, and all of which would inspire the wave of new art and club influenced pop that would come to define the musical landscape of the early 80s….

Kicking off with punk & new wave classics from The Clash with the iconic ‘London Calling’, the Ramones, Iggy Pop, The Jam and The Boomtown Rats who were the first punk/new wave band to have a #1 single, with ‘Rat Trap’. The Undertones created a defining anthem, and Siouxsie And The Banshees began a run of hit singles that would last for more than fifteen years… Unforgettable chart debuts from The Rezillos, Plastic Bertrand and Martha And The Muffins feature alongside early hits for bands that would rate amongst the most influential of all time including The Cure and Joy Division. Dexys Midnight Runners took a fusion of soul and new wave to #1 – plus artists that had their roots in punk and found massive success with new wave pop are here - including Blondie, Squeeze, the Pretenders and Adam & The Ants…

The collection’s subtitle, ‘The Sound Of The Suburbs’, opens Disc 2 from The Members, along with punk anthems from The Stranglers, The Ruts, The Runaways and a second defining track from the Ramones… Patti Smith hit the chart with ‘Because The Night’, and Joe Jackson, Elvis Costello and Jonathan Richman all feature with signature self-penned songs. The Tom Robinson Band, Dr. Feelgood, Generation X, and The Skids all enjoyed chart success with anthemic singles – and the disc is rounded off with energetic punk-pop from Sham 69 and The Dickies with their take on tv theme ‘Banana Splits’…

Fusing traditional ska, reggae, rocksteady and new wave, The Specials, Madness, The Selecter, The Beat and Bad Manners open Disc 3 with a stellar run, ahead of reggae influenced singles from UB40 and The Clash. New wave cover versions feature from Grace Jones with ‘Love Is The Drug’, Devo with ‘(I Can’t Get Me No) Satisfaction’, Blondie with ‘Hanging On The Telephone’, and the Pretenders, who made their debut in 1979 with ‘Stop Your Sobbing’. Power-pop/new wave hits from The Motors and The Jags bring the disc to a close along with the combination of punk, mod and pop from Secret Affair and The Jam.

The final disc presents The B-52’s, Adam & The Ants, Toyah, Hazel O’Connor, and Bow Wow Wow with new wave pop gems, and post-punk from Siouxsie And The Banshees, The Psychedelic Furs and Joy Division. The remainder of the disc celebrates the fusing of new wave attitude with electronic music to create hugely influential synth-pop that would set the direction for the new decade, featuring a stellar line-up including Japan, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, The Human League, Devo, Sparks, John Foxx, Spandau Ballet, Ultravox, and #1’s from Tubeway Army with ‘Are ‘Friends’ Electric?’ and The Buggles with their 1979 chart topper ‘Video Killed The Radio Star’ – which in 1981 would become the first music video shown on MTV…

Whether you were there at the time or have discovered this incredible music since – we are delighted to present the sounds of an ERA…. NOW That’s What I Call An Era: The Sound Of The Suburbs. 1977-1980 – Out February 7th!