NOW Yearbook - THE VAULT: 1982 (Special Edition 4CD)

1982 was a stellar year in pop music. We have already included more than 150 tracks on the CDs of the 1982 Yearbook, the 80-84 Final Chapter, and their extras so far in our appreciation of the year.

Those tracks were generally the bigger hits of the year, with their chart achievement a factor in their inclusion – however – that’s not the whole singles story of the year, and our celebration of 1982 wouldn’t be complete without shining a light on some of that year’s singles that have been compiled much less frequently over the past 40 years.

Welcome to THE VAULT for 1982. Some of the tracks included were Top 40 hits, some missed the chart completely. Some were representative of massive selling albums, and some were big hits in the U.S. and not in the U.K, but all are part of the wonderful pop story of 1982.

80 tracks across 4-CDs – NOW Yearbook – The Vault: 1982, available as a special edition 4-CD that comes in ‘hardback book’ packaging featuring a 28-page booklet, including notes about each track.

Opening in era-defining style with ‘The Hanging Garden’ from The Cure, taken from their album ‘Pornography’, and Bauhaus with ‘Spirit’ ahead of the collaboration ‘Bamboo Houses’ from David Sylvian & Ryuichi Sakamoto. A single in the U.S., ‘Secret Journey’ from The Police comes ahead of ‘Athena’ from The Who, and ‘Valerie’ from Steve Winwood – which would be a bigger hit when remixed five years later. A stunning trio of singles from Paul McCartney, Elton John and Elvis Costello & The Attractions follow before new wave and post-punk gems including from The Clash, Stiff Little Fingers, Theatre Of Hate and XTC. Indie-pop from The Pale Fountains leads into melancholic pop from The Teardrop Explodes, Spandau Ballet and Kim Wilde before the first disc signs off with ‘Cheers Then’ from Bananarama and Siouxsie And The Banshees’ interpretation of the traditional French carol, ‘Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant’.

Disc 2 kicks off with a run of pure pop: Culture Club’s ‘I’m Afraid Of Me’ was the single before their #1 breakthrough, and is joined by Bow Wow Wow, The Belle Stars, Haysi Fantayzee and Toyah with a re-recording of her 1980 classic ‘Ieya’. Reggae influenced tracks from The Boomtown Rats, UB40 and Grace Jones are featured alongside Fun Boy Three’s cover of ‘Summertime – and next up – a run of singles from newer chart artists including Monsoon, Classix Nouveaux, Blue Zoo and A Flock Of Seagulls. A trio of synth-pop essentials closes Disc Two: Visage with ‘Pleasure Boys’ their third single in 1982, Blancmange with ‘Feel Me’ – their second single (and the next would be their Top 10 breakthrough) and ‘Flowers’ by singer-songwriter Zaine Griff – produced by Hans Zimmer and featuring unmistakable backing vocals by Kate Bush.

The fusions of Electronic Music with hip hop and disco are celebrated on Disc 3 – opening with three huge tracks: ‘Planet Rock’ from Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force, the floor-filling ‘Loopzilla’ from George Clinton and ‘Let It Whip’ a Top 5 U.S. smash from the Dazz Band. Soul influenced pop from Earth, Wind & Fire, Odyssey and Kool & The Gang comes ahead of Imagination who created one of 1982’s essential albums with ‘In The Heat Of The Night’, from which this title track was taken as a single. Jazz-funk from Shakatak is followed by retro and jazz-influenced pop and dance cuts from Mari Wilson, Blue Rondo A La Turk and Level 42. The rest of Disc 3 features newer rock acts, Marillion and Men At Work, alongside established artists including Mike Oldfield, Bill Wyman, Chris Rea and finishing with ‘No Love’ by Joan Armatrading, taken from her album ‘Walk Under Ladders’.

Disc Four celebrates what was happening in the U.S. in 1982. ‘Atlantic City’ from Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Nebraska’ leads the final disc, ahead of a run of huge stars including Billy Joel, John Mellencamp, Rick Springfield and Huey Lewis & The News. 1982 would be the year that Daryl Hall & John Oates broke through in the UK with two Top 10 hits – but here featuring their U.S. Top 10 ‘Did It In A Minute’. Michael McDonald hit the Top 5 in the States with his debut solo single ‘I Keep Forgettin’, and Aretha Franklin had an R&B #1 with ‘Jump To It’. U.S. new wave from The Go-Go’s, The Waitresses, The Motels and The B-52s features ahead of rock crossover singles and U.S. hits from The Cars, Quarterflash, Asia (who had the year’s biggest selling album in America) and Journey with their biggest hit, the massive ballad ‘Open Arms’. Neil Diamond hit the U.S. Top 5 with ‘Heartlight’, and Willie Nelson’s cover of ‘Always On My Mind’ was a huge hit, winning ‘Song Of The Year’ and the collection closes with an instrumental theme to a TV series. U.S. Police drama ’Hill Street Blues’ ran for six years and peaked in popularity in 1982 – with its theme by Mike Post feat. Larry Carlton spending over five months on the chart, hitting the Top 10 in the U.S. and #25 in the UK.

NOW Yearbook – The Vault: 1982 – A continued celebration of this magical year in pop!