NOW Yearbook 1985-1989: The Final Chapter - Various Artists [VINYL]

In 2025 NOW was proud to complete the Yearbooks for the individual years from the 1980's... however, we haven't finished quite yet with the superb pop years 1985-1989. As we did with the decades' first half, we want to present some of the brilliant songs that we didn't get to feature... yet. We proudly present 'NOW - Yearbook 1985-1989: The Final Chapter' - 42 tracks on a 3-LP set pressed on shimmering silver vinyl - celebrating more pop magic from an exceptional time in the UK charts. Opening with Queen's beautiful 'Who Wants To Live Forever' ahead of Pet Shop Boys' debut hit, the #1 'West End Girls' - and Eurythmics with elegant synth-pop on 'It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back)'. UB40 hit the Top 3 in 1985 with 'Don't Break My Heart', and Go West followed their debut with 'Call Me'. Top 10 hits from Living In A Box and Level 42 close the first side, whilst over on the other side a-ha open with 'Train Of Thought', and the line-up includes China Crisis and Simple Minds alongside some of the era's best alt-pop from New Order, The Cure, R.E.M. and The Stranglers. LP2 opens with Freddie Mercury's incredible cover of 'The Great Pretender' and is followed by one of the greatest power-ballads ever from Heart with 'Alone'. The 1989 debut hit from Texas 'I Don't Want A Lover' is up next along with Mike + The Mechanics, Bryan Ferry with 'The Right Stuff' and Paul McCartney's theme from the film 'Spies Like Us'. Flip the LP over for pop gems from Wet Wet Wet and Johnny Hates Jazz - plus, 'Foolish Beat' in 1988 made Debbie Gibson the youngest female artist to write, produce and perform a U.S. #1, with the rest of the side celebrating huge pop-dance hits from Gloria Estefan, Five Star and Bobby Brown and the rap-dance smash 'Me Myself And I' from De La Soul closing the LP. LP3 kicks off with a second appearance on this collection and with another #1 - Pet Shop Boys with the peerless 'It's A Sin'. Next up The Communards 'So Cold The Night' and Bronski Beat with 'Hit That Perfect Beat', leading in to the pure pop of 'I Can't Help It' from Bananarama and 'Cross My Heart' from Eighth Wonder before Dead Or Alive with 'In Too Deep' - their third of four hits in 1985, and 'Dominion' from The Sisters Of Mercy closing the side in truly epic style.and over on the final side. Bruce Springsteen made one of the era's defining albums with 'Born In The USA', and its' lead single 'Dancing In The Dark' opens Disc 3, ahead of rock from Bon Jovi and the collaboration 'Out In The Fields' from Gary Moore & Phil Lynott. The collection closes with a run of soulful vocals from Tina Turner, Alexander O'Neal, Natalie Cole, and with a powerful performance from Whitney Houston on the sign-off 'Didn't We Almost Have It All'. 'NOW - Yearbook 1985-1989: The Final Chapter' - a continued celebration of the diversity and wonderful creativity of this magical era in pop.

Disc 1
1. Who Wants to Live Forever (Remastered 2011) - Queen
2. West End Girls - Pet Shop Boys
3. It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back) - Eurythmics, Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart
4. Don't Break My Heart - UB40
5. Call Me (2022 Remaster) - Go West
6. Blow the House Down - Living in a Box
7. To Be With You Again (7" Version) - Level 42
8. Train of Thought (Remix) - a-ha
9. King for a Day - Thompson Twins
10. King in a Catholic Style (Wake Up) - China Crisis
11. Ghostdancing - Simple Minds
12. State of the Nation - New Order
13. Catch - The Cure
14. Stand - R.E.M.
15. All Day and All of the Night - The Stranglers
Disc 2
1. The Great Pretender - Freddie Mercury
2. Alone (Remastered 2011) - Heart
3. I Don't Want a Lover - Texas
4. Silent Running - Mike + The Mechanics
5. The Right Stuff - Bryan Ferry
6. Spies Like Us (2022 Remaster) - Paul McCartney
7. Angel Eyes (Home and Away) [7" Version] - Wet Wet Wet
8. Turn Back the Clock - Johnny Hates Jazz
9. Foolish Beat - Debbie Gibson
10. Rhythm Is Gonna Get You (Single Version) - Gloria Estefan
11. Find the Time - Five Star
12. Every Little Step - Bobby Brown
13. Me Myself and I - De La Soul
Disc 3
1. It's a Sin - Pet Shop Boys
2. So Cold the Night - The Communards
3. Hit That Perfect Beat - Bronski Beat
4. I Can't Help It - Bananarama
5. Cross My Heart - Eighth Wonder
6. In Too Deep - Dead Or Alive
7. Dominion - The Sisters of Mercy
8. Dancing in the Dark - Bruce Springsteen
9. Born to Be My Baby - Bon Jovi
10. Out in the Fields - Gary Moore & Phil Lynott
11. I Can't Stand the Rain - Tina Turner
12. If You Were Here Tonight (Single Version) - Alexander O'Neal
13. Miss You Like Crazy - Natalie Cole
14. Didn't We Almost Have It All (7" Mix) - Whitney Houston