NOW – Yearbook 1989 (4CD)

NOW is proud to present the next instalment in our ongoing ‘Yearbook’ series, and the final one representing an individual year from the 1980s: NOW – Yearbook 1989. 78 tracks across 4CDs – celebrating a magnificent and eclectic year in pop!

CD1 opens with ‘I Want It All’ the lead single from Queen’s ’89 album ‘The Miracle’ ahead of massive and enduring rock-pop anthems – as popular today as they were more than 30 years ago – from Billy Joel with ‘We Didn’t Start The Fire’, Tina Turner with ‘The Best’ and Cher’s smash ‘If I Could Turn Back Time’. Huge hits from Belinda Carlisle and Deborah Harry are followed by the single version of the title track from Chris Rea’s first #1 album ‘The Road To Hell’. Stunning songs from Mike + The Mechanics (‘The Living Years’), and Simple Minds – the #1 ‘Belfast Child’ are up next along with Gladys Knight’s theme to ‘89’s new Bond movie ‘Licence To Kill’…. Lisa Stansfield was one of the year’s biggest new artists as were Soul II Soul & Caron Wheeler – both their #1s ‘All Around The World’, and ‘Back To Life (However Do You Want Me)’ feature, as does the chart debut from Neneh Cherry, ‘Buffalo Stance’. Power pop hits from Fine Young Cannibals and Roxette are joined by ‘Love Train’, the Top 5 solo debut for Holly Johnson – before three productions from Stock, Aitken & Waterman complete the first disc: #1s from Jason Donovan with ‘Too Many Broken Hearts’ – from 1989’s biggest selling album ‘Ten Good Reasons’ - and Kylie Minogue with her third UK chart topper ‘Hand On My Heart’ – whilst Bananarama’s cover of ‘Help!’ with ‘help’ from Lananeeneenoonoo, was a Top 3 smash and the years’ ‘Comic Relief’ single…

The #1 collaboration between Marc Almond and Gene Pitney, ‘Something’s Gotten Hold Of My Heart’ opens Disc 2, followed by pop-dance gems from Jimmy Somerville featuring June Miles Kingston and two more of Stock, Aitken and Waterman’s biggest hits; a global smash for Donna Summer with ‘This Time I Know It’s For Real’, and the debut single and #1 from Sonia, ‘You’ll Never Stop Me Loving You’. Following pure high energy pop from Debbie Gibson and London Boys, Liza Minnelli enjoyed a Top 10 hit with ‘Losing My Mind’ featuring production from the Pet Shop Boys… New Order and Kon Kan hit with synth pop classics, and Transvision Vamp and Roachford both secured their highest chart placings… The UK chart debut and #1 ‘You Got It (The Right Stuff)’ for New Kids On The Block is up next and another debut in 1989 saw The Beautiful South hit #2 – and the disc closes with a #1 multi-artist charity single – a cover of ‘Ferry ‘Cross The Mersey’ that was released in aid of those affected by the Hillsborough Disaster.

Tears For Fears returned in 1989 with a new album ‘The Seeds Of Love’ – and the lead single ‘Sowing The Seeds Of Love’ opens Disc 3 and begins a stellar run of alt-pop and synth led hits – including from Duran Duran (‘All She Wants Is’), Electronic (‘Getting Away With It’), plus R.E.M with ‘Orange Crush’, ‘Lullaby’ from The Cure, ‘Of Course I’m Lying’ from Yello and Pet Shop Boys with ‘It’s Alright’… As the decade neared its close, dance music was becoming hugely popular and evolving into multiple new sub-genres, and some of the biggest club tracks from 808 State, and The Beloved feature alongside The Stone Roses who would become one of the leading bands to emerge in the era fusing indie pop and dance… Shakespears Sister made their debut with ‘You’re History’ whilst Alice Cooper enjoyed his biggest hit in over 15 years with ‘Poison’ - and the disc finishes with power ballads from Martika, Will To Power and Boy Meets Girl with ‘Waiting For A Star To Fall’.

The final disc is a celebration of some of the decade’s greatest pop and dance hits, but opens with trio of huge ballads: beginning with the Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan collaboration ‘Especially For You’ which spent the last few weeks of 1988 at #2, finally claiming the #1 spot in January 1989 – followed by The Bangles who enjoyed their biggest hit with #1 ‘Eternal Flame’ and ‘Stop’ the debut smash for Sam Brown. Holly Johnson makes a second appearance, as do Donna Summer, Neneh Cherry and Soul II Soul & Caron Wheeler. The biggest selling single of 1989 was also the year’s biggest floor-filler, ‘Ride On Time’ from Black Box kicks off an amazing run of club classics including from Coldcut feat. Lisa Stansfield, Technotronic, and Kym Mazelle and Robert Howard with their duet ‘Wait’. A run of big hit ballads from Simply Red, Richard Marx, Gloria Estefan and Cliff Richard take the collection to its final two tracks: Jason Donovan with his December #2 ‘When You Come Back To Me’ – and fittingly closing with 1989’s Christmas #1 and the last #1 of the 1980s; five years on from the original, ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ a new version of the song from the newly assembled Band Aid II.

NOW – Yearbook 1989 – an essential addition to every music collection – a celebration of the diversity and creativity in a truly stellar year for pop!