NOW – Yearbook 1989 (3LP)

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. 42 tracks across 3LPs, pressed in stunning pink vinyl…celebrating a magnificent and eclectic year in pop!

LP1 opens with ‘I Want It All’ the lead single from Queen’s ’89 album ‘The Miracle’, ahead of Simple Minds stunning #1 ‘Belfast Child’. Tears For Fears returned in 1989 with a new album ‘The Seeds Of Love’ – and the lead single ‘Sowing The Seeds Of Love’ is featured along with ‘Love Train’, the Top 5 solo debut for Holly Johnson. The first side closes with ‘All Around The World’, #1 for one of ‘89’s biggest new chart stars, Lisa Stansfield… Flip the album over for a side of dance-floor-fillers: The biggest selling single of 1989 was ‘Ride On Time’ from Black Box, and this kicks off an amazing run including Kym Mazelle and Robert Howard with their duet ‘Wait’, the chart debut from Neneh Cherry, ‘Buffalo Stance’, and the #1 ‘Back To Life (However Do You Want Me)’ from Soul II Soul & Caron Wheeler… plus a huge U.S. chart-topper ‘Straight Up’ from Paula Abdul. The writing and production team of Stock, Aitken and Waterman had a hit packed 1989 and the remaining three tracks on LP1 are all their productions: A global smash for Donna Summer with ‘This Time I Know It’s For Real’, the debut single and #1 from Sonia, ‘You’ll Never Stop Me Loving You’ and another #1 from Jason Donovan with ‘Too Many Broken Hearts’ – from 1989’s biggest selling album ‘Ten Good Reasons’.

LP2 kicks off with a run of enduring rock-pop anthems – as popular today as they were more than 30 years ago – Tina Turner with ‘The Best’ followed by Cher’s smash ‘If I Could Turn Back Time’ – along with Belinda Carlisle, Martika and Billy Joel with ‘We Didn’t Start The Fire’. The single version of the title track from Chris Rea’s first #1 album ‘The Road To Hell’ features ahead of the side closer from Gladys Knight with the theme to ‘89’s new Bond movie ‘Licence To Kill’…whilst over on the other side a stellar run of alt-pop and synth led hits opening with the peerless ‘Lullaby’ from The Cure before Electronic, Yello, R.E.M and The Stone Roses. Shakespears Sister made their debut with ‘You’re History’, and completing LP2 another chart debut – for Edie Brickell & New Bohemians with ‘What I Am’.

The final LP opens with the #1 collaboration between Marc Almond and Gene Pitney, ‘Something’s Gotten Hold Of My Heart’, followed by pop-dance gems from Jimmy Somerville featuring June Miles Kingston, London Boys and Liza Minnelli who 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 Malcolm McLaren completes the side with ‘Waltz Darling’… and the final side begins 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. Other huge ballads are featured from The Bangles who enjoyed their biggest hit with #1 ‘Eternal Flame’ and ‘Stop’ the debut smash for Sam Brown – while sophisticated pop from Pet Shop Boys, Duran Duran and Deborah Harry are all included, the sign off track on this vinyl edition is ‘The Living Years’, a beautiful production and a worldwide smash for Mike + The Mechanics.

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