Various – NOW Presents… The 80s

It’s time to celebrate an amazing era for pop music – the next in our series of ‘NOW Presents’ 5-LP boxsets, featuring 78 huge hits, including 40 #1s, over 10 sides of vinyl, pressed in 5 different colours, one for each LP – red, yellow, pink, green and blue.

Time to immerse yourself in the decade that never stops: ‘NOW Presents…The 80s’.

Opening with one of Queen’s signature anthems ‘I Want To Break Free’, and followed by the incredible ‘Every Breath You Take’ from The Police and Eurythmics with ‘Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)’, this massive collection continues with #1s from The Dead Or Alive, Human League, and Soft Cell, and huge hits from Heaven 17 and the side closer ‘Vienna’ from Ultravox… Over on the other side, the dancefloor beckons with #1s from Whitney Houston with ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody…’, ‘I Feel For You’ from Chaka Khan and the legendary hip-hop track ‘White Lines (Don’t Do It)’ from Grandmaster Melle Mel. The Communards with Sarah Jane Morris with their superb cover of ‘Don’t Leave Me This Way’ feature along with Donna Summer, Yazz & The Plastic Population and the movie theme monster hit ‘Ghostbusters’.

The first side of LP2 includes legends Billy Joel, Paul Simon and Dolly Parton, alongside reggae and ska influenced pop #1s from Blondie, UB40, The Specials and Madness with ‘House Of Fun’. More legendary performers on Side 2 including Cher with ‘If I Could Turn Back Time’, the collaboration between Philip Bailey & Phil Collins, ‘Easy Lover’ and huge rock hits from Survivor and ZZ Top, plus massive all-time airplay hits from Robert Palmer and Simple Minds.

LP3 Side A features a stunning line-up of bands that all found massive success in the ‘80s, including Duran Duran, Culture Club, Adam & The Ants, A-Ha and Spandau Ballet… whilst over on Side 2, electronic pop, opening with the peerless ‘Blue Monday’ from New Order, and followed by the #1 ‘Heart’ from Pet Shop Boys. Film theme hits ‘Together in Electric Dreams’ and ‘Never Ending Story’ follow before electro-pop gems from Kim Wilde, Nena, and ‘19’ from Paul Hardcastle closes the LP.

LP4 opens with timeless hits from Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Bonnie Tyler and T’Pau alongside ‘Africa’ from Toto, and new wave smashes from The Clash, The Jam and the decades’ first new #1 ‘Brass In Pocket’ from the Pretenders, while over on the reverse side beautiful ballads from Paul McCartney and Lionel Richie lead into the sublime ‘Back To Life’ from Soul II Soul & Caron Wheeler ahead of floor-fillers from Shalamar, Irene Cara, and Sonia, before closing with pop classics from Billy Ocean and Cliff Richard with ‘Wired For Sound’.

The final LP in the set gets underway with the massive #1s ‘Take My Breath Away’ from Berlin and ‘Heaven Is A Place On Earth’ from Belinda Carlisle. Tears for Fears’ worldwide hit ‘Everybody Wants To Rule The World’ leads to the iconic ‘Relax’ from Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Sinitta’s up next, while the remainder of the side celebrates the writing and production team Stock, Aitken and Waterman with #1s from Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Rick Astley. The final side opens with one of Elton John’s signature songs ‘I’m Still Standing’. Party favourites ‘Footloose’, ‘Come On Eileen’ and ‘Break My Stride’ follow, and the collection moves to its conclusion with more pop gold from Nik Kershaw and Paul Young whilst the last word is given to the biggest selling single of the 1980s and a truly inspirational Christmas classic; 1984’s ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ from Band Aid.

For all vinyl collectors – 78 amazing pop moments showcasing the magic and diversity of the era for hit singles.

5 x Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Stereo, Red, Yellow, Pink, Green, Blue