Description
In 2023 we began our hugely successful 80s 12â series on cd â a year-by-year journey through the greatest 12â singles from the decade, and last year we presented a selection of the tracks from 1980-1982 as our first round-up on vinyl.
Now Music is proud to announce the second of this vinyl series, NOW PresentsâŠ12" 80s: Volume Two: 1983-1984, as a stunning 5-LP boxset. A limited edition and numbered set with each of the 5-LPs pressed in a different colour vinyl â blue, hot pink, orange, yellow and green, to be released on October 17th, 2025, and for many tracks this marks the first time back on vinyl since their original 12â release!
Kicking off in 1983 with Wham and the 12â version of their #2 smash âBad Boysâ ahead of the massive collaboration between Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson on âSay Say Sayâ in its extended version. Spandau Ballet, Eurythmics and The Cure with the extended version of âThe Lovecatsâ complete the first side, and Tears For Fears open the flip side with âChangeâ ahead of some of the best extended pop from â83, including from Altered Images, Haysi Fantayzee, Men Without Hats, and finishing with the extended version of the debut hit for Marilyn âCalling Your Nameâ. LP2âs first side is a celebration of 1983âs fusion of synth-pop, electronic beats and hip-hop influence and vocals. First up, the most successful 12â single of the decade; âBlue Mondayâ from New Order, alongside the massive âI.O.Uâ (Megamix) from Freeez, Rock Steady Crewâs extended version of â(Hey You) The Rock Steady Crewâ and the genre-melding âDouble Dutchâ from Malcolm McLaren â while over on Side B, huge floor-fillers from Lionel Richie with the 12â Version of âAll Night Long (All Night)â, KC & The Sunshine Band with the #1 âGive It Upâ, here in its âJohn Luongo Disco Mixâ, plus Donna Summer, Laura Branigan and Matthew Wilderâs enduringly popular âBreak My Strideâ.
LP3 contains a mixture of essential 12ââs from both â83 and â84, with a trio of iconic tracks opening; extended mixes of Heaven 17âs âTemptationâ and The Human Leagueâs â(Keep Feeling) Fascinationâ. More peerless pop from Bananarama and Adam Ant finish side A â whilst side B celebrates Hi-Energy gold from Frankie Goes To Hollywood with the âNew York Mixâ of âRelaxâ, Evelyn Thomas and the extended anthemic âHigh Energyâ alongside Bronski Beat with âWhyâ and Dead Or Aliveâs breakthrough chart hit âThatâs The Way (I Like It)â in its extended version.
LP4 opens with a side of massive chart hits from Culture Club with their mash-up US 12â mix of âItâs A Miracleâ and âMiss Me Blindâ and Tina Turner with her signature âWhatâs Love Got To Do With Itâ (Extended 12â Remix), âI Feel For Youâ hit the top spot for Chaka Khan, and Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel had a massive hit with âWhite Lines (Donât Do It)â â the 12â Long Version is included here. Flip the LP over for more essential h-energy from Hazell Dean and Divine, plus 80s disco favourites from The Pointer Sisters and Miami Sound Machine.
The final LP kicks off with the âDance Mixâ of Duran Duranâs huge #1 âThe Reflexâ ahead of extended versions of 1984âs sophisticated synth pop from Nik Kershaw and Howard Jones, plus Scritti Politti with their sublime âAbsoluteâ (Version), before the side closes with the 12â Version of âPearly Dewdropsâ Dropsâ â a timeless gem from the Cocteau Twins and over on the last side three incredible 12âs: âThe Killing Moonâ gave Echo & The Bunnymen their second Top 10 single and has become a contemporary classic â featured here as the 12â âUp All Night Versionâ â Propaganda made their debut with âDr Mabuseâ and âDas Testament Des Dr Mabuseâ (12â Edit for Germany) still sounds as breathtaking 40 years on and to close this amazing collection, a second appearance from Frankie Goes To Hollywood: âTwo Tribesâ, was not only their second single in the decade end Top 5, but also spent longer â 9 weeks â at #1 than any other song â and the legendary âAnnihilationâ mix is the perfect way to sign off on this stunning collection, bringing 44 essential 12â versions together on one vinyl set.