Now 12" 80's -1982

This week we're starting with a double entry in the Now 12" 80's which is different from the two previous issues in that they've decided there so many great 12" mixes that were issued in 1982 they needed two volumes!

Volume One was issued on January 17th 2024.

Disc one showcases some of the bands who were at the forefront of this culture shift, including Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet and Visage – all having fantastic years with their albums ‘Rio’, ‘Diamond’ and ‘The Anvil’ respectively, plus huge tracks from The Human League with ‘Mirror Man’, Japan with ‘Life In Tokyo’, Gary Numan’s ‘Music For Chameleons’ and ‘Pale Shelter’ from Tears For Fears, all in their extended and remixed versions. 

CD2 presents the best of 82 Disco-Pop from Carly Simon with her Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards produced hit ‘Why’, plus Electro from Rockers Revenge feat. Donnie Calvin with ‘Walking On Sunshine’, and George Clinton’s ‘Loopzilla’. Culture Club had a fantastic year in 1982 with the release of their debut album ‘Kissing To Be Clever’ from which ‘I’m Afraid Of Me’ was the second single, and Bananarama enjoyed early success with their hit single ‘Shy Boy’. This disc closes with Pop classics from The Belle Stars with ‘The Clapping Song’, and the number 1 ‘My Camera Never Lies’ from Bucks Fizz. 

Disco, Funk and Soul lead the way on CD3, featuring massive floor-fillers from Shalamar with ‘A Night To Remember’, ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’ from The Boys Town Gang and an extended remix of ‘Do You Wanna Funk’ from Patrick Cowley feat. Sylvester, plus the smash ‘Just An Illusion’ from Imagination in its 12” version. Latin-tinged Pop from Modern Romance, Funk and Soul infuences from Spandau Ballet, Daryl Hall & John Oates with the extended club mix of ‘I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)’, and the Pure Pop of Haircut 100 complete this disc.

The fourth CD rounds off this volume with Alternative/Rock favourites from New Order, the Associates, Siouxsie & the Banshees and the Cure before moving on to synth driven hits from Simple Minds with the German 12" remix of New Gold Dream, A Flock Of Seagulls Wishing I Had a Photograph Of You, a personal favourite before finishing with Trio and Visage.

It wasn't long before the shape of the Second Volume was announced and on April 12th this much anticipated set was released.

Disc 1 begins with the unforgettable classic ‘Young Guns (Go for It!)’ from Wham!, followed by the ‘Night Version’ of ‘Hungry Like The Wolf’ from Duran Duran’s smash album ‘Rio’. Essential 12” versions from Spandau Ballet and Haircut 100 come next, before brilliant and enhancing 12” mixes of ‘Torch’ from Soft Cell, ‘Night Train’ from Visage and Japan’s ‘European Son’, plus unmissable tracks from Talk Talk, Simple Minds and Heaven 17 bring this first disc to a close.

CD2 begins with timeless Pop from Madness with ‘Our House’, and ‘The Telephone Always Rings’ from Fun Boy Three, before British Pop-Reggae from UB40 with ‘So Here I Am’ and Musical Youth with ‘Youth Of Today’. Funk favourites from Junior and Shakatak feature next, plus innovative style fusions from Monsoon and David Christie…and as if to emphasise how stylistically diverse the charts of 1982 were, Disc 2 closes with the number 1 Euro Disco 12” of ‘Seven Tears’ from the Goombay Dance Band.

CD3 kicks off with the 80s Disco of ‘Get Down On It’ from Kool & The Gang, leading to floor-fillers from Shalamar with ‘There It Is’ and ‘Love Come Down’ from Evelyn "Champagne" King. The Associates and Thomas Dolby head up a run of lesser-compiled Synth-Pop hits from Classix Nouveaux, Blue Zoo, The Mood, Blancmange and Visage… with Simple Minds’ second appearance ‘Glittering Prize’ to conclude the disc.

The final CD is all about 1982’s polished pop and leads with the Jazz Mix of ‘Poison Arrow’ from ABC, and fan favourites from Haircut 100 and Culture Club with ‘Nobody's Fool’ and ‘White Boy’. 12” gems from Bananarama with Fun Boy Three, Bow Wow Wow and Altered Images follow next. 1982 would see ‘Maneater’ become a global smash for Daryl Hall & John Oates – here as it’s 12” remix, and see the release of ‘War Child’ as the last new Blondie single for 17 years. China Crisis debut ‘African And White’ is included in a closing run that features second tracks on this collection from Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, and Soft Cell who get the final word with the aptly titled ‘Say Hello Wave Goodbye’ in its sumptuous 12” version.

1982 was an amazing year for music, specifically British music and these two volumes do full justice to it in its twelve inch form.