Various Artists - NOW – Yearbook THE VAULT: 1982 [3LP Yellow]

Format: 3LP Yellow
Catalogue No.: LPYBVNOW82
Barcode: 0198029729719
Release Date: 16 Jan 2026
Genre: Pop

1982 was a stellar year in pop music. We have already included a fantastic selection on the 1982 Yearbook, the 80-84 Final Chapter, and the ‘vinyl extras’ so far in our appreciation of the year.

Those tracks were generally the bigger hits of the year, with their chart achievement a factor in their inclusion – however – that’s not the whole singles story of the year, and our celebration of 1982 wouldn’t be complete without shining a light on some of that year’s singles that have been compiled much less frequently over the past 40 years.

Welcome to THE VAULT for 1982. Some of the tracks included were Top 40 hits, some missed the chart completely. Some were representative of massive selling albums, and some were big hits in the U.S. and not in the U.K, but all are part of the wonderful pop story of 1982.

45 tracks across 3LPs – NOW Yearbook – The Vault: 1982, pressed in transparent yellow vinyl.

Opening in era-defining style with ‘The Hanging Garden’ from The Cure, taken from their album ‘Pornography’, and Bauhaus with ‘Spirit’ ahead of the collaboration ‘Bamboo Houses’ from David Sylvian & Ryuichi Sakamoto. A single in the U.S., ‘Secret Journey’ from The Police comes ahead of ‘Athena’ from The Who, and ‘Valerie’ from Steve Winwood – which would be a bigger hit when remixed five years later and closing the first side a beautiful song – ‘Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)’ from Elton John… and turn the LP over for a run of new wave and post-punk gems including from Elvis Costello, The Clash, Theatre Of Hate and Gang Of Four. Melancholic pop from The Teardrop Explodes leads to LP1s closers from Mike Oldfield, and a classic ‘Tug Of War’ by Paul McCartney.

LP2 kicks off with a run of pure pop: Culture Club’s ‘I’m Afraid Of Me’ was the single before their #1 breakthrough, and is joined by Spandau Ballet, Level 42, Bananarama and Toyah with a re-recording of her 1980 anthem ‘Ieya’. A trio of synth-pop essentials closes the side: Visage with ‘Pleasure Boys’ their third single in 1982, Blancmange with ‘Feel Me’ – their second single, (the next would be their Top 10 breakthrough) and ‘Flowers’ by singer-songwriter Zaine Griff – produced by Hans Zimmer and featuring unmistakable backing vocals by Kate Bush. Over on the other side, the fusions of Electronic Music with hip hop and disco are celebrated, opening with three huge tracks: ‘Planet Rock’ from Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force, the floor-filling ‘Loopzilla’ from George Clinton and ‘Let It Whip’ a Top 5 U.S. smash from the Dazz Band – ’82 R&B from Aretha Franklin leads into retro-influenced pop from Mari Wilson and a jazz-influenced club classic from Blue Rondo A La Turk. The LP finishes with Imagination who created one of 1982’s essential albums with ‘In The Heat Of The Night’, from which this title track was taken as a single.

The final LP celebrates what was happening in the U.S. in 1982 on its first side. ‘Atlantic City’ from Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Nebraska’ leads, ahead of huge stars Billy Joel and John Mellencamp. 1982 would be the year that Daryl Hall & John Oates broke through in the UK with two Top 10 hits – but here featuring their U.S. Top 10 ‘Did It In A Minute’, plus, Michael McDonald who hit the Top 5 in the States with his debut solo single ‘I Keep Forgettin’. Quarterflash lead into Asia, who had the year’s biggest selling album in America, and Journey with their biggest hit, the massive ballad ‘Open Arms’. The final side opens with an instrumental theme to a TV series U.S. Police drama ’Hill Street Blues’ ran for six years and peaked in popularity in 1982 – with its theme by Mike Post feat. Larry Carlton spending over five months on the chart, hitting the Top 10 in the U.S. and #25 in the UK. Fun Boy Three hit with their cover of ‘Summertime’, which comes ahead of Grace Jones and Men At Work. Next up U.S. new wave from The Go-Go’s, The Waitresses, and The B-52s and closing the collection Siouxsie And The Banshees’ stunning interpretation of the traditional French carol, ‘Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant’.

NOW Yearbook – The Vault: 1982 – A continued celebration of this magical year in pop!

Tracklist  
LP1 Side A
1. The Cure - The Hanging Garden 
2. Bauhaus - Spirit
3. David Sylvian & Ryuichi Sakamoto - Bamboo Houses 
4. The Police - Secret Journey 
5. The Who - Athena 
6. Steve Winwood - Valerie 
7. Elton John - Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)  

LP1 Side B
1. Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Man Out Of Time 
2. The Clash - Know Your Rights 
3. Theatre Of Hate – Do You Believe In The Westworld?
4. Gang Of Four – I Love A Man In A Uniform 
5. The Teardrop Explodes - Tiny Children 
6. Mike Oldfield - Five Miles Out 
7. Paul McCartney - Tug Of War  

LP2 Side A
1. Culture Club - I'm Afraid Of Me
2. Spandau Ballet – She Loved Like Diamond 
3. Level 42 - Are You Hearing (What I Hear)?
4. Bananarama - Cheers Then 
5. Toyah – Ieya 1982 
6. Visage - Pleasure Boys 
7. Blancmange - Feel Me 
8. Zaine Griff - Flowers