Various Artists - NOW – Yearbook THE VAULT: 1982 [4CD]

Format: 4 x CD
Catalogue No.: CDYBVNOW82
Barcode: 0198029729528
Release Date: 16 Jan 2026
Genre: Pop

Standard 4CD

1982 was a stellar year in pop music. We have already included more than 150 tracks on the CDs of the 1982 Yearbook, the 80-84 Final Chapter, and their 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.

80 tracks across 4-CDs – NOW Yearbook – The Vault: 1982.

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. A stunning trio of singles from Paul McCartney, Elton John and Elvis Costello & The Attractions follow before new wave and post-punk gems including from The Clash, Stiff Little Fingers, Theatre Of Hate and XTC. Indie-pop from The Pale Fountains leads into melancholic pop from The Teardrop Explodes, Spandau Ballet and Kim Wilde before the first disc signs off with ‘Cheers Then’ from Bananarama and Siouxsie And The Banshees’ interpretation of the traditional French carol, ‘Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant’.

Disc 2 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 Bow Wow Wow, The Belle Stars, Haysi Fantayzee and Toyah with a re-recording of her 1980 classic ‘Ieya’. Reggae influenced tracks from The Boomtown Rats, UB40 and Grace Jones are featured alongside Fun Boy Three’s cover of ‘Summertime – and next up – a run of singles from newer chart artists including Monsoon, Classix Nouveaux, Blue Zoo and A Flock Of Seagulls. A trio of synth-pop essentials closes Disc Two: Visage with ‘Pleasure Boys’ their third single in 1982, Blancmange with ‘Feel Me’ – their second single (and 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.)

The fusions of Electronic Music with hip hop and disco are celebrated on Disc 3 – 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. Soul influenced pop from Earth, Wind & Fire, Odyssey and Kool & The Gang comes ahead of 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. Jazz-funk from Shakatak is followed by retro and jazz-influenced pop and dance cuts from Mari Wilson, Blue Rondo A La Turk and Level 42. The rest of Disc 3 features newer rock acts, Marillion and Men At Work, alongside established artists including Mike Oldfield, Bill Wyman, Chris Rea and finishing with ‘No Love’ by Joan Armatrading, taken from her album ‘Walk Under Ladders’.

Disc Four celebrates what was happening in the U.S. in 1982. ‘Atlantic City’ from Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Nebraska’ leads the final disc, ahead of a run of huge stars including Billy Joel, John Mellencamp, Rick Springfield and Huey Lewis & The News. 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’. Michael McDonald hit the Top 5 in the States with his debut solo single ‘I Keep Forgettin’, and Aretha Franklin had an R&B #1 with ‘Jump To It’. U.S. new wave from The Go-Go’s, The Waitresses, The Motels and The B-52s features ahead of rock crossover singles and U.S. hits from The Cars, Quarterflash, Asia (who had the year’s biggest selling album in America) and Journey with their biggest hit, the massive ballad ‘Open Arms’. Neil Diamond hit the U.S. Top 5 with ‘Heartlight’, and Willie Nelson’s cover of ‘Always On My Mind’ was a huge hit, winning ‘Song Of The Year’ and the collection closes 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.

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

Tracklist:
CD1
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. Paul McCartney - Tug Of War 
8. Elton John - Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)
9. Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Man Out Of Time 
10. The Clash - Know Your Rights 
11. Stiff Little Fingers – Listen
12. Theatre Of Hate – Do You Believe In The Westworld?
13. Gang Of Four – I Love A Man In A Uniform 
14. XTC - Ball And Chain 
15. The Pale Fountains - Thank You 
16. The Teardrop Explodes - Tiny Children 
17. Spandau Ballet – She Loved Like Diamond 
18. Kim Wilde – Child Come Away
19. Bananarama - Cheers Then 
20. Siouxsie And The Banshees - Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant  

CD2
1. Culture Club - I'm Afraid Of Me
2. Bow Wow Wow - See Jungle! (Jungle Boy) 
3. The Belle Stars - Iko Iko
4. Haysi Fantayzee - Holy Joe 
5. Toyah – Ieya 1982
6. Hazel O'Connor - Calls The Tune 
7. The Beat – Save It For Later 
8. The Boomtown Rats - House On Fire 
9. UB40 - So Here I Am 
10. Fun Boy Three – Summertime
11. Grace Jones - The Apple Stretching 
12. Monsoon - Shakti (The Meaning Of Within) 
13. Fashion - Love Shadow 
14. Classix Nouveaux – Because You’re Young
15. Blue Zoo – I’m Your Man
16. The Mood - Don't Stop 
17. A Flock Of Seagulls - Space Age Love Song 
18. Visage - Pleasure Boys 
19. Blancmange - Feel Me 
20. Zaine Griff - Flowers  

CD3
1. Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force – Planet Rock
2. George Clinton - Loopzilla 
3. Dazz Band - Let It Whip 
4. Earth, Wind & Fire - I've Had Enough
5. Odyssey - Magic Touch
6. Kool & The Gang - Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It)
7. Imagination - In The Heat Of The Night  
8. Shakatak - Streetwalkin’
9. Mari Wilson – Beat The Beat 
10. Blue Rondo A La Turk – Klactoveesedstein
11. Level 42 - Are You Hearing (What I Hear)?
12. Men At Work - Who Can It Be Now? 
13. Bill Wyman - A New Fashion 
14. Mike Oldfield - Five Miles Out 
15. Gillan - Restless 
16. Marillion – Market Square Heroes 
17. Pete Townshend - Uniforms (Corp D'Esprit) 
18. Chris Rea – Loving You 
19. Joan Armatrading - No Love  

CD4
1. Bruce Springsteen - Atlantic City 
2. Billy Joel - Allentown 
3. John Mellencamp - Hurts So Good 
4. Rick Springfield - Don't Talk To Strangers 
5. Huey Lewis & The News - Do You Believe In Love
6. Daryl Hall & John Oates - Did It In A Minute 
7. Michael McDonald – I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near) 
8. Aretha Franklin - Jump To It 
9. The Go-Go's - Vacation  
10. The Waitresses - I Know What Boys Like  
11. The Motels - Only The Lonely  
12. The B-52's - Mesopotamia 
13. The Cars – Since You’re Gone  
14. Quarterflash - Harden My Heart  
15. Asia - Heat Of The Moment  
16. REO Speedwagon - Keep The Fire Burnin'  
17. Survivor - American Heartbeat  
18. Journey - Open Arms  
19. Neil Diamond - Heartlight  
20. Willie Nelson - Always On My Mind  
21. Mike Post – Theme From “Hill Street Blues” (Feat. Larry Carlton)