NOW 12” 80s: 1982 – Part One

Across 4 CDs, here are 48 extended, full-length or remixed versions reflecting the shift from Disco being the dominant genre in the Chart, to it being enriched with the developing Synth-Pop and New-Wave sounds of the New Romantics.

Despite this sonic shift, the 12” single played an even more vital role than it had done with Funk and Disco, providing fans with more time on club dancefloors and more room for artist and producer experimentation. This edition of 12” 80s presents part one of 1982 – such massive year for Pop that we had to split this year into two parts to present all of the essential tracks.

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 #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.

CD4 rounds off this track list with Alternative/Indie Rock favourites, from New Order, Associates, Siouxsie And The Banshees and The Cure, and there’s still room for Synth driven smashes from Simple Minds with the German 12” Remix of ‘New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)’ and A Flock Of Seagulls with ‘Wishing (If I Had A Photograph of You)’, plus huge tracks from Trio and a second appearance for Visage, before finishing this stellar collection with Thomas Dolby, and Soft Cell.