"Now Yearbook '77 EXTRA" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Sixty-Two Tracks - Singles and Album Versions by Queen, Electric Light Orchestra, Donna Summer, Iggy Pop, The Jam, The Clash, John Miles, The Boomtown Rats, The Stranglers, Elvis Presley, Billy Paul, Barry White, David Parton, Boz Scaggs, Paul McCartney, Blondie, Jonathan Richman and The Modern Lovers, Elvis Costello, Steve Gibbons Band, Status Quo, Nazareth, Thin Lizzy, Pussycat, Glen Campbell, Linda Ronstadt, Hot Chocolate, Shalamar, Tavares, Boney M, Elkie Brooks, Elton John, Bryan Ferry, Smokie, Deniece Williams, Rose Royce, Cliff Richard, George Benson and more (January 2025 UK Sony Music/EMI 3CD 62-Track Compilation in a Four-Panel Foldout Card Sleeve with Varying Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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RATINGS:

Overall *** (Good But A Lot Of Dross Too)

Audio *** to **** (From Good to Great)

Presentation *** (Basic As These Always Are)

"…Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy…"

I have about ten of the 4CD Now Yearbook compilations – most of which are accompanied by a further Yearbook Extra release of 3CDs - bringing whichever year haul they're chronicling to well over 140 songs. 

And that's what we have here – an Extra '62 More Essential Hits From 1977' – its 4CD 80-Track Sony/EMI big daddy variant "Now Yearbook '77" released November 2024 and reviewed separately.

But the same problem to my listening ears occurs here as it does with all these Now sets – you are suckered by quantity and once home in your player - unfortunately a wall of second-rate Pop and Disco cack alongside cringe-inducing ballads. Like its four-disc predecessor - Now Yearbook '77 EXTRA does not reflect the overriding theme (for me anyway) of that pivotal year – New Wave, New Rock and Punk. I have an open earhole when it comes to all genres – but man is there some dross on here – spatterings on CD1 but a whole slew on CD3 (hence the 3-star rating).

In its favour, however, Now Yearbook EXTRA 3CD Sets start out at about nine quid, but after a few months can be quickly reduced to six or seven quid which frankly represents serious value for money. You may not be getting anything packaging-wise (there is no Book Edition on the Extra sets like there is on the principal 4-disc versions) - but at least 40 to 50% of the choices will please somebody somewhere and the audio is crackerlackin' throughout – some tracks even highlighting the year of Remaster. Here be the details for the nineteen seventy-seven stragglers…

UK released Friday, 10 January 2025 - "Now Yearbook '77 EXTRA" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Sony Music/EMI CDYBENOW77 / 0198028434317 (Barcode 198028434317) is a 3CD 62-Track Compilation in a Tri-Panel Foldout Card Sleeve with Single Edits, Album Versions and Various Remasters that plays out as follows:

CD1 (77:15 minutes):
1. Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy – QUEEN (May 1977, EMI Records EMI 2628, Track 1 of 2 on the A-side of a 4-Song single called Queen's First E.P. – 2011 Remaster)
2. Turn To Stone – ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA [aka E.L.O.] (October 1977, Jet UP 36313, A-side)
3. Theme From The Deep (Down, Deep Inside) (Album Version) – DONNA SUMMER (from the September 1977 UK LP "The Deep – Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" by John Barry on Casablanca CAL 2018)
4. Sunny – BONEY M (February 1977, Atlantic K 10892, A-side – a Bobby Herb cover version originally 1963)
5. Isn't She Lovely – DAVID PARTON (31 December 1976, Pye 7N 45663, A-side – a Stevie Wonder cover version)
6. How Much Love – LEO SAYER (April 1977, Chrysalis CHS 2140, A-side)
7. Tokyo Joe – BRYAN FERRY (April 1977, Polydor 2001 711, A-side)
8. What Can I Say – BOZ SCAGGS (January 1977, CBS Records S CBS 4869, A-side)
9. Maybe I'm Amazed (Live) – WINGS (February 1977, Parlophone R 6017, A-side – featuring Paul and Linda McCartney – 2001 Remaster)
10. Crazy Water – ELTON JOHN (February 1977, Rocket ROKN 521, A-side)
11. I'd Rather Leave When I'm In Love – CAROLE BAYER SAGER (October 1977, Elektra K 12274, A-side)
12. Sunshine After The Rain – ELKIE BROOKS (August 1977, A&M Records AMS 7306, A-side- an Ellie Greenwich cover version originally issued in 1968)
13. Needles And Pins – SMOKEY (September 1977, RAK Records RAK 263, A-side – a Jack Nitzsche and Sonny Bono song/cover version originally issued in 1963 by Jackie DeShannon)
14. When – SHOWADDYWADDY (February 1977, Arista Records ARISTA 91, A-side)
15. Happy Days (Theme From "Happy Days") – PRATT and McCLAIN with BROTHERLOVE (June 1976, Reprise K 14435, A-side – did not chart until October 1977 after the US TV series became popular in the UK)
16. Suspicion – ELVIS PRESLEY (November 1976, RCA Victor RCA 2768, A-side – a 1962 song originally, re-released in the UK - charted February 1977)
17. Let 'Em In – BILLY PAUL (April 1977, Philadelphia International S PIR 5143, A-side – a Wings cover version written by Paul McCartney)
18. Let's Clean Up The Ghetto (Vocal) – PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL ALL STARS (July 1977, Philadelphia International S PIR 5451, A-side – features several lead vocalists from the famous Soul Label including Lou Rawls, Teddy Pendergrass, Billy Paul, Archie Bell, O'Jays and Dee Dee Sharp then married to the label founder Kenneth Gamble – song written by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff)
19. It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me (Single Version) – BARRY WHITE (October 1977, 20th Century Records BTC 2350, A-side)
20. I Wanna Get Next To You – ROSE ROYCE (March 1977, MCA Records MCA 278, A-side – song written by Norman Whitfield of Motown Producer, Temptations Songwriter and Whitfield Records fame)
21. The Greatest Love Of All – GEORGE BENSON (September 1977, Arista Records ARISTA 133, A-side – later famously covered by Whitney Houston)

CD2 (73:24 minutes):
1. Lust For Life (Edit) – IGGY POP (Originally released in the Netherlands in 1977 as a 45-single on RCA Victor PB-9166 with the Full Album Version of 5:12 minutes – this Edit of 3:04 minutes comes from the 1996 reissue without saying so – a Second CD Single on Virgin VUSCDE 116 – the song is also a co-write with David Bowie – see also Track 8 on CD2)
2. In The City – THE JAM (April 1977, Polydor 2058 866, A-side – Paul Weller song)
3. Complete Control – THE CLASH (September 1977, CBS Records S CBS 5664, A-side)
4. Something Better Change – THE STRANGLERS (July 1977, United Artists UP 36277, A-side)
5. Mary Of The 4th Form – THE BOOMTOWN RATS (November 1977, Ensign ENY 9, A-side – featuring Bob Geldof)
6. Rip Her To Shreds – BLONDIE (November 1977, Chrysalis CHS 2180, A-side – featuring Debbie Harry on Lead Vocals – song by Harry Stein – 2001 Remaster)
7. Egyptian Reggae – JONATHAN RICHMAN and THE MODERN LOVERS (September 1977, Beserkley BZZ 2, A-side)
8. China Girl (Single Edit) – IGGY POP (May 1977, RCA Victor PB 9093, A-side – 3:26 minutes, co-write with David Bowie – see also Track 1 on CD2)
9. Alison – ELVIS COSTELLO (May 1977, Stiff BUY 14, A-side – Produced by Nick Lowe)
10. Moody Blue – ELVIS PRESLEY (February 1977, RCA Victor PB 0857, A-side)
11. Tulane – THE STEVE GIBBONS BAND (June 1977, Polydor 2058 889, A-side – a Chuck Berry cover version)
12. Wild Side Of Life – STATUS QUO (December 1976, Vertigo 6059 153, A-side – a Hank Thompson cover version (originally 1951 in the USA on the Country charts) – also Tommy Quickly cover version in the UK in 1964 on the Pop charts)
13. Don't Believe A Word – THIN LIZZY (November 1976, Vertigo LIZZY 1, A-side – a Phil Lynott song)
14. Love Hurts (Single Edit) – NAZARETH (September 1977, Mountain NAZ 001, A-side – Originally issued in November 1974 on Mooncrest MOON 37 as an A-side with "Down" on the flipside – it did not chart. However, on re-issue in September 1977 as part of the 4-Song EP called "Hot Tracks" (Track 1 on Side 1) – it did chart. "Love Hurts" was originally an Everly Brothers song recorded in 1960 on Warner Brothers and written by their old partner from the Fifties Boudleaux Bryant. Jim Capaldi of Traffic also had a hit with it on Island Records in 1975)
15. Gimme Some – BRENDON (January 1977, Magnet Records MAG 80, A-side – a Zombies cover version)
16. Slow Down (Single Version) – JOHN MILES (May 1977, Decca F 13709, A-side – 4:18 minutes – there is a longer version of 4:46 minutes on the 1976 album "Stranger In The City")
17. Bite You Lip (Get Up And Dance) – ELTON JOHN (June  1977, The Rocket Record Company ROKN 526, A-side)
18. My Kinda Life – CLIFF RICHARD (February 1977, EMI Records EMI 2584, A-side)
19. Smile – PUSSYCAT (October 1976, Sonet SON 2096, A-side)
20. Souther Nights – GLEN CAMPBELL (February 1977, Capitol CL 15907, A-side – an Allen Toussaint cover version)
21. Blue Bayou – LINDA RONSTADT (January 1978, Asylum K13106, A-side – a Roy Orbison cover version – issued August 1977 as a US 45-single on Asylum E-45431, A-side

CD3 (72:56 minutes):
1. I Remember Yesterday – DONNA SUMMER (September 1977, GTO Records GT 107, A-side)
2. Uptown Festival (Part 1) (7" Version) – SHALAMAR (April 1977, Soul Train FB 0885, A-side – a Disco mash-up of Motown cover versions including Going To A Go-Go, Sugar Pie Honey Bunch, Uptight (It's Alright) and more)
3. Gettin' Ready For Love (Album Version) – DIANA ROSS (October 1977, Tamla Motown TMG 1090, A-side, 2:45 minutes – also on the LP Baby It's Me from November 1977 in the UK on Tamla Motown STMA 8031 – same playing time – track features Steve Lukather on Guitar, Tom Scott on Sax, Tom Snow on Piano and Jeff Porcaro of Toto on Drums)
4. Don't Leave Me This Way – HAROLD MELVIN and THE BLUE NOTES featuring THEODORE PENDERGRASS (31 December 1976, Philadelphia International S PIR 4909, A-side – see also the 4CD set "Now Yearbook '77" for the Thelma Houston version of this song from January 1977)
5. Whodunit – TAVARES (March 1977, Capitol CL 15914, A-side)
6. I'm Qualified To Satisfy You (Single Version) – BARRY WHITE (January 1977, 20th Century Records TC-2328, A-side)
7. Soul Cha Cha – VAN McCOY (January 1977, H&L Records 6105 065, A-side)
8. Dr. Love – TINA CHARLES (November 1976, CBS Records S CBS 4779, A-side – a Biddu song)
9. That's What Friends Are For – DENIECE WILLIAMS (July 1977, CBS Records S CBS 5432, A-side)
10. Put Your Love In Me – HOT CHOCOLATE (November 1977, RAK Records RAK 266, A-side – written by Errol Brown)
11. Another Suitcase In Another Hall – BARBARA DICKSON (January 1977, MCA Records MCA 266, A-side – from the Musical "Evita" – written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice)
12. Angel Of The Morning / Any Way That You Want Me (Edit) – MARY MASON (August 1977, Epic Records S EPC 5552, A-side – Chip Taylor cover versions)
13. Belfast – BONEY M (October 1977, Atlantic K 11020, A-side)
14. Love Of My Life – THE DOOLEYS (October 1977, GTO Records GT 110, A-side)
15. Oh Boy (The Mood I'm In) – BROTHERHOOD OF MAN (January 1977, Pye 7N 45656, A-side)
16. It's A Game – BAY CITY ROLLERS (December 1976, Arista Records ARISTA 78, A-side)
17. You Got What It Takes – SHOWADDYWADDY (July 1977, Arista Records ARISTA 126, A-side – a Marv Johnson hit in 1959 for Motown)
18. Baby I Know – THE RUBETTES (January 1977, State Records STAT 37, A-side)
19. Georgina Bailey – NOOSHA FOX (September 1977, GTO Records GTO 106, A-side)
20. It's Your Life – SMOKIE (June 1977, RAK Records RAK 260, A-side)

Before we go into what is on here – time to talk about the bad side - what's missing from 1977? How about any of these great tracks (hits or not) – Be Good To Yourself by Frankie Miller, Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon, Stranded In A Limousine by Paul Simon, Mainstreet by Bob Seger, Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) by Billy Joel, Neat Neat Neat by The Damned, The Name Of The Game by Abba, Walk This Way by Aerosmith, Pretty Vacant by Sex Pistols, Carry On Wayward Son by Kansas, Show You The Way To Go by The Jacksons, Cold As Ice by Foreigner, Feel The Need by The Detroit Emeralds, Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush, The Whole Town's Laughing At Me by Teddy Pendergrass, Psycho Killer by Talking Heads, Remember The Days (At The Old School Yard) by Cat Stevens, Waiting In Vain by Bob Marley & The Wailers, Give A Little Bit by Supertramp, Marquee Moon by Television, Amazing Grace by Judy Collins, Nobody Does It Better by Carly Simon, Feels Like The First Time by Foreigner, Little Darling (I Need You) by The Doobie Brothers, Strawberry Letter 23 by The Brothers Johnson and more. Now take a closer look at the tracks on CD3 and see what you do get – a wall of second-rate toss that is not what I recall about 1977 at all. Anyway, to the audio…

Odd for these 3CD sets and especially 1977 which has been reissued to death – there are only three mentions of Remaster Dates out of 62-Tracks – Queen, Wings and Blondie (see lists above). And yet - as everyone knows who buys these sets – the audio is uniformly great across the whole shebang. Rarely does the sound dip or duck or dive – mostly it impresses and at times (like say The Clash, Slade, Elvis Presley, Philly All Stars and The Jam to name but a few) – you may have to turn it down. Fans of 45s will also note the large number of Single Versions, Edits and so forth where many year compilations opt for the Full LP Variants. The info as always is sparse if not non-existent (you get more Discography info in my review than you do on any side of the three-way fold-out card flaps) – but you cannot argue sheer value for money. To the tunes…

CD1: EXTRA '77 opens with two goodies - Queen's "Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy" from their 'Hot Tracks' EP on EMI and E.L.O. putting just one of the commercial monsters from the "Out Of The Blue" double album - "Turn To Stone". The audio on both rocks. But then it's crap-central until we get to Roxy's Bryan Ferry and his superb "Tokyo Joe" (from the "In Your Mind" album of that year). Another good run of three - McCartney going live with his band Wings on "Maybe I'm Amazed" (from the 3LP set "Wings Over America"), Boz Scaggs and his slick Funk-Rock-Soul "What Can I Say" from the 1976 "Silk Degrees" LP that made his name. And then we one of two from Elton's double album "Blue Moves" - both funky tunes in the shape of "Crazy Water" first and then over on CD2 "Bite Your Lip (Get Up And Dance)". Other upper moments come from Elkie Brooks enjoying "Sunshine After The Rain" while Elvis can't help his "Suspicious Mind" and there's both social justice and gorgeous audio for "Let's Clean Up The Ghetto" (lead singers from Philadelphia International lust above). For sure there are some duffers towards the end of CD1 - but all in all - it's a decent haul.

But then on CD2 you get a near perfect run of 21 New Wave, Punk and better Rock cuts – two top Iggy Pop tunes "Lust For Life" and "China Girl" (both co-written with David Bowie), three familiars from The Jam, The Clash and The Stranglers and a barnstorming Boomtown Rats with their fabulous "Mary Of The 4th Form". Blondie before the pop with the New Waver "Rip Her To Shreds", Elvis Costello in moving and mellow form with "Alison" - a ballad that stills stands up (from my debut LP "My Aim Is True") while Elvis is soon going the way of the angels with his "Moody Blue". Never did like "Wild Side Of Life" as much as their cover of John Fogerty's "Rockin' All Over The World" (which is on the "Now Yearbook '77" 4CD set - but Lizzy's kick ass "Don't Believe A Word" from their November 1976 LP "Johnny The Fox" is always cool by me. Very clever inclusions are Nazareth slaying it with the ache of "Love Hurts" - a 1974 cover of an old Everly Brothers ballad that finally charted in 1977 for the wild Scots - John Miles' overlooked and brilliant belter "Slow Down" - while US singer and legend interpreter Linda Ronstadt ends an excellent CD with her version of Roy Orbison's magical "Blue Bayou". Linda really did have a way with rearranging songs - and a voice of butter - a warm and mellow way to end CD2.

But CD3 with its overtly Disco /Pop-Soul run - will test the patience of even the hardiest. You get the horrors of Donna Summer chasing that Pink Pound once again and the first Shalamar single (a mash up of cheesy Motown covers) are dreadful. It isn't until Tavares and their witty "Whodunit" that things pick up – but ahead lies Barry White laughably assuring us that he's ready and able – Van McCoy isn't a whole lot better with "Soul Cha Cha". And on it goes with cack like Brotherhood Of Man and The Dooleys and Showaddywaddy and there must be a special place in Hell for later Hot Chocolate singles – Errol Brown and his normally touching songs of old on RAK Records abandoned for sex-o-pants trash with pseudo-suggestive lyrics long past its sell-by-date. Then the Bay City Rollers still trying to be teenybopper relevant – oh God! CD3 is truly dire and is perhaps the worst I have had to endure.

Like its '1978' and '1979' three-disc equivalents - the compilation "Now Yearbook Extra '77" offers a whole lotta listens, some welcome returns for sure and a slew of familiar spiky-hair-do flashbacks. But unfortunately, '…Extra 1977' is also seriously weighed down with too many fast-forwards to make the listen (actually) enjoyable. 

For sure this 1977 three-disc addendum comes at a cheap-as-political-morals price - but just remember to taper those expectations.

I hope Sony and EMI do better for the years they haven't catalogued yet - 1975, 1976, 1972, 1971 and 1970…

NOW YEARBOOK '77 UK Discography

"Now Yearbook '77" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Sony Music/EMI CDYBXNOW77 - 0198028303521 (Barcode 198028303521) –  released 1 November 2024 as a 4CD 82-Track 28-Page Special Edition Hardback Book

"Now Yearbook '77" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Sony Music/EMI CDYBNOW77 - 0198028434317 (Barcode 198028434317) – released 1 Nov 2024 as a 4CD 82-Track Eight-Panel Card Sleeve Standard Edition

"Now Yearbook '77" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Sony Music/EMI LPYBNOW77 (Barcode 198028303613) - released 1 November 2024 as a 3LP BLUE VINYL Edition with 49-Tracks Truncated down from the 4CD edition

"Now Yearbook Extra '77 - 62 More Essential Hits From 1977" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Sony Music/EMI CDYBENOW77 / 0198028434317 (Barcode 198028434317) – released 10 January 2025 as a 3CD 62-Track Companion Volume in a Three-Panel-Gatefold Card Sleeve