"Now Yearbook '74" by VARIOUS ARTISTS - Featuring Elton John, Paul McCartney & Wings, Sparks, Mud, Suzi Quatro, T.Rex, Wizzard, The Sweet, Pilot, John Lennon, Rod Stewart, Faces, 10cc, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Golden Earring, Bryan Ferry, Mike Oldfield, Slade, Roxy Music, Cockney Rebel, Alice Cooper, Cozy Powell, David Essex, The Rubettes, Bay City Rollers, Olivia Newton-John, Cher, Ace (with Paul Carrack), The Hollies, E.L.O., Andy Kim, Barry White, The Stylistics, The Isley Brothers, Limmie & The Family Cookin', Hot Chocolate, Marvin Gaye & Diana Ross, The Intruders, Johnny Bristol, Aretha Franklin, Hues Corporation, Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes, The Drifters, Ken Boothe, First Class, Charlie Rich, Charles Aznavour and more (May 2024 UK Sony Music/EMI 4CD 82-Track Remastered Compilation in a Special Edition 28-Page Hardback Booklet) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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This Review and 269 More Like It Can Be Found In My AMAZON e-Book 

PICK UP THE PIECES - 1974

Your All-Genres Guide To Exceptional 

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"...Whatever Gets You Thru The Night..."

The 'Now Yearbook' Series of Compilations from Sony Music and EMI has touched on three for the Seventies - '1979' in September 2022, '1978' in April 2023 and '1973' in September 2023. Each has the same MO - a 4CD 'Now Yearbook' and a 3CD follow-up issued about a month later called 'Extra'. 

Here in May and June 2024 we get a fourth - '1974' - a 4CD Main with Special Edition 28-Page Hardback Book (this review), a Standard Card Sleeve Edition and a Truncated 3LP GREEN VINYL Set (all released 3 May 2024) - those followed by a 3CD Extra Companion Compilation released 7 June 2024 with 64 more songs to accompany the 82 featured on the 4CD Main (see list below for catalogue numbers and barcode details).

As with all these (mostly) cheap and cheerful releases - they concentrate on a mix of Pop and Rock on one disc while Soul and Rhythm 'n' Blues will dominate another with Discs 3 and 4 mixing it up with everything from Easy Listening to Glam to Country to Teenybopper Pop and Sixties Reissues. Some Singles and Albums were issued late 1973 but only charted in 1974.

The problem with charts in the Seventies (especially in the early years) is that genius abutted some seriously awful crud on a weekly basis and that's what you get here too. But compilers would argue that one man's Trabant is another man's Tesla - so we put the kitchen sink in and let the listener sort out the dirty dishes from the sparkling China.

As I said earlier, come this review, I opted for the more expensive but more expansive Special Edition Hardback Book version for '1974' – and I'm glad I did. Probably the nerdy collector in me, but I also notice that on the cover art you get the title as "Now Yearbook '74" – but on the book-spine it is "Now Yearbook 1974" which looks so much classier (see photo provided). A silly little point I know, but when lined up against say the "Now Yearbook 1973" hardback (which is the same) – it makes sense (why did they apostrophe the year date!). Content: great 45-single mix memories and reminders (album versions are noted) - re-discoveries that delight – awful stuff you hoped you had forgotten schmoozing upside saccharine cringes a-go-go – and spiffing audio throughout even though only eight entries give actual dates for the Remasters.

The standard card sleeve issue is roughly nine-or-ten quid for a 4CD set chocker with 82 songs (including 17 Number Ones), while my Hardback Edition (at least initially) is a pricey £16.99 (prices go down then up after they are deleted). But as I say, I love the way this Hardback Book Edition looks and feels and the info/presentation is great (I have added in catalogue numbers, release dates and chart positions – much of which is not in the standard issues).

Let's get to the Killer Queens, the Towns That Ain't Big Enough for any of us, Carl and his Kung Fu Fighting, Pool Hall Richards, Shuffling on Wall Street, Men Who Sold The World to The Most Beautiful Girl in the world whilst Emma, Annie and Mr. Soft let their respective hair blow and feet tiger in the Summer Breeze. To details...

UK released 3 May 2024 - "Now Yearbook '74" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Sony Music/EMI CDYBXNOW74 - 0196588423925 (Barcode 196588423925) is a 4CD 82-song Compilation in a 28-Page Special Edition Hardback Book Version that plays out as follows:

CD1 (72:12 minutes):
1. Killer Queen - QUEEN (October 1974 UK 45-Single on EMI Records EMI 2229, A-side, UK No.2 - 2011 Remaster)
2. Jet – PAUL McCARTNEY & WINGS (February 1974, Apple R 5996, A-side, UK No.7 - 2010 Remaster)
3. This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us – SPARKS (April 1974, Island WIP 6193, A-side, UK No.2)
4. Teenage Rampage – THE SWEET (January 1974, RCA Victor LPBO-5004, A-side, UK No.2)
5. Devil Gate Drive – SUZI QUATRO (February 1974, RAK Records RAK 167, A-side, Non-LP single on release, UK No.1)
6. Tiger Feet – MUD (January 1974, RAK Records RAK 166, A-side, UK No.1)
7. Far Far Away - SLADE (October 1974, Polydor 2058 522, A-side, UK No.2 – from the Movie and Album "Slade In Flame")
8. Magic – PILOT (January 1974, Warner Brothers K 16345, A)
9. Gonna Make You A Star – DAVID ESSEX (September 1974, CBS Records S CBS 2492, A-side, UK No.1)
10. Jealous Mind – ALVIN STARDUST (February 1974, Magnet MAG 5, A-side, UK. No.1) 
11. Sugar Baby Love – THE RUBETTES (March 1974, Polydor 2058 442, A-side, UK No.1)
12. Shang-A-Lang – BAY CITY ROLLERS (April 1974, Bell Records BELL 1355, A-side, UK No.2)
13. Billy, Don't Be A Hero – PAPER LACE (January 1974, Bus Stop Records BUS 1014, A-side, UK No. 1)
14. The Show Must Go On – LEO SAYER (November 1973, Chrysalis CGS 2023, A-side, UK No.2)
15. The Wombling Song – THE WOMBLES (October 1973, CBS Records S CBS 1794, A-side, UK No.4)
16. Kung Fu Fighting – CARL DOUGLAS (June 1974, Pye International 7N 45377, A-side, UK No.1)
17. Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe – BARRY WHITE (August 1974, Pye International 7N 25661, A-side, UK No.8)
18. You Are Everything – DIANA ROSS & MARVIN GAYE (March 1974, Tamla Motown TMG 890, A-side, UK No.5)
19. You Make Me Feel Brand New (Let's Put It All Together Version) – THE STYLISTICS (April 1974, Avco 6105 028, Originally The B-side of "Only The Children", was then flipped and the A-side became a UK No.2)
20. When Will I See You Again (Single Version) – THE THREE DEGREES (June 1974, Philadelphia International S PIR 2155, A-side, UK No.1)
21. Sad Sweet Dreamer – SWEET SENSATION (July 1974, Pye International 7N 45385, A-side, UK No.1)

CD2 (77:06 minutes):
1. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me – ELTON JOHN (May 1974, DJM Records DJS 302, A-side, UK No.16 – 2017 Remaster)
2. Whatever Gets You Thru The Night – JOHN LENNON (October 1974, Apple R 5998, A-side, UK No. 36 – 2010 Remaster)
3. You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet – BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE (October 1974, Mercury 6167 025, A-side, UK No.2)
4. Radar Love (UK Single Version, 3:45 minutes) – GOLDEN EARRING (November 1973, Track 2094 116, A-side, UK No.7 - see Paragraphs Below on Single Edits)
5. Dance With The Devil – COZY POWELL (October 1973, RAK Records RAK 164, A-side, UK No.3)
6. Ma-Ma-Ma Belle (Single Edit at 3:38 minutes, LP version is 3:52) – ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA (January 1974, Warner Brothers K 16349, A-side, UK No.22)
7. Pool Hall Richard (Single Version, 4:24 minutes) – FACES (November 1973, Warner Brothers K 16341, A-side, UK No.8 – featuring Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood and Ronnie Lane – 2006 Remaster)
8. Mike Oldfield's Single (Theme From Tubular Bells) – MIKE OLDFIELD (June 1974, Virgin VS 101, A-side, UK No.31 - 2009 Remaster)
9. Dark Lady – CHER (January 1974, MCA Records MCA 101, A-side, UK No.36)
10. The Man Who Sold The World – LULU (January 1974, Polydor 2001 490, A-side, UK No.3 – A David Bowie cover of his 1970 song, Lulu’s version is also produced by Bowie and features his guitarist Mick Ronson too)
11. The 'In Crowd' (Single Version, 4:16 Minutes Edit) – BRYAN FERRY (May 1974, Island WIP 6196, A-side, UK No.13 – a cover of a 1965 US RnB hit for Dobie Gray)
12. Touch Too Much – ARROWS (April 1974, RAK Records RAK 171, A-side, UK No.8 – a Chinn and Chapman production)
13. Tell Him – HELLO (August 1974, Bell Records BELL 1377, A-side, UK No.8 – also a Chinn and Chapman production)
14. The Cat Crept In – MUD (April 1974, RAK Records RAK 174, A-side, UK No.2 – a Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn production)
15. The Wall Street Shuffle – 10cc (May 1974, UK Records UK 69, A-side, UK No.10)
16. Farewell (Album Version, 4:31 minutes) – ROD STEWART (from the 1974 UK Album "Smiler" on Mercury 9104 001, No.1 LP, 45 went to No.7 – Ray Jackson of Lindisfarne plays Mandolin)
17. Everyday – SLADE (March 1974, Polydor 2058 453, A-side, UK No.3)
18. Rock Me Gently (original Version) – ANDY KIM (June 1974, Capitol CL 15787, A-side, UK No.2)
19. How Long - ACE (September 1974, Anchor Records ANC 1002, A-side, UK No.20 – song written by and featuring vocalist Paul Carrack, went on to play with Roxy Music, be in Squeeze and ex Genesis group Mike & The Mechanics and has had a huge Solo career still going in 2024)
20. The Air That Breathe – THE HOLLIES (January 1974, Polydor 2058 435, A-side, UK No.2 – an Albert Hammond song and cover version)

CD3 (73:07 minutes):
1. You're The First, The Last, My Everything (Edit, 3:25 minutes) – BARRY WHITE (October 1974, 20th Century BTC 2133, A-side, UK Chart Position No.1)
2. Get Dancin' – Part 1 – DISCO TEX and THE SEX-O-LETTES (October 1974, Chelsea 2005 013, A-side, UK No.8)
3. Rock Your Baby – GEORGE McCRAE (June 1974, Jay Boy Records BOY 85, A-side, UK No.1 - written by Harry KC Casey and Richard Finch of KC & The Sunshine Band)
4. Rock The Boat – THE HUES CORPORATION (July 1974, RCA Victor APBO-0123, A-side, UK No.6)
5. The Love I Lost (Part 1) (Single Version) – HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES (November 1973, Philadelphia International S PIR 1879, A-side, UK No.21 – Blue Notes featured Teddy Prendergast – a Gamble & Huff song)
6. Hang On In There Baby – JOHNNY BRISTOL (July 1974, MGM 2006 443, A-side, UK No.3)
7. Kissin' In The Back Row Of The Movies – THE DRIFTERS (May 1974, Bell Records BELL 1358, A-side, UK No.2)
8. Love On A Mountain Top – ROBERT KNIGHT (October 1973, Monument S MNT 1875, A-side Reissue, UK No.10 – originally issued as a B-side of his May 1968 UK 45-single "The Power Of Lover" on Monument MON 1017 – re-entered charts in 1974 – charted on the back of Northern Soul interest)
9. (Win, Lose or Show) She's A Winner (Single Version) – THE INTRUDERS (June 1974 Reissue, Philadelphia International S PIR 2212, A-side, UK No.14 – originally issued November 1972 in the UK on Epic S EPC 8476 which did not chart)
10. A Walkin' Miracle – LIMMIE and FAMILY COOKIN' (March 1973, Avco 6105 027, A-side, UK No.6 – arrangement by Van McCoy)
11. Emma – HOT CHOCOLATE (February 1974, RAK Records RAK 168, A-side, UK No.3)
12. (Hey There) Lonely Girl – EDDIE HOLMAN (October 1974 Reissue, ABC Records ABC 4012, A-side, UK No.4 – originally UK issued by Eddie Holman January 1970 on Stateside SS 2160, A-side, but the original was by American Girl Teen act Ruby And The Romantic as "Hey There Lonely Boy" on Kapp Records (USA) K-544 in August 1963)
13. Summer Breeze (Part 1) – ISLEY BROTHERS (April 1974, Epic S EPC 2244, A-side, UK No.16)
14. Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do) – ARETHA FRANKLIN (January 1974, Atlantic K 10399, A-side, UK No.26)
15. Everything I Own (7" Mix) – KEN BOOTHE (May 1974, Trojan TR 7920, A-side, UK No.1)
16. Beach Baby – THE FIRST CLASS (May 1974, UK Records UK R 66, A-side, UK No.13 – featuring Tony Burrows of The Flowerpot Men, Edison Lighthouse, The Pipkins and White Plains)
17. Juke Box Jive – THE RUBETTES (November 1974, Polydor 2058 529, A-side, UK No.3)
18. Hey Rock And Roll – SHOWADDYWADDY (April 1973, Bell Records BELL 1357, A-side, UK No.2)
19. Rock N' Roll Winter (Loony's Tune) – WIZZARD (April 1974, Warner Brothers K 16357, A-side, UK No.6 – featuring Roy Wood of The Move and Electric Light Orchestra – Early Production in Mono by Steve Lilywhite of U2 and Simple Minds fame)
20. You You You – ALVIN STARDUST (August 1974, Magnet MAG 13, A-side, UK No.6 – featured Big Jim Sullivan on Guitar)
21. Teenage Dream – T.REX (January 1974, T.Rex MARC 7, A-side, UK No.13)

CD4 (68:24 minutes):
1. Band On The Run – PAUL McCARTNEY and WINGS (June 1974, Apple R 5997, A-side, UK Chart Position No.3, String Arrangements Tony Visconti – 2010 Remaster)
2. Candle In The Wind – ELTON JOHN (February 1974, DJM Records DJS 297, A-side, UK No.11 – 2014 Remaster - B-side was "Bennie And The Jets" in the UK which was used as the A-side in the USA - "Candle In The Wind" was not issued as an A-side in the USA originally, it would take until 1992 when Collectables COL 4901 was issued with the track "Levon" from the 1971 album "Madman Across The Water" on its flipside)
3. I Honestly Love You – OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN (September 1974, EMI Records EMI 2216, A-side, UK No.22 – was issued in other territories (Australia, USA, Canada) as "I Love You, I Honestly Love You" – won a Grammy for Best Record of the Year and Best Female Vocal of the Year)
4. Seasons In The Sun – TERRY JACKS (March 1974, Bell Records BELL 1344, A-side, UK No.1)
5. Summerlove Sensation – BAY CITY ROLLERS (July 1974, Bell Records BELL 1369, A-side, UK No.3)
6. Honey Honey – SWEET DREAMS (May 1974, Bradleys BRAD 7408, A-side, UK No.10 – an Abba cover version (the first) and featuring Polly Brown on Lead Vocals formerly of Pickettywitch)
7. Born With A Smile On My Face – STEPHANIE De SYKES (with Rain) (June 1974, Bradleys BRAD 7409, A-side, UK No.2 – the song was written by Roger Holman and Simon May of her backing group Rain)
8. You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me – THE NEW SEEKERS (November 1973, Polydor 2058 421, UK No.1 – their second UK No.1 and the first No.1 of 1974 – group featured lead-singer Lyn Paul)
9. I See A Star – MOUTH & MacNEAL (March 1974, Decca FR 13504, A-side, UK No.8)
10. Long Tall Glasses – LEO SAYER (September 1974, Chrysalis CHS 2052, A-side, UK No.4)
11. Amateur Hour – SPARKS (July 1974, Island WIP 6203, A-side, UK No.7)
12. Mr. Soft – COCKNEY REBEL (July 1974, EMI Records EMI 2191, A-side, UK No.8, 2012 Remaster – featuring Steve Harley)
13. All I Want Is You – ROXY MUSIC (October 1974, Island WIP 6208, A-side, UK No.12, 2012 Remaster – featuring Bryan Ferry, Phil Manzanera and Production from Brian Eno)
14. The Six Teens – SWEET (July 1974, RCA Victor LPBO-5037, A-side, UK No.9 – a Chinn/Chapman Production)
15. Vado Via – DRUPI (September 1973, A&M Records AMS 7082, A-side, UK No.17 – Italian Singer Giampiero Anelli)
16. Go (Before You Break My Heart) – GIGLIOLA CINQUETTI (April 1974, CBS Records S CBS 2294, A-side, UK No.8 – Eurovision Song Contest entry)
17. Annie's Song - JOHN DENVER (July 1974, RCA Victor APB0 0295, A-side, UK No.1 – UK picture sleeve repro on Page 19)
18. The Most Beautiful Girl – CHARLIE RICH (November 1973, Epic S EPC 1897, A-side, UK No.2 – a No.1 in the USA)
19. She – CHARLES AZNAVOUR (May 1974, Barclay BAR 26, A-side, UK No.1 – subtitled (Theme from the TV Series "Seven Faces Of Woman")
20. Lonely This Christmas – MUD (November 1974, RAK Records RAK 187, A-side, UK No.1 – a Chinn/Chapman Production)

The booklet inside the Hardback Special Edition is a feast and has juicy fan-boy titbits like David Paton of Pilot was in a pre-fame line-up of teen sensations Bay City Rollers but redeemed that life of screaming girlies in Tartan by playing Acoustic Guitar on Kate Bush's No.1 "Wuthering Heights" in 1978. How about that ace-axeman Chris Spedding played guitar on the David Essex original "Gonna Make You A Star" or that the now classic 1973 album "Band On The Run" by Paul McCartney and Wings took seven months to rise to No.1 - initially entering the UK charts at a lowly placing of No. 45 in December 1973 (which now seems unimaginable) but classic single releases like "Jet" and the brilliant three-parter title track (String Arrangements by Tony Visconti of Bowie and T.Rex fame) made short shift of that. Speaking of Marc Bolan, the Get It On star adds extra guitar to "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" from ELO's third album "On The Third Day", their first without founder member Roy Wood who had departed for Wizzard (Jeff Lynne took over completely from this album onwards).

Or how about the rare picture sleeve to Virgin VS 101 pictured on Page 9, the future-airline's first 45 for Mike Oldfield from the all-conquering "Tubular Bells". Collectors of Serious Rock Music will also notice from the onslaught of details how staggeringly successful labels like Bell Records and RAK were – so often tapping into the teen zeitgeist by doing angst-ridden mush or cod Rock and Roll dashed with a little fay rebellion and even (dare we say it) sex. Bell Records especially – the home of the Bay City Rollers, David Cassidy, Terry Jacks, Hello and The Rubettes – smashed it chartwise and yet (in truth) have little collectability in 2024 (I was and still am a secret David Cassidy admirer – wrote a poem about him and his effect on my sisters in the early Seventies). The Chinn and Chapman reign of hits on RAK Records is quite astonishing – regular chart toppers or if not, in at No. 2 or No.3. In fact I can see a Box Set being due for the songs and production chops of Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman.

MICHAEL MULLIGAN provided the liner notes for all releases and thanks The Official Charts for dates and highest poll positions. The AUDIO is uniformly fab throughout with specific Remaster dates noted in the track list pages at the rear. This compilation sounds great and at times – startling. To the music…

CD1 opens with a great run from Queen, Paul McCartney & Wings, Sparks, Sweet, Suzi Quatro, Mud, Slade and hell – even Pilot pleases. The clarity is seriously impressive right across the board and as you travel into David Essex and his big moment "Gonna Make You A Star" – a notoriously difficult tune to get good audio on – but here it shines (those huge synths). Things start to spiral down with the Echoed Cod R and R of "Jealous Mind" and the wailing vocals of The Rubettes. They get into cringe territory with Bay City Rollers and Paper Lace while Leo Sayer does well with a gutsy vocal on "The Show Must Go On". The less said about The Wombles the better. Soul, Disco and R&B start to show with Carl Douglas, Barry White and the Diana Ross/Mavin Gaye duet. But while Marvin and Diana get seriously swoonsome with their popular "You Are Everything", it is The Stylistics who own my ticker with their lovely "You Make Me Feel Brand New" featuring two lead vocals – Airrion Love and Russell Thompkins. Jr. (initially a B-side flipped to the A after DJ reactions). CD1 closes with soppy Soul – The Three Degrees giving it Philly ah and ooh while Sweet Sensation doing Sad Sweet Dreamer put it down to experience.

CD2 ups the game considerably with seven corkers in a row – the huge riffage of "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" by Electric Light Orchestra here in its single-edit form, Jeff Lynne roaring brill with help from Marc Bolan on Guitar, John Lennon getting funky with "Whatever Gets You Thru The Night" from the excellent "Walls And Bridges" album and Elton going George Michael-soulful with "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me". But fun comes in the shape of the best-boozy-boys Faces giving it some on "Poolhall Richard" (watch those broken bottles lads) and Cozy Powell whack that kit for "Dance With The Devil" – both rockers hugely enjoyable and sounding super-duper. But for collectors there is the excitement of a quiet coup: as far back as five years ago I bemoaned the lack of a decent overhaul of Golden Earring's hugely popular album "Moontan" from 1973 on Track Records that sports the fabulous "Radar Love". Then came Red Bullet out of the Netherlands who did a Deluxe and Expanded 2CD version in September 2021 with both the LP version of "Radar Love" at 6:21 minutes and a single edit at 3:45 minutes. But there are American Edits at 2:52 and 5:02 minutes – the longer one has been used on 80s British reissues. Well Now Yearbook 1974 is making the UK Single Edit at 3:45 minutes more widely available here and it's licensed from RB in Remastered form so it sounds great – a cleaner leap from those early 80s MCA versions that used that horrible reissue artwork. Note: the rear artwork of Now 1974 does not advise "Radar Love" is a Single Edit but the pages inside and CD itself credit UK Single Edit at 3:45 minutes.

Cher might have gone to No.1 in the USA with "Dark Lady" but it sounds a tad dated to me, better is Lulu becoming impossibly hip with Bowie and Ronson (who both play, sing and produce) as she does David's "The Man Who Sold The World". But good as that is, in terms of sheer Art-Rock-Cool, it doesn't get better than Bryan Ferry's inspired and ever-so-slightly unhinged cover version of the Dobie Gray 1965 R & B classic "The 'In Crowd'" presented to us as a 4:16 minutes edit. Dressing fine, making time, out of sight – the Virgin Remaster is huge and when those geetars and brass come at you – you will know (show us a real good time). Shaking from my head to the bottom of my toes – The Arrows are concerned with fevers of 90-above on their Eddie Cochran-esque "Touch Too Much" – a far better listen than I remember – like cool Sweet. Continuing the cover version tack, glamsters Hello give us a guitar-crunching very Bell Records meets RAK Records stab at "Tell Him" – the 1963 R&B anthem by The Exciters. 

A clever follow comes in the shape of Mud giving it loads of dual-guitars on "The Cat Crept In". But that is whomped by evolving 10cc brilliance in "The Wall Street Shuffle" – a crucial cut from their second album "Sheet Music" in 1974 – fabulous lyrics, production and big muscle from the Remaster. Very clever follow with Rod Stewart and that huge acoustic/mandolin sound he got on Mercury Records – the gorgeous "Farewell" feeling like world-class Faces or Slim Chance – surely one of the gems waiting for you on this 1974 hodgepodge. Ballads play out CD2 with Slade getting mellow for "Everyday", a gorgeously clear Remaster for Andy Kim discovering his inner Neil Diamond with "Rock Me Gently" – but again as good as they once were – they are floor-wiped by Paul Carrack as Lead Vocalist in Ace as they produce what must be one of the top ten greatest singles of the Seventies - "How Long". What a tune! And the Remaster is so sweet. CD2 comes to a satisfying end with another slice of British ballad genius in "The Air That I Breathe" by The Hollies – Alan Clark smartly revamping the 1973 Albert Hammond song into a strings and melody-based gem that the public everywhere still adores 50 years after the event.

CDs3 and CD4 offer up Soul and R &B with Barry White, Harold Melvin, The Drifters, The Intruders and the gorgeous Isley Brothers tune "Summer Breeze". It then morphs into Glam and Pop-Rock – T.Rex sounding ever so slightly unconvincing with "Teenage Dream" while Alvin Stardust already sounds like he’s going through the Pop Star motions. Particularly sweet are Eddie Holman and a later Aretha flourish. Disc 4 ahs four genuine stormers in Paul McCartney, Elton John, Roxy Music and Sparks but too much of the rest is saccharine with only Charlie Rich and maybe Charles Aznavour lifting proceedings. Speaking of replacements... 

MISSING IN ACTION: We should also mention some biggies that aren't on Now Yearbook 1974 or 1974 Extra and could/should have been (probably because of licensing problems) - "Pick Up The Pieces" by Average White Band, "I Shot The Sheriff" by Eric Clapton, "Boogie Down" by Eddie Kendricks, "Dreamer" by Supertramp, "Let's Straighten It Out" by Latimer, "Photograph" or "You're Sixteen" by Ringo Starr, "It's Only Rock & Roll" by The Rolling Stones, the fantastic "Rebel Rebel" by David Bowie. And where is "I Can Help" by Billy Swan or "Angie Baby" by Anne Murray – both US No.1s - or Abba's Eurovision beginning with "Waterloo" which became their first UK No.1 and began a Blighty love affair with the group that has lasted half a century?

Deep dive cuts could also have included a few roasty-toasties in the shape of "Pinball" by Brian Protheroe, "Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On" by Yvonne Fair, "Jarrow Song" by Alan Price, "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" by Steely Dan, "Homely Girl" by The Chi-Lites, "Amoureuse" by Kiki Dee, "Can't Get Enough Of Your Love" by Bad Company, "Living For The City", "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing" or "You Ain't Done Nothin'" by Stevie Wonder, "Sundown" by Gordon Lightfoot, "Roll Away The Stone" by Mott The Hoople or even "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd. How about "Best Of My Love" by Eagles – a November 1974 US hit that took until January 1975 for a UK 45-release – but what a tune. And I know it didn't officially chart in Blighty or their native USA until re-promotion in 1976, but I would have had the magnificent "She's Gone" by Hall & Oates – issued November 1974 in the UK and USA but to no takers (rules be-damned - it's too glorious to exclude).

As I say – these Now Yearbook sets infuriate as much as they enliven but with so many tracks (part cool, part cliff-sheer nostalgia), great audio and a reasonable price tag that will probably drop even further as time goes on - "Now Yearbook '74" is to be recommended to even the most sceptical…

NOW YEARBOOK '74 UK Discography

"Now Yearbook '74" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Sony Music/EMI CDYBXNOW74 - 0196588423925 (Barcode 196588423925) – released 3 May 2024 as a 4CD 82-Track 28-Page Special Edition Hardback Book

"Now Yearbook '74" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Sony Music/EMI CDYBNOW74 - 0196588423826 (Barcode 196588423826) – released 3 May 2024 as a 4CD 82-Track Eight-Panel Card Sleeve Standard Edition

"Now Yearbook '74" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Sony Music/EMI LPYBNOW74 - 01965884240141 (Barcode 1965884240141) – released 3 May 2024 as a 3LP GREEN VINYL Edition with 48-Tracks Truncated down from the 4CD edition.

"Now Yearbook Extra '74 - 64 More Essential Hits From 1974" on Sony Music/EMI CDYBENOW74 - 0196588903021 (Barcode 196588903021) – released 7 June 2024 as a 3CD 64-Track Companion Volume in a Tri-Gatefold Card Sleeve

"Now Yearbook Extra '74 - 64 More Essential Hits From 1974" by VARIOUS ARTISTS - Featuring Elton John, Queen, Mud, Suzi Quatro, Sparks, T.Rex, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, Slade, Mott The Hoople, Alice Cooper, Mungo Jerry, Cozy Powell, The Rubettes, Gary Shearston, Jim Stafford, Roberta Flack, Barry White, The Stylistics, The Tymes, Bryan Ferry, David Essex, Roy Wood, Clifford T. Ward, Lobo, Bay City Rollers, Commodores, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, MFSB, The Intruders, Prelude, Maria Muldaur, Faces, Love Unlimited Orchestra and many more (June 2024 UK Sony Music/EMI 3CD 64-Track Remastered Compilation in a Trifold Card Sleeve - No Booklet) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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PICK UP THE PIECES - 1974

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RATING:

Content: ***

Audio: ****

Presentation: ***

"...Judy Teen..."

The 'Now Yearbook' Series of Compilations from Sony Music and EMI has touched on three for the Seventies - '1979' in September 2022, '1978' in April 2023 and '1973' in September and October 2023. Each has the same MO - a 4CD 'Now Yearbook' and a 3CD follow-up called 'Extra'. 

Here in May and June 2024 we get a fourth - '1974' - a 4CD Main with Hardback Book and Standard Card Sleeve Editions and a Truncated 3LP GREEN VINYL Set (all released 3 May 2024) - and now this - a 3CD Extra companion compilation released 7 June 2024 with 64 more songs to accompany the 82 featured on the 4CD Main (see list below for catalogue number/barcode details).

As with all these cheap and cheerful releases - they concentrate on a mix of Pop and Rock on one disc while Soul and R 'n' B will dominate another with Discs 3 and 4 mixing it up with everything from Easy Listening to Glam to Country to Teenybopper Pop. Some songs were issued late 1973 but only charted in 1974. The problem with charts in the Seventies (especially in the early years) is that genius abutted crud on a weekly basis and that's what you get here. But compilers would argue that one man's Trabant is another man's Tesla - so we put the kitchen sink in and let the listener sort out the dirty dishes from the sparkling China. 

And so it is with the Extra set for '1974' - great 45-single mix memories and reminders (album versions are noted) - re-discoveries that delight – awful stuff you hoped you had forgotten abutting saccharine cringes a-go-go - spiffing audio throughout despite the fact that only four give actual dates for the Remasters - and the bolshy brute is cheap too - roughly nine-quid for a 3CD set chocker with 64 songs.

Let's get to the Judy Teens, the Long Legged Women Dressed In Black, the Liverpool Lou's, The Bangin' Men and the Little Trustmakers floating on the Seven Seas of Rhye whilst always remembering you are a Womble. To the details...

UK released 7 June 2024 - "Now Yearbook Extra '74 - 64 More Essential Hits From 1974" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Sony Music/EMI CDYBENOW74 - 0196588903021 (Barcode 196588903021) is a 3CD Companion Compilation to the 4CD set 'Now Yearbook '74' issued May 2024 and plays out as follows:

CD1 (76:44 minutes):

1. Seven Seas Of Rhye - QUEEN (February 1974 UK 45-Single on EMI Records EMI 2121, A - 2011 Remaster)

2. The Bitch Is Back - ELTON JOHN (August 1974, DJM Records DJS 322, A - 2017 Remaster)

3. The Wild One (Single Version) - SUZI QUATRO (November 1974, RAK Records RAK 185, A)

4. Rocket - MUD (July 1974, RAK Records RAK 178, A)

5. The Bangin' Man - SLADE (June 1974, Polydor 2058 492 A - Non-LP Single on Release)

6. The Golden Age Of Rock 'N' Roll - MOTT THE HOOPLE (March 1974, CBS Records S CBS 2177, A – featuring Ian Hunter)

7. Forever - ROY WOOD (November 1973, Harvest HAR 5078, A)

8. Teenage Lament '74 – ALICE COOPER (January 1974, Warner Brothers K 16345, A)

9. Spiders And Snakes – JIM STAFFORD (March 1974, MGM 2006 374 – was issued September 1973 in the USA)

10. You Can Make Me Dance, Sing Or Anything – FACES (November 1974, Warner Brothers K 16494, A – 2010 Remaster) 

11. Break The Rules – STATUS QUO (April 1974, Vertigo 6059 101, A)

12. Na Na Na – COZY POWELL (July 1974, RAK Records RAK 180, A)

13, Long Legged Woman Dressed In Black – MUNGO JERRY (March 1974, Dawn Records DNS 1061, A)

14. The Night Chicago Died (Album Version) – PAPER LACE (from the July 1974 UK LP "…And Other Bits Of Material" on Bus Stop Records BUSLP 8001)

15. Light Of Love – T.REX (July 1974, T.Rex MARC 8, A)

16. America – DAVID ESSEX (April 1974, CBS Records S CBS 2176, A)

17. Judy Teen – COCKNEY REBEL (March 1974, EMI Records EMI 2128, A – featuring Steve Harley)

18. Red Dress – ALVIN STARDUST (April 1974, Magnet MAG 8, A)

19. Tonight – THE RUBETTES (July 1974, Polydor 2058 499, A)

20. All Of Me Loves All Of You – BAY CITY ROLLERS (October 1974, Bell Records BELL 1382, A)

21. I Get A Kick Out Of You – GARY SHEARSTON (September 1974, Charisma CB 234, A)

22. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes – BRYAN FERRY (August 1974, Island WIP 6205, A – 1999 Remaster)

CD2 (67:52 minutes):

1. Love's Theme – THE LOVE UNLIMITED ORCHESTRA (January 1974 Debut 45, Pye International 7N 25635, A-side - US Debut Single was October 1973 on 20th Century Records TC-2069)

2. TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia) – MFSB featuring THE THREE DEGREES (March 1974, Philadelphia International S PIR 2139, A – a Leon Huff and Kenneth Gamble song)

3. Satisfaction Guaranteed (Or Take Your Love Back) – HAROLD MELVIN and THE BLUE NOTES (March 1974, Philadelphia International S PIR 2187, A – a Leon Huff and Kenneth Gamble song)

4. You Little Trustmaker – THE TYMES (August 1974, RCA Victor RCA 2546, A)

5. Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart) – DIANA ROSS and MARVIN GAYE (June 1974, Tamla Motown TMG 906, A)

6. Then Came You - DIONNE WARWICK and THE SPINNERS (September 1974, Atlantic K 10495, A – a Thom Bell Production)

7. Down On The Beach Tonight – THE DRIFTERS (September 1974, Bell Records BELL 1381, A)

8. Rockin' Roll Baby – THE STYLISTICS (December 1973, Avco 6105 026, A)

9. I've Got The Music In Me – THE KIKI DEE BAND (July 1974, Pig Records PIG 12, A)

10. Queen Of Clubs – KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND (August 1974, Jay Boy Records BOY 88, A)

11. Machine Gun – COMMODORES (June 1974, Tamla Motown TMG 972, A)

12. There's A Ghost In My House – R. DEAN TAYLOR (May 1974, Tamla Motown TMG 876, A – originally issued 1966)

13. Everlasting Love – ROBERT KNIGHT (February 1974, Monument S MNT 2106, A – originally a 1967 hit)

14. Guilty – THE PEARLS (May 1974, Bell Records BELL 1352, A)

15. Year Of Decision – THE THREE DEGREES (March 1974, Philadelphia International S PIR 2073, A – a Gamble and Huff song)

16. I'll Always Love My Mama (Part 1) – THE INTRUDERS (March 1974, Philadelphia International S PIR 2149, A – originally issued June 1973 in the UK on Epic S EPC 1623 also with (Part 2) on the B-side)

17. Midnight At The Oasis – MARIA MULDAUR (June 1974, Reprise K 14331, A)

18. Be Thankful For What You Got (Part 1) – WILLIAM DeVAUGHN (May 1974, Chelsea 2005 002, A)

19. Feel Like Making Love - ROBERTA FLACK (June 1974, Atlantic K 10467, A)

20. Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up (Single Version) – BARRY WHITE (January 1974, Pye International 7N 25633, A)

CD3 (70:18 minutes):

1. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds (Edit) – ELTON JOHN (November 1974, DJM Records DJS 340, A – a Beatles cover)

2. Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth – SPARKS (October 1974, Island WIP 6211, A – a Ron Mael song)

3. Hooked On A Feeling – BLUE SWEDE (March 1974, EMI Records EMI 2149 A, featuring BJORN SKIFS)

4. Remember You're A Womble – THE WOMBLES (March 1974, CBS Records S CBS 2241, A – a Mike Batt song)

5. Remember – BAY CITY ROLLERS (January 1974, Bell Records BELL 1338, A)

6. One Man Band – LEO SAYER (May 1974, Chrysalis CHS 2045, A)

7. Liverpool Lou (Single Version) – SCAFFOLD (May 1974, Warner Brothers K 16400, A)

8. I Get A Little Sentimental Over You – THE NEW SEEKERS (March 1974, Polydor 2058 439, A)

9. Laughter In The Rain – NEIL SEDAKA (June 1975, Polydor 2058 494, A)

10. After The Goldrush – PRELUDE (November 1973, Dawn DNS 1052, A)

11. Scullery – CLIFFORD T. WARD (November 1973, Charisma CB 221, A)

12. If You Go Away – TERRY JACKS (June 1974, Bell Records BELL 1362, A)

13. I'd Love You To Want Me – LOBO (May 1974, UK Records UK R 68, A)

14. Let's Put It All Together – THE SPINNERS (October 1974, Avco 6105 032, A)

15. All Of My Life (Album Version) – DIANA ROSS (November 1973, Tamla Motown TMG 880, A)

16. Behind Closed Doors – CHARLIE RICH (June 1973, Epic S EPC 1539, A)

17. My Boy – ELVIS PRESLEY (January 1975, RCA Victor PB-10191, A)

18. Solitaire – ANDY WILLIAMS (October 1973, CBS Records S CBS 1824, A)

19. Don't Stay Away Too Long – PETERS & LEE (April 1974, Phillips 6006 388, A)

20. Long Live Love – OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN (March 1974, Pye International 7N 25638, A)

21. Y Viva Espana – SYLVIA (January 1974, Sonet SON 2037, A)

22. Galloping Home – THE LONDON STRING CHORALE (September 1972, Polydor 2058 270, A – charted 1974)

There is no liner notes nor booklet with the Tri-Gatefold Card Sleeve, just track by track credits without any real info including chart positions. The Audio however is uniformly fab throughout with only the Scaffold cut sounding odd to me but I think that is the way it was recording. To the music…

CD1 opens with a great run from Queen, Elton John, Quatro, Mud, Slade and Mott The Hoople. The opening very Nazareth slide guitar of the Slade track is punchy and full of clarity. Roy Wood (of The Move and Wizzard) and Jim Stafford please too with their happy-go-lucky tunes. 'even take the dog for a walk, mend a fuse, fold away the ironing board, or any other domestic short comings' was the witty brackets subtitle for the Faces 1974 final original song throw of the 45-single dice - "You Can Make Me Dance, Sing Or Anything". Rod Stewart was already a bona-fide Seventies Superstar (like Elton) by 1973 when he left the Faces but it’s this kind of good time jaunt that shows why people loved him and his former band so much. A low-down lady with a honky tonk car seduces the helpless lads of Status Quo on the pleasing guitar and harmonica boogie of "Break The Rules". The man with the physical hammer – drummer Cozy Powell – packs a rebellious punch on the far-better-than-you-remember-it "Na Na Na" – another RAK Records anthem gifted to Powell by John Cameron who had close associations with a RAK band I loved - C.C.S. (with Alexis Korner). The cod Rock and Roll continues with the fun Mungo Jerry tune "Long Legged Woman In Black" – another gal not prepared to put out for Ray Dorset. 

Some have claimed that the Paper Lace song "The Night Chicago Died" is a re-recording but I don’t think so – it’s just the Album Version which differed from the Single Mix. Unfortunately, the long run of T.Rex moments of greatness was clearly coming to an end with "The Light Of Love" while amazingly clear audio will greet David Essex fans for the echoed menace of the cleverly arranged "America". Can never get me enough Cockney Rebel and I remember absolutely everyone discovering Steve Harley and his smarmy acidic that year with the brilliant "Judy Teen" – a song that manages to be both sweetness personified and razor blade at the same time (clean audio too). Alvin Stardust did well with the weirdly irritating "Red Dress" – the kind of Pop fodder that regularly topped the charts then while The Rubettes and the Bay City Rollers bring me out in hives. CD1 ends though on two clever nostalgia winners – Gary Shearston giving Charisma Records a rare chart entry with his take on the Cole Porter drug-addled oldie "I Get A Kick Out Of You" and Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music carving out a solo career with his take on the Jerome Kern songbook classic "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes".

CD2 goes Soul big time (mostly). Opening with Barry White's band The Love Unlimited Orchestra - "Love's Theme" sets the lush dancefloor scene (BW also gets the last song on the disc). Folks get down with the Soul Train as MFSB, Harold Melvin and The Three Degrees stamp that Philadelphia International sound on our consciousness (we still haven't recovered, nor do we want too). But I have to say that I loved rediscovering "You Little Trustmaker" by The Tymes – the kind of doobie-doobie bopper that just lifts the spirits like only US Soul Music can. Diana Ross got the lead name on the label (of course) but it is the glory of Marvin Gaye that you remember – their duet remake of "Stop, Look And Listen (To You Heart)" (a hit The Stylistics had in March 1971 in the USA) slinking out your speakers (the Ross/Gaye single was a UK-only release). Another excellent duet "Then Came You", offers the forgotten lone hook-up of Dionne Warwick with The Spinners – gorgeous Seventies Soul. The Drifters tune is too cheesy for my taste, but The Stylistics show why they were such hitmakers in those years - "Rockin' Roll Baby" as catchy as it gets. But then we get a true winner – Kiki Dee getting Rock-Funky with her fantastic "I've Got The Music In Me" – an Elton John and Band production that includes great string and brass arrangements too courtesy of Richard Hewson. And the Audio is clearly the EMI Remaster of about 2005 even if it doesn't say so (what a belter of a vocalist she was). 

Skip the decidedly unimpressive KC & The Sunshine Band offering and go directly to the genius of the Commodores doing the Clavinet and Synth Funky instrumental "Machine Gun" – a monster back in the day in the clubs and used ever since in countless movies when an Afro shows up (banging audio too). Two 60ts tunes follow that were reissued to more success in 1974 - more skipping for me unfortunately with R. Dean Taylor on Motown (a 1966 song originally) – better the August 1967 Northern Soul gem "Everlasting Love" by Robert Knight – the kind of perennial that never seems to date (issued once again on Monument Records). Completely forgotten goes to the pretty "Guilty" by The Pearls – the man stole her heart and needs to pay for his sins. The Three Degrees were hugely popular, and you can hear why with "Year Of Decision" – another catchy Gamble & Huff song on Philly. Skipping The Intruders, we are hit with three top-audio total winners that still sound amazingly current - "Midnight At The Oasis" by Maria Muldaur, "Be Thankful For You Got" by William DeVaughn (I am indeed 'diggin' the scene with a gangster lean') and Roberta Flack's sexy "Feel Like Making Love". CD2 closes on oldies radio staple - Barry 'The Walrus of Love' White getting bedroom breathy with "Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up" – keeping his lady pleased in every way that he can.

Unfortunately, CD3 on this Extra compilation is weighed down with Pop Pap. The good stuff first – it opens promisingly enough with Elton doing his Beatles Sgt. Peppers cover of "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" (Single Edit) which is followed by Sparks giving us "Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth" – their Queen-like drama sounding amazingly clear. But then we get awful dollops of The Wombles and Bay City Rollers broken periodically by Leo Sayer and his Acoustic "One Man Band" anthem (Roger Daltrey of The Who covered it on his "Daltrey" solo debut album in 1973). The cod football anthem "Liverpool Lou" of Scaffold is followed by the cheesy golden oldies jaunt of The New Seekers. Neil Sedaka saves the moment with his Carpenters-melodious "Laughter In The Rain". Great discovery is the Prelude Acapella cover version of the Neil Young 1970 classic "After The Gold Rush" followed by "Scullery" from English teacher Clifford T. Ward (his other hit on Charisma "Wherewithal" is on the 1973 set). Schlock quickly returns with Terry Jacks and Lobo – The Stylistics triumphing with their big chorus brand. Diana Ross offers us the weedy Motown ballad "All Of My Life" but she is blown out of the water by the welcome pipes of Charlie Rich in his signature silver-fox moment - "Behind Closed Doors". Got help us all but I enjoyed re-hearing Andy Williams doing "Solitaire" – an easy listening ballad with half-a-heart. But the last run is just awful with Y Viva Espana making me reach for the barf bag. 

As I say – these Now Yearbook sets infuriate as much as they enliven – but with so many tracks, great audio and a reasonable price tag that will probably drop even further as time goes on – "Now Yearbook Extra '74 - 64 More Essential Hits From 1974" is recommended…

NOW YEARBOOK '74 UK Discography

"Now Yearbook '74" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Sony Music/EMI CDYBXNOW74 - 0196588423925 (Barcode 196588423925) – released 3 May 2024 as a 4CD 82-Track 28-Page Special Edition Hardback Book

"Now Yearbook '74" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Sony Music/EMI CDYBNOW74 - 0196588423826 (Barcode 196588423826) – released 3 May 2024 as a 4CD 82-Track Eight-Panel Card Sleeve Standard Edition

"Now Yearbook '74" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Sony Music/EMI LPYBNOW74 - 01965884240141 (Barcode 1965884240141) – released 3 May 2024 as a 3LP GREEN VINYL Edition with 48-Tracks Truncated down from the 4CD edition.

"Now Yearbook Extra '74 - 64 More Essential Hits From 1974" on Sony Music/EMI CDYBENOW74 - 0196588903021 (Barcode 196588903021) – released 7 June 2024 as a 3CD 64-Track Companion Volume in a Tri-Gatefold Card Sleeve

"Now Yearbook '79" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Eighty-Five Single and Album Tracks by Queen, The Police, The Boomtown Rats, Kate Bush, Ian Dury & The Blockheads, Blondie, ABBA, Gerry Rafferty, Madness, The Specials, The Selecter, Gary Moore & Phil Lynott, The Knack, Chic, Sister Sledge, Earth Wind & Fire, Gloria Gaynor, ELO, Pretenders, Dave Edmunds, Elvis Costello, Squeeze, The Clash, The Skids, Kool & The Gang, Dynasty, The Sugarhill Gang, Tubeway Army, The Crusaders, Donna Summer, BA Robertson, Sex Pistols, XTC, The Cure, The B-52s, The Jam, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Wings, The Real Thing, Sad Café, Flying Lizards, M and more (September 2022 UK Sony Music/EMI 4CD Compilation in a Four-Panel Foldout Card Sleeve with Varying Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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RATING: Content *** to ***** / Audio **** to *****

 

"…One Step Beyond…"

I found the 4CD Now Yearbook compilation for 1978 to be something of a disappointment. What a difference a year makes because 1979 is so much better even if (like 1978) – Discs 3 and 4 contain some serious dogs. 

Most (not all) of these 4CD sets are later accompanied by a further Yearbook Extra release of 3CDs - bringing the year haul to well over 130 songs. And for 1979 and its 4CD Yearbook big-daddy you get a damn cool haul - Eighty-Five Single and Album Tracks by the likes of Queen, The Police, The Boomtown Rats, Kate Bush, Ian Dury & The Blockheads, Blondie, ABBA, Gerry Rafferty, Madness, The Specials, The Selecter, Gary Moore & Phil Lynott, The Knack, Chic, Sister Sledge, Earth Wind & Fire, Gloria Gaynor, ELO, Pretenders, Dave Edmunds, Elvis Costello, Squeeze, The Clash, The Skids, Kool & The Gang, Lene Lovich, The Sugarhill Gang, Tubeway Army, The Crusaders, Donna Summer, BA Robertson, Sex Pistols, XTC, The Cure, The B-52s, The Jam, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Wings, The Real Thing, Sad Café, The Tourists, Flying Lizards, M, Billy Joel and many more. It is a diverse list and even if you have Boney M and The Buggles on CD4 (abominations ahoy) – there is more good than bad. 

The fold-out four-panel card sleeve is barely functional as packaging – giving some info but not a lot else. Upsides – because these sets are Sony Music/EMI – the audio is uniformly top notch (most are in fact highlighted as Remasters from the 2000s onwards in the small print inside). And now that 2022 is receding into two years ago in 2024 – this set is normally reduced to six or seven quid including P&P - which frankly represents serious value for money. You may not be getting anything packaging-wise, but at least 40 to 50% of the choices will please and the audio is crackerlackin'. Here be the details for the have-a-good-time seventy-nine…

UK released 9 September 2022 - "Now Yearbook '79" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Sony Music/EMI CDYBNOW79 / 0196587150228 (Barcode 196587150228) is a 4CD Compilation in a Four-Panel Foldout Card Sleeve with Eighty-Five Single Edits, Album Versions and Various Remasters that play out as follows:

CD1 (79:17 minutes):
1. Don't Stop Me Now (2011 Remaster) – QUEEN
2. Walking On The Moon – THE POLICE
3. I Don't Like Mondays (Album Version) – THE BOOMTOWN RATS
4. Wow – KATE BUSH
5. Hit Me With A Rhythm Stick – IAN DURY & THE BLOCKHEADS
6. Heart Of Glass (Original Single Version) – BLONDIE
7. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) – ABBA
8. Good Times (7" Edit, 2018 Remaster) – CHIC
9. We Are Family (Single Version) – SISTER SLEDGE
10. September – EARTH WIND & FIRE
11. I Will Survive (Single Version) – GLORIA GAYNOR
12. YMCA – VILLAGE PEOPLE
13. Hot Stuff (Single Version) – DONNA SUMMER
14. Beat The Clock – SPARKS
15. Cars – GARY NUMAN
16. Money (Edit) – THE FLYING LIZARDS
17. Stob Your Sobbing – PRETENDERS
18. Girls Talk – DAVE EDMUNDS
19. Night Owl (Edit) – GERRY RAFFERTY
20. My Life – BILLY JOEL
21. Dance Away (Single Version, 2012 Remaster) – ROXY MUSIC

CD2 (76:28 minutes): 
1. One Step Beyond (7" Single Version) – MADNESS
2. On My Radio – THE SELECTER
3. Gangsters – THE SPECIALS
4. Silly Games – JANET KAY
5. Parisienne Walkways – GARY MOORE & PHIL LYNOTT
6. Bat Out Of Hell (Single Edit, 4:44 minutes) - MEATLOAF
7. Don't Bring Me Down – ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA
8. Since You Been Gone – RAINBOW
9.  The Devil Went Down To Georgia – THE CHARLIE DANIELS BAND
10. My Sharona – THE KNACK
11. I Only Want To Be With You – THE TOURISTS
12. Cool For Cats (Single Edit) – SQUEEZE
13. Into The Valley - SKIDS
14. Something Else (2012 Remaster) – SEX PISTOLS
15. I Fought The Law – THE CLASH
16. The Eton Rifles (Single Edit) – THE JAM
17. Accidents Will Happen (2020 Remaster) – ELVIS COSTELLO & THE ATTRACTIONS
18. Making Plans For Nigel - XTC
19. Is She Really Going Out With Him? (Album Version) – JOE JACKSON
20. Boys Don't Cry – THE CURE
21. The Staircase (Mystery) – SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES
22. Lucky Number – LENE LOVICH
23. Rock Lobster – THE B-52's

CD3 (77:52 minutes): 
1. Chiquitata – ABBA 
2. Bright Eyes – ART GARFUNKLE
3. Song For Guy (Single Edit, 2017 Remaster) – ELTON JOHN
4. Every Day Hurts – SAD CAFE
5. One Way Ticket - ERUPTION
6. Knock On Wood (7" Edit) – AMII STEWART
7. I Want Your Love (7" Edit, 2018 Remaster) - CHIC
8. He's The Greatest Dancer (Edit Version) – SISTER SLEDGE
9. Bad Girls – DONNA SUMMER
10. Street Life (Edit) – THE CRUSADERS
11. Boogie Wonderland – EARTH WIND & FIRE with THE EMOTIONS
12. Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now (Single Version) – McFADDEN & WHITEHEAD
13. Ladies Night (Edit) – KOOL & THE GANG
14. Can You Feel The Force – THE REAL THING
15. Contact (UK 7" Single Version) – EDWIN STARR
16. I Was Made For Dancin' – LEE GARRETT
17. Wanted – THE DOOLEYS
18. Strutt Your Funky Stuff (Single Version) – FRANTIQUE
19. I Don't Want To Be A Freak (But I Can't Help Myself) (Radio Version) – DYNASTY
20. Rapper's Delight – THE SUGARHILL GANG

CD4 (78:23 minutes): 
1. We Don't Talk Anymore – CLIFF RICHARD
2. Forever In Blue Jeans (Single Version) – NEIL DIAMOND
3. Goodnight Tonight (2016 Remaster, 4:20 minutes) – WINGS (Paul McCartney)
4. Shine A Little Love – ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA
5. A Little More Love – OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN
6. Dreaming – BLONDIE
7. She's In Love With You (2017 Remaster) – SUZI QUATRO
8. When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman – DR. HOOK
9. If I Had You – THE KORGIS
10. Love's Gotta Hold On Me - DOLLAR
11. Hallelujah – MILK & HONEY
12. Woman In Love – THE THREE DEGREES
13. Reunited (Single Version) – PEACHES & HERB
14. Still (Single Version) - COMMODORES
15. Lay Your Love On Me – RACEY
16. Bang Bang – B.A. ROBERTSON
17. In The Navy – VILLAGE PEOPLE
18. Hooray! Hooray! It's A Holi-Holiday (7" Version) – BONEY M.
19. Pop Muzik - M
20. Are 'Friends' Electric – TUBEWAY ARMY
21. Video Killed The Radio Star (Single Version) – THE BUGGLES

The basic edition has a four-panel foldout card sleeve with each CD in a printed-info pouch on the inside (see photos). There is a Limited Edition Hardback DigiBook version that has 28-pages of liner notes on all the songs – Sony Music/EMI CDYBXNOW79 (Barcode 196587150327) – and even a truncated 3LP VINYL variant on Sony Music/EMI LPYBNOW79 (Barcode  0196587150419) in ORANGE VINYL – both also released 9 September 2022.

The fun of these sets is the rediscoveries – the strangely contagious Pop-Funk of McCartney giving it some "Goodnight Tonight" – the last great hurrah from his band Wings – the infectious dancefloor groove of "Rapper's Delight" from The Sugarhill Gang and the irresistible sexiness of Debbie Harry doing some restaurant "Dreaming" (if ever there was hit machine surely it was Blondie). The neck-jerker XTC getting all University knowing with their fab "Making Plans For Nigel" while American Frat Boys The Knack get it up for the kick-ass Power Pop of "My Sharona". And across CDs 1 and 2 especially comes the shadow of 2-Tone, Go Feet, Chrysalis and Stiff – stunning singles like "Gangsters" from The Specials, the heavy-heavy monster sound of Madness wanting to go "One Step Beyond" with a Saxophone and a Porkpie Hat. 

Not to be outdone the Funk and Soul machines that were Chic, Earth Wind & Fire and Sister Sledge still thrill the old bottom-wiggler in me and Popsters like Roxy Music and Queen show how to write a hit single - while British New Wave acts like The Cure, Siouxsie and The Banshees and Joe Jackson still sound so young to me. And then of course is The Clash absolutely smashing it their cover of The Bobby Fuller Four 60ts song "I Fought The Law" followed rather cleverly by The Jam getting angry on "Eton Rifles" (what great bands they were). But you also forget The Skids doing "Into The Valley" while The Pistols took on Eddie Cochran rebel yells in "Something Else". And you gotta love quirky – Lene Lovich, Sparks and The B52's. 

CD3 is overtly Soul, Funk and Disco with dancefloor faves like "Can You Feel The Force" and Donna getting down with the "Bad Girls". Earth Wind & Fire on Columbia Records and McFadden & White on Philadelphia International still impress too. But as you move over to the last disc, you will undoubtedly want to give a wide berth to the truly garish Dr. Hook song "When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman" while The Korgis tune is so deliberately saccharine it might well drip sugar. Disco schlock like The Three Degrees is not a whole lot better, but I dig the "Pop Musik" of M and it will be a hard heart indeed that resists old Lionel giving it some "Still" when he was fronting the Commodores. Fun Wham-like Pop comes in the form of Racey doing "Lay Your Love On Me" followed by the smarmy yet clever Houdini lyrics of BA Robertson doing "Bang Bang". Heavy synth still gives Gary Numan and his Electric Friends a huge wallop - but the rest of CD4 is second rate Pop Soul like Village People and Boney M – awful. 

Better than 1978 - the 4CD compilation "Now Yearbook '79" offers the same deal - a whole lotta hotcha fun-listens and remembrances at a cheap stack-em-high price - but with the caveat that you taper those expectations once you get in deep...

"Now Yearbook '78" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Eighty-Five Single and Album Tracks by ELO, Kate Bush, Wings, ABBA, Gerry Rafferty, 10cc, Chic, Rose Royce, Chaka Khan, Odyssey, Boney M, Boomtown Rats, Elvis Costello, The Undertones, Buzzcocks, The Who, The Motors, The Clash, Blondie, Joe Walsh, Blue Oyster Cult, Billy Joel, The Cars, Patti Smith, Donna Summer, Dan Hartman, Earth, Wind & Fire, Heatwave, Renaissance, Darts, Bill Withers, Elkie Brooks, Foreigner and more (April 2023 UK Sony Music/EMI 4CD Compilation in a Four-Panel Foldout Card Sleeve with Varying Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/NOW-Yearbook-1978-Various-Artists/dp/B0BZ384Y3S?crid=25LOBD19X0ZJ4&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.EQ37X3LUSWFJ-zYn18EaAA.fEYgbDxQQkaN_U7luOkvXxFQcTPpBe2bRuA00bJ_yLU&dib_tag=se&keywords=196587830922&qid=1708768258&sprefix=196587830922%2Caps%2C87&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mabasreofcdbl-21&linkId=73e74c2dca44b3d775dd9f8a229e73f2&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

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CONTENT RATING: *** to ****

AUDIO: **** to *****

"…Ever Fallen In Love (with Someone You Shouldn't've)…"

I have about ten of these 4CD Now Yearbook compilations – most (not all) of which are accompanied by a further Yearbook Extra release of 3CDs - bringing the year haul to well over 130 songs. So a compilation covering a pivotal year in my youth 1978 appealed to me greatly (I bought the 1979 4CD issue as well). 

But the same problem to my listening ears occurs here as it does with all the 80ts titles – you are suckered by quantity (85 Tracks in the case of 1978). Because when you start to play them - especially when you get to CD3 and CD4 – the solid wall of cack Pop and Disco and poor man's Synth R 'n' B soon starts to mount up.

I cannot tell you how unbearable it is to hear Boney M., Dollar, Father Abraham, David Soul, Baccara or Brian and Michael doing Matchstick Men! But then you get The Clash, Patti Smith, Elvis Costello and The Attractions, The Police, Kate Bush, The Cars, E.L.O., Gerry Rafferty, Joe Walsh, Blue Öyster Cult, The Who, The Undertones, Boomtown Rats and genuinely great Soul-Funk in Chic, Hot Chocolate, Crown Heights Affair, Earth Wind & Fire, Heatwave, Chaka Khan, Bill Withers, Commodores, and Rose Royce – to name but a few. 

Maybe my addled, aging and woke-infested noggin is unable to process memories properly anymore – but I do not recall 1978 as being so overtly awful chart-wise. Agreed - when you play CD1 and CD2 – it must be said the tunes are abundant - and given that these sets are Sony Music/EMI – the audio is uniformly top notch (most are in fact highlighted as Remasters from the 2000s onwards in the small print inside). 

But the tendency with these Now sets is to go down the less-trodden Pop Path - to get out there, songs that haven't been on compilations before. So, when you get to most of CD3 and CD4 – the listen in my book takes a nosedive. The flaw with this 'let's do Top 5 to Top 40-only' is that there was so much you want to forget, and of course other gems they could have chosen but have been left off. It's always a pick 'n' mix I know – Hitsville UK – rash-inducing or no. 

In their favour, however, these 4CD sets start out at about ten quid, but after a few months are quickly reduced to six or seven quid which frankly represents serious value for money. You may not be getting anything packaging-wise, but at least 40 to 50% of the choices will please and the audio is crackerlackin'. Here be the details for the late great seventy-eight…

UK released 28 April 2023 - "Now Yearbook '78" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Sony Music/EMI CDYBNOW78 / 0196587830922 (Barcode 196587830922) is a 4CD Compilation in a Four-Panel Foldout Card Sleeve with Single Edits, Album Versions and Various Remasters that plays out as follows:

CD1 (78:36 minutes):
1. Mr. Blue Sky – ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA 
2. Baker Street (Single Edit, 4:06 minutes) – GERRY RAFFERTY
3. Da Ya Think I'm Sexy? – ROD STEWART 
4. Take A Chance On Me - ABBA
5. Rivers Of Babylon – BONEY M.
6. Dreadlock Holiday – 10cc
7. Uptown Top Ranking – ALTHEA and DONNA
8. MacArthur Park – DONNA SUMMER (Single Edit)
9. I'm Every Woman – CHAKA KHAN
10. If I Can't Have You – YVONNE ELLIMAN
11. Everybody Dance – CHIC (Single Edit)
12. Native New Yorker - ODYSSEY
13. Wishing On A Star – ROSE ROYCE
14. Three Times A Lady – COMMODORES (featuring Lionel Richie)
15. Dancing In The City – MARSHALL HAIN
16. Substitute – CLOUT
17. It's A Heartache – BONNIE TYLER
18. If You Can't Give Me Love – SUZIE QUATRO
19. With A Little Luck – WINGS
20. The Man With The Child In His Eyes – KATE BUSH

CD2 (78:13 minutes): 
1. Rat Trap – THE BOOMTOWN RATS
2. Teenage Kicks – THE UNDERTONES
3. Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've) - BUZZCOCKS
4. Hong Kong Garden – SIOUXSIE AND THE BANSHEES
5. Top Of The Pops – THE REZILLOS
6. Hanging On The Telephone - BLONDIE
7. (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea – ELVIS COSTELLO AND THE ATTRACTIONS
8. (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais – THE CLASH
9.  Down In The Tube Station At Midnight – THE JAM
10. What A Waste – IAN DURY AND THE BLOCKHEADS
11. Because The Night – PATTI SMITH (Bruce Springsteen cover, exclusive)
12. My Best Friend's Girl – THE CARS
13. Airport – THE MOTORS
14. 5.7.0.5. – CITY BOY
15. Love Is Like Oxygen – SWEET
16. Part-Time Love – ELTON JOHN
17. Movin' Out (Anthony’s Song) – BILLY JOEL
18. Who Are You – THE WHO
19. Cold As Ice – FOREIGNER
20. Life's Been Good (Single Edit, 4:37 minutes) – JOE WALSH
21. (Don't Fear) The Reaper (Single Edit, 3:40 minutes) – BLUE ÖYSTER CULT
22. Forever Autumn – JUSTIN HAYWARD [of The Moody Blues]

CD3 (77:31 minutes): 
1. Le Freak - CHIC
2. Boogie Oogie Oogie – A TASTE OF HONEY
3. More Than A Woman - TAVARES
4. I Love The Nightlife (Disco ‘Round) – ALICIA BRIDGES
5. Instant Replay – DAN HARTMAN
6. Let's All Chant – MICHAEL ZAGER BAND
7. Do It Do It Again (A Far L'Amore Comincia Tu) – RAFFAELLA CARRÁ
8. Sorry, I'm A Lady – BACCARA
9. Singin' In The Rain – SHEILA and B. DEVOTION
10. From East To West – VOYAGE
11. I Love You – DONNA SUMMER
12. Givin' Up Givin' In – THE THREE DEGREES
13. I Can't Stand The Rain – ERUPTION
14. Automatic Lover – DEE D. JACKSON
15. I Lost My Heart To A Starship Trooper – SARAH BRIGHTMAN and HOT GOSSIP
16. Galaxy Of Love – CROWN HEIGHTS AFFAIR
17. Come Back And Finish What You Started – GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS
18. Every 1's A Winner – HOT CHOCOLATE
19. Fantasy – EARTH, WIND & FIRE
20. Always And Forever – HEATWAVE
21. Love Don't Live Here Anymore – ROSE ROYCE

CD4 (76:30 minutes): 
1. Denis – BLONDIE
2. Hopelessly Devoted To You – OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN
3. Sandy – JOHN TRAVOLTA
4. The Boy From New York City – DARTS
5. Lovely Day – BILL WITHERS
6. Love Is In The Air – JOHN PAUL YOUNG
7. Copacabana – BARRY MANILOW
8. Northern Lights – RENAISSANCE
9. If I Had Words – SCOTT FITZGERALD and YVONNE KEELEY
10. Brown Girl In The Ring – BONEY M.
11. Figaro – BROTHERHOOD OF MAN
12. Bad Old Days – CO-CO
13. Shooting Star – DOLLAR
14. Never Let Her Slip Away – ANDREW GOLD
15. Lucky Stars – DEAN FRIEDMAN with DENISE MARSA
16. Walk In Love – THE MANHATTAN TRANSFER
17. Let's Have A Quiet Night In – DAVID SOUL
18. Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue – CRYSTAL GAYLE
19. Don't Cry Out Loud – ELKIE BROOKS
20. Oh What A Circus - DAVID ESSEX
21. Matchstalk Men And Matchstalk Cats And Dogs – BRIAN and MICHAEL
22. Smurf Song – FATHER ABRAHAM

The basic edition has a four-panel foldout card sleeve with each CD in a printed-info pouch on the inside (see photos). There is a Limited Edition Hardback DigiBook version that has liner notes on all the songs – Sony Music/EMI CDYBXNOW78 (Barcode 196587831028) – and even a truncated 3LP VINYL variant on Sony Music/EMI LPYBNOW78 (Barcode  0196587830816) in PINK VINYL – both also released 23 April 2023.

Some anomalies first that aren't apparent from the packaging either rear or inside. Although it isn't stated as such, the Gerry Rafferty "Baker Street" track is the seldom seen Single Edit at 4:06 minutes when most compilations use the full album version at 6:11. I have the 2CD Collector's Edition of the album "City To City" from September 2011 and even that does not have the single mix. I think I know why. There has always been something off about it - like the sound is wrong – cannot quite work out why – but the remastered album version done by Denis Blackham for the 2011 twofer CD is great – here the sound on the Single Mix waffles in and out. It's good, but not great. 

The Blue Oyster Cult song "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" is again a single mix without saying so (3:40 minutes). I mention this because the song was first issued as a 45-single in the USA and UK in July 1976 (two years before the date of this compilation) but it bombed in Blighty. After the studio set "Spectres" garnered interest in the American Rock Band in the UK in 1977, CBS UK went at breaking the band again by using the studio cut of "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" in May 1978 on a reissued 45 (hence the song's inclusion here). But this time CBS used the full album version at 5:05 minutes. So by all rights you should be getting that 5:05 minute variant here – but I suspect because of time limitations on CD2 – Sony/EMI have used the shorter mix (technically from two years earlier).

Still enjoy "Uptown Top Ranking" by Althea and Donna (they inhabit a rare club of No 1. one-hit wonders) and the Rod Stewart, Abba and 10cc ultra-commercial moments sound amazing in remastered quality. The Chic Organization stuff is single mixes too and how fab is it – their material coming on fifty-years soon and still sounding fresh. The smoochers "Wishing On A Star", "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" and "Three Times A Lady" sound beautiful and pack a wallop to this day. The energy on CD2 is dazzling – The Rats, The Undertones, Buzzcocks, Siouxsie, The Rezillos, The Jam, The Cars and Patti Smith doing Bruce's exclusive "Because The Night" all the way to the single mixes of Joe Walsh, The Who and BOC – it feels like a superb one-stop listen. And you are still taken aback by Kate Bush and "The Man With The Child In His Eyes" or even the edginess in Elvis Costello's "(I Don't Want To Go) Chelsea" and the street smarts of The Cars worrying about "My Best Friend's Girl" over on CD1. Discoveries and familiars...

But CD3 with its overtly Disco and Soul run loses the plot in too many places – A Taste of Honey and Tavares being great shape-throwing fun – but other gick like Sarah Brightman, John Travolta, Raffaella Carra and Barry Manilow is awful. There are a few great rediscovery moments like Blondie, Andrew Gold, Bill Withers, Renaissance, and Crystal Gayle making our eyes blue and watery on CD4, but the rest are a wasteland.

The 4CD compilation "Now Yearbook '78" offers a whole lotta hotcha fun-listens and wavey remembrances at a cheap stack-em-high price - but with the caveat that you taper those expectations once you get in deep. 

Yes sir, I can boogie oogie…I maybe every woman but I am just not sure I want to do a Donna in the Summer ever again, never mind now…