"Now Yearbook '73" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – 83-Tracks Across 4CDs featuring Elton John, Paul McCartney & Wings, Slade, T.Rex, Mud, Suzy Quatro, Alvin Stardust, Gilbert O’Sullivan, Mott The Hoople, David Bowie, Rod Stewart, Wizzard, Junior Campbell, Steeleye Span, The O’Jays, Roberta Flack, The Isley Brothers, Detroit Emeralds, Temptations, Clifford T. Ward, Strawbs, Medicine Head, Thin Lizzy, Joe Walsh and many more (September 2023 UK Sony Music/EMI 4CD Themed Collection – Now Yearbook Series – Various Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Cum On Feel The Noize…"

I came at this wee-belter of a compilation arse-about-face. I bought its companion piece first - "Now Yearbook Extra '73" – its 60-tracks having come out in October 2023 – a month after the Big Daddy (see separate review). Bit of a mistake that because despite some moments of brill – it fell often – and hard. Not so here.

"Now Yearbook '73" is a Cum On Feel The Noize Slade-slammin' 5-stars – Ballroom Blitzing your weary lugs with a tirade of great choices across all genres. Do I want to See My Baby Jive, Get Down, have some Irish Whiskey In The Jar on This Flight Tonight while the Piano Man is Blinded By The Light at the Nutbush City Limits – yes sir, I do sir. Details pleeze - ye Gods of catalogue numericals…

UK released 8 September 2023 – "Now Yearbook '73" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Sony Music/EMI CDYBNOW73 – 0196588182921 (Barcode 196588182921) is a 4CD 83-Track compilation in the 'Now Yearbook Series'. All tracks are 45-singles except when Album Versions are used (see NOTES after each CD list to identify), the whole collection is Remastered by Sony/EMI (some use specific date Remasters, again see NOTES) and I have provided UK release dates and catalogue numbers for each entry – info that is not in the card sleeve (has no booklet). It breaks down as follows:

CD1 (72:23 minutes):
1. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – ELTON JOHN (September 1973, DJM Records DJS 285, 2014 CD Remaster)
2. Live And Let Die – WINGS (June 1973, Apple R 5987, 2018 CD Remaster - Paul McCartney's band)
3. Cum On Feel The Noize - SLADE (February 1973, Polydor 2058 339)
4. 20th Century Boy – T.REX (March 1973, EMI/T.REX MARC 4)
5. Blockbuster! - THE SWEET (January 1973, RCA Victor RCA 2305)
6. Dyna-Mite - MUD (October 1973, RAK Records RAK 159) 
7. Can The Can – SUZY QUATRO (April 1973, RAK Records RAK 150)
8. See My Baby Jive – WIZZARD (April 1973, Harvest Records HAR 5070)
9. My Coo Ca Choo – ALVIN STARDUST (October 1973, Magnet MAG 1)
10. Rubber Bullets – 10cc (March 1973, UK Records UK 36)
11. Get Down - GILBERT O'SULLIVAN (March 1973, MAM Records MAM 96)
12. The Laughing Gnome – DAVID BOWIE (September 1973, Deram DM 123 - a 1967 recording re-issued in 1973)
13. Doctor My Eyes (Album Version) – JACKSON 5 (from the November 1972 UK LP "Lookin' Through The Windows" on Tamla Motown STML 11214)
14. You Can Do Magic – LIMMIE & FAMILY COOKIN' (January 1973, Avco 6105 019)
15. Let Me In (Album Version) – THE OSMONDS (from the 1973 UK "The Plan" on MGM Records 2315 251)
16. Love Train – O'JAYS (February 1973, CBS Records S CBS 1181)
17. Smarty Pants – FIRST CHOICE (July 1973, Bell Records BELL 1324)
18. Could It Be I'm Falling In Love – THE DETROIT SPINNERS (April 1973, Atlantic K 10283)
19. Oh! No Not My Baby (Single Version) – ROD STEWART (August 1973, Mercury 6052 371)
20. Angel – ARETHA FRANKLIN (August 1973, Atlantic K 10346)
21. Help Me Make It Through The Night – GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS (October 1972 UK 45-Single on Tamla Motown TMG 830, March 1972 USA on Soul S 35094F, first charted Nov 1972 in the UK but stayed on chart until early 1973)
NOTES on CD1:
Track 1 is a 2014 Remaster

Track 2 is a 2018 Remaster; Track 2 is also the (Paul McCartney &) Wings Theme Song to the James Bond Movie "Live And Let Die" that introduced actor Sir Roger Moore as 007 for the first time

Track 12 is a 1967 David Bowie recording that re-charted in 1973
Tracks 13, 15 and 17 are Album Versions (Track 13 is a Jackson Browne cover version)

Track 18 is credited to The Detroit Spinners for the UK, as were all their albums, but they were credited simply as The Spinners in the USA

CD2 (761:36 minutes):
1. Mind Games – JOHN LENNON (November 1973, Apple R 5994)
2. Blinded By The Light – BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN (February 1973 US Debut 45-Single on Columbia 4-45805 - no UK variant - first UK 7" was "Born To Run" in October 1975)
3. Piano Man (Radio Edit, 4:34 minutes) - BILLY JOEL (October 1973 US 45-Single on Columbia 4-45963 - not released in the UK until April 1975 on CBS Records S CBS 3183)
4. Knockin' On Heaven's Door – BOB DYLAN (September 1973, CBS Records S CBS 1762)
5. You're So Vain - CARLY SIMON (December 1972, Elektra K 12077, uncredited duet vocals with Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones)
6. Take Me To The Mardi Gras – PAUL SIMON (May 1973, CBS Records S CBS 1578)
7. Stuck In The Middle With You – STEALERS WHEEL (April 1973, A&M AMS 7036)
8. Cindy Incidentally – FACES (February 1973, Warner Brothers K 16247)
9. Nutbush City Limits – IKE And TINA TURNER (August 1973, United Artists UP 35582) 
10. Rocky Mountain Way (Single Version, 3:39 minute Edit) - JOE WALSH (August 1973, Probe Records PRO 600)
11. Roll Over Beethoven (Single Version) - THE ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA (January 1973, Harvest HAR 5063)
12. Whisky In The Jar (7" Edit, 3:42 minutes) – THIN LIZZY (November 1972, Decca F 13355)
13. Wishing Well - FREE (December 1972, Island WIP 6146)
14. This Flight Tonight – NAZARETH (September 1973, Mooncrest MOON 14)
15. Caroline – STATUS QUO (August 1973, Vertigo 6059 085)
16. No More Mr. Nice Guy – ALICE COOPER (April 1973, Warner Brothers K 16262)
17. A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall - BRYAN FERRY (September 1973, Island WIP 6170)
18. Alright, Alright, Alright - MUNGO JERRY (June 1973, Dawn DNS 1037)

19. Born To Be With You - DAVE EDMUNDS (May 1973, Rockfield ROC 2)
20. Gaye - CLIFFORD T. WARD (April 1973, Charisma CB 205)
21. Albatross – FLEETWOOD MAC (April 1973, CBS Records CBS 8306)
NOTES on CD2:

Tracks 3, 10, 11 and 12 are Single Versions (Track 3 by Billy Joel is a Radio Edit; Track 12 by Thin Lizzy is spelt "Whisky In The Jar" - only Euro and US issues use the 'e' in Whiskey)

Track 5 features Mick Jagger on uncredited duet vocals with Carly Simon

Track 7 actually credited as "Stuck In The Middle" - Stealers Wheel featured Gerry Rafferty and Joe Egan - Rafferty was ex-Humblebums with comedian Billy Connolly - the song was also famously used in Quentin Tarantino's debut movie 'Reservoir Dogs'

Track 17 by Bryan Ferry is a Bob Dylan cover version

Tracks 1 and 20 are 2010 and 2009 Remasters respectively

Tracks 21 originally a November 1968 UK 45-Single by (Peter Green's) Fleetwood Mac on Blue Horizon Records 57-3145 (went to No. 1); reissued in 1973 by CBS Records in a Picture Sleeve, when it peaked at No. 2 

CD3 (78:37 minutes):
1. My Love - PAUL McCARTNEY And WINGS (March 1973, Apple R 5985)
2. Killing Me Softly With His Song - ROBERTA FLACK (February 1973, Atlantic K 10282) 
3. Amoureuse - KIKI DEE (August 1973, Rocket PIG 4)
4. Always On My Mind - ELVIS PRESLEY (December 1972, RCA Victor RCA 2304)

5. Touch Me In The Morning (Single Version) – DIANA ROSS (July 1973, Tamla Motown TMG 861)
6. If You Don't Me By Now - HAROLD MELVIN And THE BLUE NOTES (November 1972, CBS Records S CBS 8496)
7. Me And Mrs. Jones (Single Version) - BILLY PAUL (January 1973, Epic S EPC 1055)
8. Let's Get It On (Single Version) - MARVIN GAYE (August 1973, Tamla Motown TMG 868)
9. I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby - BARRY WHITE (April 1973, Pye International 7N.25610)
10. Feel The Need In Me - DETROIT EMERALDS (November 1972, Janus 6146 020)
11. That Lady (Part 1) - ISLEY BROTHERS (August 1973, Epic S EPC 1704)
12. Papa Was A Rollin' Stone (Vocal) - THE TEMPTATIONS (September 1972 USA Single Version at 6:58 minutes on Gordy G 7121F - the January 1973 UK 45-single on Tamla Motown TMG 839 however plays to only 6:20 minutes - this CD uses the longer US mix at 6:58)
13. Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001) - DEODATO (May 1973, CTI Records CTI 4000)
14. Morning Glow (Single Version) - MICHAEL JACKSON (July 1973, Tamla Motown TMG 863)
15. Gonna Make You An Offer You Can't Refuse - JIMMY HELMS (February 1973, Cube Records BUG 27)
16. Like Sister And Brother - THE DRIFTERS (June 1973, Bell Records BELL 1313)
17. Sweet Illusion - JUNIOR CAMPBELL (April 1973, Deram DM 387)
18. One And One is One - MEDICINE HEAD (March 1973, Polydor 2001 432)
19. Snoopy Versus The Red Baron - HOTSHOTS (May 1973, Mooncrest MOON 5)
20. Part Of The Union - STRAWBS (January 1973, A&M Records AMS 7047)
NOTES on CD3:
Track 1 is a 2018 Remaster, Track 4 is Remaster (No Date)

Track 2 is written about a viewer's reaction to a Don McLean concert, while Perry Como's song on CD4 "And I Love You So" is a Don McLean cover version; Don McLean's own single for 1973 was "Everyday" - but it's not included on either this or the Extra '73 3CD set

Track 3 is a Veronique Sanson song (French singer) and cover version; she was once married to Stephens Stills and their son is Chris Stills

Tracks 5, 7, 8 and 12 are Single Versions (see entry 7 regarding playing time)

Track 6 features an uncredited Teddy Pendergrass on Lead Vocals

Track 13 is a Jazz-Funk version of a Strauss classical music melody

Track 17, Junior Campbell is ex-Marmalade

CD4 (69:57 minutes):

1. Ballroom Blitz - THE SWEET (September 1973, RCA Victor RCA 2403)

2. 48 Crash - SUZI QUATRO (July 1973, RAK Records RAK 158)

3. Roll Away The Stone - MOTT THE HOOPLE (November 1973, CBS Records S CBS 1895)

4. Street Life - ROXY MUSIC (from the November 1973 UK album "Stranded" on Island ILPS 9252)

5. Rock On - DAVID ESSEX (July 1973, CBS Records S CBS 1693)

6. Crazy - MUD (January 1973, RAK Records RAK 146)

7. Dancin' (On A Saturday Night) - BARRY BLUE (April 1973, Bell Records BELL 1295)

8. Young Love (Album Version) - DONNY OSMOND (from the March 1973 UK LP "Alone Together" on MGM Records 2315 210)

9. Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree - DAWN featuring TONY ORLANDO (February 1973, Bell Records BELL 1287)

10. Take Me Home Country Roads - OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN (November 1972, Pye International 7N.25599, 2022 Remaster)

11. Paper Roses (Album Version) - MARIE OSMOND (from the September 1973 UK LP "Paper Roses" on MGM Records 2315 262)

12. Welcome Home - PETERS And LEE (May 1973, Philips 6006 307)

13. Wonderful Dream - ANNE-MARIE DAVID (April 1973, Epic S EPC 1446)

14. Power To All Our Friends - CLIFF RICHARD (March 1973, EMI Records EMI 2012)

15. Never, Never, Never (Grande, Grande, Grande) - SHIRLEY BASSEY (February 1973, United Artists UP 35490, 2000 Remaster)

16. Summer (The First Time) - BOBBY GOLDSBORO (June 1973, United Artists Up 35559, 1991 Remaster)

17. And I Love You So - PERRY COMO (March 1973, RCA Victor RCA 2346)

18. Eye Level (Theme From The Thames TV Series "Van Der Valk") - SIMON PARK ORCHESTRA (October 1972, Columbia DB 8946)

19. Gaudete - STEELEYE SPAN (November 1972, Chrysalis CHS 2007)

20. I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday - WIZZARD (November 1973, Harvest HAR 5079)

21. Merry Xmas Everybody - SLADE (December 1973, Polydor 2058 422)

NOTES on CD4:

Track 4 is a 2012 Remaster; although not credited as such, it's the full album version at 3:27 minutes and not the 45-single edit at 2:53 minutes

Track 10 is a 2022 Remaster; Track 15 is a 2000 Remaster

Track 17 is a Don McLean cover version; Track 2 on CD3 "Killing Me Softly With His Song" by Roberta Flack is a viewer's reaction to a Don McLean concert; Don McLean's own single for 1973 was "Everyday" - but it's not included on either this or the Extra '73 three-disc set

The svelte cardboard packaging on these Yearbook 4CD Sets is bog-standard and basic – four-flap foldout card sleeves with the CDs in die-cuts on the inside. The track-by-track info beneath those pouches sometimes offers more than is on the basic rear sleeve, albeit in minuscule print - as you can see from the photos above. Some songs are Album Versions and others are Specific Remasters - while some tunes are Sixties tracks reissued and re-charted in 1973 (all are noted in my list). 

There is no mastering credit - but (and I mean this) you can tell these are Quality Remasters – the audio crack-a-lacking throughout – song after song impressing. The running order works so well on some - others it falters - but you could argue that CD2 alone would have made a toppermost-of-the-poppermost singular release on its owneo. Even if you don't dig half the stuff, at 83 tracks, the value for money is astonishing. Now Yearbook '73 set is chock full of audio goodies in both the Rock and Soul spheres with a mishmash of Pop and Glam thrown in. There are number ones galore and top ten hits you've forgotten (some for good reason).

Excepting the awful "Laughing Gnome" from David Bowie (a 1967 Deram single that got reissued in late 1973 on the strength of his "Aladdin Sane" LP success earlier in that mercurial year - where's "The Jean Jenie" or the underrated "Sorrow" for that matter) - CD1 offers a very tasty opening salvo. The opening one-two of Elton's "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and Macca's Bond rocker "Live And Let Die" is going to put a smile on even the most jaded mush. And there are few in my generation who will not grin from ear-to-ear on hearing Bolan tear into fantastic riff that opens and sustains "20th Century Boy". But you also forget the Soul and R&B of the year - O'Jays inviting the people of England to be the next stop on the "Love Train" - The Detroit Spinners unable to help themselves "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love" while Aretha delivers a sublime "Angel" (no wonder Hucknall's Simply Red covered it). Rod Stewart has an excellent stand-alone 45 in his cover of Maxine Brown's "Oh! No Not My Baby" - but I can pass on The Osmonds, and I know people love Mickey Most's RAK Records Chinn-Chapman output (Suzi Quatro, Mud) but after 50 years they make me reach for skip. The final track too by Gladys Knight & The Pips won't help you make it through the night because it's laden with some mighty levels of hiss (a rare audio let down).

CD2 is an almost perfect run - probably the best of the four. You forget just how lyrically and musically brilliant both The Boss and Billy Joel are - but they remind with "Blinded By The Light" and a hugely evocative "Piano Man" (gorgeous Remastered audio, Bruce only so-so). You can't go wrong with Carly Simon's "You're So Vain" (Mick Jagger duetting uncredited on those harmony vocals and a muscular clean remaster on this lo-fi recording), Rod Stewart with the Faces doing "Cindy Incidentally" ('Ooh La La' indeed) and the fantastic Rock-Funk of "Nutbush City Limits" from Ike & Tina Turner. But it's the re-discoveries like "Gaye" by Clifford T. Ward - gorgeous stuff - Nazareth rocking-up a Joni Mitchell song in "This Flight Tonight" - Medicine Head with their moment of funky-slide-guitar-chorus brilliance in "One Is One Is One" and the truly joyous (and lean) single edit of ELO's "Roll Over Beethoven". It ends on a reissue of the sublime Rock instrumental "Albatross" from Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac - a tune that attained top-slot in 1969 and even managed No. 2 on reissue in 1973.  

CD3 is mostly Soul and Funk and delivers some beauties (Tracks 5 to 13 all work). But top prizes must go to the (would you believe) A-side 'Vocal' Single Edit of The Temptation's masterpiece "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" which runs to an unbelievable 6:58 minutes. What is doesn't say on the packaging is that this is the 'American' version - the UK single ran to about 6:20 and is therefore lesser. And the discoveries - "Amoureuse" by Kiki Dee, "That Lady (Part 1) by the Isley Brothers and a putting-out-the-fevered-word Jimmy Helms pleader "Gonna Make You An Offer You Can't Refuse". Nice segue too from the forgotten Drifters "Like Sister And Brother" into ex-Marmalade man Junior Campbell doing "Sweet Illusion". 

Although it starts out strong with Brian Connelly of The Sweet getting all vocally hysterical on their riffage gem "The Ballroom Blitz" and Ian Hunter's Mott The Hoople reminding us why we loved them so with "Roll Away The Stone" - there is a run of serious Pop Cack from 7 to 14 - dreadful shit. And of course it ends on the two big holiday sevens by Wizzard and Slade (Harvest and Polydor must have made a few quid on these). When you realise that Steely Dan's debut "Can't Buy A Thrill" and second album "Countdown To Ecstasy" hits the shops in January and October 1973 on Probe Records in the UK - there were four 45s Now could have used - in other words what's missing is "Do It Again" and "Reeling In The Years" never mind "Show Biz Kids" or "My Old School". It's a shame that it's so chart-rigid - Wishbone Ash, Pink Floyd, Mike Oldfield, Cockney Rebel, Lou Reed, Stevie Wonder and so many more all had huge albums and 45s in 1973 - and they're not here. But alas...

So - why would I give 5-stars to a compilation that has whole swathes of yuck in places (CD4 - hang your head in shame) - because one man's Caustic Soda is another lady's Blueberry Muffin. There are probably bods as old as me who would shed an actual tear of nostalgia on hearing them (me, I came out in hives). 

But that's the thing with these 'Yearbook' sets - there's just so much to like that glitches and blips can be overlooked. Sony Music and Now did make me an offer I couldn't refuse and I advise you to succumb too. As Macca would say, "My Love" does it good...