Various Artists - NOW 12" 80s: 1987 - Part Two Various Artists

NOW Music presents the next instalment in our ongoing series of 12” 80s releases: NOW 12” 80s: 1987 – Part Two. Across 4 CDs, discover 46 more extended, remixed and full-length 12” versions from 1987. Featuring iconic pop, sophisticated soul, hi-NRG favourites, alternative classics, dancefloor anthems and some of the era’s biggest breakthrough hits, this collection continues our celebration of the sounds that defined 1987.

CD1 opens with two iconic collaborations: - Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé’s Extended Version of ‘Barcelona’ is up first and followed by Pet Shop Boys with their timeless duet with Dusty Springfield, ‘What Have I Done To Deserve This? (Shep Pettibone Disco Remix)’, before a-ha bring the cinematic ‘The Living Daylights’ in its extended version, the theme from that year's James Bond film. Eurythmics are next with the driving ‘Missionary Man (Extended Version)’, while Duran Duran follow with the ‘Presidential Suite Mix’ of ‘Meet El Presidente’. Level 42’s ‘To Be With You Again’ leads into stylish pop from Debbie Harry with ‘In Love With Love (London Extended Mix)’, the Extended Mix of Kim Wilde’s ‘Another Step (Closer To You)’ and Alison Moyet with ‘Weak In The Presence Of Beauty (Extended)’, Sananda Maitreya is up next with the ‘Three Coins In A Fountain Mix’ of his huge hit ‘Wishing Well’, and closing the first disc, the Extended Remix of the Pretenders’ ‘Kid’ along with T’Pau’s ‘Heart And Soul in its ‘Dance Mix / 4 Twelve Mix’.

CD2 celebrates dancefloor energy, opening with the 12” Remix of Whitney Houston’s unforgettable #1 ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)’, one of 1987’s defining chart-toppers. Alexander O’Neal follows with ‘Fake (Extended Version)’, before Donna Summer with the Extended Version of ‘Dinner With Gershwin’ bringing disco royalty to the collection. Next up huge soulful vocals from Vesta Williams on ‘Once Bitten Twice Shy (12” Version)’ and the remix of Barry White's ‘Sho’ You Right’. Exposé feature with a huge dancefloor anthem, ‘Come Go With Me’ here in its Extended Mix, ahead of ‘The Pettibone Touch Remix’ of Five Star’s ‘The Slightest Touch’ plus Pepsi & Shirlie’s ‘Goodbye Stranger (Extended Version)’ and Mel & Kim with the 12” Mix of ‘F.L.M.’. A pair of disco classics reworked for 1987 bring the disc to its finish: The ‘Vocal Long Version’ of Chic’s ‘Jack Le Freak’ leading into the ‘Jellybean 12” Dance Remix’ of Boogie Box High’s ‘Jive Talkin’.

CD3 kicks off with the years’ Christmas-time #1 as Pet Shop Boys make a second appearance on this collection with the expansive Extended Dance Version of ‘Always On My Mind’. New Order’s ‘Touched By The Hand Of God (12” Version)’leads a run of ‘87’s alt-pop and is followed by Sisters Of Mercy with the epic 12” Version of ‘This Corrosion’. Siouxsie And The Banshees scored a hit with their cover of ‘This Wheel’s On Fire’ featured here in its ‘Incendiary Mix’, and Scarlet Fantastic enjoyed their chart debut with ‘No Memory (Extra Sensory Mix)’. Pseudo Echo’s full-length take on the disco classic ‘Funky Town’ is followed by another cover as Fine Young Cannibals are up next with the extended version of ‘Ever Fallen In Love’. Curiosity Killed The Cat hit the Top 10 with ‘Misfit’; here as the ‘12” Version’, and Boy George’s ‘Everything I Own (Extended P W Botha Mix)’ became his first solo single and #1 and leads to the 17th Top 40 hit for UB40 with ‘Rat In Mi Kitchen (12” Version)’. It’s left to Sly & Robbie and Shinehead to close the disc with their infectious and influential ‘Boops (Here To Go)’.

CD4 rounds out the collection with a stellar run of dance-pop favourites. Bananarama open with the ‘Jailers Mix’ of ‘Love In The First Degree’, followed by The Communards’ uplifting take on ‘Never Can Say Goodbye (San Paulo Mix)’. Rick Astley features with ‘Whenever You Need Somebody (Lonely Hearts Mix)’, while Samantha Fox brings the Extended Version of ‘Nothing’s Gonna Stop Me Now’ along with Spagna’s huge European smash ‘Call Me’, here in its floor-filling ‘Viva Mix’. The Extended Dance Mix of Nick Kamen’s ‘Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever’ continues the run of 1987s pop gems including Simply Red’s ‘The Right Thing (Extended Single)’, plus sophisticated pop from ABC featuring with ‘The Night You Murdered Love (The Whole Story)’ which is joined by Swing Out Sister’s ‘Twilight World’ in its ‘Superb, Superb, Mix’. 1987 saw Wet Wet Wet become chart regulars and the 12” Version of ‘Sweet Little Mystery’ features alongside fellow ’87 chart debutants Johnny Hates Jazz with ‘Turn Back The Clock (12'' Extended Mix)’. This amazing collection winds down to close with Jan Hammer’s instantly recognisable ‘Crockett’s Theme’ – from the huge TV show ‘Maimi Vice’ - here in its Extended 12” Mix.

NOW 12” 80s: 1987 – Part Two captures the extraordinary diversity of 1987s pop and dance landscape… and there’s plenty more iconic 12” mixes from the decade to come – as 1988 Part One will be arriving soon…