Various Artists – NOW 12″ 80s: 1980 (CD)

Description

NOW Music are excited to present a brand-new series – ‘NOW 12” 80s’. The first instalment – 1980 – is released on July 14th 2023.The 12” single was a dynamic and increasingly essential part of the release schedule as the decade progressed. Incorporating extended (sometimes the fullalbum) versions, remixes, and re-inventions – they not only gave the dance-floor a longer version, and the listener an alternative take, but also highlightedthe artistry of the producer – bringing together all kinds of elements to create new soundscapes woven together with the original track, either vocal orinstrumental, to present another reason to be excited on release date. Across 4 CDs, 45 extended, full-length or remixed versions – 44 of which appeared on 12” singles, and 1 (Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark) whichalthough released on a 10” single, admirably fits the criteria. As the decade opened, Disco was the dominant chart genre, and ‘NOW 12” 80s: 1980’ brings together 12” versions of huge Disco hits from Lipps Inc, GraceJones, Change, Odyssey, Donna Summer, Gibson Brothers, and Kool & The Gang. Sheila & B. Devotion, Diana Ross and Sister Sledge all enjoyed massivesuccess with production and writing from Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards from Chic and Pop smashes became Disco gold from Liquid Gold, VillagePeople, Kelly Marie and the aptly titled ‘D.I.S.C.O.’ from Ottawan. The funkier side of the dance-floor came from the U.S. with The Gap Band, Leon Haywood, Bobby Thurston, Teena Marie, Jermaine Jackson and thetimeless ‘Funkin’ For Jamaica’ from Tom Browne, and the U.K. was dancing to the Brit-Funk of Linx with ‘You’re Lying’ and the relaxed Dub explorations ofUB40, with two of their early 12”s included. Club smashes including ‘If You Could Read My Mind’ from Viola Wills, ‘Take Your Time’ from The S.O.S. Band,‘Walk Away’ from Donna Summer and the hugely influential ‘Love Sensation’ from Loleatta Holloway are all included. UK #1s from The Spinners ‘Working My Way Back To You / Forgive Me Girl’, and ‘Call Me’ from Blondie in its’ stunning extended version (which wasn’toriginally available in the UK on 12” single) are both featured. In 1981, Toyah would become a Top 10 regular, but in 1980 ‘Ieya’ was a huge track on theIndependent chart and Sparks enjoyed a European smash with the Giorgio Moroder and Harold Faltermeyer produced ‘When I’m With You’.