VA - Now Dance The 80s (2023) [4CD]

Now That’s What I Call Music have revived the NOW Dance brand for a new compilation of classic 12-inch mixes from the 1980s called, simply, NOW Dance: The 80s.

The first NOW Dance was released in 1985 (on 2LP and double cassette) and two further volumes were issued in 1986 and 1989. This new compilation – available as a 4CD set or 3LP red vinyl – features tracks that appears on the three original compilations, all in their 12-inch or remixed versions.

If you are familiar with the originals, then the track listing, especially of CD 1, will look pleasingly familiar, starting with John ‘Tokes’ Potoker’s 12-inch version of Philip Bailey and Phil Collins’ UK number one ‘Easy Lover’ before moving on to The Power Station’s ‘Some Like It Hot’, Eurythmics’ Would I Lie To You? (the ET Mix which, remarkably, has never been officially issued on CD), Stephen ‘Tin Tin’ Duffy’s ‘Kiss Me’ and Belouis ‘don’t call-me-a-one-hit-wonder’ Some’s excellent ‘Imagination’ (the one with that saucy video).
And so it continues, with three further CDs of remixed pop and club hits including the Special Club Mix of ‘Solid’ from Ashford & Simpson, the Remix of Grace Jones’ ‘Pull Up To The Bumper’, Joyce Sims’ (RIP) ‘(You Are My) All and All’, The David Z 12″ Version of Fine Young Cannibals’ ‘You Drive Me Crazy’ and many more. Of course the deeper into it the nearer you get to the end of the 1980s and so there’s the 12″ mixes of Neneh Cherry’s ‘Buffalo Stance’ and Paula Abdul’s ‘Straight Up’, the Extended Mix of Bobby Brown’s ‘My Prerogative’ and the Full Length Disco Mix of Coldcut feat. Lisa Stansfield’s ‘People Hold On’.

The 4CD edition of NOW Dance: The 80s contains 48 remixes, while the limited edition 3LP edition (pressed on red vinyl) offers 26. It’s the Eighties so of course the remixes are all good-to-great and they ‘respect’ the song in the way that those Trouser Enthusiasts of the 1990s didn’t.


Tracks:

CD1
01. Philip Bailey & Phil Collins - Easy Lover (Extended Dance Remix) [06:22]
02. The Power Station - Some Like It Hot (Mix - 12") [06:37]
03. Eurythmics - Would I Lie To You? (ET Mix) [04:54]
04. Stephen "Tin Tin" Duffy - Kiss Me (Mixe Plural) [05:34]
05. Belouis Some - Imagination (12'' Version) [05:32]
06. Eddy And The Soulband & Mahogany - Theme From Shaft (Hot Pursuit Mix) [08:36]
07. Lillo Thomas - Settle Down (Extended Remix) [05:33]
08. T.C. Curtis - Should Have Known Better [07:01]
09. Cool Notes - Spend The Night (Original 12" Mix) [05:56]
10. Loose Ends - Hangin' On A String (Extended Dance Mix) [05:59]
11. Jermaine Jackson - Do What You Do (12" Remix Version) [05:46]
12. Phyllis Nelson - Move Closer (12") [06:01]

CD2
01. Ashford & Simpson - Solid (Special Club Mix) [06:12]
02. DeBarge - Rhythm Of The Night (Dance Mix) [05:44]
03. Five Star - Can't Wait Another Minute (12" Version) [07:15]
04. Gwen Guthrie - Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But The Rent (Club Mix) [05:59]
05. Aretha Franklin - Who's Zoomin' Who? (Dance Mix) [08:35]
06. Jaki Graham - Breaking Away (Extended Version) [05:16]
07. Grace Jones - Pull Up To The Bumper (Remix) [06:26]
08. Joyce Sims - (You Are My) All And All (Extended) [06:09]
09. Midnight Star - Midas Touch (12" Extended Remix) [06:33]
10. Cashflow - Mine All Mine (Club Mix) [06:56]
11. Timex Social Club - Rumors (12" Version) [07:40]
12. Boris Bardiner - I Want To Wake Up With You (Extended Version) [06:00]

CD3
01. The Communards - Don't Leave Me This Way ft Sarah Jane Morris (12'' Extended Version) [06:27]
02. Jermaine Stewart - We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off (Extended Version) [05:54]
03. Bronski Beat - Hit That Perfect Beat (12" Version) [06:27]
04. Sinitta - So Macho (Extended Club Mix) [06:36]
05. MC Miker G. & DJ Sven - Holiday Rap (Maxi Version) [06:22]
06. Tavares - Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel (Irresistable Angel Mix) [06:55]
07. Phil Fearon & Galaxy - I Can Prove It (Full Version) [06:39]
08. Paul Hardcastle - Don't Waste My Time (New Extended Version) [05:33]
09. Fine Young Cannibals - She Drives Me Crazy (David Z 12'' Version) [07:05]
10. Double Trouble - Just Keep Rockin' ft Rebel MC (Sk'ouse Mix) [04:57]
11. Tone-Loc - Funky Cold Medina (12'' Vocal Version) [04:09]
12. Maze ft Frankie Beverly - Joy And Pain [07:20]

CD4
01. Neneh Cherry - Buffalo Stance (12'' Mix) [05:48]
02. Bobby Brown - My Prerogative (Extended Remix) [08:02]
03. Inner City - Ain't Nobody Better (Groove Corporation Remix) [06:04]
04. Cookie Crew - Got To Keep On [05:03]
05. The Beatmasters - Who's In The House? (The Hip House Anthem) [06:24]
06. D-Mob ft LRS & DC Sarome - It Is Time To Get Funky [07:18]
07. Paula Abdul - Straight Up (12" Remix) [06:54]
08. Kym Mazelle - Got To Get You Back (The Groovy Piano Mix) [06:21]
09. Yazz - Where Has All The Love Gone [06:32]
10. Coldcut ft Lisa Stansfield - People Hold On (Full Length Disco Mix) [07:33]
11. Adeva & Paul Simpson - Musical Freedom (Free At Last) (Extended Version) [06:21]
12. Soul II Soul ft Caron Wheeler - Keep On Movin' (Club Mix) [05:47]