NOW – 80s Alternative (2LP)

NOW Music proudly presentsNOW 80s Alternative: 30 tracks across 2 LPs, pressed on stunning pink vinyl – encapsulating the era and celebrating an incredibly diverse decade for Alternative music.

LP1s first side showcases this diversity: Kicking off with Eurythmics stunning Beethoven (I Love To Listen To), and Propagandas magnificent debut Dr. Mabuse, before The B-52s bring U.S. New Wave with Planet Claire. Post-Punk Pop exploded on the charts of the early 80s, and The Associates and The Stranglers feature, as do The Adventures Broken Land and Marc Almonds Stories Of Johnny both amazing songs. That calibre of song writing is continued on the second side with Tom Robinsons Atmospherics and the Elvis Costello co-write Shipbuilding, beautifully realised by Robert Wyatt. Next up is the understated classic Im In Love With A German Film Star from The Passions, leading intoSynth-Pop from Yello, Midge Ure & Mick Karn, Japan and a brilliant single from Japanese band Sandii & The Sunsetz. LP1 fittingly closes with defining U.S. New Wave smash Whip It from DEVO.

The epic This Corrosion from Sisters Of Mercy starts LP 2 in grandiose style, followed by atmospheric masterpieces from Siouxsie And The Banshees, Bauhaus and The Cure. The debut hit from Bjorks band The Sugarcubes with Birthday follows, before David Sylvians Pop Song, and Flowers from Zaine Griff (featuring Kate Bush on backing vocals).

The final side openswith the song that launched one of the defining bands of the era, The Smiths, with Hand In Glove. Timeless hits from Aztec Camera and the Pretenders lead toR.E.M., the Pixies and The Psychedelic Furs representing the U.S. Alt scene, and the collection draws to a close with The Cults Edie (Ciao Baby), and The Clashs commentary on the era This Is England.

NOW 80s Alternative A celebration of a different view of the decades charts – the lesser-compiled 1980s singles.