NOW Presents… 12” 80s: Volume Two: 1983 – 1984 (5LP)

In 2023 we began our hugely successful 80s 12” series on cd – a year-by-year journey through the greatest 12” singles from the decade, and last year we presented a selection of the tracks from 1980-1982 as our first round-up on vinyl.

Now Music is proud to announce the second of this vinyl series, NOW Presents…12" 80s: Volume Two: 1983-1984, as a stunning 5-LP boxset. A limited edition and numbered set with each of the 5-LPs pressed in a different colour vinyl – blue, hot pink, orange, yellow and green, to be released on October 17th, 2025, and for many tracks this marks the first time back on vinyl since their original 12” release!

Kicking off in 1983 with Wham and the 12” version of their #2 smash ‘Bad Boys’ ahead of the massive collaboration between Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson on ‘Say Say Say’ in its extended version. Spandau Ballet, Eurythmics and The Cure with the extended version of ‘The Lovecats’ complete the first side, and Tears For Fears open the flip side with ‘Change’ ahead of some of the best extended pop from ’83, including from Altered Images, Haysi Fantayzee, Men Without Hats, and finishing with the extended version of the debut hit for Marilyn ‘Calling Your Name’. LP2’s first side is a celebration of 1983’s fusion of synth-pop, electronic beats and hip-hop influence and vocals. First up, the most successful 12” single of the decade; ‘Blue Monday’ from New Order, alongside the massive ‘I.O.U’ (Megamix) from Freeez, Rock Steady Crew’s extended version of ‘(Hey You) The Rock Steady Crew’ and the genre-melding ‘Double Dutch’ from Malcolm McLaren – while over on Side B, huge floor-fillers from Lionel Richie with the 12” Version of ‘All Night Long (All Night)’, KC & The Sunshine Band with the #1 ‘Give It Up’, here in its ‘John Luongo Disco Mix’, plus Donna Summer, Laura Branigan and Matthew Wilder’s enduringly popular ‘Break My Stride’.

LP3 contains a mixture of essential 12”’s from both ’83 and ’84, with a trio of iconic tracks opening; extended mixes of Heaven 17’s ‘Temptation’ and The Human League’s ‘(Keep Feeling) Fascination’, along with the first Top 10 hit ‘Love On Your Side’, the ‘Rap Boy Rap’ version from Thompson Twins. More peerless pop from Bananarama and Adam Ant finish side A – whilst side B celebrates Hi-Energy gold from Frankie Goes To Hollywood with the ‘New York Mix’ of ‘Relax’, Evelyn Thomas and the extended anthemic ‘High Energy’ alongside Bronski Beat with ‘Why’ and Dead Or Alive’s breakthrough chart hit ‘That’s The Way (I Like It)’ in its extended version.

LP4 opens with a side of massive chart hits from Culture Club with their mash-up US 12” mix of ‘It’s A Miracle’ and ‘Miss Me Blind’ and Tina Turner with her signature ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It’ (Extended 12” Remix), ‘I Feel For You’ hit the top spot for Chaka Khan, and Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel had a massive hit with ‘White Lines (Don’t Do It)’ – the 12” Long Version is included here. Flip the LP over for more essential h-energy from Hazell Dean and Divine, plus 80s disco favourites from The Pointer Sisters and Miami Sound Machine.

The final LP kicks off with the ‘Dance Mix’ of Duran Duran’s huge #1 ‘The Reflex’ ahead of extended versions of 1984’s sophisticated synth pop from Nik Kershaw and Howard Jones, plus Scritti Politti with their sublime ‘Absolute’ (Version), before the side closes with the 12” Version of ‘Pearly Dewdrops’ Drops’ – a timeless gem from the Cocteau Twins and over on the last side three incredible 12”s: ‘The Killing Moon’ gave Echo & The Bunnymen their second Top 10 single and has become a contemporary classic – featured here as the 12” ‘Up All Night Version’ – Propaganda made their debut with ‘Dr Mabuse’ and ‘Das Testament Des Dr Mabuse’ (12” Edit for Germany) still sounds as breathtaking 40 years on - and to close this amazing collection, a second appearance from Frankie Goes To Hollywood: ‘Two Tribes’, was not only their second single in the decade end Top 5, but also spent longer – 9 weeks – at #1 than any other song – and the legendary ‘Annihilation’ mix is the perfect way to sign off on this stunning collection, bringing 44 essential 12” versions together on one vinyl set.

A Limited Edition, Numbered, 5-LP coloured vinyl boxset - NOW Presents…12” 80s: Volume Two: 1983-1984 is released on October 17th 2025