After releasing two collections of songs from 1987 in August and October 2024, NOW Towers jumped back a decade to 1977 with the release of NOW Yearbook '77 on November 1, 2024. The set is available in the usual three formats, with the blue triple-vinyl featuring just 49 of the 80 tracks offered on the compact discs. I love the graduated blue color scheme, and without any thought whatsoever other than Gotta Have It, I ordered NOW Yearbook '77. Below is a fresh January 2026 disc-by-disc review.
Queen kicks things off with "We Are The Champions," which should only be heard without "We Will Rock You" as a tv or movie sync when an underdog character pulls off a win. For a primo example of this, go watch High Fidelity. The majestic prog of "Fanfare For The Common Man" makes for a decent 1-2 punch of pomp rock. I also enjoyed Elvis's "Way Down", which peaked at #1 in the UK immediately after The King's passing, and the following six-track run from 10cc's "Good Morning Judge" through Candi Staton's great cover of "Nights On Broadway". The only track we liked after those was Smokie's nostalgic "Living Next Door To Alice".
CD One score: 50.00
I was unfamiliar with the opening track on CD TWO until I listened to it. I liked it a lot. Put me down as a big fan of the first fifteen tracks on the disc, as punk gives way to its mortal enemy, corporate rock. Standouts include Costello's "Watching The Detectives", the first 45 (backed with "Alison") I will place in the classic jukebox of my dreams should I ever acquire it. The Boston single "More Than A Feeling" b/w "Smokin'" would also be a strong contender for said jukebox. Then the Bryan Ferry track comes along and ruins my perfect game. I'm back in for Simon's easy-going "Slip Slidin' Away" and Thin Lizzy's overly wordy-titled track.
CD Two score: 85.00
CD Three score: 65.00
CD Four score: 35.00
NOW Yearbook '77 score: 58.75
NOW Yearbook EXTRA '77 was released on January 10, 2025. It is available, as are all Yearbook EXTRAs, only as a 3CD digipak. There's no denying that there are 62 tracks in the collection... whether any of them are ESSENTIAL as stated on the cover art is up to the listener. I borrowed a friend's copy of NOW Yearbook EXTRA '77 for today's review.
Queen takes the pole position again with a track featuring a nice, creamy solo from Brian May. "Turn To Stone" amps up the rocking rhythm before Donna Summer's "Theme from The Deep (Deep Down Inside)" steers the rhythm towards the dance floor. Two pointless covers follow before Leo Sayer's "How Much Love" comes to my rescue. It's hit and miss until my all-time favorite slow jam, Rose Royce's "I Wanna Get Next To You", saves the whole disc.
CD One score: 47.62
I dig eight of the first ten tracks. Only the Boomtown Rats song and Iggy's "China Girl" failed to impress. The high point of the ten-song run is definitely "Alison". And I'm a sucker for a Thin Lizzy riff. Then there's Nazareth's proto-power ballad cover of "Love Hurts". We enjoy the tracks from John Miles (a funky disco workout that sounds a lot like the following Elton John track) and Cliff Richard (a surprisingly tough rocker) before the country-tinged covers of the disc's closing tracks from Glen Campbell and Linda Ronstadt.
CD Two score: 66.67
The third disc of NOW Yearbook EXTRA '77 is practically worthless to me. So glad I did not buy this. Not even Donna Summer or the Bay City Rollers could save this disc for me. Of the twenty tracks, many of which were unfamiliar to me, there are only two songs I would choose to ever hear again: Teddy Pendergrass's passionate "Don't Leave Me This Way" and Tavares' silly "Whodunit".
CD Three score: 10.00
NOW Yearbook EXTRA '77 score: 41.94
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