NOW Yearbook Vault '82 [2026]

After repeated disappointments with the music found on NOW Yearbooks dedicated to the Nineties, I decided not to purchase the bright yellow-jacketed NOW Yearbook and Yearbook Extra from 1991, as I waited for the highly anticipated NOW Yearbook Vault '82. The 4CD/3LP set was released on January 16, 2026. While the compact discs feature 80 songs across four discs, the bright yellow vinyl features 45 songs across three records.

For me, 1982 was the greatest year in music. I turned sixteen that year, so the music of the time is baked deep down in the cellular level of my brain, linked to vivid memories, heightened emotions, and unforgettable, transformative experiences. Let's crack this baby open and see where it takes us.

If the first three tracks on the first CD are an acquired taste, I've yet to acquire it, though I've enjoyed other tracks by those artists. The Police seized my attention with "Secret Journey" from their magnificent Ghost In The Machine album. Although I like many songs from The Who, "Athena" is not one of them. Sorry, Pete, but almost everything about it bothers me. Love the 1982 original version of Steve Winwood's "Valerie", finding it far superior to the 1987 remix. Elton John's tribute to Lennon is still the best of the bunch for this listener, evoking the grief I continue to work through. Is it just me, or is "Know Your Rights" one of the best protest songs of the past 50 years? How is it still so timely and on the nose? Stiff Little Fingers get the nod despite (or maybe because of) how much "Listen" sounds like a Tom Petty track. Those two songs begin an eight-song run that ends with Spandau Ballet's funky "She Loved Like Diamond". I'll seek out more from the new-to-me Theatre Of Hate and The Pale Fountains. The Siouxsie and the Banshees track was also new to these ears, and I liked it. CDOne score: 60.00

I like the first three tracks on the second disc, but I have never understood what Haysi Fantayzee was. Maybe it's the visuals getting in the way of the music. Or vice versa. After a breather, I'm back on The Beat, no need to "Save It For Later", we're dancing NOW. Forgot about the reggae side of the Boomtown Rats and have to say I like "House On Fire". (The only thing I can remember about Boomtown Rats' music is me liking "I Don't Like Mondays".) And then we're off on a generic reggae journey, with the Monsoon track snapping me out of my chill. Man, the next four tracks sound so dated, but they are new to me, so my curiosity is piqued. A Flock of Seagulls sounds amazing, not dated. What's the secret sauce? Need to listen to more Visage and whoo-boy that Blancmange track is some good stuff. Need to write myself a prescription to add more Blancmange to my diet. I think I'd be better off for it. CDTwo score: 65.00

The five deep bass thumps in a row that open "Planet Rock" kick off the third disc on the good foot. I used to listen to George Clinton's Computer Games album a lot. It's funky and dense, always hear something I hadn't heard before. The single edit of "Loopzilla" here doesn't do the song justice, but I'll allow it. "Let It Whip" has lost none of its funky bounce since I first heard it in the spring of 1982. Gonna have to listen to it again. The Earth, Wind & Fire track had just returned to regular rotation after watching the HBO documentary about the group a few weeks back. The next four R&B tracks are good, too. No idea what the title of track 10 is, but I liked the song - have heard it before on Gary Crowley's lost 80s comp or one of the Cherry Pop comps.  Like the Level 42 track and the well-known Men At Work tune. First impression of "Five Miles Out" was a good one; I had no idea it was a Mike Oldfield track until I looked at the listing afterwards. The Gillan and Marillion tracks also made a good impression. The disc's final two tracks are slow groovers, complete opposites of the tracks at the start of the disc, bringing us full circle. CDThree score: 84.21!!!

Never understood Nebraska, hands down my least favorite Springsteen album. "Atlantic City" leads off the fourth disc, which, in these Vault collections, is usually chock full of my favorite songs. So not off to a good start. Billy Joel comes in to try and save the day with "Allentown", a depressing track from his most depressing and possibly best-sounding album. We'll count it. Then a nine-song run from John Cougar through Martha Davis and The Motels makes us forget any quibbles we had at the beginning of the disc. The Cars track gets us back in the everloving groove, followed by Quarterflash (still love their self-titled album) and the still growing-on-me after initially not caring for it in 1982 "Heat Of The Moment". Love Journey's "Open Arms" and Willie's take on "Always On My Mind," but that's it for disc four. I had anticipated so much more. CDFour score: 71.43.

Differing from the Vault sets that have come before, Vault '82 surprised me over the first three discs and then disappointed me with disc four. As a bonus, I added a few artists and songs to my list to further enjoy and explore. Overall, NOW Yearbook Vault '82 scores a nice 70.00.