NOW Yearbook '72 and EXTRA '72 [2026]

Our favorite decade of music here at The Hideaway is 1973-1982. We like a whole lot of music, though, so we perked up when NOW Towers announced NOW Yearbook '72 for May 8, 2026. Packed with 80 tracks across four discs or 50 songs across three pretty blue records, the collection is available in the usual three formats. Without even peeking at the tracklist, but knowing what we know about the music from 1972, albeit from an American perspective, we expect NOW Yearbook '72 to score very high. Let's bring up CD One and hear how it does!

Holiday tracks on these compilations are always discombobulating, but I'll allow "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" every time. Love the Stewart, McLean, and America tracks while also appreciating the sequencing here with the America thread through three songs. Also, love the Simon, Bread, Nilsson, Diamond, and O'Sullivan tracks. I was unfamiliar with the Colin Bluntstone track, but I like it. His voice has always appealed to these ears. The three-song run from Stevens to Withers is a winner, as is the three-song run from Nash through Dylan. It's neat to see the two former Beatles, along with Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley on the same disc, knowing they shared the airwaves in 1972. CDONE score: 80.00

The universal Summer anthem "School's Out" kicks off the second disc. The next five tracks are glam rock bangers in this house but the "Popcorn"-like gurglings of Chicory Tip brought the proceedings to a drop dead halt. Yeah, Giorgio Moroder wrote the song but still. Jeff Beck briefly gets things going with what I think is an older-than-'72 track but we all know I've been wrong before. The only bright spots on the disc's second half are tracks by Argent, Electric Light Orchestra, and Jo Jo Gunne. The disc continues with mostly UK centric you-had-to-be-there tracks and ends with one of the greatest legends of rock and roll in his worst musical moment, an inexplciable Number One song. CDTWO score: 50.00

A classy Bond theme kicks off disc three in style but its majesty is hindered by lack of a proper follow-up in the tracklisting. Sammy Davis Jr.'s cover of "The Candy Man" made the grandkids sit up and take notice for a couple seconds before they got back into their books. Tony Christie's track is always a good time; you know Sedaka write it, right? The next three tracks fail to register but Love Unlimited and The Stylistics tracks break the drought. Like the seguencing of the Diana Ross and the Supremes tracks but not the tracks themselves. Appreciate the next four artists but not the chosen representative tracks. The final three tracks from The O'Jays, Staple Singers, and Sly & the Family Stone could be a lesson in how to end a disc on a high note. CDTHREE score: 40.00

Disc four begins with eleven better-than-good tracks with standouts from Elton John, Sweet, and Elvis Presley. The hippy-dippy Melanie track also puts me in a good mood as does the should be depressing but it isn't Gilbert O'Sullivan track. After such a strong start, the disc peters out the rest of the way with a bunch of unfamiliar tracks. Can't explain the attraction I have for the Hurricane Smith track but I really like it. It's got a weird nostalgic novelty vibe that appeals to me.  CDFOUR score: 60.00

NOW Yearbook '72 was  an inconsistent listen for me but that has been the course as we navigate the NOW Yearbooks. As usual, I wonder what a U.S. centric NOW Yearbook from the year would sound like but have so far refused to rise to the challenge of actually curating such a playlist. Someday. Maybe. The highs were more plentiful than the lows so NOW Yearbook '72 scores a higher than average 57.50. We've rated twenty volumes of NOW Yearbooks as of today and that is third highest score.

NOW Yearbook EXTRA '72 was released in the standard format of three CDs on July 3, 2026. Like it says on the tin, it features 61 more songs from 1972. Its up to the listener whether or not they are "essential hits". After the good score of NOW Yearbook '72, part of me wants to see another good score. While the other, more practical part of me knows the EXTRA is going to probably disappoint. Let's find out!

Holy smokes! We're cooking with gas right from the git-go with the Osmonds' hard rocking "Crazy Horses" environmental protest. The screeching vocals and heavy guitar riffery continue with T.Rex's "Metal Guru". The Slade track acts as a transition to piano based rock of Elton John and on and on. I like the twelve tracks that open the disc but just couldn't wrap my ears around the faux Kinks-y "Sister Jane" though the real Kinks showed up with a winner. As dis Muchael Jackson to close out the disc with his cover of "Rockin' Robin". CDONE score: 70.00.

After opening with two tracks from three of the greatest voices to ever record, Jackson returns with a failed Bill Withers cover  — never send a boy to sing a man's song like "Ain't No Shunshine". I like The Stylistics track. None other than the man himself, Bill Withers, pops up to stop the steal with the non-stop good groove of "Use Me", the last worthwhile track of twenty-one for this guy as nine more tracks fill out the disc. CDTWO score: 19.05

Elton John returns to the pole position again with "Tiny Dancer" to kick off the third disc followed by my favorite David Gates/Bread track, "The Guitar Man". The wah-wah guitar sends me reeling. I only like one of the following six tracks, The Moody Blues and "Isn't Life Strange". Track 9 gets me back on board as The Hollies tell their rockin' tale of the "Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress)" and then T.Rex tells us about "Telegram Sam" and Slade, the world's worst spellers, says "Gudbuy T'Jane". Then another five track break before Johnny Nash's cover of Bob Marley's "Stir It Up" introduces the world outside of Jamaica to Marley's music. Michael Jackson returns with his brothers to warn us that "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" to close out the disc on a highlight. CDTHREE score: 40.00

NOW Yearbook EXTRA '72 started with a great first disc before almost flatlining with the second disc placing enormous pressure on the third disc to finish strong. Between the seven discs of the original '72 Yearbook and the EXTRA, there is a very listenable 3 disc set to be had. NOW Yearbook EXTRA '72 score: 42.62