Top Five Compilations Of 2019

Dedicated to a particular label? Looking for something new to spin? Classic Pop have got you covered with our top five compilations from 2019…

1
2 Tone 7″ Treasures

The 7″ format is the perfect vehicle for the dynamic punch of the 2 Tone roster. Madness launch their career via The Prince and, of course, The Specials, The Beat and The Selecter are all present and correct across these 12 singles charting the course of five ground-breaking years.

2
Now That’s What I Call Music 3

Marking its 35th anniversary, quite possibly the best entry in the Now canon gets a long-overdue debut on CD. Across 28 tracks, there’s an embarrassment of mainstream riches here including era-defining tracks from Wham!, Frankie and Duran Duran. This superbly captures the spirit of 1984 in one place.

3
Gary Crowley’s Lost 80s

A fine follow-up to 2017’s Punk And New Wave boxset, DJ Gary Crowley shines a spotlight onto some of the 80s’ lesser-known gems. Wildly diverse, the eclecticism of the decade is showcased via pop, indie jangle, hip-hop, soul, Burundi, and lots more besides. As wide-ranging and tasteful as Crowley’s acclaimed radio shows, in fact.

4
Use Hearing Protection: Factory Records 1978-79

Beautifully packaged, of course, this boxset celebrating 40 years of Manchester’s most famous label feels like an historic cultural document as much as a record release. The first 10 FAC numbers are included here, scooping up fledgling offerings from Joy Division, OMD, Cabaret Voltaire, The Durutti Column and more.

5
Electrical Language: Independent British Synth-pop 78-84

Although the marquee names of Thomas Dolby, The Human League and OMD feature, it’s the lesser-known likes
of Testcard F, Dalek I, Box Of Toys and Blue Zoo that will entice those who want to get to grips with the nascent 80s synth scene in the UK. Some fell by the wayside, but their first steps were intriguing.

Wyndham Wallace, John Earls, Mark Lindores and Steve Harnell

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