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The Compilation That Seduced a Nation...
Now That’s What I Call Music! at Thirty-Five: Twelve Essential Editions You Need to Own
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ONE might feel that this is a bit overkill…
IN THIS IMAGE: The cover for the latest Now That’s What I Call Music! (released last Friday)
to make such a fuss over a compilation series – not even including the offshoots from the ‘pure’ strand – but you cannot deny Now That’s What I Call Music! is a glorious thing! It is thirty-five on Wednesday and I am one of those people who grew up with the series. I was actually born the same year as Now That’s What I Call Music! and am a bit too young to remember the first edition the first time around. Looking back; I can only imagine the excitement and thrill of hearing this new album come out, in 1983, that collated all the biggest chart hits of the year and put them into one place. There was no Internet and Spotify back in 1983 so the only way people were listening to music was on vinyl and cassette. The C.D. had only been introduced to the world the year before so there was this preciousness and exclusivity owning the first Now That’s What I Call Music! If you have an original edition in your palms then one imagines it is worth quite a bob or two! The fact there was a second instalment meant the public were reacting to its unique and populist edge – songs from Culture Club and Duran Duran on the first edition meant people wanted more and a nice way of gathering the best hits of the day.
IN THIS PHOTO: Ariana Grande (one of the artists included in the current Now That’s What I Call Music! compilation)/PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images/Press
The success of the series was instant and there were three further editions in 1984 – people could not get enough and that idea of having more than one Now That’s What I Call Music! in one year. Maybe the charts were more relevant in the 1980s but even now, thirty-five years after its birth; we cannot get enough of the eclectic and brilliant Now That’s What I Call Music! The latest edition, released last Friday, has everyone from George Ezra and Ariana Grande featured and it is amazing to think how far music has come since 1983. The fact we have that zeal and interest in a compilation album – given the fact we can make our own playlists – is amazing. As the Now That’s What I Call Music! series reaches its thirty-fifth birthday; a lot of folk will be looking through their old copies or going online and streaming memories of great days. I feel, like music in general, we all have specific memories ties to Now That’s What I Call Music! I first encountered the series in 1993, on the twenty-fourth edition, and call recall the songs and how it made me feel hearing everything flow. Listening to a favourite edition is not just about the songs but what you were doing at the time and how music made you feel.
Maybe the bosses and boffs behind the compilation will do some reissues on a bigger anniversary but it would be good to see the full series on cassette, C.D. or vinyl. Maybe that would be a big undertaking but, perhaps, having the chance to order one of the series and choosing your format would be great. It is nice being able to access all the songs from all one-hundred-and-one compilations online; nothing beats the thrill of having a double-C.D./cassette and having the insert; a vinyl that you could spin from, say, 1985’s Now That’s What I Call Music! editions and casting your mind back to the music of the day and what we were listening to. As much as anything; the series acts as a documentation of tastes and music that dominated the charts. You can see how genres like Pop have evolved and how our tastes have altered in the ensuing years! Many claim the first Now That’s What I Call Music! is a bit light on quality but I feel it stands up well – the fact it is the very first means its importance cannot be understated. In honour of thirty-five years of Now That’s What I Call Music! excellence; I have selected the twelve finest, must-own editions that really hit the mark! Perhaps you will disagree but I think you’ll agree there is some true quality to be found. Have a look at these twelve select Now That’s What I Call Music! sets and maybe you’ll have your own...
THOUGHTS and arguments.
ALL IMAGES: Getty Images
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Now That’s What I Call Music!: The Big Bang
Release Date (U.K.): 28th November, 1983
Number of Tracks: 30
Number-One Single on the Day of Release (U.K.): Billy Joel – Uptown Girl
Number-One Album on the Day of Release (U.K.): Culture Club – Colour by Numbers
Download/Stream: Heaven 17 – Temptation; Paul Young – Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home); The Cure – The Lovecats
Classic Track: Culture Club – Karma Chameleon
One Track to Miss: Kajagoogoo – Big Apple
Now That’s What I Call Music! Link: https://www.nowmusic.com/album/now-thats-what-i-call-music/
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/user/dh4apps/playlist/3JPHTEksPQlkTyPw1X3zFL?si=vnRug7VJTciLspefASgyPw
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Now That’s What I Call Music! 8: Proving the 1980s Boasted Some True Quality
Release Date (U.K.): 24th November, 1986
Number of Tracks: 32
Number-One Single on the Day of Release (U.K.): The Housemartins – Caravan of Love
Number-One Album on the Day of Release (U.K.): Various Artists – Hits 5
Download/Stream: Steve Winwood – Higher Love; Janet Jackson – What Have You Done for Me Lately; Peter Gabriel (feat. Kate Bush) – Don’t Give Up
Classic Track: Run–D.M.C. – Walk This Way
One Track to Miss: Doctor & the Medics - Waterloo
Now That’s What I Call Music! Link: https://www.nowmusic.com/album/now-thats-what-i-call-music-8/
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/user/dh4apps/playlist/6Ztxah0jML7g7xFkoZPnLJ?si=oFxuCeDdT6W6xp4-Vla-Qg
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Now That’s What I Call Music! 19: Trip-Hop Alongside the Pop
Release Date (U.K.): 25th March, 1991
Number of Tracks: 34
Number-One Single on the Day of Release (U.K.): Chesney Hawkes – The One and Only
Number-One Album on the Day of Release (U.K.): R.E.M. – Out of Time
Download/Stream: The KLF feat. The Children of the Revolution – 3 a.m. Eternal; Massive Attack – Unfinished Sympathy; Free – All Right Now
Classic Track: Seal – Crazy
One Track to Miss: Vanilla Ice – Play That Funky Music
Now That’s What I Call Music! Link: https://www.nowmusic.com/album/now-thats-what-i-call-music-19/
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Now That’s What I Call Music! 24: My Personal Favourite
Release Date (U.K.): 16th April, 1993
Number of Tracks: 37
Number-One Single on the Day of Release (U.K.): The Bluebells – Young at Heart
Number-One Album on the Day of Release (U.K.): Suede - Suede
Download/Stream: Snow – Informer; The Stereo MC’s – Step It Up; Duran Duran – Ordinary World
Classic Track: Take That – Could It Be Magic
One Track to Miss: 2 Unlimited – No Limit
Now That’s What I Call Music! Link: https://www.nowmusic.com/album/now-thats-what-i-call-music-24/
Buy: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-Thats-What-Call-Music/dp/B0000075H4
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/user/1189234760/playlist/0T9CQnISBGFCoq4aSgoDC1?si=-9q8xJniSbCwZsNGhCEuMQ
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Now That’s What I Call Music! 26: Pure Genius (and Julia Roberts Is on There!)
Release Date (U.K.): 15th November, 1993
Number of Tracks: Forty
Number-One Single on the Day of Release (U.K.): Meat Loaf – I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)
Number-One Album on the Day of Release (U.K.): Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell
Download/Stream: DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – Boom! Shake the Room; The Cardigans – My Favourite Game; The Spin Doctors – Two Princes
Classic Track: Radiohead – Creep
One Track to Miss: Julia Roberts – Free Love
Now That’s What I Call Music! Link: https://www.nowmusic.com/album/now-thats-what-i-call-music-26/
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Now That’s What I Call Music! 31: The Underrated Giant of the Series
Release Date (U.K.): 31st July, 1995
Number of Tracks: 40
Number-One Single on the Day of Release (U.K.): The Outhere Brothers – Boom Boom Boom
Number-One Album on the Day of Release (U.K.): Supergrass – I Should Coco
Download/Stream: Pulp – Common People; Supergrass – Alright; Weezer – Buddy Holly
Classic Track: Portishead – Sour Times
One Track to Miss: P.J. & Duncan – Stuck on U
Now That’s What I Call Music! Link: https://www.nowmusic.com/album/now-thats-what-i-call-music-31/
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Now That’s What I Call Music! 37: A Perfect Cocktail of Genres and Tastes
Release Date (U.K.): 14th July, 1997
Number of Tracks: 41
Number-One Single on the Day of Release (U.K.): Puff Daddy (feat. Faith Evans & 112) – I’ll Be Missing You
Number-One Album on the Day of Release (U.K.): The Prodigy – The Fat of the Land
Download/Stream: The Cardigans – Lovefool; En Vogue – Don’t Let Go (Love); Blur – On Your Own
Classic Track: Supergrass – Sun Hits the Sky
One Track to Miss: 911 – The Journey
Now That’s What I Call Music! Link: https://www.nowmusic.com/album/now-thats-what-i-call-music-37/
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Now That’s What I Call Music! 41: Another Titanic Year from a Stellar Decade
Release Date (U.K.): 23rd November, 1998
Number of Tracks: 42
Number-One Single on the Day of Release (U.K.): Cher – Believe
Number-One Album on the Day of Release (U.K.): George Michael - Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael
Download/Stream: Jennifer Paige – Crush; The Cardigans – My Favourite Game; Sheryl Crow – My Favourite Mistake
Classic Track: Stardust – Music Sounds Better with You
One Track to Miss: T-Spoon – Sex on the Beach
Now That’s What I Call Music! Link: https://www.nowmusic.com/album/now-thats-what-i-call-music-41/
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Now That’s What I Call Music! 44: It Is the Best-Selling of the Lot for a Reason…
Release Date (U.K.): 22nd November, 1999
Number of Tracks: 42
Number-One Single on the Day of Release (U.K.): Robbie Williams – She’s the One/It’s Only Us
Number-One Album on the Day of Release (U.K.): Steps – Steptacular
Download/Stream: Lou Bega – Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit of...); Sixpence None the Richer – Kiss Me; Supergrass – Moving
Classic Track: Britney Spears – ...Baby One More Time
One Track to Miss: Vengaboys – We’re Going to Ibiza
Now That’s What I Call Music! Link: https://www.nowmusic.com/album/now-thats-what-i-call-music-44/
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Now That’s What I Call Music! 45: Beginning the New Millennium in Style
Release Date (U.K.): 17th April, 2000
Number of Tracks: 45
Number-One Single on the Day of Release (U.K.): Fragma – Toca’s Miracle
Number-One Album on the Day of Release (U.K.): Moby – Play
Download/Stream: Honeyz – Won’t Take It Lying Down; Fragma – Toca’s Miracle; Basement Jaxx – Bingo Bango
Classic Track: Moloko – The Time Is Now
One Track to Miss: Sisqo – Thong Song
Now That’s What I Call Music! Link: https://www.nowmusic.com/album/now-thats-what-i-call-music-45/
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/user/1125782354/playlist/7ICbjvsA4GXws6i4RILM1p?si=DJQfMQNKSnOabjapEejUnw
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Now That’s What I Call Music! 50: One of the Few Genuine Standout Collections from the 2000s
Release Date (U.K.): 19th November, 2001
Number of Tracks: 44
Number-One Single on the Day of Release (U.K.): Blue – If You Come Back
Number-One Album on the Day of Release (U.K.): Steps – Gold
Download/Stream: Kylie Minogue – Can’t Get You Out of My Head; Nelly Furtado – Turn Off the Light; Groove Armada – Superstylin
Classic Track: Destiny’s Child – Bootylicious
One Track to Miss: Steps – Chain Reaction
Now That’s What I Call Music! Link: https://www.nowmusic.com/album/now-thats-what-i-call-music-50/
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Now That’s What I Call Music! 100: The Milestone
Release Date (U.K.): 20th July, 2018
Number of Tracks: 44
Number-One Single on the Day of Release (U.K.): The Lightning Seeds, David Baddiel & Frank Skinner – Three Lions
Number-One Album on the Day of Release (U.K.): Drake – Scorpion
Download/Stream: Years & Years – If You’re Over Me; Oasis – Wonderwall; Kylie Minogue – Can’t Get You Out of My Head
Classic Track: Spice Girls – Wannabe
One Track to Miss: Liam Payne & J. Balvin – Familiar
Now That’s What I Call Music! Link: https://www.nowmusic.com/album/now-100/
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/27Jd1FgE9zyc9bJOMjZ3S0?si=l7vFPqEgTdO02qcFPzkvow
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