FEATURE:
Now That's What I Call Music!
Bringing the Iconic Compilation Series to Cassette and Vinyl
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THIS may seem…
like a random feature not tied to any anniversary or piece of news. In fact, there are a couple of reasons why I am thinking about the legendary compilation album, Now That's What I Call Music. The first album was released in the U.K. on 28th November, 1983. I am not sure whether Virgin, EMI and the compilers of the album knew what they had started! Still going to this day, the series is a selection of the best Pop of the year. Whilst the series has never been confined to mainstream Pop, I think that it has diversified through the years – even if the main market is still the Pop consumer. The first real reason why I wanted to return to the Now That's What I Call Music series is because one does not really hear greatest hits anymore. I was thinking whether artists release these and whether there is any demand or need at a time when we have streaming services. Because we can compile our own greatest hits collections, is there any market for greatest hits albums? I miss them a lot. Not only is it a great way to get all an artist’s hits in one place; it is incredible to have all those big songs in one place. Now That's What I Call Music is one of the only examples of this nowadays. Even though it is more a greatest hits collection of a particular year, the fact we are still buying the iconic series without irony shows that people are not entirely relying on streaming services and the digitals!
Going back to Now That's What I Call Music, the initial pressings were released on vinyl and audio cassette. To celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the album and series, the album was re-released on C.D. for the first time in 2009. I guess, in terms of the physical form, we can easily get Now That's What I Call Music on C.D. I think it is more than a nostalgic thing. Because C.D.s are starting to go through a slight revival, it is worth hanging on to any Now That's What I Call Music album you have on that format. Many artists are keeping the C.D. alive by releasing their albums this way. I do wonder whether, because vinyl and cassette have their own markets and popularity, there will be reissues of Now That's What I Call Music on these formats. The fortieth anniversary does not occur until next year. I would like to see the compilation series get its own new run. I am not aware whether you can easily get any Now That's What I Call Music on vinyl or cassette. I know some people have found copies through Discogs and other websites, though it can be quite pricey. Given the fact the series has been running almost four decades, you can imagine just how many albums would come out! I have a fondness for Now That's What I Call Music 24 (1993); to have that on vinyl and cassette again would be a dream!
With an active and busy Twitter account coming out every year, young listeners are being introduced to this wonderful compilation. Although the singles charts are not as important and popular as they were years ago, it is still good knowing which songs are trending and scoring high positions. Having them on an album - at a time when we have streaming - is actually an advantage. It can be a real minefield and struggle trying to get to grips with which songs are the best and most popular of the year. Now That's What I Call Music is a document of that year’s sounds and artists. Having them on formats like cassette and vinyl, I feel, is a great idea. One can listen to the latest Now That's What I Call Music album on streaming services and C.D. As a memento and something more enduring, vinyl would be awesome. Cassettes are coming back now. I (and many others) would love the have a selection of my favourite Now That's What I Call Music on that format! I am not sure whether there will be fortieth anniversary plans in this direction - though I think something could come sooner. Given the fact physical formats are rising and there is a big audience for vinyl and a healthy one for cassettes, Now That's What I Call Music would look and sound brilliant released anew. C.D.s are great, yet vinyl and cassette would see the series brought to new audiences and get fresh attention. It may seem like a pricey and risky campaign and release, but I feel that…
SO many people would snap them up.