Now that's what I call the birth of a monster

Back in November, I reported on the ITV show resurrecting a load of 80s acts to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the first ever Now That's What I Call Music compilation albums. It was a fine old cheese-fest, shocking for two reasons 1) how much Nik Kershaw looked like Gary Glitter and 2) how Paul Young had the sheer nerve to mime to his recorded voice from 25 years ago. Well, finally, the first in the series has been reissued as a double CD, a format it never even had a sniff of - Now 10 was the first CD version. We're up to Now 71 in the UK and I haven't a clue who's on it. They kind of come and go, really. But there's a whole world of Nows out there... now.

Even then, I knew it was a bit naff because my parents bought a copy for themselves: "Oooh, that's the music sorted for New Year's Eve, then." But there was still a sense of something different about it. There were no fillers. No tracks disguising themselves as hits. There were 30 of the buggers on Now. And 11 of them number 1s if you please. A 'zany' Tracey Ullman told you so in this TV ad. And it must have been a long time ago; she's getting all moist over Paul McCartney for fuck's sake.



1983 was a vintage year for pop. Let's look at what you got for your £3.99... worra bargain, sniiiiiiiiip!

1. Phil Collins - You Can't Hurry Love
2. Duran Duran - Is There Something I Should Know
3. UB40 - Red Red Wine
4. Limahl - Only For Love
- me, neither. But it was a number 16 hit for the miniature frightwig
5. Heaven 17 - Temptation
6. KC & the Sunshine band - Give It Up
- this was MY summer tune of 1983. Picture the scene: a hot car, windows down, sat in the back getting everyone to shoulder dance, "Nananananananana Now!
7. Malcolm McLaren - Double Dutch
- who would have thought that the middle-aged ex-Sex Pistols manager could score two big fat hits off an album born from the kids of NYC. It was on odyssey from start to finish... "too much of that Snow White!"
8. Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart
9. Culture Club - Karma Chameleon
10. Men Without Hats - Safety Dance
11. Kajagoogoo - Too Shy
12. Mike Oldfield - Moonlight Shadow
- I used to say this was crap, but secretly, I liked it. Smell the patchoulli oil!
13. Men at Work - Down Under
14. Rock Steady Crew - (Hey You) The Rock Steady Crew
- there was a boy with a mullet, or was that a girl? Still can't remember what they looked like. But everyone danced to it.
15. Rod Stewart - Baby Jane
16. Paul Young - Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)
17. New Edition - Candy Girl
18. Kajagoogoo - Big Apple
- didn't Nick Beggs have a very feminine voice? A bit Hazell Dean-ish. And it's still a rubbish song after all these years.
19. Tina Turner - Let's Stay Together
20. Human League - (Keep Feeling) Fascination
21. Howard Jones - New Song
22. UB40 - Please Don't Make Me Cry
23. Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack - Tonight I Celebrate My Love
24. Tracey Ullman - They Don't Know
- the video with Paul McCartney. Actually he does look a bit, sniiiiiiip!
25. Will Powers - Kissing With Confidence
26. Genesis - That's All
27. The Cure - Lovecats
- still my favourite ever Cure track.
28. Simple Minds - Waterfront
29. Madness - The Sun & The Rain
- the beginning of the end. Bless.
30. Culture Club - Victims

Buy your copy here!