Let’s take it back to 1983 and remind ourselves of the original ‘NOW That’s What I Call Music’ album, filled with teenage heartthrobs and 80s classics.Â
Those who were partying away back then can take one listen to the original album and take a nostalgic trip back to the good old days. Featuring 80s faves Culture Club and UB40 the record is a major bop, one sure to bring on a little reminiscing.
Romance was certainly in the air in ‘83, and love songs galore made up NOW’s debut. For starters, you had Phil Collins’ ‘You Can’t Hurry Love’, ‘Baby Jane’ by Rod Stewart – man what a train set by the way – and ‘The Lovecats’ by The Cure. Yes, that’s right, there was a love song for every ‘type’ of person from the eighties – from pop fan to new wave moody person.
But, even if you’re a little too youthful to have been around upon the release and have your broken heart soothed – er like all of us at this magazine – you’ll still know some of the other classics. You certainly will have heard of ‘Karma Chameleon’, and there’s no way your mum has never performed a horrendous rendition of ‘Red Red Wine’ by UB40.
The album is more than a few cheesy love songs or some classic bops. Bad-ass icons Bonnie Tyler and Tina Turner featured on the OG album and music fans today could learn a lesson in sass from these two. In ‘83 they sparked a new motivation for women to get what they want. They were powerful, confident and beaming, releasing hit after hit about working through the bad times and rising through the good times.
Providing a snapshot in time, NOW 1 popularised a different way of listening to music for a new generation – the compilation. Compilations had been around since the fifties with pop hits often clubbed together to sell more, but NOW was one of the first compilations to do it with 80s music. No more Elvis and Cliff Richard mixes, no more Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday, NOW was new and fun. By ’83, people could walk with their tunes, study with them or even fall asleep to them with Sony Walkmen’s. The compilation was reborn as a soundtrack to peoples day to day lives – something we take for granted today.
Since then, new ways of finding, listening and loving music have arrived, but even in the face of streaming, the NOW albums are going strong. But, the original is not one to forget. Whether you are new to 80s music or an old hat this compilation remains a fun way to get a little nostalgic and replay your youth – even if you weren’t alive in the eighties.
Check out the full tracklisting HERE. And grab the latest copy of Volume 6 of our print magazine featuring interview with Black Honey, Mattiel, Matt Maltese and Molly Burch HERE.