In some ways, the Now compilation albums seem like a relic from a bygone era - and yet, as Ian Wade recently reported for the Quietus, at the ripe old age of 40 the brand seems stronger than ever, continuing to "snapshot the best of what's been happening in pop from the last three months". What's more, physical sales remain healthy, indicating that, "while streaming is great and all that, there's still a hunger for a curated two-disc round-up".
The only regular Now album I can remember owning, Now 10, is a classic example of what they're all about. Opener 'Barcelona' by Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballe and seminal dance track 'Pump Up The Volume' sandwich two solid-gold pop gems in Pet Shop Boys' 'Rent' and the Communards' 'Never Can Say Goodbye'. It was my introduction to Kiss and Nina Simone (the latter's 'My Baby Just Cares For Me' having been re-released after cropping up on an advert). And, poignantly, it concluded with 'Fairytale Of New York', still possibly the best Christmas song there is. For the wet-behind-the-ears pop fan, at least, it was a treasure trove.
(Wade's right, though, that the first installment of the rival Hits compilation, released in 1984, was even better - an absolute staple of family car journeys, more collectively popular than my dad's Queen, Dire Straits and Phil Collins albums.)
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