NOW : That's What I Call Music

Quem diria que esta compilação chamada “Now That’s What I Call Music”, se tornaria na marca mundial que é hoje?

Ao fim destes quase 25 anos, tudo o que é pais, tem uma compilação própria baseada neste nome e modelo inglês. Por exemplo em Portugal, há já vários anos que desapareceram os clássicos; “Jackpot”, “Top Disco”, “Top Jackpot”, “Hit Parade”, “Top Genius”, “Summer Stars”, “Polystar”, “Waterproof”, ou mesmo os títulos mais lusos; “Disco do Ano”, “SuperDisco” e até o “Nº1”, para dar definitivamente o seu lugar aos “NOW!”.
Mas afinal onde e como é que tudo isto começou?

Na Inglaterra, pois claro!
Estávamos em 1983, mais propriamente em Dezembro desse ano, quando chegou ao mercado o primeiro dos muitos “Now That’s What I Call Music”.
Originalmente, as edições faziam-se em vinil, duplo LP e reuniam a nata da nata, que durante o ano povoava os tops britânicos.
A edição era conjunta da EMI e da Virgin e tornou-se imediatamente numero 1, no Top do Reino Unido. Pelo que, passados apenas 4 meses, o "Now That's What I Call Music", estava de volta às lojas, com o seu segundo numero. Para não variar, o conteúdo era carregado de êxitos.
Mas 1984, via ainda chegar às lojas, mais duas novas edições da "Now...". Uma em Agosto e a outra em Dezembro, sempre a tempo de se tornar campeão de vendas de Natal.

Este terá sido o segredo do triunfo desta compilação, pois não esperava pelo fim do ano, para resumir apenas os maiores êxitos e esquecer outros, mas sim, quase em cima do momento, em que estes temas eram grandes êxitos em "single", quer nas tabelas de vendas, quer nas rádios.
É precisamente com este 4 volume da "Now That's What I Call Music", editada em Dezembro de 1984, que surge no mercado pela primeira vez a edição em CD. O disco assume assim edição conjunta em vinil e em CD, que só desapareceria a quando da edição da "NOW #35", passando então a conhecer edição apenas em CD. Referir no entanto, que os números 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 e 9, na edição CD, não continham o mesmo número de faixas incluídas no vinil. Apenas a partir do volume 10, o CD passou a conter exactamente, os mesmos temas que se incluíam na versão em vinil.
Campeã de vendas em Inglaterra, a compilação começa gradualmente a ser importada para os restantes países. Dando assim lugar ao "branding" que é hoje, nos 4 cantos do globo. Para as contas dos anos 80, ficam 16 números desta compilação. O 16º precisamente editado em Dezembro de 1989. Na década seguinte, a compilação conhecida simplificadamente como "NOW", tornar-se-ia um fenómeno que hoje todos conhecemos.
Para a posteridade, aqui ficam os alinhamentos dos 16 volumes editados nos anos 80, entre o ano de 1983 e 1989.

NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC #6 (Dez./85)

DISCO 1:
Queen : "One Vision"
Nik Kershaw : "When a Heart Beats"
Feargal Sharkey : "A Good Heart"
Eurythmics : "There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)"
Simple Minds : "Alive and Kicking"
Bryan Adams & Tina Turner : "It's Only Love"
Gary Moore : "Empty Rooms"
Marillion : "Lavender"
Elton John : "Nikita"
Kate Bush : "Running Up That Hill"
Level 42 : "Something About You"
Tina Turner : "We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)"
UB40 : "Don't Break My Heart"
Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin : "Separate Lives"
Cliff Richard : "She's So Beautiful"

DISCO 2:
Arcadia : "Election Day"
UB40 featuring Chrissie Hynde : "I Got You Babe"
Fine Young Cannibals : "Blue"
Midge Ure : "If I Was"
Siouxsie & the Banshees : "Cities in Dust"
Madness : "Uncle Sam"
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions : "Lost Weekend"
Communards : "You Are My World"
Paul Hardcastle : "Just For Money"
Jan Hammer : "Miami Vice Theme"
Maria Vidal : "Body Rock"
Baltimora : "Tarzan Boy"
Mai Tai : "Body And Soul"
Cameo : "Single Life"
Jaki Graham & David Grant : "Mated"

NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC #7 (Ago./86)

DISCO 1:
Peter Gabriel : "Sledgehammer"
UB40 : "Sing Our Own Song"
Sly Fox : "Let's Go All the Way"
Level 42 : "Lessons in Love"
Pet Shop Boys : "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)"
Pete Wylie : "Sinful!"
Stan Ridgway : "Camouflage"
Art of Noise with Max Headroom : "Paranoimia"
Chris De Burgh : "The Lady in Red"
David Bowie : "Absolute Beginners"
Genesis : "Invisible Touch"
Simple Minds : "All The Things She Said"
The Housemartins : "Happy Hour"
Big Country : "Look Away"
Furniture : "Brilliant Mind"
Midge Ure : "Call of the Wild"

DISCO 2:
Wham! : "The Edge of Heaven"
Owen Paul : "My Favourite Waste of Time"
Amazulu : "Too Good to Be Forgotten"
Doctor and the Medics : "Spirit in the Sky"
Bananarama : "Venus"
Bucks Fizz : "New Beginning (Mamba Seyra)"
A-Ha : "Hunting High And Low"
Simply Red : "Holding Back the Years"
Queen : "A Kind of Magic" (Hidden Track)
Billy Ocean : "When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going"
Jaki Graham : "Set Me Free"
Nu Shooz : "I Can't Wait"
The Real Roxanne With Hitman Howie Tee : "(Bang Zoom) Lets Go Go"
Lovebug Starski : "Amityville (The House on the Hill)"
Midnight Star : "Headlines"
Aurra : "You and Me Tonight"
Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald : "On My Own"

NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC #8 (Dez./86)

DISCO 1:
Duran Duran : "Notorious"
Pet Shop Boys : "Suburbia"
Run D.M.C. : "Walk This Way"
Communards : "Don't Leave Me This Way"
Swing Out Sister : "Breakout"
Steve Winwood : "Higher Love"
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark : "(Forever) Live And Die"
Genesis : "In Too Deep"
Cameo : "Word Up"
Grace Jones : "I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect For You)"
Mel & Kim : "Showing Out (Get Fresh At The Weekend)"
Jermaine Stewart : "We Don't Have to Take Our Clothes Off"
Jaki Graham : "Step Right Up"
Janet Jackson : "What Have You Done for Me Lately"
Human League : "Human"
Boris Gardiner : "I Wanna Wake Up With You"

DISCO 2:
Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush : "Don't Give Up"
The Housemartins : "Think for a Minute"
Madness : "(Waiting For) The Ghost Train"
Status Quo : "In the Army Now"
Huey Lewis & The News : "Stuck with You"
Big Country : "One Great Thing"
Billy Bragg : "Greetings to the New Brunette"
Cutting Crew : "(I Just) Died in Your Arms"
Kim Wilde : "You Keep Me Hangin' On"
It Bites : "Calling All the Heroes"
Doctor & The Medics : "Waterloo"
Debbie Harry : "French Kissin' in the USA"
Robert Palmer : "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On"
Paul Hardcastle : "The Wizard"
Gwen Guthrie : "(They Long To Be) Close To You"
Nick Berry : "Every Loser Wins"

NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC #9 (Abr./87)

DISCO 1:
Jackie Wilson : "Reet Petite"
Mental As Anything : "Live It Up"
Simply Red : "The Right Thing"
Erasure : "Sometimes"
Robbie Nevil : "C'est La Vie"
Hot Chocolate : "You Sexy Thing"
The Blow Monkeys : "It Doesn't Have to Be This Way"
The Housemartins : "Caravan of Love"
Boy George : "Everything I Own"
UB40 : "Rat in Mi Kitchen"
Gap Band : "Big Fun"
5 Star : "Stay Out Of My Life"
Pepsi & Shirlie : "Heartache"
Bananarama : "A Trick of the Night"
Berlin : "Take My Breath Away"

DISCO 2:
Freddie Mercury : "The Great Pretender"
Ben E. King : "Stand by Me"
Curiosity Killed the Cat : "Down to Earth"
The Communards : "So Cold the Night"
Steve "Silk" Hurley : "Jack Your Body"
Taffy : "I Love My Radio (Midnight Radio)"
Nick Kamen : "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever"
A-Ha : "Manhattan Skyline"
Westworld : "Sonic Boom Boy"
Bon Jovi : "Livin' on a Prayer"
Genesis : "Land of Confusion"
Europe : "The Final Countdown"
Gary Moore : "Over the Hills and Far Away"
Ward Brothers : "Cross That Bridge"
The Pretenders : "Hymn to Her"

NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC #10 (Dez./97)

DISCO 1:
Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballé : "Barcelona"
Pet Shop Boys : "Rent"
The Communards : "Never Can Say Goodbye"
M/A/R/R/S : "Pump Up the Volume"
Hue & Cry : "Labour of Love"
Jellybean featuring Steven Dante : "The Real Thing"
Johnny Hates Jazz : "I Don't Want to Be a Hero"
The Style Council : "Wanted"
T'Pau : "China in Your Hand"
Heart : "Alone"
Kiss : "Crazy Crazy Nights"
Billy Idol : "Mony Mony"
Whitesnake : "Here I Go Again (USA Remix)"
The Alarm : "Rain in the Summertime"
Marillion : "Sugar Mice"

DISCO 2:
Wet Wet Wet : "Sweet Little Mystery"
Curiosity Killed the Cat : "Misfit"
Los Lobos : "La Bamba"
Fat Boys : "Wipeout"
Bananarama : "Love in the First Degree"
Cliff Richard : "My Pretty One"
Karel Fialka : "Hey Matthew"
Jan Hammer : "Crockett's Theme from Miami Vice"
Nina Simone : "My Baby Just Cares for Me"
Erasure : "The Circus"
The Housemartins : "Build"
Level 42 : "It's Over"
ABC : "When Smokey Sings"
Squeeze : "Hourglass"
The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl : "Fairytale of New York"

NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC #11 (Abr./88)

DISCO 1:
Pet Shop Boys : "Always on My Mind"
Belinda Carlisle : "Heaven is a Place on Earth"
Billy Ocean : "Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car"
Jermaine Stewart : "Say It Again"
Eddy Grant : "Gimme Hope Jo'Anna"
Eddie Cochran : "C'Mon Everybody"
Morrissey : "Suedehead"
Elton John : "Candle in the Wind"
Wet Wet Wet : "Angel Eyes (Home and Away)"
Johnny Hates Jazz : "Turn Back the Clock"
T'Pau : "Valentine"
Billy Idol : "Hot in the City"
Sinéad O'Connor : "Mandinka"
The Mission : "Tower of Strength"
Whitesnake : "Give Me All Your Love"

DISCO 2:
Kylie Minogue : "I Should Be So Lucky"
Mel & Kim : "That's the Way It Is"
Joyce Sims : "Come into My Life"
Jellybean featuring Elisa Fiorillo : "Who Found Who"
Bananarama : "I Can't Help It"
Dollar : "Oh L'amour"
Vanessa Paradis : "Joe Le Taxi"
Morris Minor & The Majors : "Stutter Rap (No Sleep Til Bedtime)"
Bomb The Bass : "Beat Dis"
Coldcut featuring Yazz & The Plastic Population : "Doctorin' the House"
Krush : "House Arrest"
Jack 'n' Chill : "The Jack That House Build"
Beatmasters featuring The Cookie Crew : "Rok Da House"
Two Men a Drum Machine and a Trumpet : "I'm Tired of Getting Pushed Around"
Climie Fisher : "Rise to the Occasion"

NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC #12 (Jul./88)

DISCO 1:
Wet Wet Wet : "With a Little Help from My Friends"
Belinda Carlisle : "Circle in the Sand"
Maxi Priest : "Wild World"
Aswad : "Give a Little Love"
Climie Fisher : "Love Changes (Everything)"
Elton John : "I Don't Wanna Go On with You Like That"
Scritti Politti : "Oh Patti (Don't Feel Sorry For Loverboy)"
Phil Collins : "In the Air Tonight ('88 remix)"
Hothouse Flowers : "Don't Go"
Morrissey : "Everyday Is Like Sunday"
Danny Wilson : "Mary's Prayer"
Johnny Hates Jazz : "Heart of Gold"
Voice of the Beehive : "Don't Call Me Baby"
Iron Maiden : "Can I Play with Madness"
Heart : "These Dreams"
T'Pau : "I Will Be With You"

DISCO 2:
The Timelords : "Doctorin' the Tardis"
Sabrina : "Boys (Summertime Love)"
Bananarama : "I Want You Back"
Tiffany : "I Think We're Alone Now"
Hazell Dean : "Who's Leaving Who"
The Communards : "There's More to Love"
Jermaine Stewart : "Get Lucky"
Glenn Medeiros : "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You"
S'Express : "Theme from S'Express"
Salt-N-Pepa : "Push It"
Derek B : "Bad Young Brother"
James Brown : "The Payback Mix (Part One)"
Rose Royce : "Car Wash"
Natalie Cole : "Pink Cadillac"
Jellybean featuring Adele Bertei : "Just a Mirage"
Will Downing : "A Love Supreme (Radio Mix)"

NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC #13 (Dez./88)

DISCO 1:
Yazz : "The Only Way Is Up"
Womack & Womack : "Teardrops"
Erasure : "A Little Respect"
The Christians : "Harvest For The World"
Hue & Cry : "Ordinary Angel"
UB40 feat. Chrissie Hynde : "Breakfast in Bed"
Robert Palmer: "She Makes My Day"
Breathe : "Hands to Heaven"
Phil Collins : "A Groovy Kind of Love"
Bobby McFerrin : "Don't Worry, Be Happy"
Art of Noise feat. Tom Jones : "Kiss"
Bryan Ferry : "Let's Stick Together"
Kim Wilde : "You Came"
Bomb the Bass : "Don't Make Me Wait"
Brother Beyond : "The Harder I Try"
The Hollies : "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother"

DISCO 2:
Fat Boys with Chubby Checker : "The Twist (Yo, Twist!)"
Wee Papa Girl Rappers : "Wee Rule"
Salt-N-Pepa : "Twist and Shout"
Yello : "The Race"
Inner City : "Big Fun"
D-Mob : "We Call It Acieed"
Beatmasters : "Burn It Up"
Milli Vanilli : "Girl You Know It's True"
Level 42 : "Heaven in My Hands"
Jane Wiedlin : "Rush Hour"
The Proclaimers : "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)"
T'Pau : "Secret Garden"
Transvision Vamp : "I Want Your Love"
Duran Duran : "I Don't Want Your Love"
Human League : "Love Is All That's Matters"
All About Eve : "Martha's Harbour"

NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC #14 (Abr./89)

DISCO 1:
Marc Almond with Gene Pitney : "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart"
Phil Collins : "Two Hearts"
Erasure : "Stop!"
Bananarama & LaNaNeeNeeNooNoo : "Help!"
Hue & Cry : "Looking for Linda"
Yazz : "Fine Time"
Kim Wilde : "Four Letter Word"
Sam Brown : "Stop!"
Roy Orbison : "You Got It"
Fine Young Cannibals : "She Drives Me Crazy"
INXS : "Need You Tonight"
Status Quo : "Burning Bridges (On And Off And On Again)"
Then Jerico : "Big Area"
Morrissey : "The Last of the Famous International Playboys"
Poison : "Every Rose Has Its Thorn"
Simple Minds : "Belfast Child"

DISCO 2:
Neneh Cherry : "Buffalo Stance"
Inner City : "Good Life"
S'Express : "Hey Music Lover"
Living in a Box : "Blow the House Down"
The Style Council : "Promised Land"
Adeva : "Respect"
Tone Lōc : "Wild Thing"
Natalie Cole : "I Live for Your Love"
Robin Beck : "The First Time"
Paula Abdul : "Straight Up"
Samantha Fox : "I Only Wanna Be with You"
Brother Beyond : "Be My Twin"
Climie Fisher : "Love Like a River"
Duran Duran : "All She Wants Is"
Level 42 : "Tracie"
Michael Ball : "Love Changes Everything"

NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC #15 (Ago./89)

DISCO 1:
Queen : "I Want It All"
Simple Minds : "Kick It In"
Fine Young Cannibals : "Good Thing"
Holly Johnson : "Americanos"
Transvision Vamp : "Baby I Don't Care"
INXS : "Mystify"
Roxette : "The Look"
Stevie Nicks : "Rooms on Fire"
Paul McCartney : "My Brave Face"
Gerry Marsden, Paul McCartney, Holly Johnson and The Christians : "Ferry Cross the Mersey"
Beautiful South : "Song for Whoever"
Kirsty MacColl : "Days"
Danny Wilson : "The Second Summer Of Love"
Waterfront : "Cry"
Hue & Cry : "Violently"
Cliff Richard : "The Best of Me"

DISCO 2:
Soul II Soul : "Back To Life (However Do You Want Me)"
Neneh Cherry : "Manchild"
Bobby Brown : "Every Little Step"
Inner City : "Do You Love What You Feel"
D-Mob featuring LRS : "It Is Time To Get Funky"
Donna Allen : "Joy And Pain"
Gladys Knight : "Licence To Kill"
Natalie Cole : "Miss You Like Crazy"
Pet Shop Boys : "It's Alright"
Jive Bunny And The Mastermixers : "Swing The Mood"
Swing Out Sister : "You on My Mind"
Bananarama : "Cruel Summer '89"
De La Soul : "Say No Go"
Norman Cook & MC Wildski : "Blame It on the Bassline"
Double Trouble and Rebel MC : "Just Keep Rockin'"
The Cure : "Lullaby"

NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC #16 (Dez./89)

DISCO 1:
Tears for Fears : "Sowing the Seeds of Love"
Belinda Carlisle : "Leave a Light On"
Erasure : "Drama!"
Deborah Harry : "I Want That Man"
Sydney Youngblood : "If Only I Could"
Curiosity : "Name and Number"
The Beautiful South : "You Keep It All In"
Wet Wet Wet : "Sweet Surrender"
Queen : "Breakthru"
Tina Turner : "The Best"
Transvision Vamp : "Born to Be Sold"
Wendy & Lisa : "Waterfall '89"
Kate Bush : "The Sensual World"
Fine Young Cannibals : "I'm Not the Man I Used to Be"
Then Jerico : "Sugar Box"
Living in a Box : "Room in Your Heart"
Richard Marx : "Right Here Waiting"

DISCO 2:
Milli Vanilli : "Girl I'm Gonna Miss You"
Rebel MC & Double Trouble : "Street Tuff"
Bobby Brown : "On Our Own"
Technotronic featuring Felly : "Pump up the Jam"
Lil' Louis : "French Kiss"
Adeva : "Thank You"
D-Mob Introducing Cathy Dennis : "C'Mon & Get My Love"
De La Soul : "Eye Know"
Inner City : "Whatcha Gonna Do with My Lovin'"
Big Fun : "Can't Shake the Feeling"
Cliff Richard : "I Just Don't Have the Heart"
Jimmy Sommerville featuring June Miles Kingston : "Comment Te Dire Adieu"
Brother Beyond : "Drive On"
Shakespear's Sister : "You're History"
Oh Well : "Oh Well/Oh Well"
Neneh Cherry : "Kisses on the Wind"
Redhead Kingpin and the FBI : "Do the Right Thing"
Fresh 4 featuring Lizz E : "Wishing on a Star"

Em resumo, uma bela antologia dos êxitos dos anos 80.