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The Big Pig is back!As July, turned into August in 1985, the world was still basking in the afterglow of, what was already being called the event of the decade. No, not the ceasing production of the Sinclair C5, or even the latest episode of Blind Date with our Cilla. Live Aid had defined the coming together of all things pop for a generation, in the name of raising money for African famine. And those bands and artists who graced the stages in London and Philadelphia (well, perhaps not Adam Ant, as we say) were feeling the seismic effect of not only the public’s affection - but also their pocket money. Duran Duran, Paul Young, Simple Minds, U2 and others (still, sorry , not you Adam) were enjoying plenty of success. And the loudest and most exciting shirt of the summer did not belong to BBC’s Mark Ellen or David Hepworth, it was the iconic NOW pig. Yes, NOW That’s What I Call Music 5 not only provided THE soundtrack to our summer in 1985, it also gave us the most gloriously techicoloured album cover. How exciting was that list of stars?And joining me for this episode to share his memories of this classic summer of music is journalist and author Graeme Thomson.And what can you expect? Duran Duran climb the Eiffel Tower. UK funk and soul makes a move for the charts through the fantastic sounds of Fine Young Cannibals, Simply Red and Jaki Graham. Graeme shares why 80s Bowie deserves attention, how Marillion (and a band T-Shirt!) made an early impact on his listening, what Jim Kerr told him about Don’t You Forget About Me and why U2 needed to evolve to survive. But significantly, join us as we discuss how compilation albums take us back, tell real stories of a period and revel in how important pop music for all of us in our formative years and has the ability to stay with us as we move through our lives.And enjoy Graeme’s reflections on his latest book, In Another World: The Four Seasons of Talk Talk, and the iconic sounds of a quite unique band.Step aside from life in 2026 for an hour or so, and join us back in a time when it really was great to be alive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Swing it, shake it, move it, make it!…is exactly what the nation was doing in 1997. Yes, that’s right, Channel 5 was here and fiddling with that aerial to try and get a reception to see The Jack Docherty Show was what we were all up to. Robbie Williams even changed the lyrics to his breakout hit ‘Old Before I Die’ in honour of this revolutionary fifth channel twiddlesome pastime. But of course this was but a fuzzy, interference-driven distraction compared to what was going on in, what the kids were still calling, ‘The Charts’. And OF COURSE the aforementioned lyrics were from the FOURTH NO1 in a row from those Spice Girls (AND it was a double A-Side, Mama!). That’s right we were gripped by Geri’s Brit Awards conquering Union Jack dress (for the correct reasons, flag waving nonces), but the girls were proving to be more popular than Swampy’s tenancy under the A30 (another one for there kids) with En Vogue, Eternal, Ultra Naté, Gwen Stefani and a host of others reigning supreme in the hit parade. And there was so much more. As we see as we take out our CDs (possibly trapped in a broken 90s case) from summer 97’s NOW 37!!Pop was back, Back, BACKSTREET! (Really?!? - Ed)Everyone’s favourite sunshine trio Hanson were MMMBop-ping (!), Backstreet Boys were taking their shirts off (!!) No Mercy were taking a break from their restaurant shifts (possibly) and George Michael was, as always, just being incredible.However, HOWEVER…Over on CD2, there was - an identity. Britpop was either clinging on by its bitten and possibly chipped fingernails, recycling some flat champagne from their first album, staring at the sun (checks notes, avoids further U2 puns) or - more interestingly - evolving. And, boy, there were quite the classic run of tracks as The Verve, Supergrass, blur, The Seahorses and Radiohead provided some iconic memories. No Gallagher brothers on NOW37? No fear!(Actually, I think you’ll find they were gearing up for the autumn release of Be Here Now, but the less said etc…)And joining me on this golden revisit of the pop landscape of NOW37 and providing more memories than a hungover Labour MP on the 2nd of May is writer, comic and all round 90s pop kid Marc Burrows.As his (quite wonderful) Britpop stand up show tours the nation, discover which compilation started Marc’s musical journey, marvel at how a power chord changed his life, ruminate at what ‘indie through the sausage machine’ sounds like, consider why we’re picturing The Outhere Brothers and The Vengaboys on the A52 somewhere near Mablethorpe, revel in the NME review of Paranoid Android (it’s worth waiting for) and nod your head knowingly as we explore why the Britpop party ending maybe wasn’t such a bad thing.No, turn the aerial the other way - I think I can start to see something that may be Family Affairs. Or is it Milkshake Monkey..? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you begin to describe 1992?Well, Her Majesty called it her Annus horribilis, for a number of reasons. Quite possibly including the three weeks Boyz II Men spent at number one, possibly not. But whatever the reason, we can safely say that the twelve months of glittering pop culture that we call '92 were definitely diverse and, quite frankly, bonkers.As we've ascertained in this pop parish before, that post-Baggy, pre-Britpop (to throw in some 'labels') landscape was a bit of a hinterland. Genres blurred, one hit wonders came and went, Wet, Wet Wet spent a third of a year at No1 and Right Said Fred even existed. But do not be fooled, listeners! There is plenty to rediscover amongst the decade's shrapnel and 1992 is the place to be in this episode's 90s scene! And our special guest here is comedian, author and podcast host Josh Widdicombe.Josh co-hosts the hugely popular podcast Parenting Hell with Rob Beckett, which has somehow become so successful that they undertook a live arena tour in 2023 and released a book which topped the Sunday Times Bestseller Charts. He also presents the football podcast, QUICKLY KEVIN: WILL HE SCORE? And on TV, amongst others, Josh co-hosts in the multi-award-winning Channel 4 series The Last Leg, and, lest we forget, triumphed on the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special in 2024. And now in 2026, Josh sees the launch of a new podcast - MUSEUM OF POP CULTURE - where he takes us through the wildest and most entertaining stories of unhinged genius, world dominating success and shaming failure.Join us we re-explore 1992 and the 3rd NOW album of that very year - it's only NOW23 everyone! In 45 minutes more hit-filled than Noel's House Party (possibly), we celebrate Tasmin Archer, Dr. Spin, Bjorn Again and others! We wonder why '92 was so full of old songs, remixed songs, Satellite football channel related songs (well, one actually) and explore important cultural questions such as what is an indent nobble, what was the KLF's greatest track, does Mick Jagger remember the 90s, who would win in a fight between Longpigs & All saints and how many songs in the history of recorded music really feature the word BOOM?And, AND, once again do nothing for international relations with Jon Secada.Buckle up, this is 1992 baby! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to a special festive episode of Back to Now. We first revisited Now - The Christmas Album in 2020. You remember 2020, don’t you? It was a Christmas that needed some light to overpower some rather dark shades.We did a track by track commentary. We shared thoughts on the classic Christmas songs. The sequencing, the rediscoveries. We shared personal - often emotional - memories. And of course there were plenty of interesting facts and anecdotes.And now in 2025, this iconic Christmas collection is 40 years old. So what better time to revisit and celebrate this classic album, that has not only stood the test of time, it has gone on to shape our seasonal listening and an ever increasing selection of compilation perennial presents!And joining me, is the guest from that first Christmas episode, it’s the ghost of Christmas past, present and quite probably future - pop music’s very own Ian Wade!Like a carefully mulled fine wine, NOW’s commitment to Christmas has matured and developed wonderfully into a new set of albums - CDs, coloured vinyl and SLEEVENOTES! The team have sprinkled festive cheer over this iconic branch of the world famous compilation series and reset it back in the canon of Christmas, exactly where it should be.So, not a retread of the first 1985 album. Consider this your special bonus disc.This new episode for 2025 is more a new pair of winter boots, an updated wintry landscape to explore, some new party guests to invite in and share an eggnog with. A festive bonus cracker, an extra chocolate in the Quality Street box, an undiscovered Christmas episode of Top of the pops on the iPlayer!Grab yourself a festive refreshment then and join us we discuss a smorgasbord of Christmas musical delights. How the albums have evolved over the years, what is Christmas adjacent, Cher, sleeper track legacy, George Thorogood (!), The HITS Christmas album that never was, the emotional pull of certain songs and the hope of what a Jesus & Mary Chain Christmas album could sound like (yes, really!)Merry Christmas Everyone.And Thank You. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the 21st Century!Or did you call it Y2K? And if so, can I ask WHY?Yes, pop fans and curators of variously compiled pop, we had survived the End of the Century. The millennium bug turned out to be nowhere near as life threatening as as we were told. No planes fell from the sky, no computer meltdowns and no return to the dark ages overnight. In fact the most terrifying thing about December 31st 1999 was the turgid TV schedules as we watched the Royal Family trying to join hands with Tony Blair, or worse - the cost of drinks and cloakroom queues in the nightclubs.So, as we entered the third millennium - with Cliff Richard still intact and fresh from his (nearly 4th) Festive chart topping prayer - how was the pop world faring? Despite the seeming lack of guitars (SO NINETIES), the charts were bursting with new, fresh and mostly young shiny talent!And Bryan Adams.And Tom Jones.And John Lennon.BUT, apart from these ‘legacy artistes’, pop was back, Back, BACK. NOW 45 was here!Scandinavian superstar producers were serving up Britney, Backstreet, Aqua and, er, Lene for our delectation.  Steps, S Club and Atomic Kitten were waving the Brit flag in their crop tops and combats (even H). Solo Spice was blossoming quicker than the viewing figures for Castaway (not hard) with Mel C and Geri leading the way. RnB and Garage was freshening up the charts. And of course EVERYONE was queuing in the airport terminals for another summer of dance and there is plenty of that on these two shiny discs. Bu t there is SO much more to this dazzling 45th volume of variously compiled pop. And taking us through it is GENUINE CONTRIBUTOR to the album - electronic producer and musician John Matthews aka Ricardo Autobahn aka the Cuban Boys! Yes, the Hamster Dance song as featured here!Join us as we climb aboard our futuristic Y2K hoverboards and not only revisit NOW45, discover the full story of how The Cuban Boys topped John Peel’s Festive Top 50 and almost toppled the might Cliff and Westlife in the final Official Chart of the millennium. All from their bedroom. You couldn’t make it up!All of this and Daphne and Celeste! Ooh (and quite literally) Stick You! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s the end, the end of the Seventies.It was a decade that had started with Edison Lighthouse and ended with Another Brick in the wall. After 221 number one singles, the decade that had given us everything from Bowie to Bell bottoms, from Chopper bikes to Chiquitita, Glam to Punk, and Sapphire to Steel, was closing down - and at a sensible hour too!On the 31st December 1979, Kenny Everett asked the (more discerning) viewers on ITV, if he would indeed make it 1980. With the iconic help of Roxy Music, David Bowie, The Boomtown Rats and many more, he just about crossed over into that new decade. But really listens, the future was already with us.And yes, 1979 did seem rather grim - a winter of discontent, political upheaval, TV strikes and terrorism. But isn’t this exactly the kind of period when popular culture and significantly POP, POP, POP MUZIK comes to save us all? The kids were indeed, alright!So, in the company of some very special guests - singer/songwriter and pop legend Nick Heyward and Record Collector’s very own Daryl Easlea - as we revisit the cultural tsunami that is the NOW Yearbook 1979. Rediscover a glittering embarrassment of 7” smashes from the likes of Sparks, Chic, Blondie, Squeeze, Ian Dury & the Blockheads, Roxy Music. The list, just like the glorious pages of Daryl’s 1979 diary goes on and on.As well as sharing his fabulous boxset, 1993–1998: The Epic & Creation Years, Nick tells us about how important 1979 was in shaping his own musical journey. From the early days of (what would become) Haircut 100, to rediscovering kitchen sink somewhere up a junction, to defining a look and sound as the seventies morphed into the eighties. We explore the sounds of 1979 - from XTC to The Knack, from Rainbow to Sad Cafe (yes, really!), how punk was evolving into New wave, which was evolving into New Pop which… (yes, we get the idea: Ed)And also how video wasn’t exactly killing the radio star, but through visuals a new age was really dawning for pop. So, lets take a One Way Ticket, One Step Beyond some Parisienne Walkways (we’re not keeping these in! Ed)1979.Wow, indeed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wake up, it’s a beautiful morning!It’s the spring of 1995. That most eclectic of decades, the nineties if you will, was no longer the new kid on the millennial block. Pop culture has boxed up the eighties for another day, had shaken off baggy, was in the process of returning grunge back to the US and was now striding confidently onwards with a swagger all of its own. The country was beginning to look and sound different. The political landscape was shifting towards something ‘new’ and felt more relatable, and pop shared this sense of renewed optimism that, actually, anything was possible. Which, of course (you know the script by now) was perfectly represented in the eclectic tracklist of the latest, legendary compilation NOW, That’s What I call Music as it reached yet another milestone with volume 30. The cover was new, the graphics were new, and the variously compiled selections represented what the nation was tuning into across TV (possibly with Chris Evans), radio (possibly with Chris Evans) or carrying home from the local music shop (possibly with, eh, no, actually).Springtime was giving us blooming boybands, blossoming Britpop, some classic returning popstars, and a VERY large slice of dancefloor tuneage. In fact, a WHOLE CD of it! Blimey, we were all mad for it, indeed!And, joining me for this poptastic 1995 episode is radio presenter, actor and massive pop tart (his words) Grant Stott.Discover how Grant, alongside Zoe Ball, really did make a big splash in 1995, hosting the BBC network Saturday morning show Fully Booked, alongside plenty of the artists on NOW30 - yes, even Jimmy Nail!Along the way, also discover which pre-NOW compilations inspired Grant’s listening (there are some crackers!), how he ended up drunk with the Spice Girls (and the Krankies, but not at the same time, sadly) and laugh as two middle-aged men try and remember Eurovision facts and generally recollect a rather hazy year indeed!Expect starring roles from (amongst others) Janet Jackson, Massive Attack, Pato Banton (on several occasions) Cannon and Ball (!) and a plethora of NOW1 throwback stars.And find out which tracks on NOW30 would make it on to (shameless plug!) Grant’s Vinyl Collective show every Friday at 6pm on BBC Radio Scotland. (You’re welcome!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can You Feel It?It’s July, 1989 and the temperature is hot! Actually, for a lot of the UK it surprisingly was, but let’s leave meteorological memories aside, we’re talking the dancefloor. The country, the WHOLE nation was completely right on one, matey. Well maybe not the entire nation, but there was no doubt that the BPMs were sweeping the nation much quicker than the BSB squarial was in the last summer of the eighties. As 1988 became 1989, the underground was rapidly moving overground. The house sound of Chicago and Detroit had landed on our sceptred isle and we were making it out own. Artists such as The Beatmasters, Coldcut and Mark Moore’s S-Express had stamped their authority on the charts and across the country as teens were pouring over Smash Hits for the lyrics of Inner City tracks and swapping mixtapes of the latest grooves.And, NOW That’s What I Call Music were THERE!Well, yes they were, but that’s not the whole story. Get on the dancefloor legendary compilers K-tel and new variously compiled whippershappers from Telstar, who (for once) were ahead of the compilation curve. Albums series such as Deep Heat (in those large cassette boxes Discog fans!) were bringing the cool kids a real mix of dance, hip hop and sounds from both sides of the Atlantic. So what did our friends at EMI/Virgin do? What they always do - respond, and then some!Join author, journalist, compiler and all round dance music fanatic Joe Muggs as we revisit the explosive dancefloor culture of summer 1989 though the lens of NOW Dance 89. Rediscover some iconic tracks from Inner City, Soul II Soul and Coldcut. Remember (because you may have forgotten) the VERY 89 sound of Hip House with the likes of The Cookie Crew, Merlin and (awesome super duper) Tyree. Find out how NOW navigated a groove between the mainstream and the emerging underground through some amazing 12” mixes and laid a blueprint for the impending sound of the 90s, and indeed an unavoidable cultural shift into the next century of pop and beyond.And if that wasn’t enough, find out which dance icon Joe sought out an autograph from, how the legendary producer Youth may have missed a chance to be on The Fast Show, which track brings tears to mothers eyes at Big Fish Little Fish discos and why we need the uplifting and uniting experience of house music now more than ever.People, hold on! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The United Kingdom in Summer 1998 was an interesting place indeed.In June, the DVD was released for the first time and presumably the first person to ignore random extras, interviews and photo galleries was welcomed with open arms. The Crime and Disorder Act introduces Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOS) was introduced into our vocabulary and the tabloids jumped for joy at the possibility of a plethora of new, stupid headlines about 3am parties, alcopop-fuelled teenagers and wheelie bins.Significantly, it was also almost a year since an historic, seismic shift in the country’s cultural and political landscape. The release of Be Here Now.(Checks notes - and Labour’s political landslide victory.)And since the Gallagher Brothers self-obsessed, grandiose and frankly rubbish collection of bloat had detonated Britpop, the music scene in UK had undergone a transformation poptastic proportions. And, let’s be honest, not a moment too soon.As always, the ever trustworthy team at NOW, That’s What I call Music HQ were on hand to deliver a sterling snapshot of the summer’s latest and greatest chart toppers. And the series reached another monumental milestone - volume 40. Pop Life was beginning indeed!Step forward, er, Steps! Fifteen year old Billie (no Piper yet folks) who was setting the charts alight with her debut, Aqua who were proving that they were no doll-sized one hit wonders by heading out into the jungle and the almost-a-four piece Spice girls (Get well soon Geri!) were delivering (quite possibly) their finest moment yet. Viva, girls!Add dance music, DANCE MUSIC - well where to begin? Mousse T (with a little help from Chris Tarrant!), Fatboy Slim, David Morales, Lucid and The Tamperer were delivering slices of high powered BPM perfection. WHAT did the charts look like with a chimney on it?  But, BUT, our favourite variously compiled brand were not having it all their way in 1998. Those pesky folks over at HITS had more than something to say about that. And plenty of huge (Fresh? New?) hits were now missing from NOW.Which side were you on?Let the compilation battles commence - AGAIN!  Joining myself and Pop Music Activism supremo and saviour of pop streaming Rob Johnson as we revisit summer 1998 and NOW 40!As well as all of the above, find out why the CD single was still the BOSS, explore the seventies disco revival impact on the charts, how Iceland was trending setting, rediscover the incredible adventure of remixing supermos The Trouser Enthusiasts and join us as we begin the search for the Irish Billie, the calypso queen of Aldi (possibly), Kerri-Ann. It is a pop journey that you really don’t want to miss. Let’s Go! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ideas, experiments, imagination.So, what was the optimum Britpop™️ year? Academics, thinkers and BBC documentary makers have wrestled over this question for many a year. Possibly even as long as it takes to listen to Be Here Now.1993 - Yanks, go home?1994 - Maybe, perhaps definitely?1995 - Different class, I’d suggest?So where were we by the spring of 1996? Three years of evolution, trademarked Beatles and Kinks mimicking, and countless cans of Red Stripe had taken it’s toll. Would it be perceived wisdom, or 21st century hallowed hindsight, to suggest the original spark of Britpop was beginning to flicker as the winds of pop change were ‘spicing’ themselves up in the wings?There’s no doubt that the all conquering 94/95 pop of Pulp, Supergrass, blur and Oasis were still casting a huge Union Jack shaded shadow over the charts. But, oh, there was so much more! (We’ve been here before, haven’t we?)Big dance acts! (Some faceless, some disguised as wrestlers!)Big pop acts (Some a bit cheesy, some disguised as Eternal and Lighthouses!)Big legacy acts (Some a bit past it, some disguised as Queen, some having soap stars being sick in their hair!)But lest we forget, as 1996 got underway and the first BIG NOW of the year presented 4o Top Chart Hits for our delectation - whether your ‘flava’ was pop, rock, dance or hippy - there was an unbridled swagger and confidence to the music. The decade had shaken off any allusions of baggy or grunge and was telling us we could indeed live forever. Viva Forever, as some might (and indeed will) say! Join author and all round 90s pop kid Neil Collins as we revisit NOW33 and the spring of 1996. 'Neil's new book International Velvet: How Wales Conquered the 90s Charts revisits the unforgettable Cool Cymru era when the Manics, Catatonia, Stereophonics, Super Furry Animals, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci and many more won over the masses!Along the way rediscover how TV adverts were still providing a soundtrack to our denim purchases and drink breaks. How dads were very well catered for in the mid 90s (rock bands, not Louise!), what cassettes were in Neil’s parents car as they attempted to break the traffic system of Paris, and why NOW33 has the best ending of ANY compilation EVER. And there’s even honourable mentions for the Smurfs and Robson & Jerome! Don’t look back in (too much) anger!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re going where the sun shines brightly,We’re going where the sea is blue…1986 really was very Cliff. He had celebrated his first No1 of the 80s with the cast of The Young Ones, featured in some devastating billboard action in the (rerun) finale of the aforementioned BBC comedy show, been covered by the TVam rat and gerbil, and even had one of his most famous songs feature on a rather unique (and quite frankly ghastly) novelty Euro hit. And in July of the very same year, this very prominent track (it’s Summer Holiday folks!), Cliff’s ubiquitous seasonal anthem to double decker buses and Una Stubbs, was sitting proudly as track 1 side 2 on the latest NOW, That’s What I Call Music album.But wait!The gloriously designed blue sky and beach umbrella that housed the latest variously compiled pop selection was not to feature such 1986 chart toppers as Wham!, Dr and the Medics and Chris De Burgh(!). This wasn’t the impending 7th volume of the (rapidly becoming) world famous series of compilations, this was NOW - The Summer Album, and it was…well, different.Just as the wonderful team had done in November 1985 with NOW - The Christmas Album, here was the brand’s second venture into a ‘theme’. And what a theme it was! Four decades of summer anthems, summer hits, sizzling memories - phew what a scorcher!But as it transpires, with guest Tim Worthington, we discover that the album announced from the pages of Smash Hits in July 1986 (featuring the most summery of acts, The Jesus and Mary Chain!) was much more than that just sun loungers and factor 30. Because growing up in the 70s/80s in the UK summer was often quite different indeed!What NOW - The Summer Album perhaps did do, was provide a template of summers we all wished we’d known; a sixties summer of love, a fifties summer of rock n roll, a seventies summer of…cricket (?) and of course an eighties summer of Radio One roadshows, and quite probably, traffic jams.It was an album that also provided a range of genres, new bands from the past to discover and a template for all summer soundtracks to come.So, dive back into an iconic chapter in the NOW series. Find out how some VERY big pop names appeared (TWICE!), why sound effects always make summer songs better, how some songs were longer (and shorter!) than others and why John Menzies probably didn’t anticipate how well this summer set would sell.And importantly, remember your Plymouth dealer is, indeed, a dealing man. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

August 1989.The final year of ‘the finest pop decade ever’™️ is moving along quite nicely thank you very much. There’s most definitely a change in the air, and we don’t mean the launch of the FOUR channel Sky TV network. Relax everyone, UK Gold and TOTP reruns are coming in three years!No, real change was coming. The second summer of love in 1988 (sorry Danny Wilson, probably a year out) as witnessed on the utterly imperial NOW 11, 12 and 13 had demonstrated that the 90s were calling and they would be decked out in dayglo. And most importantly a new positivity was being felt in the air, across the airwaves and through the pop we were all immersed in.And let’s not beat about the bush, folks, 1989 was a seismic year for music. Let me indulge you listeners:Disintegration, Three Feet High and Rising, Doolittle, Technique, Club Classics Volume One, Raw Like Sushi, The Stone Roses, , Like A Prayer, Hats, The Seeds of Love, Flowers In The Dirt, Paul’s Boutique, The Raw And The Cooked…And of course Neither Fish Nor Flesh (A Soundtrack of Love, Faith, Hope & Destruction).And so, to our favourite compiler of variously compiled pop. 1989 saw four (yes, as many as that!) new NOW, That’s What I Call Music albums. Why four, I hear you cry? Well, because the summer was adorned with the first new dance volume since 1986, an album that, NOW fans will know, featured Love Can’t Turn Around by Farley Jackmaster Funk - the first House track to break the UK. And 1989 was time (not for the guru, that’s 1990 of course) to celebrate how dance was back, Back, BACK!And this additionally delicious dance volume enabled the BIG summer fifteenth volume to go deeper into the year’s genres. So step forward delights including Soul II Soul’s era defining classic, Paul McCartney’s Hofner bass-adorned celebration of TV dinners, Swing Out Sister’s mind-bending, sumptuous sixties throwback and De La Soul’s daisy-age makeover of Hall and Oates (the ultimate backward nod to the outgoing 80s?).What a time to be on the edge of seventeen (deliberate Stevie Nicks nod, there) as this listener was!And joining me for this sepia-tinged and frankly tear-stained 1989 nostalgia fest through NOW 15 is the music journalist and author of the 33 1/3 book on George Michael's Faith, Matthew Horton.Discover how homemade mixtapes (his mums AND his own) inspired many a house party and achieved (almost) legendary status. Which cassettes were stuck in his Walkman at the outdoor Lido pool, why goth stars and American soap operas need to come together, which rapper performed for Matthew (and others, obviously) at Bristol University and (YES!) why the love for Fish and Flesh will never go away.And amongst these glittering 1989 delights, experience the moments when I actually say positive things (almost) about our friends from the north The Beautiful South and Hue and Cry.Join us on the glorious beach (best cover ever™️ - Jude Rogers) as we head back to NOW15. I think it’s going to be alright. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's November 2023, and the world's most successful compilation series is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Five decades of compiling the latest hits, the occasional miss, but always the songs that soundtracked our lives. Always there, always democratically and expertly sequencing the music that the UK buying (downloading/streaming/swiping) public were grooving to, laughing to, dancing along with, or crying about (add in your own band or artists here).What else is still with us from 1983? And still having such an impact?Breakfast Time? Well, certainly not Frank Bough.The Ford Sierra? Taxi!£1 coins? Down the back of the sofa.Kajagoogoo? Hush hush, as they say. (One for the older listeners)So, as our friends at NOW rightly celebrate the past through a stunning array of special albums and even see podcasters pop up across several TV programmes waxing lyrically about the famous compilation series (well, no-one else will talk about it, will they?) the numbered series that started it all in November 1983 continued to do exactly what it set out to do; bring together the songs of NOW.Perhaps no longer just the Top Chart Hits, that tag line that emblazoned the front cover of earlier volumes, but now taking into account the various ways we actually DO consume music in the third decade of the 21st century.NOW 116 - The Best of the Best.47 tracks. Tik Tok stars, Film soundtrack anthems, legendary decade surviving artists. Pop, rock, dance, soul.All present and correct, all breathlessly exciting, all taking that snapshot in time of pop culture. And as we know, an invaluable window into the soundtrack of our lives.Where, indeed, Agnetha, do we go from here?To understand the past and the future, we always need to be in the NOW. (Take a note of that line, its a good one: Ed)And joining me to make sense of this dazzling volume of the world famous compilation series is award winning writer, journalist and NOW fan David Quantick.David explains why he wanted to get in 'at the deep end' and why he thinks that NOW116 highlights that pop is in a fine healthy state in. We explore what actually is a 'hit' in 2023/24, why short songs are always an indication of great songs, why NOW continues to keep getting it right and how the compilation series is Top Of The Pops in exile.Along the way, discover who David describes as 'the Dr. Who of Pop', who are 'The Strokes for Queen fans (or was that the other way around)' and what a bad AI version of George Michael may look (and sound) like. We also revisit why Pop continues to Eat Itself (yes, David came up with that one!), why the female artists are leaving the boys behind, who the 'ASDA Madonna' is and who the real Madonna is. And did Chris Lowe really offer Tracey Chapman a lift in 1988?We really do (watch what I do here) Paint The Town Red!Jump in, buckle up and remind yourself why pop is still very, very important. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.