Rather brilliantly the very first Now That's What I Call Music volume – released by Virgin somewhat speculatively (compilations were seen as tawdry tat beneath proper record companies and the preserve of cheap operations like K-Tel) in December 1983 – is being re-issued this week on CD for the first time. It's great because although there are some great tunes on it (The Cure's Lovecats, Heaven 17's Temptation) there's also lots and lots of utter rubbish (notably two songs by Kajagoogoo, as well as one by their dramatically gelled singer Limahl). Because of this, it's a far better – and truer – representation of the era than countless 80s collections put together since.
Now That's What I Call Music's CD reissue sees it join a small club of cult 80s compilations given a second life. Why aren't there more? Regular albums are always being re-issued and repackaged, with booklets and extra tracks. But this archive treatment is seldom afforded to compilations – some of which had a far bigger affect on tastes than single artist releases.
In the 80s Cherry Red's Pillows & Prayers – released for a bargain 99p - turned on a generation to the possibilities of alternative pop music, NME's free C86 tape captured the DIY spirit of the age and Dance Craze caught the mood of the ska revival. These three are rare examples of collections from the pre-CD era that have since been reissued, but there must be plenty that haven't – care to nominate a collection worthy of re-issuing? And while you're at it, maybe it's time to own up to which volumes of Now you own. Oh yeah – 1, 13, 41, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70.
