The Original Now Albums
April 19, 2003 2:48 PM   Subscribe

Now Albums have only recently been introduced in the US, but for British children of the 1980s they were a cost effective way of getting decent recordings to replace the taped off the radio copies of popular chart tracks. I'm awash with nostalgia as I glance through TV Cream's survey of the first twenty; come on, surely you remember Men Without Hats and Fiction Factory?
posted by feelinglistless (6 comments total)
 
During some recent Googling, I was surprised to find out there were so many 'Now' albums out of the UK (54 is the most recent). I wonder if the older compilations have collectors' value.

I especially enjoyed going through the flops and one-hit wonders.
posted by LinusMines at 10:34 PM on April 19, 2003


Hey, we didn't need the "Now" series until 1998, 'cause we had K-TEL! Yeah, just try to find 25 Polka Hits on a "Now" album. Sheesh.
posted by wendell at 11:13 PM on April 19, 2003


I do so fondly remember Ivan and Men Without Hats. In fact, last year my knowledge of them won me a Christmas tree on a radio call-in show. It was one of those "play an bar or so of a relatively obscure song" type competitions.

Sad thing is... I can still sing the whole thing...
posted by Samizdata at 12:38 AM on April 20, 2003


Oh, and I almost forgot the true masters of 'keeping the music alive': Rhino Records. Who else would do a compilation album of Tom Lehrer? (sorry, no link, Rhino's database is down tonight)
posted by wendell at 12:42 AM on April 20, 2003


You can dance if you want to
You can leave your friends behind
'Cause your friends don't dance, and if they don't know Men Without Hats, well, they're no friends of mine.

I actually still have a near-mint condition vinyl LP of their followup album, "Pop Goes The World" which my older brother won on a CBC video show, the name of which escapes me now. Worth keeping for the pun factor alone: Drums are credited to "J. Bonhomme" (with a picture of Bonhomme of Quebec Winter Carnival fame. Now that's what I call wordplay.)
posted by arto at 2:09 AM on April 20, 2003


I wonder if the older compilations have collectors' value.

All regularly seen in charity shops for under a pound.
posted by devon at 8:40 AM on April 20, 2003


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