Seven Things You Never Knew About ‘Now That’s What I Call Music’…

Before the days of musical downloads, the Now That’s What I Call Music! series was an absolute godsend.

As perpetually broke teenagers, we’d save up our pocket money until we had enough for the latest CD (or for many of us, cassette) and then enjoy hearing all our favourite songs without the trauma of spending days sitting beside a radio trying to tape them from Atlantic 252.

We may be older and have a bit more disposable cash now but Now still has a very special place in our heart so in honour of the series turning 90, here are a few facts that you may not know…

1) The first Now was released on 28 November 1983 and featured 30 UK hit singles from that year on a double vinyl LP or cassette. Although the compilation of recent hit songs into a single release was not a new concept, this was the first time that two major record labels had collaborated on such a venture. Virgin agreed to a deal with EMI, which allowed a greater number of major hits to be included.

2) The series took its name from a 1920s advertising poster for Danish bacon featuring a pig saying “Now. That’s What I Call Music” as it listened to a chicken singing. Richard Branson had bought the poster for his cousin, Simon Draper, to hang behind Draper’s desk at the Virgin Records office.

“He was notoriously grumpy before breakfast and loved his eggs in the morning, so I bought him the poster, framed it and had it hung behind his desk!” said Branson.

3) The pig became the mascot for the series, making its last appearance on Now That’s What I Call Music! 5.

4) The most successful volume to date is 1999’s Now That’s What I Call Music! 44, which has sold 2.3 million copies and is the biggest selling compilation album ever. 2008’s Now That’s What I Call Music! 70 sold 383,002 units in the first week of sales, the biggest ever first week sale of any Now album.

5) Up to Now That’s What I Call Music! 90, the most featured artists with credited appearances were Robbie Williams (29), Rihanna (25), Kylie Minogue (23) and Girls Aloud (21). U2, Britney Spears and Sugababes all featured 19 times.

6) This was the cover of Now That’s What I Call Music 1

7) And, this was the tracklisting…still looks pretty good to us!