30th anniversary of ‘Now’ albums to be marked with documentary

ITV is to air a celebratory documentary later this month to mark three decades of the Now That’s What I Call Music! compilation albums. The Story of Now That’s What I Call Music!, will tell the story of one of Britain’s best known music brands looking at how the compilation of hits has become part of music culture.

Those remincing about the albums include BBC radio presenter and X Factor host Dermot O’Leary, record producer and DJ Pete Waterman, Atomic Kitten singer Liz McClarnon and Virgin Records boss Sir Richard Branson.

Now launched in 1983 bringing together recent top 20 chart hits on one album. It saw off the 1970s Top of the Pops albums – which had nothing to do with the BBC chart show – that had made accessible chart songs on an album. The difference between the Top of the Pops and the Now… album was the actual tracks, the former used re-recordings by session singers the latter was the actual hits and the original artists.

To date 84 main editions have been released as well as several spin off franchise.and selling more than 100 million copies around the world.

“For the first time ever on TV, this fast-paced and witty documentary special for ITV will tell the fascinating story of how ‘Now’ grew from a one-off punt by Virgin Records and EMI to become the most enduring brand in pop music.

“We’ll learn about those artists who vied to be ‘disc one, track one’ and those who refused to appear on ‘Now’ altogether. We’ll hear from those who created it, the artists who appeared on it, and from some well-known faces who went out and bought it.” – ITV

The 30th anniversary celebration airs on May 26th at 9pm on ITV.