sure, certainly, it is now a month (or so) since this turned up in a compact disc form. but here we are right now, look you see, having a gander at (and listen to) the recently issued Now That's What I Call Music 8. from what i recall (i am not likely to check) i've done the previous seven (7) issues or re-issues, so it would appear to make sense to continue.
mostly, i confess or admit, i have kind of lost some interest in these releases. well, for the sake of completeness i do intend to purchase all of the ten (10) that they propose to re-release. for music and memories, and frequently it is the latter over the former, it was numbers or volumes four and six that really interested me. and yes, for four, i purchased one for the home stereo and then, when it was made available at an inexplicably cheap price, one more for my verk travels. it seemed easier than just making a tape or what have you.
but, here we are, and Now 8 is here. i think my rudimentary glance at the tracklisting was one of "well, all right then", as in limited expectations. playing it, however, has let me know that it was rather good. except, of course, for the inclusion of one track.
let us get the unpleasant nature of this release out of the way as early as possible, then. despite the flaws and failings of these re-releases so for, it is so that (as far as i can tell) the tracklisting of this is as it was when it first came out on tape and album, and i think all of the correct versions of singles have been used. up to now, we have had omissions, exclusions and different mixes. sadly, or with regret, that means that i, and everyone else what has bought this, now has in digital form Every Loser Wins by Nick Berry in their collections. maybe some sin from a past life has caught me to punish me in such a way.
covered here are thirty two (thirty one of which will be remembered fondly by someone somewhere) singles what made the official UK singles chart during the business, or if you like arse, end of 1986, being around late July to early November. late November and early December would have knacked getting the release out in time for the lucrative Christmas market, presumably.
are these the best of that period? well, no. i mean yes, some are, but by this stage of music history there was a number of compilations being released, what with the record industry working out these were big sellers and a good way to get people to buy songs they had already purchased. so, covered here are the best 32 (actually 31) songs that they could licence for this release.
on playing it i was aware of the significant number of decent tunes from the time. easily, and by some distance, the finest two are two "duets", or instances of one artist featuring another. this was not at all common in the 80s and was actually exciting. now, of course, every single bit of noise what gets released (or "dropped") as a "song" has a lengthy list of "featuring" people on it. how very sad.
anyway, of the best two, the first is on disc (what was once tape or record) one, in the form of Don't Leave Me This Way off of Communards and Sarah Jane Morris. every now and then a cover version either surpasses the original, or simply takes it in a different direction, elevating it to a whole new level. and this is such an instance. mostly, though, and to be honest, i fondly recall seeing Sarah Jane Morris in the video and on Top Of The Pops. all of us have defining moments, and for me one was, in no explicit sense, seeing her and being aware of, well, ok, i guess however i develop in life, it will be in a mostly hetero way. i can also recall seeing a girl, with her hair and fashion sense informed by Ms Morris, walking out of HMV, carrying the 12" of this single. she would have been a few years older than me and far too beautiful for me to approach, and yet the impact remains some 35 or so years down the road. i wonder if she still has the record.
the other is on disc (or tape or record) two, which was normally reserved for the more esoteric or acquired taste songs. in this instance, hardly what you would call "pop". but i speak of Don't Give Up by Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush. strong, poignant song, and an amazing video which was haunting and of high emotional impact in its simplicity.
do any of the songs anger or infuriate me more than the inclusion of the Nick Berry one? oddly, yes. some very painful memories are brought back by the presence of I Want To Wake Up With You by Boris Gardinder. this is an all right song, i guess, but it is guilty of blocking Frankie Goes To Hollywood from getting to number one with Rage Hard. and, as it turned out, for quite dubious and bullsh!t reasons. back in those pre-internet days, a rumour (and lie) spread that Boris "only" did the song as he needed to raise money for a heart operation, either for himself or, in some tellings, his mother or another relative. of course this was utter rubbish, a despicable falsehood, spread by promo staff and pluggers to pull at heart strings to shift copies.
some quite exciting incursions from America on this release, too. it would be very fair to say that the 80s UK music scene was dominated by UK acts, with only the odd flash of something from across the pond. most exciting of all was Walk This Way by Run DMC, who had class jackets and hats on, and wore trainers ("sneakers") far more interesting than what you could get in England, with unusual things done with the laces. someone called Aerosmith was on it. we were unfamiliar with them, for the most part, except a vague awareness that they were supposedly an American "answer" (as in poor man's version of) to the Stones or Led Zeppelin.
the other exciting American invasion was not the middle of the road Huey Lewis & The News included here, but of course Cameo. included here is Word Up!, which was all right but i much preferred that other one what they done, Back & Forth. no, anyway, the exciting bit was them massive bright coloured cod pieces they wore, as well as the sensational hair and moustache of that bloke what done the singing.
going oddly non non-linear, another outstanding American intervention here is What Have You Done For Me Lately off of Janet Jackson. i had forgotten what a brilliant, amazing, etc song this was. at a time when there were many. oh, to be back in a time when a whole load of effort, work, talent and money was used to produce the best three minute pop single possible. but, i guess, the kids of today dig whatever comes out in the way we did then. although the majority of what comes along now seems designed to be disposable, or just "licenced" for something or other.
on any (possibly all) future plays of this set, it is very likely indeed that the skip button shall be pressed quite quickly when track 12 of disc (tape/record) one comes up. i just find We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off by Jermaine Stewart to be too whiny and tinny. also, this was not the kind of thing a thirteen year old boy wished to be hearing, thanks. no, i have no clue what "cherry wine" is, or if it is really a thing.
further memories come back (as memories are prone to do) with the presence of In The Army Now off of Status Quo over on disc two. this wasn't a particular favourite of mine, nor was it of my brother, i suspect, but he bought it. apologies if i am wrong (which is often), but i think he bought it just as he liked the look of the 7" picture disc. pretty much a generic chant-along Quo number, in truth.
but then, to my mind, missing here are the two major songs from the youth of my late summer early autumn of 1986. they would be the previously mentioned (and cruelly denied number one) Rage Hard off of Frankie, and indeed Love Missile F1-11 by Sigue Sigue Sputnik. at least i think the latter came from then.
anyway, on to the next one, then. should there be a next one. my basic, rudimentary understanding is that volumes one to ten are going to be put out in compact disc format, if not quite as exact replicas of what came out at the time. if this remains the plan and it all happens, yes, they shall indeed be taking coins off of me for them.
be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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