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Posted by: awardinary Aug 21 2016, 11:14 PM

Images

http://imageshack.com/f/plo28WgLj http://imageshack.com/f/pn6xJH0gj http://imageshack.com/f/pmcFDipdj

http://imageshack.com/f/pnEmvXFej http://imageshack.com/f/plJSg7Wxj http://imageshack.com/f/pnxddHxTj http://imageshack.com/f/plyBlHqZj

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Details

Released: 30th July 1984
Origin: United Kingdom
Label: Virgin / EMI
Format: Vinyl / Double Cassette / Video
Duration: 01:50:00 (110 Minutes)
Tracks: 30
#1’s: 3
Chart Peak: #1 (8 weeks)
Sales: 600,000 (2x Platinum)

Tracklisting

1. Duran Duran – The Reflex* 4:22 {1}
2. Nik Kershaw – I Won’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me* 3:25 {2}
3. Sister Sledge – Thinking Of You* 3:30 {11}
4. Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – Locomotion* 3:55 {5}
5. Ultravox – Dancing With Tears In My Eyes* 4:15 {3}
6. Howard Jones – Pearl In The Shell 4:00 {7}
7. Blancmange – Don’t Tell Me 3:35 {8}
8. Phil Collins – Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)* 3:35 {2}
9. Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Two Tribes* 3:57 {1}
10. Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel – White Lines (Don’t Do It)* 4:35 {7}
11. Special A.K.A. – Nelson Mandela* 4:10 {9}
12. Womack & Womack – Love Wars 4:10 {14}
13. Style Council – You’re The Best Thing* 4:25 {5}
14. Bob Marley & The Wailers – One Love (People Get Ready) 2:45 {5}
15. Bronski Beat – Small Town Boy* 5:05 {3}
16. Queen – I Want To Break Free* 3:25 {3}
17. Cyndi Lauper – Time After Time* 3:55 {3}
18. Alison Moyet – Love Resurrection 3:55 {10}
19. Bluebells – Young At Heart* 3:24 {8}
20. Bananarama – Robert De Niro’s Waiting* 3:30 {3}
21. Propaganda – Dr. Mabuse 4:20 {7}
22. Tina Turner – What’s Love Got To Do With It?* 3:50 {3}
23. Flying Pickets – (When You’re) Young And In Love 3:25 {7}
24. Wham – Wake Me Up Before You Go Go* 3:51 {1}
25. Thompson Twins – You Take Me Up 4:05 {2}
26. Weather Girls – It’s Raining Men* 3:40 {3}
27. Gary Glitter – Dance Me Up 3:40 {25}
28. The Art Company – Susanna 4:15 {12}
29. Madness – One Better Day 4:10 {17}
30. David Sylvian – Red Guitar 3:35 {17}

Key
Tracks highlighted red were official UK #1’s.
Tracks with an asterisk (*) next to their title have also been included in special releases from the series.
The track duration has been highlighted cyan.
Bracketed numbers refer to highest chart position reached.

Miscellaneous Facts

Track Most Weeks At #1: Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Two Tribes (9 weeks)
Lowest Charting Track: Propaganda – Dr. Mabuse {27}
Longest Song: Bronski Beat – Small Town Boy 5.05
Shortest Song: Bob Marley And The Wailers – One Love (People Get Ready) 2.45
Edited Tracks: Unknown
Unedited Tracks: Unknown
Inlay Mistakes: None
Other Facts: N/A

On This Day In History

President Ronald Reagan joked during a voice test for a paid political radio address that he had "signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes."

Other Resources

http://www.nowmusic.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Now_That%27s_What_I_Call_Music_3_%28U.K._series%29
http://www.tv.cream.org/extras/now/#Now3
http://www.everyhit.com/number4.html

Posted by: awardinary Aug 21 2016, 11:16 PM

Andrew's Review

Now That's What I Call Music 3 aka Now 3 is the summer compilation of 1984 with another 30 track compendium and 3 #1 hits.
According to Wikipedia, Now 3 carries a couple of achievement records holding the most weeks at the #1 spot on the UK Albums Chart until the Compilations Chart was created in 1989. It was also the 300th album to reach #1 in the chart's history.
Like before, various artists contributed to making the compilation what it is, and they vary from Wham to Tina Turner, from Frankie Goes To Hollywood to Weather Girls, from Bananarama to Bob Marley & The Wailers. Certainly something for everyone in here.
It was at this time a mascot was introduced to the series; an annonymous pig in shades looking over a newly designed "Now" logo with a selection of photos underneath. This would mark the introduction of a famous 80's icon in the music industry.
Now 3 was the only time in the series we heard from artists like Weather Girls, Gary Glitter, David Sylvian & Blancmange.
In my humble opinion, Now 3 is actually quite a good album, and I prefer it to it's predecessor Now II despite only claiming 3 #1's.

Artwork Rating: 7/10 Very Good
The pig is born! It's a great cover with more use of colour and, once again, pictures of contributing artists. What I do like is that they used the pig in some of the adverts during this time period.

Side 1 Favourite: Phil Collins – Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)
There are quite a few good tracks on this side, I like most of them, but for me this melody by the Genesis front man is so well written and there is so much emotion being portrayed throughout the song. It is the standout track from the compilation for me.

Side 2 Favourite: Bronski Beat – Small Town Boy
Love the electronic sounds coming through this song. It's no wonder they wer sampled years later by dance outfit Supermode. Small Town Boy is quire an atmospheric song for me to listen to, it reminds me of Jan Hammer – Crockett's Theme somehow.

Side 3 Favourite: Queen – I Want To Break Free
There is no doubt this is the best song on this side, and the fact it's made by one of the biggest British bands of all time surely means it would do well in the UK charts, and that it did!

Side 4 Favourite: Wham – Wake Me Up Before You Go Go
Upbeat, funky, delightfully fun to listen to — This has the makings of a major 80's hit, and it proved to be one of Wham's stand out singles.

Overall Rating: 6/10 Good
Much improved on the previous volume, it's good quality songs mixed well together.

Andrew's Best 5 (as of August 2016)
1. Phil Collins – Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)
2. Ultravox – Dancing With Tears In My Eyes
3. Queen – I Want To Break Free
4. Duran Duran – The Reflex
5. Cyndi Lauper – Time After Time

Andrew's Worst 5 (as of August 2016)
1. Flying Pickets – (When You’re) Young And In Love
2. Gary Glitter – Dance Me Up
3. David Sylvian – Red Guitar
4. Blancmange – Don’t Tell Me
5. Madness – One Better Day

Posted by: Jade Aug 21 2016, 11:40 PM

Artwork rating: 8/10 - The introduction of the pig here is just iconic! He seems to be a fondly remembered part of Now history, despite only being around for a few editions. The colours stand out here and it looks far less bland than the last edition as a result. Thank goodness they used larger images again, although I have to say I'm not a fan of the tilted overlapping.

Side 1 Favourite: Duran Duran - 'The Reflex' - This one is a no brainer! I attempted a countdown of my top 200 favourite songs a couple of years ago on here, and 'The Reflex' was in amongst those 200 as one of my ultimate favourites of the 80s. It just feels like it makes the edition start off with a BANG. Even though it's pretty hard to gauge what the song is actually about, it's just so damn catchy that I get swept up in the euphoria of it.

Side 2 Favourite: Frankie Goes To Hollywood - 'Two Tribes' - The only Frankie Goes To Hollywood songs I am aware of are this one, 'Relax' and their Christmas classic 'The Power Of Love'. From these songs alone, I really do enjoy the group. This one is just as fun and exciting as 'Relax' for me - that fast paced production and the confidently delivered vocals are particular highlights.

Side 3 Favourite: Queen - 'I Want To Break Free' - I went for Queen in the end after being torn on about 4 different songs here. The song itself is far less out there than THAT video and title would suggest, but I am a fan of the lyrics and Freddie's delivery. One that hasn't been hammered by overplay!

Side 4 Favourite: Wham - 'Wake Me Up Before You Go Go' - Complete and utter guilty pleasure. Wham are a guilty pleasure in general really. But this is just the epitome of FUN and JOY, just completely camp, carefree and easy to enjoy as a result.

Overall rating: 8/10 - A definite step up from the last edition, I agree that the fact it only has 3 #1s isn't a problem at all awardinary. There are a few brilliant big hits throughout and it generally feels more fun-filled and with less filler this time.

Posted by: awardinary Aug 21 2016, 11:51 PM

Lovely review Jade, I can tell you put a lot of thought into your reviews.

Hopefully tomorrow (or really today now looking at the time) danG will host another plug.in session and I will definitely be present, and I'd love to see you there too if you aren't doing anything!

Posted by: Jade Aug 22 2016, 12:31 AM

Thank you! It's always really fun doing one of these reviews.

I think I should be free tomorrow so I will finally be able to come along to one of these sessions!

Posted by: HarryEzra Aug 22 2016, 01:11 AM

Artwork: 4/10 Hate how it looks which it was a bit less mishmashed throughout the cover imo:(
Side 1: Phil Collins - Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) I dont listen to this that often but I love how it builds throughout, really huge sounding song
Side 2: Bob Marley - One Love what a reggae classic Everytime I listen to it just takes me to that time zone
Side 3: Queen - I Want To Break Free It was hard I loved like 3 or 5 songs on this disc but this song is such a feel good classic
Side 4: Wham - Wake Me Up before you go - YES my faveourite 80s song just so feel good and perfect omg amazing
Overall 8/10 - The tracks bring the album's overall quality back up

Posted by: danG Aug 22 2016, 12:53 PM

Listen to NOW! That's What I Call Music II AND III

When: Tonight, 20:00
Where: plug.dj, using the link https://plug.dj/now-thats-what-i-call-music
What to expect: A selection of songs (15 from each compilation) from the second and third NOW! volumes (released 1984), including songs by Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Cyndi Lauper, David Bowie, Queen etc.

Posted by: danG Aug 22 2016, 01:03 PM

Artwork Rating: 6/10 - I like that they've put a bit of colour into it this time, it still looks a bit dated though and I can't wait until we get into the NOW albums with the more familiar iconic artwork. Minus a point for the picture overlapping too.

Side 1 Fave: Sister Sledge - Thinking Of You. I recall this being sampled in some 00s house song (forgot what it was now, I'm sure TheSnake would remember though) and Sister Sledge do the disco/funk well (We Are Family *_*)
Side 2 Fave: Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Two Tribes. Brilliant song, very dancetastic for its time and it has a lot going for it. Can't say I'm surprised this was a massive #1.
Side 3 Fave: Queen - I Want To Break Free. Well this is a bit of a classic, Queen have a lot of em.
Side 4 Fave: The Weather Girls - It's Raining Men. I'm not even gay, it's just a great guilty pleasure

Overall: 6/10 Good

Posted by: Ðøßßø Aug 22 2016, 09:29 PM

Artwork Rating:
An improvement on the previous edition, the blue stripes giving the background a bit of character - be interesting to find out when they scrapped artists' photos to the more familiar styles we've been seeing for many years now. Can't make out who some of them are again tho, 6/10.

Side 1 Favourite:
Duran Duran – The Reflex: what a tune this is! Love a lot of their classic hits like this, Rio & my personal favourite Hungry Like The Wolf

Side 2 Favourite:
Bob Marley & The Wailers – One Love (People Get Ready): not one of my faves of his but a good chilled song like most of his work. Always found Two Tribes to be very overrated

Side 3 Favourite:
Queen – I Want To Break Free: was between this & Tina Turner but the singalong nature of this plus the hilarious video tips it in my favour

Side 4 Favourite:
Wham – Wake Me Up Before You Go Go: had to be, probably the song I think most of absolutely defining the 80s actually

Overall Rating:
Pretty good, most sides have at least 2 very good songs this time but again I'm not familiar with a good number too so it'll have to be a 6/10.

Posted by: awardinary Aug 23 2016, 05:34 PM

Just completed my review.

Would anyone still be interested in a plug.dj session featuring this and Now II? I know danG has a playlist ready to play.

Posted by: awardinary Aug 28 2016, 03:30 PM

Anymore votes and reviews for Now 3 as Now 4 review is imminent!

Posted by: popchartfreak Jan 2 2017, 07:00 PM

so many classic 1984 tracks on this, fab!

Posted by: The Snake Feb 14 2018, 01:56 PM

For side 1, I went with The Reflex by Duran Duran, great New Wave tune!

For side 2, I went for Two Tribes by Frankie Goes To Hollywood, as danG said quite dancey for the time and it sounds massive too!

I really like Smalltown Boy by Bronski Beat too!

For side 3, I went for Dr Mabuse by Propaganda, the production is amazing on this one, sounds very big and dancey too!

For side 4, I went with The Weather Girls - It's Raining Men, such a fun song.

Can't recall a song this samples, sorry, great song though!

Posted by: The Snake Feb 17 2018, 07:23 PM

Just noticed Bluebells - Young At Heart is on this one, what an amazing song (I maybe should have went with that instead of the still excellent Dr Mabuse for side 3) and one I remember being played a lot of the radio when I was younger because of the 90s re-release.

Young At Heart is also one of the only Now tracks to be on two volumes (this and Now 24)

Posted by: Radio Ga Ga May 7 2022, 07:12 PM

Not a terrific album cover, despite the introduction of the pig.

For my faves from each side I picked Phil Collins, Bronski Beat, Cyndi Lauper and Wham!

I didn't grow up listening to this one, but any album of hits from 1984 has to be voted amazing!