1. All Saints – Never Ever5:12{1} 2. Lighthouse Family – High 4:34{4} 3. Janet Jackson – Together Again 4:02{4} 4. Spice Girls – Stop 3:23{2} 5. Natalie Imbruglia – Torn 3:57{2} 6. Billie Myers – Kiss The Rain 4:09{4} 7. Robbie Williams – Angels 3:58{4} 8. Various Artists – Perfect Day3:45{1} 9. Boyzone – Baby Can I Hold You 3:13{2} 10. Tin Tin Out feat. Shelley Nelson – Here's Where The Story Ends 4:03{7} 11. Space with Cerys of Catatonia – The Ballad Of Tom Jones 4:10{4} 12. Texas – Insane 4:38{4} 13. Hanson – Weird 3:51{19} 14. LeAnn Rimes – How Do I Live 4:09{7} 15. Shania Twain – You're Still The One 3:32{10} 16. Sheryl Crow – Tomorrow Never Dies 4:22{12} 17. Radiohead – No Surprises 3:49{4} 18. The Verve – Lucky Man 4:50{7} 19. Pulp – This Is Hardcore 5:14{12} 20. Robbie Williams – Let Me Entertain You 3:36{3} 21. Catatonia – Mulder And Scully 4:09{3} 22. Cornershop – Brimful Of Asha (Norman Cook Remix)3:58{1} 23. Run DMC vs Jason Nevins – It's Like That4:02{1} 24. Wildchild – Renegade Master '98 3:49{3} 25. Bamboo – Bamboogie 3:16{2} 26. Ultra Nate – Found A Cure 3:30{6} 27. Sash! – La Primavera 3:34{3} 28. Aqua – Barbie Girl3:14{1} 29. Steps – 5,6,7,8 3:06{14} 30. Louise – Let's Go Round Again 3:50{10} 31. Chumbawamba – Amnesia 2:53{10} 32. Camisra – Let Me Show You 3:25{5} 33. DJ Quicksilver – Planet Love 3:08{12} 34. Rest Assured – Treat Infamy 3:51{14} 35. Warren G feat. Sissel – Prince Igor 3:48{15} 36. Lutricia McNeal – Ain't That Just The Way 3:02{6} 37. Prince Buster – Whine & Grine 3:18{21} 38. The All Seeing I – Beat Goes On 4:01{11} 39. Goldie – Believe 3:53{36} 40. Backstreet Boys – All I Have To Give 3:51{2} 41. Vanilla – No Way No Way 3:16{14}
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:Run DMC vs Jason Nevins – It's Like That (6 weeks) Lowest Charting Track:Goldie – Believe {36} Longest Song:Pulp – This Is Hardcore 5:14 Shortest Song:Chumbawamba – Amnesia 2:53 Edited Tracks:Unknown Unedited Tracks:Unknown Inlay Mistakes:None Other Facts:N/A
On This Day In History
American country singer Tammy Wynette died age 55.
Now That's What I Call Music! 39 aka Now 39 was the first instalment of 1998. On a personal level, this was my very first "Now" compilation which I purchased on double cassette. It features 5 UK #1 singles and a total of 41 Top 40 hits. This volume marked the first occasion the series featured music from Natalie Imbruglia, LeAnn Rimes, Shania Twain, Catatonia, Aqua, Steps, Lutricia McNeal and The All Seeing I. Some of these acts would go on to have many big hits in the coming years.
From that era, the missing #1's which could have been included were the Christmas #1 of 1997 which was the novelty theme song to the children's TV show Teletubbies entitled Teletubbies Say 'Eh-Oh' which surprisingly lasted 2 weeks at the top. Too Much from Spice Girls was overlooked but added to another volume later that year. Oasis had yet another #1 single snubbed in the form of All Around The World. Debut single You Make Me Wanna from US heartthrob Usher was also overlooked. Aqua do feature on this volume, but their more recent #1 Doctor Jones was not used but saved until the next volume. The biggest selling single of 1998 was the theme song to Titanic and it was also the biggest single of Celine Dion's music career, yet this UK #1 My Heart Will Go On was featured. Finally, when it comes to the #1 singles of that era, we have to mention Madonna, who had never featured in the series up to this point, but she had a UK #1 single in March 1998 with Frozen.
Other notable songs from this era, including some high profile debuts, which never made the final cut were Will Smith – Gettin' Jiggy Wit It, Cleopatra's debut single Cleopatra's Theme, Savage Garden – Truly Madly Deeply, Another Level – Be Alone No More, Five – When The Lights Go Out, Destiny's Child – No No No, M People – Angel Street and 911 – All I Want Is You.
The one hit wonders from this volume were Billie Myers, Cornershop, Run DMC, Bamboo, Camisra, Rest Assured, Prince Buster and Vanilla.
Artwork Rating: 6/10 Good I've always liked the way orange and blue work together artistically. I like the design and the angle of the logo. Very bold.
Disc 1 Favourite: Sheryl Crow – Tomorrow Never Dies Secretly my favourite Bond theme song. Sheryl's awesome vocals on this track are just so atmospheric. I really sense the emotion and thrill of the Bond story. The best song Sheryl Crow ever made.
Disc 2 Favourite: Cornershop – Brimful Of Asha [Norman Cook Remix] The first time something mixed by Norman Cook (aka Fatboy Slim) was ever a mainstream hit. So refreshing to know this was a UK #1. Never understood the lyrics but that doesn't bother me!
Overall Rating: 9/10 Amazing As this was my very first purchased volume from the Now series, it has special meaning for me. Originally owned on double cassette and in later years acquired on CD. So many memories for me listening to many of these tracks on holiday. A personal favourite of mine, love so many of the tracks on here.
Andrew's Best 5 (as of May 2017) 1. Sheryl Crow – Tomorrow Never Dies 2. Cornershop – Brimful Of Asha [Norman Cook Remix] 3. Wildchild – Renegade Master '98 4. Lighthouse Family – High 5. Spice Girls – Stop
Andrew's Worst 5 (as of May 2017) 1. Vanilla – No Way No Way 2. Prince Buster – Whine & Grine 3. Space with Cerys of Catatonia – The Ballad Of Tom Jones 4. Lutricia McNeal – Ain't That Just The Way 5. Backstreet Boys – All I Have To Give
Posted by: Dobbo 30th April 2017, 09:40 PM
Artwork: 7/10 - like the colours & how it's off-centre
Disc 1: High - this is such an amazing, chillout song. Lucky Man a very close second...
Disc 2: It's Like That - so much energy No Way, No Way is a shameless guilty pleasure on this side
Overall: 6/10 - some highlights but not too much else I revisit
Posted by: Jester 1st May 2017, 10:45 AM
Another classic 9/10. Chose Pulp and Catalonia. The last 4 tracks of Disc 1 are all superb!
Posted by: gooddelta 1st May 2017, 12:24 PM
Incredible album, I went with Tin Tin Out on Disc 1 (majestic song) and Sash! on Disc 2 (so uplifting and joyful, underrated in his back catalogue) but practically everything on here is great. 1998 <3
Posted by: dandy* 1st May 2017, 08:35 PM
This is a really strong edition, it really does sum up the hits and variety of the period it was released. A lot of truly massive singles on it also.
In terms of representing an era, this possibly is the best edition ever...
Posted by: DalekTurret32 1st May 2017, 10:15 PM
Favourites:
Together Again Torn ("I'm all out of faith." Was shocked to discover this was a cover) Angels Perfect Day (though I prefer the Lou Reed version) Here's Where The Story Ends (I like this version as much as the original by The Sundays [which was in the World's End soundtrack BTW]) The Ballad Of Tom Jones Insane Tomorrow Never Dies No Surprises Lucky Man This Is Hardcore Let Me Entertain You Mulder And Scully Brimful Of Asha (classic) It's Like That ("And it goes a little something like this" [cue music] ) Renegade Master '98 Bamboogie (I always get up and dance whenever this comes on. "I wanna dance! I wanna get down tonight!" "Do your dance, make a little love, get down tonight, get down tonight") Found A Cure (Not as spectacular as Free, but still a great song) La Primavera 5, 6, 7, 8 (guilty pleasure. The part in E4's Bad Robots where the radio kept interrupting the workers' tasks by playing this song made me LOL) Amnesia Let Me Show You (DUN DUN DUN DUN DUUUNNN "Let me show you") Planet Love Treat Infamy (a.k.a. Bittersweet Symphony but it's a progressive house tune) Prince Igor (Regulate is my favourite from Warren) Whine And Grine (reggae classic. Prince Buster, may you rest in peace) Believe
Posted by: King Rollo 2nd May 2017, 04:34 PM
My favourites from this one:
Perfect Day Here's Where The Story Ends No Surprises This Is Hardcore Treat Infamy
Posted by: lewistgreen 2nd May 2017, 10:05 PM
Literally the start of one of my favourite years in music!
Gone for All Saints on Disc 1 and Run-DMC on Disc 2 but the whole album is pretty much amazing!
Posted by: deepinside 3rd May 2017, 12:53 AM
Surprise to see Lighthouse Family High only reached #4 in UK since I thought it was a #1 hit as a child back there, but nonetheless it did pretty well on Europe (Italy/Switzerland #2, Ireland #3, Austria/Belgium/Germany #4, Netherlands #6) and Oceania (Australia #1, New Zealand #8).
Posted by: HarryApa 4th May 2017, 10:44 AM
Artwork 7/10 Disc 1: Natalie Imbruglia -Torn (a lot to choose from but this is a great pop song) Disc 2: Run DMC vs Jason Nevins - Its Like That (Great dance song) Overall: 9/10
Posted by: danG 4th May 2017, 10:56 AM
Disc 1: Natalie Imbruglia - Torn Disc 2: Cornershop - Brimful of Asha (It's Like That also)
Posted by: fiesta 4th May 2017, 11:23 AM
Ultra Nate and Spice Girls- one of their best songs, stopped from reaching no.1.
also like Rest Assured (bitter Sweet Symphony dance style)
Posted by: Jade 5th May 2017, 12:02 AM
My disc 1 favourite this time is Robbie's 'Angels'! Such an incredible ballad and his second best for me just behind 'Come Undone'. I grew up with Robbie fanatic parents so I heard it so much when I was younger haha. I do love the big girlband tracks from All Saints and Spice Girls too on this disc.
My disc 2 favourite is 'Brimful of Asha' this Norman Cook remix really brings the song to life. The lyrics were already strong but the production gives it that extra oomph. 'It's Like That' and 'Let Me Entertain You' are also big highlights.
Posted by: Hide&Seek 4th July 2017, 11:07 PM
Disc 1 faves :
1. Tin Tin Out feat. Shelley Nelson – Here's Where The Story Ends 2. Lighthouse Family – High 3. Shania Twain – You're Still The One 4. Spice Girls – Stop 5. Natalie Imbruglia – Torn
Disc 2 faves :
1. Louise – Let's Go Round Again 2. Lutricia McNeal – Ain't That Just The Way 3. Vanilla – No Way No Way (it's awful, but it makes me smile when I hear it or think of the video).