1. Queen – I Want It All 4:10{3} 2. Simple Minds – Kick It In 4:20{15} 3. Fine Young Cannibals – Good Thing* 3:20{7} 4. Holly Johnson – Americanos 3:35{4} 5. Transvision Vamp – Baby I Don't Care* 4:00{3} 6. INXS – Mystify 3:25{14} 7. Roxette – The Look 4:05{7} 8. Stevie Nicks – Rooms On Fire 4:25{16} 9. Paul McCartney – My Brave Face 3:20{18} 10. Gerry Marsden, Paul McCartney, Holly Johnson & The Christians – Ferry 'Cross The Mersey4:05{1} 11. Beautiful South – Song For Whoever* 4:10{2} 12. Kirsty MacColl – Days* 3:05{12} 13. Danny Wilson – The Second Summer Of Love 2:45{23} 14. Waterfront – Cry 3:50{17} 15. Hue And Cry – Violently 4:05{21} 16. Cliff Richard – The Best Of Me 4:20{2} 17. Soul II Soul feat. Caron Wheeler – Back To Life (However Do You Want Me)* 3:45{1} 18. Neneh Cherry – Manchild* 4:00{5} 19. Bobby Brown – Every Little Step 4:05{6} 20. Inner City – Do You Love What You Feel? 3:15{16} 21. D-Mob feat. LRS – It Is Time To Get Funky* 3:40{9} 22. Donna Allen – Joy And Pain 3:55{10} 23. Gladys Knight – Licence To Kill 5:15{6} 24. Natalie Cole – Miss You Like Crazy* 3:55{2} 25. Pet Shop Boys – It's Alright 4:30{5} 26. Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers – Swing The Mood4:15{1} 27. Swing Out Sister – You On My Mind 3:35{28} 28. Bananarama – Cruel Summer '89 3:30{19} 29. De La Soul – Say No Go 4:05{18} 30. Norman Cook feat. MC Wildski – Blame It On The Bassline 4:05{29} 31. Double Trouble & The Rebel MC – Just Keep Rockin'* 3:20{11} 32. The Cure – Lullaby 4:20{5}
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:Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers – Swing The Mood (5 Weeks) Lowest Charting Track:Norman Cook feat. MC Wildski – Blame It On The Bassline {29} Longest Song:Gladys Knight – Licence To Kill 5:15 Shortest Song:Danny Wilson – Second Summer Of Love 2:45 Edited Tracks:Unknown Unedited Tracks:Unknown Inlay Mistakes:None Other Facts: N/A
Now That's What I Call Music! 15 aka Now 15 was the last summer compilation of the 80s and boasted another 32 piece tracklisting. It is believed that Now 15 was a #1 success on the UK Compilations Chart, but no concrete evidence. The music from Now 15 is very fresh and seasonal, and features Queen, Fine Young Cannibals, Transvision Vamp, Gladys Knight and Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers to name but a few. This time round, the UK #1s to be missed were The Bangles – Eternal Flame; Kylie Minogue – Hand On Your Heart; Jason Donovan – Sealed With A Kiss and Sonia – You'll Never Stop Me From Loving You. There were debuts from Roxette and The Beautiful South, and also first-time appearances from Soul II Soul, Bobby Brown and Double Trouble & The Rebel MC. There were also one hit wonders from the Now series, and from Now 15 those were Holly Johnson, Stevie Nicks, Waterfront, Donna Allen, Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers as well as the special Bond single from Gladys Knight. It is worth noting this is the only time that we see Norman Cook named in the series as he would later be better known by the alias Fatboy Slim. The cover theme is a beach which was themed to Summer. The "NOW" letters are designed in the form of beach balls with the rest of the logo printed on a beach towel. There appear to be small footprints in the sand, though the shore is just coming in. Overall a nice simple design. Well my review for Now 15 is better than the predecessor Now 14. Though Now 15 offers the same number of tracks and UK #1 singles, there is a fresh sound about it, and the sound is very distinct and Summery. I do like the Now 15 cover and it's a prime example of what Summer covers are missing today, and that's just simplicity at it's best! There are some songs I don't feel were neccesary to the final tracklisting, and considering that there were other UK #1s to choose from such as Kylie Minogue and The Bangles, I would have liked to have more selection.
Artwork Rating: 7/10 Very Good A nice seaside theme for the summer. Very apt and bright colours, simplicity at its best. I like too how part of the logo has been designed like a beach towel too!
Disc 1 Favourite: Transvision Vamp – Baby I Don't Care Not exactly a stand out song from that era, but this disc doesn't really offer anything special or memorable for me.
Disc 2 Favourite: Soul II Soul feat. Caron Wheeler – Back To Life (However Do You Want Me) A classic dance anthem, one of the finest #1's to close the 80's. Soul II Soul went on to have several other hits, but this was always their signature song.
Overall Rating: 6/10 Good It definitely feels like a summer compilation. Lots of fresh sounding 80's beats, and a good selection of pop and dance in the mix. Lesser known songs on the first disc prevents this volume from getting a higher rating from me.
Andrew's Best 5 (as of November 2016) 1. Soul II Soul feat. Caron Wheeler – Back To Life (However Do You Want Me) 2. Bananarama – Cruel Summer '89 3. Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers – Swing The Mood 4. Transvision Vamp – Baby I Don't Care 5. Queen – I Want It All
Andrew's Worst 5 (as of November 2016) 1. Hue And Cry – Violently 2. Waterfront – Cry 3. Double Trouble and The Rebel MC – Just Keep Rockin' 4. Norman Cook – Blame It On The Bassline 5. Pet Shop Boys – It's Alright
Posted by: HarryEzra Nov 17 2016, 07:43 AM
Artwork: 6/10 Wish it looked more like a beach Disc 1: Queen - I Want It All - Pretty great Queen song Disc 2: Soul II Soul feat. Caron Wheeler – Back To Life (However Do You Want Me) - Classic in every way Overall: 6/10
Posted by: ThePensmith Nov 19 2016, 10:24 PM
I was born just 12 days after this Now was released! Some brilliant songs on here, and an inspired, nay suitably 80s cover art too
Posted by: Dobbo Nov 20 2016, 01:40 PM
Artwork Rating: Cool beach theme, agreed that the logo designed as a towel is a nice touch. 7/10.
Disc 1 Fave: Days. I was scanning the list trying to recognise any song & it ended up between this & I Want It All. That's not one of Queen's best so it goes to this catchy song.
Disc 2 Fave: Back To Life. Definitely the standout of an otherwise forgettable edition.
Overall Rating: Back To Life literally singlehandledly saves this from receiving a 1/10 Roll on the 90s