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AdvertDetailsReleased: 22nd November 1999

Origin: United Kingdom

Label: Virgin / EMI / Universal

Format: Double CD, Double Cassette & Mini Disc

Duration: 2:36:00 (156 minutes)

Tracks: 42

#1’s: 10

Chart Peak: #1 (8 weeks)

Sales: 1,650,000 (7x Platinum)

Tracklisting1. Britney Spears – Baby One More Time 3:30 {1}

2. Shania Twain – That Don't Impress Me Much 3:56 {3}

3. Lou Bega – Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of...) 3:38 {1}

4. Eiffel 65 – Blue (Da Ba Dee) 3:41 {1}

5. Steps – Tragedy 4:31 {1}

6. Geri Halliwell – Mi Chico Latino 3:13 {1}

7. Robbie Williams – She's The One 4:19 {1}

8. Ronan Keating – When You Say Nothing At All 4:11 {1}

9. Melanie C – Northern Star 4:08 {4}

10. Sixpence None The Richer – Kiss Me 3:13 {4}

11. Texas – Summer Son 4:03 {5}

12. Moloko – Sing It Back 4:37 {4}

13. Bob Marley vs Funkstarr De Luxe – Sun Is Shining 3:53 {3}

14. Diana Ross – Not Over You Yet 4:04 {9}

15. Tina Turner – When The Heartache Is Over 3:41 {10}

16. Jamiroquai – Canned Heat 3:17 {4}

17. Tom Jones And The Cardigans – Burning Down The House 3:33 {7}

18. Bran Van 3000 – Drinking In LA 3:40 {3}

19. Supergrass – Moving 4:22 {9}

20. Phil Collins – You'll Be In My Heart 4:17 {17}

21. R. Kelly – If I Could Turn Back The Hands of Time 4:58 {2}

22. Geri Halliwell – Lift Me Up 3:50 {1}

23. Tin Tin Out feat. Emma Bunton – What I Am 3:51 {2}

24. Martine McCutcheon – I've Got You 3:43 {6}

25. Backstreet Boys – Larger Than Life 3:53 {5}

26. Jordan Knight – Give It To You 3:50 {5}

27. Gabrielle – Sunshine 3:32 {9}

28. Honeyz – Never Let You Down 3:28 {7}

29. S Club 7 – S Club Party 3:26 {2}

30. Lolly – Mickey 3:19 {4}

31. Ann Lee – 2 Times 3:43 {2}

32. Vengaboys – We're Going To Ibiza! 3:09 {1}

33. Enrique Iglesias – Bailamos 3:38 {4}

34. Shaft – (Mucho Mambo) Sway 3:20 {2}

35. ATB – Don't Stop 2:43 {3}

36. DJ Jean – The Launch 3:12 {2}

37. Groove Armada feat. Gram'ma Funk – I See You Baby (Fatboy Slim Radio Edit) 4:03 {17}

38. Wamdue Project – King Of My Castle 3:26 {1}

39. Alice Deejay – Back In My Life 3:23 {4}

40. Alena – Turn It Around 3:49 {14}

41. Tina Cousins – Angel 3:27 {46}

42. Liquid Child – Diving Faces 2:30 {25}

 

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 FactsTrack Most Weeks At #1: Eiffel 65 – Blue (Da Ba Dee) (3 weeks)

Lowest Charting Track: Tina Cousins – Angel {46}

Longest Song: R. Kelly – If I Could Turn Back The Hands of Time 4:58

Shortest Song: Liquid Child – Diving Faces 2:30

Edited Tracks: Unknown

Unedited Tracks: Unknown

Inlay Mistakes: None

Other Facts: None

On This Day In HistoryNo music news to report for 22nd November 1999.Other ResourcesOfficial Now Music Website

Wikipedia

Everyhit

Brandt Animation Archive

Now 44 Rate

Edited June 6, 20178 yr by awardinary

Andrew's ReviewNow That's What I Call Music! 44 aka Now 44 was the final volume released in the 90's as well as the 20th century. It is also to this day the biggest selling volume from the entire series. It contained 42 hits of which 10 were UK #1 singles — the highest number since the inaugural volume released in 1983. This volume marked the first appearance for Britney Spears, Ronan Keating, Melanie C, Moloko, Enrique Iglesias and Groove Armada.

 

A total of 4 missing UK #1 singles from this era which included two from Westlife. If I Let You Go and Flying Without Wings were not selected, neither was the debut single from Christina Aguilera – Genie In A Bottle. Lastly Keep On Movin', a UK #1 in November 1999 from Five was omitted. Other non #1 singles to be missed included double A side Evertytime / Ready Or Not by A1, After The Love Has Gone by Steps, Macy Gray – I Try, Travis – Why Does It Always Rain On Me?, Phats & Small – Feel Good, Eminem feat. Dr. Dre – Guilty Conscience, Basement Jaxx – Rendez-Vu, Britney Spears – (You Drive Me) Crazy along with others.

 

Now 44 was the only volume in the series to have featured Lou Bega, Eiffel 65, Sixpence None The Richer, Bran Van 3000, Jordan Knight, Ann Lee, Shaft, DJ Jean, Wamdue Project, Alena and Liquid Child.

 

Artwork Rating: 9/10 Amazing

Easily one of the most recognisable covers from the series. Not many other volumes from the series have used the same colour scheme from this artwork. Purples, Whites and Gold works very well together. It seems to be some kind of outer space theme.

 

Disc 1 Favourite: Steps – Tragedy

The most well known song Steps ever did, even though it was actually a cover of a Bee Gee's hit. This pop anthem was the B side to Heartbeat a year earlier, but was included in this mix as an additional #1 single.

 

Disc 2 Favourite: S Club 7 – S Club Party

Such a fun pop party anthem. S Club 7 offered so much in the way of a fun, energetic and youthful pop outfit. I loved their sound and this single is one of my favourites from them. Shame it missed out on #1.

 

Disc 3 Tracklist:

(A concept of what a third disc might look like if other hits from the era were used)

 

1. Christina Aguilera – Genie In A Bottle 3:37 {1}

2. Westlife – If I Let You Go 3:41 {1}

3. A1 – Ready Or Not 3:58 {3}

4. Five – Keep On Movin' 3:17 {1}

5. Thunderbugs – Friends Forever 4:06 {5}

6. A*Teens – Mamma Mia 3:43 {12}

7. Steps – After The Love Has Gone 4:35 {5}

8. Adam Rickitt – Everything My Heart Desires 3:35 {15}

9. Jennifer Lopez – Waiting For Tonight 4:06 {5}

10. A.T.F.C. Presents Onephatdeeva – In And Out Of My Life 3:29 {11}

11. Phats & Small – Feel Good 3:24 {7}

12. Basement Jaxx – Rendez-Vu 3:44 {4}

13. Paul Johnson – Get Get Down 2:57 {5}

14. Paul Van Dyk – Another Way 3:24 {13}

15. Britney Spears – (You Drive Me) Crazy 3:17 {5}

16. Fierce – So Long 3:30 {15}

17. 911 – Wonderland 4:16 {13}

18. Travis – Why Does It Always Rain On Me? 4:25 {10}

19. Stereophonics – I Wouldn't Believe Your Radio 3:44 {11}

20. Eurythmics – I Saved The World Today 4:53 {11}

21. Macy Gray – I Try 3:58 {6}

----------

Total time: 1:19:16

 

Overall Rating: 9/10 Amazing

It's clear to see why this is the best selling volume from the series. There's something for everyone on here, and the increase in #1's is a massive attraction, even if a couple of them were quite old by the time of release. Lots of the music on this volume I would return to again and again and not tire of. They did a very good job at compiling this volume and the artwork is splendid.

 

Andrew's Best 5 (as of June 2017)

1. Steps – Tragedy

2. Britney Spears – Baby One More Time

3. S Club 7 – S Club Party

4. Texas – Summer Son

5. Backstreet Boys – Larger Than Life

 

Andrew's Worst 5 (as of June 2017)

1. Alena – Turn It Around

2. Jordan Knight – Give It To You

3. Ann Lee – 2 Times

4. ATB – Don't Stop

5. Tina Cousins – Angel

Edited June 5, 20178 yr by awardinary

At last! I'm not going to even pretend to hide my bias here. Now 44 was the very first Now album I owned as I got it that Christmas, so for me it is the best Now album of all time.

 

The balance of songs and styles is perfect, the artwork is on point, and those first six tracks on Disc 1 in particular are all killer no filler. In fact, the only really bad song across the two discs is Tina Cousins.

 

Was so hard choosing a favourite from both, so in the end I did a top 5 for both:

 

Disc 1

1. Shania Twain (This is such a good song even now. She owned 1999 with the "Come On Over" album and deservedly so)

2. Britney Spears

3. Melanie C

4. Jamiroquai

5. Robbie Williams

 

Disc 2

1. S Club 7 (I was in the throes of my fanboying with them by now. Still gutted Eiffel 65 kept this off number 1)

2. Gabrielle

3. Tin Tin Out and Emma Bunton

4. Liquid Child

5. Wamdue Project

 

Surprised by some of the disc 3 choices awardinary. I personally would have B*Witched with "Jesse Hold On" and Another Level with "Bomb Diggy" in place of 911 and Adam Rickitt.

Edited June 5, 20178 yr by ThePensmith

Disc 1: Eiffel 65 - Blue

Disc 2: ATB - Don't Stop

 

quite a few good songs on this actually.

A very very strong edition, due to purposely holding back some of the year's biggest hits presumably. I see no reason why Britney, Shania and Steps wouldn't have been allowed for Now 43 for example.

 

My favourites are Blue (Da Ba Dee) on Disc 1 and Back In My Life on Disc 2 but I still listen to the below songs on a regular basis:

 

1. Britney Spears – Baby One More Time 3:30 {1}

2. Shania Twain – That Don't Impress Me Much 3:56 {3}

4. Eiffel 65 – Blue (Da Ba Dee) 3:41 {1}

5. Steps – Tragedy 4:31 {1}

9. Melanie C – Northern Star 4:08 {4}

10. Sixpence None The Richer – Kiss Me 3:13 {4}

11. Texas – Summer Son 4:03 {5}

18. Bran Van 3000 – Drinking In LA 3:40 {3}

28. Honeyz – Never Let You Down 3:28 {7}

31. Ann Lee – 2 Times 3:43 {2}

35. ATB – Don't Stop 2:43 {3}

36. DJ Jean – The Launch 3:12 {2}

39. Alice Deejay – Back In My Life 3:23 {4}

42. Liquid Child – Diving Faces 2:30 {25}

 

Hits 2000 mopped up most of the also-rans/songs from other record labels suggested for that third disc. But certainly the following selections of yours Awardinary, as well as the B*Witched and Another Level tracks mentioned by ThePensmith, would have been strong replacements though for the likes of Alena, Tina Cousins and Liquid Child, though I appreciate those anyway for bumping up the dance quota at the end and I actually love the Liquid Child song, but it seems a little out of place.

 

1. Christina Aguilera – Genie In A Bottle 3:37 {1}

2. Westlife – If I Let You Go 3:41 {1}

4. Five – Keep On Movin' 3:17 {1}

5. Thunderbugs – Friends Forever 4:06 {5}

9. Jennifer Lopez – Waiting For Tonight 4:06 {5}

12. Basement Jaxx – Rendez-Vu 3:44 {4}

13. Paul Johnson – Get Get Down 2:57 {5}

18. Travis – Why Does It Always Rain On Me? 4:25 {10}

21. Macy Gray – I Try 3:58 {6}

Edited June 5, 20178 yr by gooddelta

Artwork: 6/10 not the best artwork but not the worst either

Disc 1: Moloko - Sing It Back (Such a great disco/dance classic but was really heard to choose a song from that disc)

Disc 2: Wandue Project - King Of My Castle (Such a great dance song :heart:)

Overall: 9/10

Edited June 5, 20178 yr by HarryApa

The best-selling UK Now album to date *.* not hard to see why when it's packed with so many hits! Honourable mentions to Britney and Geri on Disc 1 but my absolute favourite of the first half is 'Kiss Me' by Sixpence None The Richer :heart: Such a blissful and breezy song that always feels lovely to listen to in the summer in particular. It was then SO HARD to pick my favourite of Disc 2 as two all-time favourites are on there! Those being Wamdue Project - 'King Of My Castle' and Shaft - '(Mucho Mambo) Sway'. Had quite a journey with the latter, I actually used to dislike it (!) because I found the high-pitched vocals off-putting back in the day. Buuuut it really wormed its way into my head eventually and now I adore it. But in the end, with a razor thin margin, I opted for Wamdue Project - 'King Of My Castle' because I have loved that for longer. Wonderful thumping production, interesting psychological lyrics and gripping vocals. THAT hard to interpret lyric and the striking video also helped to elevate how memorable it is now.

Isn't this the best selling Now album? Its a great album so I can see why.

 

My faves:

 

Disc 1 - Supergrass - Moving

Disc 2 - ATB - Don't Sop (this is the only place I have found this far superior mix).

Yeah the UK mix of Don't Stop (by X-Cabs) is fantastic, so much more frantic and hard hitting than the original (that I nevertheless still love).

 

Here's the TOTP performance:

 

Thanks Rich, never seen that before!

Disc 1 was a pure gold tracklist. :<3

Top 15 of the album

 

Sing It Back

Sun Is Shining

King Of My Castle

Blue (Da Ba Dee) ("Now listen up, here's a story about a little guy who lives in a blue world!")

I See You Baby

Drinking In LA

The Launch

Diving Faces

Mambo No 5

Tragedy

Bailamos

Mucho Mambo (Sway)

She's the One

What I Am

Kiss Me

Disc 1 faves

1 Geri - love the song, and I want to be her in the video ! :cheer:

2 Diana Ross - loved that song, bought the album in a bargain bin but didn't like it

3 Sixpence None The Richer - loved it, got sick of it, but now love it again.

4 Tina Turner - I can't remember this off the top of my head, but I know I like it when it's playing.

5 Shania Twain - way overplayed now so not loving it like I used to.

 

Disc 2 faves

1 Geri - love this, and a certain remix too. Didn't like the video though.

2 Honeyz - my fav Honeyz song ! :cheer:

3 Vengaboyz - they are so much fun.

4 Gabrielle - I like her distinctive voice.

5 Tina Cousins - only got to know this one recently. I like.

 

Fantasy Disc 3 faves

1 Adam Rickitt - I bought his album in the same bargain bin as Diana Ross on the same day. Only his album is good. No, really it is. His voice, not so much.

2 Steps - one of their best singles.

3 A1 - I bought their first album in a charity shop this week. :cheer: It's my first A1 album.

4 Thunderbugs - I had this single, then I got sick of it. Now I sorta miss it.

5 Fierce - I don't even know this one, but liked their other singles so probably woulda like this one too.

Artwork: Like the colour scheme, looks so cool! 8/10.

 

Disc 1 Fave: Eiffel 65 for me, not even a guilty pleasure just a brilliant song! There are a LOT of guilty pleasures on this side though.

 

Disc 2 Fave: Outstanding side. Round 2 between ATB & Alice Deejay but this time I'll give it to ATB, just an utterly incredible piece of music :heart: 10/10's also go to: 2 Times, We're Going To Eat Pizza, Sway, The Launch, King Of My Castle & Back In My Life.

 

Overall: 1999 was an incredible year for music wasn't it? Another 9/10 from me!

I have a faint memory of some of these songs. Were Thunderbugs an all-female band?.

Disc 1 faves:

1. Britney Spears - Baby One More Time

2. Diana Ross - Not Over You Yet

3. Sixpence None the Richer - Kiss Me

4. Shania Twain - That Don't Impress Me Much

 

Disc 2 faves:

1. R. Kelly - If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time