Tylky

Round 1: 30 - Ultravox song and Grease song Round 2: 30 - CCS song and another one I forgot Bonus: Kim Wilde, I'm Like A Bird 3 in 10: Spinning Around, I Should Be So Lucky, Wow

I didn't see this thread, guess I'll make a contribution to it! I was never really into the series at all, not until I was around 14 and mum bought Now 64 at an ASDA. I thought it was alright, had a few bangers I liked such as the landfill Indie of Disc 1 - banger after banger there. The Kooks, The Feeling, Keane, Snow Patrol, Razorlight, Orson, The Zutons, Dirty Pretty Things, The Automatic and that run rounded off by Paul Oakenfold and the legendary Brittany Murphy (RIP) with 'Faster Kill Pussycat'. I was also obsessed with the Sunblock remix of 'First Time' at the time too, and it may or may not have been to do with the music video. It wasn't until Now 68 in late 2007 that I decided I wanted to invest in the back catalogue of the numbered NOWs and start collecting the new releases going forward. In 2008, I was nostalgic for 1994 because of the songs on NOW 28 which brought me back to my childhood and the car trips my dad would take us on to Towyn. These days I'm more fond of NOW 43 and 44, because those were truly the pinnacle of fantastic pop and dance music, and being 7 at the time found a lot of the artists on these albums to be highly influential. S Club, Lolly, Steps, heck, even the Cartoons! Very impressionable on a 7-year old! But also, there's the fantastic dance of Alice Deejay, Vengaboys, DJ Jean, Phats & Small, Basement Jaxx, Shaft, I could go on! NOW has left a lasting impact on me, and they're always there to go back to when I'm at a crossroads with my relationship with music, and I don't know which way to go next. So yeah, NOW has done a lot for me!

I generally agree with this. They’re going to try and delay the Final Chapters but this pattern would be a good order to wrap things up.

Does anyone have any recommendations where I can guarantee I’d receive the latest Yearbook on the release day? Rarewaves is cheaper, sure. But I’m now getting it 2-3 working days later.

For me it’s Benny Hill and The Tams. Benny Hill for the sheer novelty and The Tams because I genuinely love ‘Hey Girl Don’t Bother Me’. Looking forward to this release!

Love this! More than the fastest milkman in the west!

On the topic of reusing tracks. Whilst I do understand that the reusing of old NOW tracks on later NOW albums in the numbered series is a bit redundant to collectors, on the outside looking in - casual listeners, regular pop fans who probably don't usually invest in the numbered NOWs - might see Sophie's 'Murder On The Dancefloor' on NOW 117 whilst browsing HMV and think "OMG yes this was on Saltburn!" and it may persuade them to get the entire comp to explore other tracks. That same buyer may not have even looked at NOW 51, or any of the NOW albums up to that point. It's how a lot of younger music lovers have never heard the song until they watched Saltburn and launched that song into the Top 10 again by streaming. In a roundabout way, that one NOW album may have converted someone into becoming a NOW fan, or even a collector.

I'm an absolute villain. My Vaults are all stacked together right at the very end - after Yearbook '99! But I'm not too crazy to put them after the Millennium Series! It's so satisfying seeing them all next to each other!

I'm going to play devil's advocate here and say that I expect them to announce the next Yearbook Vault - 1986 next week. It's been a few months since the previous one.

Strong play there @Popchartfreak ! Round 1: 27 - 1/3 bonus questions right. Round 2: 33 - 3/3 bonus questions right, just 2 regular questions wrong. Got the years right on both! 3 in 10: You Got It, I Drove All Night, Oh, Pretty Woman

Sorry I missed yesterday, life happened! Also, thank you for the welcome! Anyway I had the chance today and I struggled big time! Round 1: 24 - 2 bonus questions tripped me up Round 2: 24 - Same happened again! 3 in 10: What Have You Done For Me Lately, Together Again and Got 'Til It's Gone.

That’s true. It is sad to see these huge trance anthems missing the cut in a year of huge trance anthems. It’s surprising because there were so many Top 10 songs for them to choose from and they choose a No.40 hit by David Sylvian. Again, stop making David Sylvian happen.

Yeah I have to agree, a lot of big hitters here. Though the first half of Disc 1 could have easily have been replaced with much bigger hits. Mr Oizo, Baz Luhrmann etc. Also a bit sad there’s no Barenaked Ladies ‘One Week’ on here, or The Offspring. However, I would understand if The Offspring are unlicensable. Quite happy overall though, glad to see Lolly is here, even if it’s only ‘Mickey’! Viva La Radio for The Final Chapter perhaps? EDIT: Also, stop trying to make David Sylvian happen.

Round 1: 30 - One year out! Round 2: 30 - One year out, again! 3 in 10: Strong Enough, Believe, The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)

Usually it gets leaked here on a Wednesday followed by an official reveal the next day. However, nothing today so far, so I’m doubtful of any reveal tomorrow.

I was almost done, partly due to running out of physical space, partly fed up, but then noticed I could get Now 123 digitally instead on Amazon Music (purchased). I think I’ll take that path for as long as Amazon Music allows it and then I’m wrapping up the numbered series. I’ll keep collecting the Yearbooks though as I’ve been enjoying them far more.

Same! Royal Mail are being notoriously difficult. Rarewaves dispatched my order on Wednesday!

So a mixed bag on the whole regarding versions then. Good to hear it’s the right version of ‘That Don’t Impress Me Much’ and ‘9pm (Till I Come)’ but a bit sad on the ones that are album/not-single versions. IMO, it cheapens the experience.

It’s Royal Mail and they can be hit or miss. I expect to get mine tomorrow.

I would highly recommend Rarewaves. I’ve been paying £14.32 for the Collectors Edition (the one with the booklet) which has free delivery for orders over £10. Plus you gain points to use toward future orders as well. They haven’t let me down!

Maybe they could send their mailing list a survey asking their fans for feedback and suggestions? Just a thought.

I just hope NOW last long enough to finish the Yearbooks. It’s truly sad to see Now 123 sell only 6000~ copies in its first week. If NOW Towers are not taking feedback, or our voting with our wallets seriously enough, then I’m worried for the future of the NOW franchise. Do you think the vinyls are propping them up?

Quite an eclectic selection. Will be adding this one to my collection. I’ve been a growing fan of the 60s sets. Some memorable tunes on them!

I mean, when you consider only 7000 sales of an album, you can’t necessarily say it’s thriving either. The NOW albums used to be for teenagers who wanted to sample all the latest and greatest hits, which would lead to them getting into certain artists as a result. The need for that is gone thanks to streaming and TikTok. I doubt many teenagers still ask their parents for the latest NOW album for their birthday or Christmas. Stack that with more and more artists removing their rights to be added on compilations and the end result is subpar. I agree on your approach with new compilers and such, and gearing it more toward the pop crowd, but then it ends up being for a certain demographic rather than the general public. However, the general public don’t really decide on what goes into the charts now these days, as streaming has democratised the charts, so people can listen to whatever they want and it’ll contribute to the chart. Because of this, super fans dominate when they continually stream their songs and as a result, get on to the chart. Some serious change needs to be undertaken at NOW Towers if they want the numbered brand to survive.

Agree with this take, just go back to spring and autumn releases so that they hold some kind of substance.