'Now That's What I Call Music' celebrates its 30th birthday today. Since the franchise was created, 86 compilation albums have been released.
It is the biggest selling compilation series ever and the longest selling branded compilation album in the UK.
The first Now! Album, boasted an impressive 11 number one singles and was a collection of thirty tracks from that year, released on double vinyl, LP and cassette tape (remember those?).
The idea was born in the Virgin Records offices of Richard Branson, and was the brain-child of the then Head of Licensing and Business Affairs at Virgin Records, Stephen Navi and Jon Webster.
It was seen as a collection that would include original versions and not 'watered down' edits that were seen on competitor albums.
Virgin then teamed up with EMI and the then Managing-Director, Peter Jamieson. Jamieson had had similar plans for EMI to launch such a compilation but was so impressed with Virgin's ideas, he agreed to the partnership.
"Now That's What I Call Music' has always been a hit because every edition brilliantly distills each 2 or 3 months in pop. When a collector like me reviews the collection of Now albums, it's an accurate journey through the last 2 and half chart decades", said Mark Goodier - the voice of 'Now' since Now 21.
T'Pau's 'China in Your Hand' featured on Now 10. The group's lead singer Carol Decker says it was a proud moment.
The Now series have taken many twists and turns over the years:
From the latest Now 86...
To the Christmas album....
Then of course, there's Disney...
All the way back in November 1984...
And take a trip down memory lane with his anniversary edition...
