For many reading this brief review, the 'Now That's What I Call Music' series of compilation albums, featuring the very best of the 'here and now', will be more common place to individual CD collections across the country than any other comparative compilation series.
The brain child of three Virgin Records executives (Stephen Navin, John Webster and Simon Draper), and branded using a memorable slogan taken from a 1920's Danish Bacon advert, one of the 80's most innovative ideas was born with little planning, in the December of 1983. Following a tie up with EMI and collaboration with Universal, the brand has now ballooned into the biggest compilation series ever with 'Now 71' about to make an appearance in time for Christmas 2008.
Over the years all the big names in music in almost all of the mainstream genres have made the cut with names including Queen, Wham, Diana Ross, Take That, Justin Timberlake and Westlife, all of whom incidentally make an appearance on this soon to be released three CD compilation.
With twenty five years racked up already, almost certainly this format will endure a long and prosperous life especially as the brand moves into it's new digital, downloadable format. Here's to another twenty five years and the best of luck to any chancers wishing to compete with the 'Now' series.