Various – Now That's What I Call Music 15

Been collecting and working through the original Now LPs. This one is a significant drop in sound quality compared to previous. Everything dull and rather muted. I wonder if there was a production method change at this time? Digital processing?? Will try a Now 16 and if that’s the same stop collecting here.

Now 15 was released in August 1989.

Compact Disc 1

1. Queen - I Want It All: Great song.
2. Simple Minds - Kick It In:
3. Fine Young Cannibals - Good Thing: Great track.
4. Holly Johnson - Americanos - Great song from Frankie singer.
5. Transvision Vamp - Baby I Don't Care: My favourite Transvision Vamp song.
6. INXS - Mystify: Not included on the 2023 CD, great piano.
7. Roxette - The Look: Great track.
8. Stevie Nicks - Rooms on Fire: Great song from the Fleetwood Mac singer.
9. Paul McCartney - My Brave Face: Great song from Macca.
10. Gerry Marsden/Paul McCartney/Holly Johnson and the Christians - Ferry Cross the Mersey: Great charity single, released following the Hillsborough Disaster ( seeing it on the news), and featuring two singers who have both performed versions of the song.
11. The Beautiful South - Song For Whoever: Great debut from Paul Heaton's post-Housemartins group.
12. Kirsty MacColl - Days: Great cover of the Kinks.
13. Danny Wilson - The Second Summer of Love: Great folk inspired track.
14. Waterfront - Cry: Great track.
15. Hue and Cry - Violently: Great song.
16. Cliff Richard - The Best of Me: Great song from Cliff, his 100th single.

Compact Disc 2

1. Soul II Soul featuring Caron Wheeler - Back to Life (However Do You Want Me): Another favourite from my childhood.
2. Neneh Cherry - Manchild: Great follow up to 'Buffalo Stance'.
3. Bobby Brown - Every Little Step: Great song.
4. Inner City - Do You Love What You Feel: Great house track.
5. D-Mob featuring LRS - It Is Time to Get Funky: Great follow up to 'Acieed'.
6. Donna Allen - Joy and Pain: Great song.
7. Gladys Knight - Licence to Kill: Great Bond theme.
8. Natalie Cole - Miss You Like Crazy: Great song.
9. Pet Shop Boys - It's Alright: Great song from PSB.
10. Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers - Swing the Mood: I still get a kick out of this medley, and the whole Jive Bunny album.
11. Swing Out Sister - You on My Mind: Great song.
12. Bananarama - Cruel Summer '89: Great remix.
13. De La Soul - Say No Go: Great rap track.
14. Norman Cook & MC Wildski - Blame It on the Bassline: Great remix from the future Fatboy Slim.
15. Double Trouble and the Rebel MC - Just Keep Rockin': Great rap track.
16. The Cure - Lullaby: Great song.

Another great album, though as always there are some songs that missed out:

The Bangles - Eternal Flame
Jason Donovan - Sealed With a Kiss
Sonia - You'll Never Stop Me Loving You
Kylie Minogue - Hand on Your Heart
Simply Red - If You Don't Know Me By Now
Inner City - Ain't Nobody Better
Coldcut featuring Lisa Stansfield - People Hold On
Bros - Too Much
U2 with BB King - When Love Comes to Town
Edelweiss - Bring Me Edelweiss
The Beatmasters with Merlin - Who's In the House?
Yazz - Where Has All the Love Gone
Cappella - Helyom Halib (Acid Acid Acid)

Let's be honest, up until that point in time (summer 1989) Now 15 was probably the worst in the entire series. A few gems of course, but side 2 in particular is dreadful. It pales in comparison to Hits 10, it's rival that was released the same summer.

More errors on these NOW reissues - on disc 2, 'Swing The Mood' is a complete re-recording, which is odd as the original version is on Spotify, which would presumably mean the original is available to license. Also 'Lullaby' is the album version, not the single remix.

Any variations on the versions on this reissue or are they all correct? https://discogs.librosgratis.biz/release/27875910-Various-Now-Thats-What-I-Call-Music-15

UK television advert for "Now 15" as aired on ITV Granada, 20th August 1989 can be found here.

Apparently #15 in an already-established (UK) series and the second-ever music video I bought, this first South African edition was a welcome addition to a sadly-absent supply of affordable international (read: foreign) music videos down south of the Limpopo - certainly from the buying public's perspective.
Seemingly absent, too were the consumers themselves; this was the only edition that I ever knew of.

The content, though, was great... for 1989. There's some memorable and fun stuff on here: Jive Bunny, however silly and irritating, does bring a smile to one's face and The Beautiful South's take on shallow bubblegum music is rather charming. Other favourites are #1 & 10, while the rest is very much Zeitgeist fodder.