Now That's What I Call Music! discography


This is a list of available physical albums belonging to the official 1983 Now That's What I Call Music! UK series, comprising compact discs, magnetic audio cassettes, vinyl, VHS tape, DVD and other short-lived formats. They are categorized by series, then ordered by date. All countries but the United Kingdom have discontinued their respective series.

United Kingdom and Ireland

The evolution of Now That's What I Call Music! in the UK reflects the changing landscape of music consumption formats. Starting with vinyl and magnetic audio cassettes, the series adapted to the rise of compact discs and explored various formats like DVDs, MiniDiscs, and videos.

Music formats

The initial releases of Now That's What I Call Music! in the UK were exclusively on vinyl and magnetic audio cassette.

Compact discs (CD)

  • The series transitioned to CD with the release of Now That's What I Call Music 4 in a single-CD format in 1984.
  • Subsequent single-CD versions, such as Now That's What I Call Music 8 and Now That's What I Call Music 9, followed.
  • Double-CD releases commenced with Now That's What I Call Music 10 in November 1987.

    Phonograph records

  • Phonograph record production concluded with Now That's What I Call Music! 35 in November 1996.
  • Special vinyl editions like Now That's What I Call Punk and New Wave emerged in the 21st century.

    Magnetic audio cassettes

  • Magnetic audio cassettes ceased with Now That's What I Call Music! 64 in July 2006.

    MiniDiscs

  • The MiniDisc format inclusion began with Now That's What I Call Music! 43 and concluded with Now That's What I Call Music! 48.

    Video releases

  • Now That's What I Call Music! UK volumes 1 through 18 and Now That's What I Call Music! 20 were individually released on VHS tapes.
  • The first two albums were also issued on LaserDiscs.
  • From 2001 to 2007, videos transitioned to DVD, with an annual release.
  • DVDs are numbered by year, unrelated to album numbers.
  • Now 2006 was released on UMD as well as DVD.

    Release dates

The release dates mentioned pertain to the United Kingdom. Until the release of Now That's What I Call Music! 90 on 30 March 2015, the release date in Ireland preceded the UK release by 3 days.
However, starting with Now That's What I Call Music! 91 on 24 July 2015, the release dates in the United Kingdom and Ireland have been simultaneous, aligning with the Global Release Day campaign by IFPI, effective from 10 July 2015.

''Now'' re-issues of the original UK numbered series (2018–2024)

For the 25th anniversary of Now in 2009 and the release of Now 100 in summer 2018, the first Now album was re-compiled and re-issued. From the release of Now 102 in 2019 to Now 118 in 2024, the corresponding Now album from 100 volumes prior would be re-compiled and re-issued on double-CD sets on the same day. Due to licensing issues, these re-compiled versions sometimes use alternative mixes such as album versions. Sometimes, tracks are missing where it has not been possible to license the song.
  1. Now That's What I Call Music re-issued on 2-CD, magnetic audio cassette, and a 2-LP vinyl release. All 30 tracks are included.
  2. Now That's What I Call Music II re-issued on 2-CD and a 2-LP vinyl release; all 30 tracks are included.
  3. Now That's What I Call Music 3 re-issued on 2-CD - 28 tracks; "One Love/People Get Ready" by Bob Marley and the Wailers and "Dance Me Up" by Gary Glitter are omitted.
  4. Now That's What I Call Music 4 originally a 15 track CD in 1984, now with all 32 tracks included.
  5. Now That's What I Call Music 5 re-issued on 2-CD - 29 tracks; "This is Not America" by David Bowie and Pat Metheny Group is omitted.
  6. Now That's What I Call Music 6 re-issued on 2-CD - 29 tracks; "It's Only Love" by Bryan Adams and Tina Turner is omitted.
  7. Now That's What I Call Music 7 re-issued on 2-CD - 30 tracks; "Absolute Beginners by David Bowie, "Bang Zoom " by The Real Roxanne and Hitman Howie Tee, and "On My Own" by Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald are omitted.
  8. Now That's What I Call Music 8 originally a 17 track CD in 1986, now with all 32 tracks included.
  9. Now That's What I Call Music 9 originally a 16 track CD in 1987, now with all 30 tracks included.
  10. Now That's What I Call Music 10 28 tracks; "Alone" by Heart and "Here I Go Again" by Whitesnake are omitted.
  11. Now That's What I Call Music 11 28 tracks; "Gimme Hope Jo'anna" by Eddy Grant and "Give Me All Your Love" by Whitesnake are omitted.
  12. Now That's What I Call Music 12 31 tracks; "In the Air Tonight " by Phil Collins is omitted.
  13. Now That's What I Call Music XIII 31 tracks; "A Groovy Kind of Love" by Phil Collins is omitted.
  14. Now That's What I Call Music 14 30 tracks; "Two Hearts" by Phil Collins and "Need You Tonight" by INXS are omitted.
  15. Now That's What I Call Music 15 31 tracks; "Mystify" by INXS is omitted.
  16. Now That's What I Call Music 16 33 tracks; "The Sensual World" by Kate Bush, as well as the CD-exclusive track "French Kiss" by Lil Louis, are omitted.
  17. Now That's What I Call Music 17 29 tracks; "Dub Be Good to Me" by Beats International, "I Wish It Would Rain Down" by Phil Collins, and "Enjoy the Silence" by Depeche Mode are omitted.
  18. Now! That's What I Call Music 18 28 tracks; "The Joker" by Steve Miller Band, "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven" by Phil Collins, "Suicide Blonde" by INXS, and "Fascinating Rhythm" by Bassomatic are omitted.

    Now Dance series (1985–2023)

The original Now Dance series began in 1985 and has been released in a variety of titles, formats, and release frequency. Originally, the series captured extended 12" mixes of dance hits of the time, but from 1991 onwards, all Now Dance compilations featured 7" edits with only occasional extended versions or mixes included. The first two volumes were not released on compact disc, and all subsequent releases were either single-, double-, or triple-disc sets. Unlike the main series, Now Dance were originally titled and numbered by their year of release. The frequency with which they were released also varied from year to year; initially, and most frequently across the series, there would be one Now Dance volume per year, but in 1994 for example, four volumes were released, and in 1996, no Now Dance compilations were released. Towards the end of the series, 3-CD digipak sets were issued, but in 2010, the long-running title was retired, and all subsequent dance-themed Now collections have been issued under the Special Editions series.
In 2021, the original concept of Now Dance was revived with a new series of compilations containing 12" remixes released under the title Now That's What I Call 12" 80s.
In February 2023, 12" mixes all taken from the first three Now Dance compilations, originally released in 1985, 1986 and 1989, were collected on a special 4CD and 3-LP set, Now Dance: The 80s, with artwork inspired by the original Now Dance 86. Fourteen mixes were taken from Now Dance, eighteen mixes were lifted from 86, and sixteen from 89.
  1. Now Dance - Extended Dance Versions of 20 Smash Hits 2-LP/MC only. Partially re-issued in 2023 on CD/LP.
  2. Now Dance 86 - 20 Smash Dance Hits of the Year 2-LP/MC only. Partially re-issued in 2023 on CD/LP.
  3. Now Dance 89 - 20 Smash Dance Hits 2-LP/MC/CD. Partially re-issued in 2023 on CD/LP.
  4. Now Dance 901 - 20 Smash Dance Hits 2-LP/MC/CD
  5. Now Dance 902 2-LP/MC/CD
  6. Now Dance 903 2-LP/MC/CD
  7. Now Dance 91 - 20 Blissful Grooves Single LP/MC/CD
  8. Now Dance 92 Uniquely, 2-LP/2-MC/CD* with 12" mixes,*single CD with abridged track listing and 7" edits
  9. Now Dance 93 - 20 Buzzin' Beats Single CD/MC
  10. Now Dance - The Best of 93 2-LP/2-CD/MC
  11. Now Dance 94 LP/CD/MC
  12. Now Dance 94 - Volume 2 CD/MC
  13. Now Dance Summer 94 2-CD/MC
  14. Now Dance - The Best of 94 2-CD/MC
  15. Now Dance 95 - 40 Ultimate Dance Hits 2-CD/MC
  16. Now Dance Summer 95 Single CD/MC
  17. Now Dance 97 2-CD/MC
  18. Now Dance 98 2-CD/MC
  19. Now Dance 2000 2-CD/MC
  20. Now Dance 2001 2-CD/MC
  21. Now Dance 2001 - Part Two 2-CD
  22. Now Dance 2002 2-CD
  23. Now Dance 2002 - Part Two 2-CD
  24. Now Dance 2003 2-CD
  25. Now Dance 2003 - Part Two 2-CD
  26. Now Dance 2004 2-CD
  27. Now Dance - 41 Brand New Dance Hits 2-CD
  28. Now Dance - 42 Brand New Dance Hits 2-CD
  29. The Very Best of Now Dance 3-CD
  30. Now Dance 2007 2-CD
  31. Now Dance 2008 2-CD
  32. Now Dance Anthems Released in association with Ministry of Sound. 3-CD
  33. The Very Best of Now Dance 2010 3-CD
  34. The Very Best of Now Dance 3-CD
  35. Now Dance: The 80s 4-CD and 3-LP red vinyl selection

    Christmas series (1985–present)

  36. Now - The Christmas Album/Tape/Compact Disc
  37. Now! - The Christmas Album
  38. Now Xmas - Massive Christmas Hits
  39. Now That's What I Call Xmas
  40. Now That's What I Call Xmas
  41. Now That's What I Call Christmas
  42. Now That's What I Call Christmas
  43. Now That's What I Call Christmas
  44. Now - The Christmas Album
  45. Now That's What I Call Christmas 3-CD and 3-LP beautiful white vinyl selection
  46. Now That's What I Call Christmas 4-CD and 3-LP beautiful red vinyl selection
  47. Now That's What I Call Christmas 4-CD and 3-LP beautiful green vinyl selection