Swing it, shake it, move it, make it!

…is exactly what the nation was doing in 1997. Yes, that’s right, Channel 5 was here and fiddling with that aerial to try and get a reception to see The Jack Docherty Show was what we were all up to. Robbie Williams even changed the lyrics to his breakout hit ‘Old Before I Die’ in honour of this revolutionary fifth channel twiddlesome pastime. 

But of course this was but a fuzzy, interference-driven distraction compared to what was going on in, what the kids were still calling, ‘The Charts’. And OF COURSE the aforementioned lyrics were from the FOURTH NO1 in a row from those Spice Girls (AND it was a double A-Side, Mama!). That’s right we were gripped by Geri’s Brit Awards conquering Union Jack dress (for the correct reasons, flag waving nonces), but the girls were proving to be more popular than Swampy’s tenancy under the A30 (another one for there kids) with En Vogue, Eternal, Ultra Naté, Gwen Stefani and a host of others reigning supreme in the hit parade. 

And there was so much more. As we see as we take out our CDs (possibly trapped in a broken 90s case) from summer 97’s NOW 37!!

Pop was back, Back, BACKSTREET! (Really?!? - Ed)

Everyone’s favourite sunshine trio Hanson were MMMBop-ping (!), Backstreet Boys were taking their shirts off (!!) No Mercy were taking a break from their restaurant shifts (possibly) and George Michael was, as always, just being incredible.

However, HOWEVER…

Over on CD2, there was - an identity. 

Britpop was either clinging on by its bitten and possibly chipped fingernails, recycling some flat champagne from their first album, staring at the sun (checks notes, avoids further U2 puns) or - more interestingly - evolving. And, boy, there were quite the classic run of tracks as The Verve, Supergrass, blur, The Seahorses and Radiohead provided some iconic memories. 

No Gallagher brothers on NOW37? No fear!

(Actually, I think you’ll find they were gearing up for the autumn release of Be Here Now, but the less said etc…)

And joining me on this golden revisit of the pop landscape of NOW37 and providing more memories than a hungover Labour MP on the 2nd of May is writer, comic and all round 90s pop kid Marc Burrows.

As his (quite wonderful) Britpop stand up show tours the nation, discover which compilation started Marc’s musical journey, marvel at how a power chord changed his life, ruminate at what ‘indie through the sausage machine’ sounds like, consider why we’re picturing The Outhere Brothers and The Vengaboys on the A52 somewhere near Mablethorpe, revel in the NME review of Paranoid Android (it’s worth waiting for) and nod your head knowingly as we explore why the Britpop party ending maybe wasn’t such a bad thing.

No, turn the aerial the other way - I think I can start to see something that may be Family Affairs. Or is it Milkshake Monkey..?

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Welcome back to 1987!

The decade of decadence, extravagance, elegance and other words that end in -nce was powering its way towards the later end of its cultural tenure. And whilst there is no doubt that perceived wisdom (or, the internet as we now call it) would tell us that 1987 was the year of big hair, big shoulder pads, and big mobile phones, those of that were there can tell a different story too.

The year of POP aspiration was also one of smoke and mirrors. The big suits and big statements across our TV and radio were often wonderfully deceptive. Whilst the music industry had loadsamoney to spend, those acts climbing the charts and filling the pages of Smash Hits were doing so often in the most homemade and, frankly subversive way possible. And in doing so, the genres were flowing, the hits were coming and our pop landscape was as colourful and diversive as we could possibly have wished for.

Step forward then the leading compilation series (other slightly inferior ones were OBVIOUSLY available) to deliver its tenth volume.

I know, double figures!!

Now, That’s What I Call Music 10 shines brightly with its neon signage casting a glittering pop beacon over the wasteland of…..(enough with the imagery, get to the songs, Ed!)

Step forward also the utterly imperial Pet Shop Boys, the incredibly sophisti-poptastic Curiosity Killed The Cat, the completely covered in plaster-of-Paris Hue and Cry and many other to lead the hits-filled charge into Autumn ‘87. 

And joining me to provide her very own unique view of this pop snapshot is TV and radio presenter Sue Charles.

Join us as we find out about Sue’s journey across Radio1 AND 2, from 'Newsbeat' and 'Steve Wright in the Afternoon' to reporting behind the scenes at TOTP and to becoming one of the most familiar voices and faces across BBC Wales. 

And of course, dive deep back into the pop culture of 1987 that includes The Style Council, Casey Kasem, Andy Warhol, Shrewsbury(!), Sir William of Idol, Cliff, claymation Jazz, the glorious return of Squeeze and some genuine love for one of Wales’ musical legends Mike Peters.

All of this plus some amazing missing in action ‘87 stars and not a single mention of Michael Fish! 

Ain’t no doubt about it, this is The Real Thing!

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How do you begin to describe 1992?

Well, Her Majesty called it her Annus horribilis, for a number of reasons. Quite possibly including the three weeks Boyz II Men spent at number one, possibly not. But whatever the reason, we can safely say that the twelve months of glittering pop culture that we call '92 were definitely diverse and, quite frankly, bonkers.

As we've ascertained in this pop parish before, that post-Baggy, pre-Britpop (to throw in some 'labels') landscape was a bit of a hinterland. Genres blurred, one hit wonders came and went, Wet, Wet Wet spent a third of a year at No1 and Right Said Fred even existed. But do not be fooled, listeners! There is plenty to rediscover amongst the decade's shrapnel and 1992 is the place to be in this episode's 90s scene!

And our special guest here is comedian, author and podcast host Josh Widdicombe.

Josh co-hosts the hugely popular podcast Parenting Hell with Rob Beckett, which has somehow become so successful that they undertook a live arena tour in 2023 and released a book which topped the Sunday Times Bestseller Charts. He also presents the football podcast, QUICKLY KEVIN: WILL HE SCORE? And on TV, amongst others, Josh co-hosts in the multi-award-winning Channel 4 series The Last Leg, and, lest we forget, triumphed on the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special in 2024. 

And now in 2026, Josh sees the launch of a new podcast - MUSEUM OF POP CULTURE - where he takes us through the wildest and most entertaining stories of unhinged genius, world dominating success and shaming failure.

Join us we re-explore 1992 and the 3rd NOW album of that very year - it's only NOW23 everyone!

In 45 minutes more hit-filled than Noel's House Party (possibly), we celebrate Tasmin Archer, Dr. Spin, Bjorn Again and others! We wonder why '92 was so full of old songs, remixed songs, Satellite football channel related songs (well, one actually) and explore important cultural questions such as what is an indent nobble, what was the KLF's greatest track, does Mick Jagger remember the 90s, who would win in a fight between Longpigs & All saints and how many songs in the history of recorded music really feature the word BOOM?

And, AND, once again do nothing for international relations with Jon Secada.

Buckle up, this is 1992 baby!

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Welcome to the utterly swingorilliant Autumn 1987! Frightwigs ahoy! Pass around the rock’n’roll mouthwash because the Ver Kids knew that pop was back, Back BACK!

Actually, what this all really means is that in 1987 the nation’s favourite fortnightly pop magazine and the nation’s favourite compilation series had - quite literally - come together and created the greatest album in the world EVER (possibly).

NOW/Smash Hits of the 80s (subtitled 32 swingorilliant hits of the 80s) arrived in our records shops - complied and conceived by the wonderful team at Ver Hits no less! 

There was even, EVEN a pull out lyrics booklet in the magazine too! Huzzah!

But looking back from our futuristic space stations in 2026 back nearly 40 years, how does this mid 80s compilation of 80s hits stand up? Tune in listeners for an hour celebrating the likes of Adam and the Ants, Haircut 100, Duran Duran, Mel and Kim and many other to find out!

And joining me for this episode is the author of Into the Groove: The 1980s: The Ultimate Decade in Music History, and all round pop fanatic, Justin Lewis. 

Discover how this album was compiled, revisit the wonderful Smash Hits sleevenotes, argue with us about the sequencing and the missing tracks, and marvel at how bonkers the world in 1987 really looked, especially when it was looking back on that most eclectic of decades, the 80s!

Down the dumper? Not a bit of it!

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Welcome to a special festive episode of Back to Now. 

We first revisited Now - The Christmas Album in 2020. You remember 2020, don’t you? It was a Christmas that needed some light to overpower some rather dark shades.

We did a track by track commentary. We shared thoughts on the classic Christmas songs. The sequencing, the rediscoveries. We shared personal - often emotional - memories. And of course there were plenty of interesting facts and anecdotes.

And now in 2025, this iconic Christmas collection is 40 years old. So what better time to revisit and celebrate this classic album, that has not only stood the test of time, it has gone on to shape our seasonal listening and an ever increasing selection of compilation perennial presents!

And joining me, is the guest from that first Christmas episode, it’s the ghost of Christmas past, present and quite probably future - pop music’s very own Ian Wade!

Like a carefully mulled fine wine, NOW’s commitment to Christmas has matured and developed wonderfully into a new set of albums - CDs, coloured vinyl and SLEEVENOTES! The team have sprinkled festive cheer over this iconic branch of the world famous compilation series and reset it back in the canon of Christmas, exactly where it should be.

So, not a retread of the first 1985 album. Consider this your special bonus disc.

This new episode for 2025 is more a new pair of winter boots, an updated wintry landscape to explore, some new party guests to invite in and share an eggnog with. A festive bonus cracker, an extra chocolate in the Quality Street box, an undiscovered Christmas episode of Top of the pops on the iPlayer!

Grab yourself a festive refreshment then and join us we discuss a smorgasbord of Christmas musical delights. How the albums have evolved over the years, what is Christmas adjacent, Cher, sleeper track legacy, George Thorogood (!), The HITS Christmas album that never was, the emotional pull of certain songs and the hope of what a Jesus & Mary Chain Christmas album could sound like (yes, really!)

Merry Christmas Everyone.

And Thank You.

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Gonna use my…imagination.

1980 saw the UK chart taking some incredible leaps forward into the new decade. As the 1970s biggest superstars, Pink Floyd, stepped aside as the last chart topper of that decade and ushered in something fresh, new and suitably brassy. As always, the pop landscape would continue to be varied, diverse, sometime a bit bonkers but of course nothing short of fascinating. Would we have it any other way?

Welcome to the eighties. And as viewed through the lens of the ultimate compilation collections of NOW - the yearbook, extra volume and vault, it’s a fascinating opportunity to revisit that iconic year 1980. A year of punk, pop, disco, funk, new wave and electronica. Could there possibly be a more transitional and eclectic year? 

Special guests and pop aficionados Mark Wood and Andrew Harrison turn the clock back to explore an amazing twelve months of pop culture. The new decade was exploding into a world of new possibilities, new technology, new trends. And whether it was through TV, film, magazines or of course music, this is a year you really need to return to. 

Let’s take a chance and fly away, somewhere….

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Welcome to the 21st Century!

Or did you call it Y2K? And if so, can I ask WHY?

Yes, pop fans and curators of variously compiled pop, we had survived the End of the Century. The millennium bug turned out to be nowhere near as life threatening as as we were told. No planes fell from the sky, no computer meltdowns and no return to the dark ages overnight. In fact the most terrifying thing about December 31st 1999 was the turgid TV schedules as we watched the Royal Family trying to join hands with Tony Blair, or worse - the cost of drinks and cloakroom queues in the nightclubs.

So, as we entered the third millennium - with Cliff Richard still intact and fresh from his (nearly 4th) Festive chart topping prayer - how was the pop world faring? 

Despite the seeming lack of guitars (SO NINETIES), the charts were bursting with new, fresh and mostly young shiny talent!

And Bryan Adams.

And Tom Jones.

And John Lennon.

BUT, apart from these ‘legacy artistes’, pop was back, Back, BACK. NOW 45 was here!

Scandinavian superstar producers were serving up Britney, Backstreet, Aqua and, er, Lene for our delectation.  

Steps, S Club and Atomic Kitten were waving the Brit flag in their crop tops and combats (even H). Solo Spice was blossoming quicker than the viewing figures for Castaway (not hard) with Mel C and Geri leading the way. 

RnB and Garage was freshening up the charts. 

And of course EVERYONE was queuing in the airport terminals for another summer of dance and there is plenty of that on these two shiny discs. 

Bu t there is SO much more to this dazzling 45th volume of variously compiled pop. And taking us through it is GENUINE CONTRIBUTOR to the album - electronic producer and musician John Matthews aka Ricardo Autobahn aka the Cuban Boys! Yes, the Hamster Dance song as featured here!

Join us as we climb aboard our futuristic Y2K hoverboards and not only revisit NOW45, discover the full story of how The Cuban Boys topped John Peel’s Festive Top 50 and almost toppled the might Cliff and Westlife in the final Official Chart of the millennium. All from their bedroom. 

You couldn’t make it up!

All of this and Daphne and Celeste! 

Ooh (and quite literally) Stick You!

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Is this the way they say the future’s meant to be?

It’s November 1995. Pop was pulling in many different directions. But predominantly, it was swaggering its way towards the end of the century in a confident, Union Jack draped fashion. Whilst dance music, boybands, TV based retro crooners and a range of other co-stars were vying for our well earned pounds in the likes of HMV and Virgin, it was the guitar driven sounds of Britpop that were sitting at the heart of most CD wish lists as Christmas approached. 

As always, the team at NOW were on hand to make sense of the latest and greatest hits from 1995 and successfully curate another selection of Top Chart Hits for us. Volume 32, graced with a wonderful wintry sunsheeeine (sorry) setting, welcomed listeners into two CDs (or cassettes or even vinyl!) containing forty of them. Legacy acts such as Queen, Meat Loaf, U2, Tina Turner and Cher provided the familiarity. A sparkling range of great (and, lets be honest, a few not so great) dance bangers including N-Trance, Berri and The Original. But for most purchasing or unwrapping NOW32 in 1995, it was the allure of the likes of Pulp, Radiohead, Cast, Paul Weller AND, of course, the chart battle of blur and Oasis that makes this particular volume of our favourite compilation so iconic. 

A moment in time?

A moment when Britpop demonstrated that it has outgrown NME and was now on the Nine O’ clock news.

Joining me for this episode is music and travel journalist Emma Harrison.

Together, come back with us THIRTY years to revisit a time when Pulp were the biggest pre-selling artist on Island records, when Jimmy Nail was a genuine pin up for 12 year old girls(!), when Bono and The Edge were writing Bond themes and something called Sacred Spirit was breaking out of aromatherapy rooms into the (very low end of the) charts!

Rediscover some genuine 90s classics from the likes of McAlmont & Butler and Everything but the Girl. Revel at how wonderful the HELP compilation album still is. Amaze yourself at a time when Christmas TOTP was presented by Bjork and Jack Dee (and they got away with it, spectacularly) and as always, argue with the presenters and their ‘missing’ track selections from 1995. 

And celebrate (yes, CELEBRATE) the total lack of Robson and Jerome!

Sometimes, NOW really do get it completely right.

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It’s the end, the end of the Seventies.

It was a decade that had started with Edison Lighthouse and ended with Another Brick in the wall. After 221 number one singles, the decade that had given us everything from Bowie to Bell bottoms, from Chopper bikes to Chiquitita, Glam to Punk, and Sapphire to Steel, was closing down - and at a sensible hour too!

On the 31st December 1979, Kenny Everett asked the (more discerning) viewers on ITV, if he would indeed make it 1980. With the iconic help of Roxy Music, David Bowie, The Boomtown Rats and many more, he just about crossed over into that new decade. But really listens, the future was already with us.

And yes, 1979 did seem rather grim - a winter of discontent, political upheaval, TV strikes and terrorism. But isn’t this exactly the kind of period when popular culture and significantly POP, POP, POP MUZIK comes to save us all? The kids were indeed, alright!

So, in the company of some very special guests - singer/songwriter and pop legend Nick Heyward and Record Collector’s very own Daryl Easlea - as we revisit the cultural tsunami that is the NOW Yearbook 1979. Rediscover a glittering embarrassment of 7” smashes from the likes of Sparks, Chic, Blondie, Squeeze, Ian Dury & the Blockheads, Roxy Music. The list, just like the glorious pages of Daryl’s 1979 diary goes on and on.

As well as sharing his fabulous boxset, 1993–1998: The Epic & Creation Years, Nick tells us about how important 1979 was in shaping his own musical journey. From the early days of (what would become) Haircut 100, to rediscovering kitchen sink somewhere up a junction, to defining a look and sound as the seventies morphed into the eighties. 

We explore the sounds of 1979 - from XTC to The Knack, from Rainbow to Sad Cafe (yes, really!), how punk was evolving into New wave, which was evolving into New Pop which… (yes, we get the idea: Ed)

And also how video wasn’t exactly killing the radio star, but through visuals a new age was really dawning for pop. 

So, lets take a One Way Ticket, One Step Beyond some Parisienne Walkways (we’re not keeping these in! Ed)

1979.

Wow, indeed.

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Poor old Johnnie Ray.

Actually, I wonder what the heart wrenching vocal superstar of the fifties made of his starring role in the biggest selling single of 1982, thirty years after his own chart topping run? Did anyone ever ask how he felt watching the footage of his younger self in the video for Come On Eileen intertwined with Kevin’s dungaree festooned Emerald Express on a London street corner. Perhaps, as he was famous for doing, he cried. I hope Mr Rowland at least sent him a thank you note.

So, welcome back to 1982!

Were you there in those now gone days of pop perfection?

Did you dance in the ra-ra skirt to Duran Duran at the school disco?

Did you shed a tear as The Jam called it a day on the new Channel Four pop weekly The Tube, even though Paul knew well(er) what the next chapter held for his newly formed council. 

Or perhaps the Smash Hits of over forty years ago exist for you in playlists and radio schedules discovered since. Either way, the NOW Yearbook (and Extra volume) welcomes you with a neon smile to bring together over 140 hits, memories, misses and otherwise that sum up a stellar twelve months of pop. 

And as 1981’s steely electronic winter defrosted, a new pop was emerging. Duran, Spandau, Culture, Club, Wham!, Haircut 100 and a dazzling cast of many more were turning the colour back up on their (three channel) TV sets. 

Whilst the technology that gloriously gave us the new romantic sounds of 1981 was still driving the decade forward, suddenly we were taking ourselves, well, a bit less seriously. Pop was fun again as seen in the ever evolving, cheerleading extravaganza that was Top of The Pops. The charts were indeed alive to the possibilities of much more. Trevor Horn’s hit production machine was digitising our delights with the sounds of ABC, Dollar and even the Appalachian hip-hop of Malcolm McLaren’s Buffalo Gals. Seventies survivors such as Hot Chocolate, Roxy Music, ABBA, Marvin Gaye and others were upping their game and embracing - gasp - synthesisers! And you know what, it was sounding and looking (thanks to glossy videos) AMAZING.

And across the pond in the US of A? Well, we were importing them our own brand of fabulous pop and they were sending us ROCK in the form of Steve Miller, Survivor and J Geils - but even that was, well, shiny and new. What was indeed going on?

To quote Smash Hits (snip!) editor David Hepworth, there were, he said, “no patterns” to pop in 1982.

Join chief editor of electrictyclub.co.uk Chi Ming Lai and author of 1984: The Year Pop Went Queer Ian Wade as we dive back into a fascinating twelve months of pop as chronicled in the NOW Yearbook 1982. Amongst many other things, discover which star(s) were upsetting the Musician’s Union, find out more about the language of Smash Hits and how we need it more than ever, why old was the new New, learn about the NEXT BIG genre that you need in your life (Elegant Futurism!), why Germany was giving us EVERYTHING, and discover what Haysi Fantaysee were really up to on TOTP (if you dare!).

The 1982 Yearbook - Hi Fidelity indeed! 

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