Is That What I Call Music?

For series two, we're taking one Now album from each decade and seeing how things change over the years. To start with, we're listening to Now That's What I Call Music 7 from 1986. This episode focuses on the first LP, featuring the likes of Pet Shop Boys, Chris de Burgh and... Max Headroom? Can it possibly get more 1980s?

For the last of our "profile" podcasts for a while, we look at Sheffield's hyper-local supergroup (?), The All Seeing I. We already spoke about their version of "The Beat Goes On" (Now 39), but here we look at the follow-up singles "Walk Like a Panther" (featuring Tony Christie) and "1st Man in Space" (featuring Phil Oakey), plus the album Pickled Eggs and Sherbet (and maybe a little bit of I Monster as a bonus). How did an experimental electronica band from a former industrial town break into the pop charts? Nobody knows, but we can all be glad they did.

When we discussed "Amnesia" (Now 39), we touched upon the idea that Chumbawamba have a unique story. Here, we look more closely at said musical tale, from anarcho-punk origins to the later folk years. Mostly, though, we focus on Chumbawamba's unlikely pop career, including the smash hit "Tubthumping", "Top of the World (Olé, Olé, Olé)", "Timebomb", "She's Got All the Friends" and the sublime "(Someone's Always Telling You How to) Behave". Are we stretching the premise of this format by arguing that any of those songs were likely to appear on a Now That's What I Call Music! album? Sure. But then Chumbawamba are one of the least likely bands you're ever likely to discover in the first place, so why not?

We spoke about Prince's randy extravaganza "Gett Off" before (as featured on Now 20), and here we look at the tiny purple genius in a bit more detail. Sadly, Prince only featured on one other Now That's What I Call Music album, with "Thunder" on Now 22, but here we fantasise about which other tracks we wish had appeared. And just generally gush about how much we love Prince. Prince is good.

As we're still working ourselves up to a second season, we're filling in with a few podcasts about artists we've already discussed. In particular, we're looking at artists we might not see again very soon due to not appearing on many Now That's What I Call Music! albums. To start with, we're giving an extra listen to Heaven 17, as featured on Now 1 (Temptation), Now 4 (Sunset Now) and Now 23 (Temptation - Brothers in Rhythm Remix). Plus, we pick a Heaven 17 song we wish had featured on a Now compilation, because it's our podcast and you can't stop us.

So the first series of Is That What I Call Music? is done, but is that going to stop us chatting about pop music? Of course not! And with Eurovision on the horizon, we decide to see what Europe's premier singing competition has contributed to the Now That's What I Call Music series. Pickings are thin, but we spend time with the likes of Love City Groove, Gina G, Imaani, Precious and Loreen. Plus, we weigh up the UK's prospects at Eurovision 2019 with Michael Rice's "Bigger Than Us" (spoiler: we don't stand a snowball's chance in hell).

To finish up the first series of Is That What I Call Music? – a podcast all about the Now That's What I Call Music! albums – we're listening to part two of 1998's Now That's What I Call Music! 39. Can it possibly live up to the first half? Do we have anything new to say about Robbie Williams? How well has Aqua's "Barbie Girl" aged? And is "No Way No Way" the single worst single ever released? Find out all this and more in the episode! Also featuring a cover of Catatonia's "Mulder and Scully" that has been put through a Frank Sidebottom shaped wringer.

For want of new ideas, we return once more to the Now That's What I Call Music! Trivia Box, asking one another questions  as a loose pretext for talking about pop music. This time, we take in both the tragedy of losing Amy Winehouse's immense talent and an entirely different kind of tragedy in Hale & Pace's Comic Relief charity single "The Stonk". Awkward tonal shift ahoy!

Jumping ahead to 1998, in this episode we listen to the first disc of Now That's What I Call Music! vol. 39. From pop titans to indie weirdos, this CD has a little bit of everything on offer, including a blinder of a final track courtesy of Jarvis Cocker and Pulp. So join us for a ride that takes in the Spice Girls, All Saints, Hanson, Space, Janet Jackson and, inevitably, Robbie Williams, plus a cover version of "Insane" by Texas.

We're playing the NOW! trivia game again... This time, we end up chatting about the Simpsons, ska punk, the Stefani siblings and No Doubt. We also give some thought to Bryan Adams' mysterious absence from AllMusic.com (which was preferable to thinking about his music).

The fourth episode of "Is That What I Call Music?", a podcast about the Now That's What I Call Music! albums. We're sticking with Now That's What I Call Music! 20 from 1991 this time, as it's time to try cassette/CD 2. Can it possibly live up to the weirdness of part one? And will we get sued by Don McLean for our thoughts on "American Pie"? Have a listen and find out! Also featuring a banjo cover of "Sit Down" by James.

A brief look at Now That's What I Call Arabia! vol. 10, wherein we find ourselves way out of our depth. We know nothing about Middle Eastern music. We do not speak a word of Arabic between us. So what the hell will we make of a compilation of Arabic-language pop music? The only other thing to say is that if anyone can explain "The Grapes" to us, please email davidsband@gmail.com and let us know what that's all about.

The third episode of  "Is That What I Call Music?", a podcast about the Now That's What I Call Music! albums.  In this one, we jump ahead to Now That's What I Call Music! 20 from 1991. So join us to Get Started with Simply Red, Gett Off with Prince, and Get Ready For This with 2 Unlimited. Also featuring a cover of Erasure's "Love to Hate You".

In our second mini episode of Is That What I Call Music?, we chat about Michael Mulligan's The Story of Now That's What I Call Music in 100 Artists. Released in 2018 to accompany the 100th Now! compilation, it profiles 100 artists that have appeared on the albums over the years. But what secrets does the book reveal? And what do Davids have against Nik Kershaw? Give it a listen and find out!

The second episode of "Is That What I Call Music?", a podcast about the Now That's What I Call Music! albums. In this episode, we look at record/cassette two from 1983's Now That's What I Call Music, the first compilation in the now long-running series. This time, we discuss artists including Tina Turner, The Human League, The Cure and fictional self-help guru Will Powers (the '80s were a weird time for pop music).  Also featuring a cover of Roberta Flack and Peabo Bryson’s “Tonight I Celebrate My Love”. 

The first demi-episode of the Is That What I Call Music? Podcast, which we'll release between the main podcasts. In these episodes, we will ask each other questions from the Now That's What I Call Music! Trivia Box, then have a chat about the songs/artists on the cards. Here, for instance, we discuss a '90s boy band cover version of a Pet Shop Boys song and a mega-hit from 2010 perhaps best known for having a video in which the artist sprays whipped cream from a specially modified bikini. Yup.

The first proper episode of "Is That What I Call Music?", a podcast about the Now That's What I Call Music! albums. And to celebrate this beginning, we go back to where it all started: 1983's Now That's What I Call Music, the first compilation in the now long-running series. This episode covers record/cassette one, featuring artists including Phil Collins, Bonnie Tyler, Heaven 17 and Culture Club.  Also featuring an instrumental cover of Men Without Hat’s “The Safety Dance”.