Now That's What I Call Music Smash Hits is a compilation album released on 3 October 1987. The album is part of the (UK) Now That's What I Call Music! series and is a collaboration with Smash Hits magazine, a successful pop music-based magazine at the time. It was conceived, written, and designed by the Smash Hits staff, and the liner notes are presented in the magazine's offbeat style.
The album features popular UK Singles Chart hits from 1980 to 1987, in rough reverse chronological order, starting with more recent songs (four songs for each year) and ending with older ones. Many of the older songs had not been featured on any Now albums before, as the series did not start until 1983
A companion issue of the magazine was released at the same time, featuring pictures and lyrics to all the songs on the album.
The front cover of the vinyl and audio cassette releases feature the words 32 Swingorilliant Hits of the 80's. For the compact disc release the number was changed to 31, as Michael Jackson's "One Day in Your Life" is missing from the CD version. A VHS tape was also released featuring 26 music videos of songs from the compilation.
Neil Tennant, who features on side 1 of the album as part of Pet Shop Boys, worked as assistant editor of Smash Hits magazine in the early 1980s.
Smash Hits went on to release their own various artists compilation albums. This is the first album in the UK Now! series with a 1980s theme. Another 3-disc compilation called Now That's What I Call the 80s was released in 2007.
Smash Hits is available on Apple Music as a playlist.
Track listing CD/record/tape 1 (1987–1984) #TitleArtistYear releasedGenre1Down to EarthCuriosity Killed the Cat 1986Sophisti-pop2If You Let Me StayTerence Trent D'Arby 1987R&B3RespectableMel and Kim 1987Dance-pop4Labour of LoveHue and Cry 1987Sophisti-pop5Rain or ShineFive Star 1986Pop6West End GirlsPet Shop Boys 1984Synth-pop7Happy HourThe Housemartins 1986Indie rock8Holding Back the YearsSimply Red 1985Sophisti-pop9Take on Mea-ha 1984Synth-pop10You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)Dead or Alive 1984Synth-pop11There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)Eurythmics 1985Pop12Everybody Wants to Rule the WorldTears for Fears 1985Synth-pop13Wake Me Up Before You Go-GoWham! 1984Bubblegum pop14Smalltown BoyBronski Beat 1984Synth-pop15Master and ServantDepeche Mode 1984Synth-pop16Careless WhisperGeorge Michael1984Pop
CD/record/tape 2 (1983–1980) #TitleArtistYear releasedGenre1TrueSpandau Ballet 1983 Search "Spandau Ballet". "True" is then listed with its original release date.2Red Red WineUB40 19833Hold Me NowThompson Twins 19834The LovecatsThe Cure 19835Come on EileenDexys Midnight Runners and the Emerald Express 19826The Look of LoveABC 19827Do You Really Want to Hurt MeCulture Club 19828Save a PrayerDuran Duran 19829Under PressureQueen & David Bowie 198110One Day in Your LifeMichael Jackson (not on CD release) 198111Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)Haircut One Hundred 198112Ghost TownThe Specials 198113Going UndergroundThe Jam 198014Baggy TrousersMadness 198015Antmusic (full version with cold ending)Adam and the Ants (previously unreleased) 198016AtomicBlondie 1980
References
See also Now That's What I Call Music discography Now That's What I Call Music Now That's What I Call Music (original UK album) Now That's What I Call Music (original U.S. album) Now That's What I Call Music (Asia)