The Hits Album, or Hits 1 as it is often called, is a compilation album released by CBS (Now Sony BMG) and WEA in November 1984. The album was released as a rival to the already successful Now That's What I Call Music series which EMI and Virgin Records had launched in November 1983. The Hits Album reached No. 1 in the UK Top 100 Albums chart for seven weeks and remained in the chart for 36 weeks. This album kept Now 4 from the coveted No. 1 spot over Christmas 1984 – the only Now album in the original series not to reach No. 1 in the UK Album Chart (to 1989).
It was released on double LP and cassette and launched the Hits Series.
Hits 1 features three songs which reached number one on the UK Singles Chart: "Freedom", "I Feel for You" and "Careless Whisper".
Track listing Record/Tape 1 Side 1 (1) Wham! – "Freedom" Howard Jones – "Like to Get to Know You Well" Alison Moyet – "All Cried Out" Paul Young – "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down" Alphaville – "Big in Japan" Laura Branigan – "Self Control" Ray Parker Jr. – "Ghostbusters" Michael Jackson – "Thriller"
Record/Tape 1 Side 2 (2) Chaka Khan – "I Feel for You" Billy Ocean – "Caribbean Queen" The Jacksons – "Body" The S.O.S. Band – "Just Be Good to Me" Deniece Williams – "Let's Hear It for the Boy" Miami Sound Machine – "Dr. Beat" Sister Sledge – "Lost in Music" Prince and The Revolution – "Purple Rain"
Record/Tape 2 Side 1 (3) George Michael – "Careless Whisper" The Cars – "Drive" Chicago – "Hard Habit to Break" Cyndi Lauper – "All Through the Night" Thompson Twins – "Sister of Mercy" The Stranglers – "Skin Deep" Everything but the Girl – "Each and Every One" Sade – "Smooth Operator"
Record/Tape 2 Side 2 (4) ZZ Top – "Gimme All Your Lovin'" Van Halen – "Jump" Kenny Loggins – "Footloose" Adam Ant – "Apollo 9" Meat Loaf – "Modern Girl" Rod Stewart – "Some Guys Have All the Luck" Shakin' Stevens – "Teardrops" Neil – "Hole in My Shoe"
References Collins Complete UK Hit Albums 1956-2005. Graham Betts. 2005. .