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 (CD), magnetic audio cassettes (AC), vinyl (LP), VHS tape, DVD and other short-lived formats. They are categorized by series (country), 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 (CDs) 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 and Ireland were exclusively on vinyl magnetic audio cassette and laserdisc.
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 ended 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 in July 1999, and concluded in April 2001 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.
VolumeRelease datePeak chart positionsCertification UKAlbums UKCompilations1 28 November 1983 1 2 (2018) 3× Platinum2 26 March 1984 1 2 (2019) 2× Platinum3 30 July 1984 1 2 (2019) 2× Platinum4 26 November 1984 2 4 (2019) Platinum5 5 August 1985 1 2 (2020) 2× Platinum6 25 November 1985 1 2 (2020) 4× Platinum7 11 August 1986 1 4 (2020) 2× Platinum8 24 November 1986 1 2 (2021) 4× Platinum9 23 March 1987 1 2 (2021) 2× Platinum10 23 November 1987 1 4 (2021) 4× Platinum11 21 March 1988 1 3 (2022) 2× Platinum12 11 July 1988 1 2 (2022) 2× Platinum13 21 November 1988 1 1 (1989) 4× Platinum14 20 March 1989 — 1 (1989) 2× Platinum15 14 August 1989 — 1 (1989) Platinum16 20 November 1989 — 1 (1989) 3× Platinum17 23 April 1990 — 1 (1990) Platinum18 19 November 1990 — 1 (1990) 3× Platinum19 25 March 1991 — 1 Platinum20 18 November 1991 — 1 3× Platinum21 13 April 1992 — 1 Platinum22 27 July 1992 — 1 Platinum23 16 November 1992 — 1 3× Platinum24 26 April 1993 — 1 Platinum25 2 August 1993 — 1 Platinum26 15 November 1993 — 1 3× Platinum27 28 March 1994 —1 Platinum28 1 August 1994 —1 2× Platinum29 14 November 1994 —1 5× Platinum30 10 April 1995 —1 2× Platinum31 31 July 1995 —1 2× Platinum32 13 November 1995 —1 4× Platinum33 18 March 1996 —1 2× Platinum34 12 August 1996 —1 3× Platinum35 18 November 1996 —1 5× Platinum36 24 March 1997 —1 2× Platinum37 14 July 1997 —1 2× Platinum38 17 November 1997 —1 3× Platinum39 6 April 1998 —1 2× Platinum40 3 August 1998 —1 3× Platinum41 23 November 1998 —1 5× Platinum42 29 March 1999 —1 3× Platinum43 19 July 1999 —1 3× Platinum44 22 November 1999 —1 7× Platinum45 17 April 2000 —1 3× Platinum46 24 July 2000 —1 3× Platinum47 20 November 2000 —1 6× Platinum48 9 April 2001 —1 3× Platinum49 30 July 2001 —1 3× Platinum50 19 November 2001 —1 6× Platinum51 25 March 2002 — 1 3× Platinum 52 22 July 2002 — 1 3× Platinum 53 18 November 2002 — 1 4× Platinum 54 14 April 2003 — 1 2× Platinum 55 21 July 2003 — 1 2× Platinum 56 17 November 2003 — 1 5× Platinum 57 5 April 2004 — 1 3× Platinum 58 26 July 2004 — 1 3× Platinum 59 15 November 2004 — 1 4× Platinum 60 21 March 2005 — 1 3× Platinum61 25 July 2005 — 1 2× Platinum 62 21 November 2005 — 1 4× Platinum 63 10 April 2006 — 1 2× Platinum64 24 July 2006 — 1 2× Platinum 65 20 November 2006 — 1 3× Platinum 66 2 April 2007 — 1 3× Platinum67 23 July 2007 — 1 2× Platinum68 19 November 2007 — 1 4× Platinum69 17 March 2008 — 1 3× Platinum 70 21 July 2008 — 1 3× Platinum 71 17 November 2008 — 1 3× Platinum 72 6 April 2009 — 1 2× Platinum 73 20 July 2009 — 1 2× Platinum74 23 November 2009 — 1 3× Platinum75 29 March 2010 — 1 2× Platinum76 19 July 2010 — 1 2× Platinum77 22 November 2010 — 1 4× Platinum78 11 April 2011 — 1 2× Platinum79 25 July 2011 — 1 3× Platinum80 21 November 2011 — 1 5× Platinum81 2 April 2012 — 1 2× Platinum82 23 July 2012 — 1 Platinum83 19 November 2012 — 1 5× Platinum84 25 March 2013 — 1 2× Platinum85 22 July 2013 — 1 3× Platinum86 18 November 2013 — 1 4× Platinum87 7 April 2014 — 1 2× Platinum88 21 July 2014 — 1 2× Platinum89 24 November 2014 — 1 3× Platinum90 30 March 2015 — 1 2× Platinum91 24 July 2015 — 1 2× Platinum92 20 November 2015 — 1 3× Platinum93 18 March 2016 — 1 2× Platinum94 22 July 2016 — 1 2× Platinum95 18 November 2016 — 1 3× Platinum96 7 April 2017 — 1 Platinum97 21 July 2017 — 1 2× Platinum 98 17 November 2017 — 1 2× Platinum 99 23 March 2018 — 1 Platinum 100 20 July 2018 — 1 Platinum 101 23 November 2018 — 1 Platinum 102 12 April 2019 — 1 Gold 103 19 July 2019 — 1 Gold 104 8 November 2019 — 1 Gold1058 May 2020—1Gold10624 July 2020—1Gold10727 November 2020—1Gold10826 March 2021—1Gold10923 July 2021—1Silver11019 November 2021— 1Gold1118 April 2022—1Silver11229 July 2022—1Silver11318 November 2022—1Silver11414 April 2023—1—11528 July 2023—2—11617 November 2023—1—1175 April 2024—1—11826 July 2024—1—11915 November 2024—1—1204 April 2025—1—12125 July 2025—2—12214 November 2025—2—12317 April 2026—1—12431 July 2026—1—
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 until 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. Now That's What I Call Music (first reissued 2009 for the 25th anniversary, then again on 20 July 2018 to coincide with Now 100) re-issued on 2-CD (gatefold in 2009, jewel case in 2018), magnetic audio cassette, and a 2-LP vinyl release. All 30 tracks are included. Now That's What I Call Music II (2) (12 April 2019) re-issued on 2-CD and a 2-LP vinyl release; all 30 tracks are included. Now That's What I Call Music 3 (19 July 2019) 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. Now That's What I Call Music 4 (8 November 2019) originally a 15 track CD in 1984, now with all 32 tracks included. Now That's What I Call Music 5 (8 May 2020) re-issued on 2-CD - 29 tracks; "This is Not America" by David Bowie and Pat Metheny Group is omitted. Now That's What I Call Music 6 (24 July 2020) re-issued on 2-CD - 29 tracks; "It's Only Love" by Bryan Adams and Tina Turner is omitted. Now That's What I Call Music 7 (27 November 2020) re-issued on 2-CD - 30 tracks; "Absolute Beginners by David Bowie, "Bang Zoom (Let's Go Go)" by The Real Roxanne and Hitman Howie Tee, and "On My Own" by Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald are omitted. Now That's What I Call Music 8 (26 March 2021) originally a 17 track CD in 1986, now with all 32 tracks included. Now That's What I Call Music 9 (23 July 2021) originally a 16 track CD in 1987, now with all 30 tracks included. Now That's What I Call Music 10 (19 November 2021) 28 tracks; "Alone" by Heart and "Here I Go Again" by Whitesnake are omitted. Now That's What I Call Music 11 (8 April 2022) 28 tracks; "Gimme Hope Jo'anna" by Eddy Grant and "Give Me All Your Love" by Whitesnake are omitted. Now That's What I Call Music 12 (29 July 2022) 31 tracks; "In the Air Tonight ('88 Remix)" by Phil Collins is omitted. Now That's What I Call Music XIII (13) (18 November 2022) 31 tracks; "A Groovy Kind of Love" by Phil Collins is omitted. Now That's What I Call Music 14 (14 April 2023) 30 tracks; "Two Hearts" by Phil Collins and "Need You Tonight" by INXS are omitted. Now That's What I Call Music 15 (28 July 2023) 31 tracks; "Mystify" by INXS is omitted. Now That's What I Call Music 16 (17 November 2023) 33 tracks; "The Sensual World" by Kate Bush, as well as the CD-exclusive track "French Kiss" by Lil Louis, are omitted. Now That's What I Call Music 17 (5 April 2024) 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. Now! That's What I Call Music 18 (26 July 2024) 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 (i.e. Now Dance '89). 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.
Now Dance - Extended Dance Versions of 20 Smash Hits (The 12" Mixes) (20 May 1985) 2-LP/MC only. Partially re-issued in 2023 on CD/LP. Now Dance 86 - 20 Smash Dance Hits of the Year (The 12" Mixes) (27 October 1986) 2-LP/MC only. Partially re-issued in 2023 on CD/LP. Now Dance 89 - 20 Smash Dance Hits (The 12" Mixes) (3 July 1989) 2-LP/MC/CD. Partially re-issued in 2023 on CD/LP. Now Dance 901 - 20 Smash Dance Hits (The 12" Mixes) (6 February 1990) 2-LP/MC/CD Now Dance 902 (The 12" Mixes) (16 July 1990) 2-LP/MC/CD