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Celebrating all things related to the variously compiled world of pop. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. NOW 5 - Summer '85: Graeme Thomson

    16H AGO

    NOW 5 - Summer '85: Graeme Thomson

    The Big Pig is back! As July, turned into August in 1985, the world was still basking in the afterglow of, what was already being called the event of the decade. No, not the ceasing production of the Sinclair C5, or even the latest episode of Blind Date with our Cilla. Live Aid had defined the coming together of all things pop for a generation, in the name of raising money for African famine. And those bands and artists who graced the stages in London and Philadelphia (well, perhaps not Adam Ant, as we say) were feeling the seismic effect of not only the public’s affection - but also their pocket money.  Duran Duran, Paul Young, Simple Minds, U2 and others (still, sorry , not you Adam) were enjoying plenty of success. And the loudest and most exciting shirt of the summer did not belong to BBC’s Mark Ellen or David Hepworth, it was the iconic NOW pig. Yes, NOW That’s What I Call Music 5 not only provided THE soundtrack to our summer in 1985, it also gave us the most gloriously techicoloured album cover. How exciting was that list of stars? And joining me for this episode to share his memories of this classic summer of music is journalist and author Graeme Thomson. And what can you expect? Duran Duran climb the Eiffel Tower. UK funk and soul makes a move for the charts through the fantastic sounds of Fine Young Cannibals, Simply Red and Jaki Graham. Graeme shares why 80s Bowie deserves attention, how Marillion (and a band T-Shirt!) made an early impact on his listening, what Jim Kerr told him about Don’t You Forget About Me and why U2 needed to evolve to survive.  But significantly, join us as we discuss how compilation albums take us back, tell real stories of a period and revel in how important pop music for all of us in our formative years and has the ability to stay with us as we move through our lives. And enjoy Graeme’s reflections on his latest book, In Another World: The Four Seasons of Talk Talk, and the iconic sounds of a quite unique band. Step aside from life in 2026 for an hour or so, and join us back in a time when it really was great to be alive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 14m
  2. NOW 12 - Summer '88: Tom Doyle

    APR 17

    NOW 12 - Summer '88: Tom Doyle

    Oh, that’s bad! No, that’s good! If you know your 80s dancefloor bangers, you’ll recognise that S-Express vocal insert and will already be donning your sparkly bellbottoms, possibly even getting right-on one (matey) because it’s Summer 1988!  What was making the headlines? (shuffles papers, looks directly into camera in a serious way): Poll tax announced!Gay rights activists invade the six o'clock news and mildly fluster Sue Lawley!Glasgow Garden festival takes place! Every school in Scotland goes on a trip (not like that!)England finish bottom of their Euro88 group having lost all three games! (Sports presenter wink to camera) But, BUT, amidst all of this and many other exciting things, POP was still very important indeed and - hurrah - NOW That’s What I Call Music 12 was here to make a splash! (Yes, the one with the pool on the cover, ahem). And a young, impressionable starry-eyed journalist from Dundee was starting his glittering career at Smash Hits, in London Town! With the BIG names! Yes, even Tiffany and Glenn Medeiros! Yes, head back to a very eventful summer for acclaimed music journalist, author and Smash Hits alumnus Tom Doyle! Join us as we dive into the swimming pool of pop (enough already!) and meet amongst others Climie Fisher having a picnic, Carol Decker playing poker, Bananarama being a trio (just) and Jermaine Stewart not being in Shalamar. And on top of this, get ready for some fantastic 1988 anecdotes from Tom’s giddy time at Ver Hits (and possibly Patches before that!).  Wet Wet Wet on an open-top bus in Glasgow with lots of rock n roll mouthwash!Aswad’s recreational horticultural escapades!Sitting next to Hollywood royalty (well, Richard Gere) at the Nelson Mandela concert!Rubbing shoulders with U2 AND David Bowie in a factory! (Possibly, no actually!)Tom’s first singles reviews - and what was his single of the fortnight?? (it’s not on NOW12) And also stay around for lots of fabulous pop reminiscing about the truly wonderful Danny Wilson, the truly bonkers Bill Drummond and the truly hairy (!) Glenn Medeiros.  All of this - delivered in Tom’s inimitable fashion - and so much more that we could just about fit it into Natalie’s Pink Cadillac (oo-er!) Summer 1988 - what a lark eh pop kids? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 23m
  3. NOW 37 - Summer '97: Marc Burrows

    MAR 18

    NOW 37 - Summer '97: Marc Burrows

    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..? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 4m
  4. NOW 10 - Autumn ‘87: Sue Charles

    FEB 24

    NOW 10 - Autumn ‘87: Sue Charles

    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! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 11m
  5. NOW 23 - Autumn '92: Josh Widdicombe

    JAN 15

    NOW 23 - Autumn '92: Josh Widdicombe

    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! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    46 min
  6. NOW Smash Hits of the 80s: Justin Lewis

    JAN 1

    NOW Smash Hits of the 80s: Justin Lewis

    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! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 3m
  7. NOW - The Christmas Album at 40!

    12/04/2025

    NOW - The Christmas Album at 40!

    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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    50 min
  8. NOW Yearbook ‘80: Andrew Harrison & Mark Wood

    11/26/2025

    NOW Yearbook ‘80: Andrew Harrison & Mark Wood

    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…. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 7m
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Celebrating all things related to the variously compiled world of pop. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Pop Rambler
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    69
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Pop Rambler
  • Show Website
    Back to NOW!

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