When I look at the track listing for "Now! That’s What I Call Music 19", I immediately know it dates from 1991. My memories of that period are mixed. On the one hand, there were extraordinary things happening in music—dance music in particular—and in youth culture more broadly. It was also a time when I discovered nightclubs. On the other hand, I was also having to deal with more grown‑up milestones such as learning to drive (which I managed) and passing exams (which I didn’t). This album seems to mirror that collision of worlds I was experiencing.
"Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash enjoyed renewed success after being used in a television advertisement—Levi’s jeans, as memory (and a quick check) confirms. I’ve now reached an age where a song that’s ten years old still feels almost new, but back in 1991 it felt like this song had been dredged up from ancient history.
It's a similar story for the next track "She's A Woman" by Scritti Politti in which a Beatles track is resurrected by the former pop idols alongside reggae artist Shabba Ranks. Everything about this was dull and uninteresting to me at the time and despite my new found love for Scritti Politti, I still don't find much merit in this particular track.
Where this album comes alive is with the next two tracks. "You Got The Love" by The Source featuring Candi Staton is now considered something of a dance classic and I have fond memories of hearing it during my early nightclub adventures. However, even at this early stage I was aware this song wasn't quite what it seemed and it took me a long time (and access to the internet) before I finally understood its confusing provenance. As I understand it, the song was originally recorded by Candi Staton and a funk/soul group called The Source in 1986. The acapella of this track was then mixed over a house track called "Your Love" by Jamie Principle. This bootleg began to circulate and became something of an underground hit. Having secured the rights to release the bootleg, an English DJ called John Truelove decided to make his own version and adopted the band name The Source in the process. Confusing stuff.
Next up is "3AM Eternal" by The KLF. I'm pretty sure there is a whole generation of middle aged men in the UK who look back on the days of "Stadium House" with rose tinted spectacles—and why not? The KLF hit a sweet spot where they were intriguingly weird but produced highly infectious dance music. Whilst their career was relatively short, they burned bright. I knew it was all over when they threw a dead sheep on stage at the Brits and pretended to shoot everyone with machine guns. In retrospect I realise they secured their legacy that day: "Always leave them wanting more."
There's more dance tunes with "Gonna Make You Sweat" by C&C Music Factory and "(I Wanna Give You ) Devotion" by Nomad—but 808 State take the crown here with the magnificent "In Yer Face". Massive Attack dropped the 'attack' during the Gulf war, a decision that was equally mystifying as it was pretentious, so "Unfinished Sympathy" is credited accordingly. On the flip we are subjected to MC Hammer, Vanilla Ice and a terrible charity record. The fact that "Sadness Part I" by Enigma is head and shoulders above everything else on this side tells you all you need to know.
On the second record we hear the rather turgid "Get Here" by Olita Adams and Rick Astley's 'comeback' (so it felt at the time anyway) called "Cry For Help". I have always hated "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" by The Righteous Brothers and was annoyed when it resurfaced in 1991. There is literally nothing redeeming about this song and I will be happy to never hear it again.
The final side features another ancient track that was dredged up by the charts called "All Right Now" by Free. I have no idea why a twenty year old song should become popular again but I suspect it will have been related to a TV advertisement or film (*checks* yes, it was an advert for chewing gum). Chris Isaak and Chris Rea then add some more middle aged guitar tunes before the more palatable INXS contribute "Disappear". There's more rock from Thunder and The Railway Children before Queen deliver the coup de grâce. All the points here are for The KLF and 808 State. Not what I call music 1/5
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