Now Dance (EVA, 1986)

Review
“Mirror mirror, mon amour
Send me what I’m waiting for
Pick me up, an image so fine, so fine”.

Now This Is Music was the Dutch equivalent of the Now That’s What I Call Music series. Like its UK equivalent, they also decided to branch out with a separate compilation of 12″ mixes so Now Dance was released on a 17 track double LP just in time for Christmas 1985. A slimmed-down CD version emerged in early 1986. There was no room at the inn for Jellybean – Sidewalk Talk, Princess – Say I’m Your Number One, Propaganda – Duel, David Bowie – Loving The Alien and The Power Station – Some Like It Hot. In addition the CD has a couple of substituted mixes.

It’s a celestial beginning as Tavares give us the Irresistible Angel Mix of Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel. The man at the helm is Ben Liebrand so the 1976 disco number is given a fresh beefing-up for 1985 / early 1986. The ten year treatment just like The Real Thing’s You To Me Are Everything. Grace Jones’ Pull Up To The Bumper was also remixed around the same time; both this track and Heaven Must. . . also ended up on Now Dance ’86 – The 12″ Mixes so it’s nice to have them on CD here.

To war: Paul Hardcastle’s 19 in extended form. Processed speech and a stutter effect, influenced by Afrika Bambaataa. Hardcastle was inspired to create the song after watching Vietnam Requiem and comparing his own life at 19 to those of the soldiers featured: “What struck me was how young the soldiers were: the documentary said their average age was 19. I was out having fun in pubs and clubs when I was 19, not being shoved into jungles and shot at”. The song won an Ivor Novello award and was later parodied by Rory Bremner based on the England Cricket team’s poor performance in the 1984 Test series against the West Indies. It was released by The Commentators, entitled N-N-Nineteen Not Out! and can found on Now That’s What I Call Music 5.

A modern feminist anthem: Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves is the Be Yourself Tonight album take. It’s followed by Tina Turner’s delightful We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) from the soundtrack to Mad Max II. The 12″ mix is magical especially the transition to the sax break. Equally sublime is the long version of David Grant and Jaki Graham’s Mated. More banging for your buck. The 7″s of both can be found on Now That’s What I Call Music 6 along with UB40 and Chrissie Hynde’s duet I Got You Babe.

Scritti Politti’s The Word Girl / Flesh And Blood (Version) is a sparkling treat while Simple Minds’ Don’t You (Forget About Me) is listed as the 4:20 7″ but it’s actually the 12″ cut. You’ll remember both songs from Now 5; the last pig sleeve.
“And no one knows your name”.
The sleeve says West End Girls (Dance Mix) but that’s a lazy error from the LP sleeve. Watch them play a different game with the CD – we actually get the 8:09 Shep Pettibone Mastermix. It’s back to 1983 and more war with U2’s Sunday Bloody Sunday. Remember Lost and Found by DJ Shadow. Finally those shadowy DJs that comprise the Get Fresh Crew steal the show with The Show. Breakin’, poppin’, snares, scratching and beat box.

Favourite tracks
Paul Hardcastle – 19 (Extended Version)

Doug E. Fresh and The Get Fresh Crew – The Show (Full Version)

Lest we forget
Tina Turner – We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) (Extended Version)