Now This Is Music 8 – Volume 1 (EVA, 1988)

Review
EVA released Now This Is Music 8 during spring 1987. Like the previous three editions, they decided to put all tracks from the vinyl and cassette onto separate CD releases. These were quite expensive and consequently copies remain reasonably scarce.

Six of the album’s 14 tracks would also feature on contemporary UK compilations such as Now That’s What I Call Music 10 * [T’Pau, Jellybean, Whitesnake], The Hits Album 7 [Eric B. & Rakim] and Now That’s What I Call Music 11 [Johnny Hates Jazz, Belinda Carlisle]. The * meaning that we get the longer Bridge Of Spies version of China In Your Hand and the regular mix of Here I Go Again as opposed to the single and USA remixes respectively.

Not even Bernard Edwards’ bass can save Dalbello’s Tango from inherent ordinariness. Johnny Hates Jazz are a far, far better thing with Turn Back The Clock maintaining eternal melancholic staying power. Labi Siffre’s Nothing’s Gonna Change is a quirky, beat-heavy philosophical number while UB40’s Maybe Tomorrow is a wistful story of hope and love. Elsewhere Jellybean’s The Real Thing is an elongated funk workout in its Just Visiting This Planet form. Making the best of a bad situation is ALF with his story of the long-distance alien on the Ben Liebrand-produced TV tie-in Stuck On Earth.

Maxi Priest’s cover of Some Guys Of All The Luck runs on and on. It’s followed by the joyful Tighten Up from Wally Jump Jr. & The Criminal Element. Produced by Arthur Baker; incorporating Janet Jackson sample When I Think Of You. Equally great – Eric B. & Rakim’s dope Paid In Full. 5:10 of madnesss. What is the source? We go all big hair for Paul Carrack’s overwrought Don’t Shed A Tear and Whitesnake’s ultra dramatic Here I Go Again which runs for 40 seconds longer than the USA Remix on Now 10. The closing track is clearly marked for the dancefloor – Wendy and Lisa’s smooth jam Sideshow.

Favourite tracks
Johnny Hates Jazz – Turn Back The Clock

UB40 – Maybe Tomorrow

Lest we forget
Wally Jump Jr. & The Criminal Element – Tighten Up (I Just Can’t Stop Dancin’)