Now That's What I Call Music! is a series of various artists compilation albums released in the United Kingdom and Ireland by Sony Music and Universal Music which began in 1983. Spinoff series began for other countries the following year, starting with South Africa, and many other countries worldwide soon followed, expanding into Asia in 1995, then the United States in 1998.
Telstar Records was a British record label that operated from 1982 to 2004.
Hits - also commonly known as The Hits Album - is a long-running compilation album series containing contemporary chart music. It originally ran in the United Kingdom and parts of Europe for over twenty years from 1984 until 2006. It was compiled as a joint venture, variously between the compilation arms of the Sony Music, RCA/BMG, and Warner Music groups to rival the Now That's What I Call Music series that had launched a year earlier in 1983, compiled by rival companies EMI and Virgin. Initially, the Hits brand was arguably as popular as its main rival and all of the first eight volumes achieved at least a platinum BPI award, with several of the very early albums going multi-platinum.
Dino Entertainment was a firm specializing in the compilation market of the late 1980s and early 1990s, releasing records such as the That Loving Feeling and Energy Rush range of CDs, in competition with Telstar Records, Arcade Records and K-Tel.
On the Radio: Greatest Hits Volumes I & II is the first greatest hits album by American singer Donna Summer, released on October 15, 1979. It was her fourth consecutive double album, and also made her the first person ever to take three consecutive double albums to the number one spot on the U.S. album chart. This would become Summer's third multi-platinum album to date.
The Essential Alabama was a compilation album that chronicled the music of the country music band Alabama. Issued as part of BMG International's "The Essential" series, the album was released in June 1998.
The Hits Album, or Hits 1 as it is often called, is a compilation album released by CBS and WEA in November 1984. The album was released as a rival to the already successful Now That's What I Call Music series which EMI and Virgin Records had launched in November 1983. The Hits Album reached No. 1 in the UK Top 100 Albums chart for seven weeks and remained in the chart for 36 weeks. This album kept Now 4 from the coveted No. 1 spot over Christmas 1984 – the only Now album in the original series not to reach No. 1 in either the UK Album Chart or the UK Compilations Chart.
The Hits Album 3 or Hits 3 is a compilation album released in the UK by and WEA Records and CBS Records in November 1985. It followed up the extremely successful previous volumes Hits 1 and Hits 2. Although those albums both reached #1, Hits 3 peaked at #2, despite a strong track-listing including a rare appearance of a Madonna track on a compilation album and a further 20 top ten hits.
The Hits Album 6 is a compilation that was released in July 1987 by CBS, WEA and BMG in the UK. It was a successful album and reached #1, also achieving a platinum BPI award. It is also the second Hits Album to be released on compact disc, with 17 tracks from the standard 32 track LP/MC. A music video compilation was also released on VHS by CBS/Fox Video.
The Hits Album 7 or Hits 7 is a compilation album that was released in November 1987 by CBS, BMG, and WEA. It reached #2 in the UK Albums Chart. This was the first in the Hits series to be released on double-CD. It contained 32 tracks, 15 of which appeared on the VHS collection, The Hits Video 7.
Hits 8 is a 33-track compilation album released in the summer of 1988 by CBS, WEA and BMG Records in the UK. It was released as a double LP, MC and CD. Also known as The Hits Album 8, the compilation was successful and reached #2 in the UK Albums Chart and achieved a Platinum BPI award.
Hits 93 Volume 2 is a compilation album released by Telstar Records and BMG in Spring 1993. It was the second in a series of four albums collecting the biggest hits of the year, much like the original series called The Hits Album which ran from 1984 to 1991, although Hits 93 was formatted as a single-CD/MC collection.
Hits 93 Volume 3 is a compilation album was released on 16 August 1993 and was released by Telstar Records in association with BMG. The CD and cassette releases were subtitled "22 Hot Summer Hits". The LP vinyl format featured 20 tracks.
Hits 93 Volume 4 was the final compilation in a series of four albums collecting the biggest hits of 1993. It was released by Telstar Records and BMG, and it charted at #2 in December 1993.
The Hits Album is a compilation album released by BMG, CBS and WEA in December 1988 and is the ninth volume of the long-running Hits compilation series.
The Hits Album 10 or Hits 10 is the tenth release of the Hits compilation series, compiled by BMG, CBS and WEA. It was released in the UK on 22 May 1989. With this release, the compilers returned to the tradition of a volume issue number and the revival of artwork used from Hits 6 to Hits 8, with the issue number forming a central graphic against a black background. It was a successful album and reached number one on the UK Compilation Album chart for six consecutive weeks and achieved a Platinum sales award.
Monster Hits or Hits 11 is the eleventh release of the Hits compilation Series. It was released on 20 November 1989 in the United Kingdom and it debuted at number two on the UK Compilation Chart. The album was issued on vinyl, double cassette and double compact disc and featured 32 tracks.
The Hit Pack is a compilation that can be seen as a continuation to the Hits compilation series; therefore, it is also called Hits 13 and The Hits Album 13 on some music streaming services, such as Spotify. It was originally issued by BMG, CBS, and WEA in December 1990 and reached number 2 on the UK Top 20 Compilations Chart. The album was released as a 21-track CD, while the cassette format contained 24 tracks.
The Hits Album is a compilation album compiled by Sony Music TV, BMG, and Cookie Jar Records, and released in the UK in August 1991. The album is considered an extension of the Hits series which originally launched in 1984.
Hits 94 Volume 1 was the first and only compilation in the Hits 94 series. In 1993, there were 4 volumes of the Hits series, however, the series was discontinued after this release. The album was released on LP, CD and Cassette by Telstar Records and BMG, and it charted at #2 in March 1994.
