VA - Now Yearbook 1998 (2025)

This bundle contains:

The NOW Yearbook series is back, taking you on a musical journey through one of the most dynamic years in pop with NOW – Yearbook 1998 – Out February 14th! This 4CD collection features 80 tracks that capture the unforgettable sounds from the year. Whether you’re reliving the hits or discovering them for the first time, this collection brings you the best from the singles charts of 1998.

Disc 1 opens with George Michael’s ‘Outside’, the lead track from his massive ‘Ladies And Gentlemen’ collection, followed by Cher’s global smash ‘Believe’ which held the #1 spot for 7 weeks in the UK, becoming the biggest seller of the year. RUN-DMC vs. Jason Nevins’ dance-floor phenomenon ‘It’s Like That’ also claimed the top spot, cementing itself as an era defining track. The chart-topping ‘Never Ever’ from All Saints along with ‘The Boy Is Mine’ from Brandy & Monica showcases some of the best R&B pop from the year, while the Spice Girls’ ‘Stop’, Billie Piper’s ‘Because We Want To’ and B*Witched’s infectious ‘C’est La Vie’ bring a fresh, vibrant pure pop. With more feel-good smashes from Aqua, Steps, and Ricky Martin, before the disc draws to its close with Meja, Ace Of Base and The Corrs, who enjoyed a huge hit with their cover of Fleetwood Mac’s classic ‘Dreams’.

Disc 2 celebrates the best of ‘98’s alt-pop kicking off with Radiohead, R.E.M., and the Manic Street Preachers’ ‘If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next’, which became their first #1 single. Oasis’ epic ‘All Around The World’, topped the chart and became the longest-running UK #1 single of the year. Jamiroquai enjoyed their first #1, The Cardigans’ ‘My Favourite Game’, Stereophonics’ ‘The Bartender and the Thief’ and Natalie Imbruglias’‘Big Mistake’ were among the years’ big successes for recently established chart hitmakers.

Disc 3 is a celebration of dance, club anthems, and infectious electronic beats – opening with Air and the timeless brilliance of ‘Sexy Boy’. Cornershop’s ‘Brimful Of Asha’ claimed the #1 spot, with a remix by Norman Cook who is up next as Fatboy Slim with ‘The Rockafeller Skank’, and also remixed ‘Renegade Master’ for Wildchild which became a defining dance floor anthem once again in 1998. Faithless’ ‘God Is A DJ’ continued their run of hits, while Sash!, Vengaboys, Dario G, and Bus Stop & Carl Douglas enjoyed enjoyed crossover dance-pop smashes. More R&B/pop follows from Robyn, Ultra Naté, M People and Melanie B who became the first of the Spice Girls to achieve a #1 away from the group – with ‘I Want You Back’, a collaboration with Missy Elliott….and the disc signs off with another collaboration – between Texas and Wu-Tang Clan (& Robert F. “Price Rakeem Diggs) on a reworking of ‘Say What You Want’, extending the title to ‘Say What You Want (All Day Every Day)’.

The final disc delivers a combination of massive hit ballads and infectious pop anthems. Robbie Williams’ iconic ‘Angels’ became a career-defining track, while Céline Dion’s ‘My Heart Will Go On’ topped charts worldwide and became one of the best-selling singles of all time. Boyzone’s ‘No Matter What’ became their biggest hit, and Aqua hit #1 for the third time with ‘Turn Back Time’. Steps, 911, Cleopatra and Des’ree all made big impacts on the charts, and Catatonia, The Beautiful South and Fat Les all enjoyed huge hits, plus 1998 saw the return of Culture Club to the charts after a twelve year absence. This celebration of 1998’s hits closes with a run of the years’ biggest pop ballads including from the Backstreet Boys, K-Ci & JoJo, B*Witched and signing off with the Spice Girls with their #1 ‘Viva Forever’…

NOW – Yearbook 1998 - a celebration of the diversity, creativity, and magic of the year in pop!