NOW That's What I Call An Era - ONE MORE TIME: 1996-2007 (4CD)

NOW Music proudly presents the next release in the ‘ERA’ series with NOW That’s What I Call An Era: One More Time: 1996-2007, celebrating the explosion of pure pop that dominated the charts in the late ‘90s and the first years of the new millennium. This collection brings together 84 tracks across 4CDs, showcasing the biggest stars, unforgettable singalongs and defining hits from one of pop’s most successful eras.

CD1 opens with Britney Spears’ era-defining debut smash hit (and influence for our title) ‘...Baby One More Time’, before moving to huge #1s from S Club, Five and Girls Aloud. Pop anthems from Sugababes and Christina Aguilera lead into global boy band classics from Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC - plus a UK #1 for A1, ahead of Atomic Kitten’s timeless #1 ‘Whole Again’ and Blue’s debut hit ‘All Rise’. The party continues with pure pop classics from Vengaboys, Steps, Aqua and A*Teens before the huge international success of t.A.T.u.’s ‘All The Things She Said’. The disc closes with a trio of breakthrough British pop stars as Billie Piper, Busted and McFly all celebrated their debut hits before leading into Ronan Keating’s ‘Life Is A Rollercoaster’, and finishing with Westlife’s enduring ballad and third chart-topper ‘Flying Without Wings’.

CD2 opens with the song that launched a global phenomenon as the Spice Girls burst onto the scene in 1996 with ‘Wannabe’, followed by more #1s from All Saints with ‘Never Ever’ and Take That, with ‘How Deep Is Your Love’, the last single from their original run. Feel-good, fun pop from Boyzone, B*Witched, Hanson, Cleopatra and S Club Juniors feature ahead of Hear’Say’s chart-topping debut ‘Pure & Simple’ – which won the massive ‘Pop Stars’ TV talent contest. Honeyz and Samantha Mumba are up next leading into the second half of the disc which includes an irresistible fusion of pop and R&B from The Pussycat Dolls, O-Town, Jordan Knight and Blazin’ Squad, before a solo success from Rachel Stevens and #1s from Liberty X and Billie Piper. The collection closes with three of the era’s biggest solo stars as Robbie Williams’ ‘Millennium’ became his first chart topper, Gareth Gates’ ‘Anyone Of Us (Stupid Mistake)’ his second, and Will Young’s #1 ‘Evergreen’ became the UK’s fastest selling debut ever in the wake of his win on the TV sensation ‘Pop Idol’ bringing Disc Two to a memorable finish.

CD3 opens with a trio of the era’s most iconic international pop smashes, Backstreet Boys  with ‘I Want It That Way’, Britney Spears’ ‘Oops!...I Did It Again’ and Ricky Martin’s ‘Livin’ La Vida Loca’. Dancefloor favourites from Las Ketchup, Vengaboys, Alice Deejay, Alcazar and A Touch Of Class capture the pop spirit of the era before O-Zone’s ‘Dragostea Din Tei’ – which hit #1 across Europe including France, Germany and Spain. Aqua and A*Teens celebrate the success of Scandinavian pop and Dana International along with Gina G had huge hits with their Eurovision songs. Adam Rickitt and Kavana feature before the collection moves on to some of the new Millennium’s most enduring pop anthems with Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s ‘Murder On The Dancefloor’, Scissor Sisters’ ‘I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’’, MIKA’s ‘Grace Kelly’ and Natasha Bedingfield with ‘These Words’ before heading back to the late ‘90s and a couple of #1 ballads from B*Witched and Martine McCutcheon completing a packed disc.

CD4 rounds off the collection with an uplifting celebration of more of the era’s shiniest pop favourites, beginning with Westlife’s soaring #1 ‘You Raise Me Up’ before anthemic covers from Steps and A1, plus timeless earworms from Spice Girls and S Club. Defining ‘00s gems – and second appearances from Sugababes, Girls Aloud and Rachel Stevens lead into boy band favourites from 911, Five and Blue, while Samantha Mumba and Atomic Kitten keep the run of singalongs going. The final section features a Queen smash reimagined by McFly, Robbie Williams’ massive hit ‘Rock DJ’ and Busted’s ‘Thunderbirds Are Go’, before a powerhouse ballad from Leona Lewis along with chart gold for Shayne Ward and Will Young. Boyzone’s 1998 #1 ‘No Matter What’ is the first of a pair of stellar ballads closing the album… with the other, Take That’s triumphant comeback single ‘Patience’ which hit the #1 spot ten years after the bands’ original run – and provides the perfect finale to an unforgettable celebration of pure pop treasures.

From global superstars and chart-topping favourites to enduring pop anthems that defined a very special time in music, NOW That’s What I Call An Era: One More Time: 1996-2007 is the ultimate soundtrack to one of pop’s most unforgettable periods.