Hits 1
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.
It was released on double LP and cassette and launched the Hits Series.
Hits 1 features three songs which reached number one on the UK Singles Chart: "Freedom", "I Feel for You" and "Careless Whisper".Track listing
;Record/Tape 1 Side 1
- Wham! – "Freedom"
- Howard Jones – "Like to Get to Know You Well"
- Alison Moyet – "All Cried Out"
- Paul Young – "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down"
- Alphaville – "Big in Japan"
- Laura Branigan – "Self Control"
- Ray Parker Jr. – "Ghostbusters"
- Michael Jackson – "Thriller"
;Record/Tape 1 Side 2
- Chaka Khan – "I Feel for You"
- Billy Ocean – "Caribbean Queen"
- The Jacksons – "Body"
- The S.O.S. Band – "Just Be Good to Me"
- Deniece Williams – "Let's Hear It for the Boy"
- Miami Sound Machine – "Dr. Beat"
- Sister Sledge – "Lost in Music"
- Prince and The Revolution – "Purple Rain"
;Record/Tape 2 Side 1
- George Michael – "Careless Whisper"
- The Cars – "Drive"
- Chicago – "Hard Habit to Break"
- Cyndi Lauper – "All Through the Night"
- Thompson Twins – "Sister of Mercy"
- The Stranglers – "Skin Deep"
- Everything but the Girl – "Each and Every One"
- Sade – "Smooth Operator"
;Record/Tape 2 Side 2
- ZZ Top – "Gimme All Your Lovin'"
- Van Halen – "Jump"
- Kenny Loggins – "Footloose"
- Adam Ant – "Apollo 9"
- Meat Loaf – "Modern Girl"
- Rod Stewart – "Some Guys Have All the Luck"
- Shakin' Stevens – "Teardrops"
- Neil – "Hole in My Shoe"
