This is Music (1984 - 1986)


After Chevron shelved "Parade of Pops", all was dormant on the pop covers front until the spring of 1984. Apparently in response to the successful “Now That’s What I Call Music”, which was launched in late-1983, Chevron embarked on a new series called “This Is Music”, its title highlighting the similar concept (although “Now” had the original hits of course). The albums were sold on cassette only and credited to Sound Sensation or Various Artists, sometimes with fictional names against each track.

The series was running apace in 1984, but only one volume appeared in 1985 and one more the following year. Meantime, Chevron began another series called "Hits Hits Hits", which arrived in the gaps between installments of "This Is Music" (see separate page for details).

Interestingly, Chevron issued an end-of-year collection called "Top Hits of the Year" for both 1984 and 1985, continuing a sub-series which dates right back to 1971, when Windmill were in control of "Parade of Pops"!

Information and images courtesy of Ian Byrne.


Volume 1 - (CHV 301)    Apr 1984



It's A Miracle / (When You're) Young And in Love / A Love Worth Waiting For / 99 Red Balloons / The Reflex / Footloose / Robert De Niro's Waiting / I Want To Break Free / It's Raining Men / Dancing Girls

Comments: Credited to Sound Sensation.

Volume 2 - (CHV 307)    May 1984



Let's Hear It For The Boy / (When You Say You Love Somebody) In The Heart / Love Games / You Take Me Up / Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) / Automatic / Cherry Oh Baby / Hello / What Do I Do / P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)

Comments: Credited to Sound Sensation.

Volume 3 - (CHV 310)    Jul 1984



Careless Whisper / Self Control / Some Guys Have All The Luck / When Doves Cry / Sunglasses / Agadoo / It's A Hard Life / What's Love Got To Do With It / Down On The Street / Two Tribes

Comments: Credited to Various Artists.

Volume 4 - (CHV 326)    Oct 1984



The War Song / Ghostbusters / Purple Rain / Drive / I Just Called To Say I Love You / No More Lonely Nights / Missing You / The Lucky One / If It Happens Again / Penny Lover

Comments: Credited to Various Artists.

Volume 5 - (CHV 335)    Dec 1984



We All Stand Together / Love Light In Flight / Round And Round / Valotte / The Riddle / Everything Must Change / Fresh / I Should Have Known Better / Invisible / Teardrops

Comments: Credited to Various Artists on the front cover, but the insert gives a range of fictitious credits for each track: Bryan MacNeill, Soul Express, Sound Sensation, Vince Robbins etc.

Volume 6 - (CHV 348)    Sep 1985



Dancing In The Street / I Wonder If I Take You Home / Take Me Home / Tarzan Boy / There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart) / Part-Time Lover / Holding Out For A Hero / I Got You Babe / Running Up That Hill / Angel

Comments: Credited to Various Artists on the front cover, but the insert gives a range of fictitious credits for each track: RockPalace, Candy, Nick Peters, Sound Sensation  etc...

Volume 7 - (CHV 368)    May 1986



Spirit In The Sky / Invisible Touch / On My Own / Greatest Love Of All / Sledgehammer / Holding Back The Years / Live To Tell / Lessons In Love / There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry) / Bad Boy

Comments: Credited to Sound Sensation. Note subtle change in cover design: the yellow and black records are supported on stilts!


End-of-year collections

1984: Top Hits of the Year (CHV 328)



Relax / I Should Have Known Better / Careless Whisper / The Reflex / Hello / I Just Called To Say I Love You / 99 Red Balloons / I Feel For You / Two Tribes / Freedom

Comments: This album contains three tracks not included in the main series: “Relax”, “I Feel For You” and “Freedom”. ("I Feel For You" would surface on "Hits Hits Hits" volume 1 however.) Credited to Sound Sensation.


1985: Top Hits of the Year (CHV 358)



The Power Of Love / Take On Me / Dancing In The Street / Love And Pride / Into The Groove / 19 / Move Closer / Frankie / A Good Heart / I Know Him So Well

Comments: Cover photo had previously been used on “Parade of Pops” CHVP 22, in 1981. This album contains just one track from the "This Is Music" series, which was largely dormant in 1985: “Dancing In The Street”, and another from "Hits Hits Hits": "The Power Of Love". Credited to Sound Sensation.

Historical note: This album completes a long-running title for the end-of-year reviews, which dates back to 1971. Windmill had used it every year from 1971 to 1975, and Chevron used it every year from 1978 to 1985.