Eternal Flame

The U.K.'s Now series features timely selections of pop hits and provides a convenient way for casual pop fans to stay on top of the most popular singles. The sets are almost always naturally well-rounded, encompassing dance music, R&B, hip-hop, teen pop, and rock. And though they might expire, in a sense, since they're based on trends in pop music, they work as more than adequate snapshots of specific points in time. The 49th volume, released in 2001, includes blink-182's "The Rock Show," Radiohead's "Pyramid Song," Ian Van Dahl's "Castles in the Sky," Nelly's "Ride with Me," Britney Spears' "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know," OutKast's "Ms. Jackson," and Destiny's Child's "Survivor." ~ Andy Kellman