September 1983 saw the release of lots of new music in the UK. Hot new signing to the Sire label, Madonna, released her second UK single - the catchy, dance tune 'Lucky Star'. Sadly, it failed to chart, the last time that ever happened for Madonna.

A hot new compilation release, featuring the big hits of the time, also hit the shelves: 'Now That's What I Call Music' - which reached No.3 in the album chart. Not the greatest achievement considering it featured eleven No.1 singles!

However, despite their rather inauspicious beginnings, the two releases marked the beginnings of a series of chart beaters which continue to this day.

Madonna is easily the most successful singles artist the UK has seen since Elvis, and certainly the most consistant. She has released 67 singles to date and she continues to top the charts even 24 years after her debut release. The Now! Music series, now onto it's 65th volume, has spawned international versions the world over and the UK series continues to sell over a million copies of every single issue. In today's climate of No.1 albums only needing to sell 100,000 units to hit the top, and considering the short shelf-life of compilations - that is quite simply staggering.

So - what is the fact of the day here? Madonna, with her record breaking 59 UK Top Ten singles, has NEVER featured on a Now! That's What I Call Music album. Ever!

Even her No.2 hit single duet with Britney Spears, 'Me Against The Music', did not feature on the Now! CD of its time, despite the fact that virtually every other single Britney has released has appeared on the accompanying Now! CD of its period.