Back in what are quite literally the old days there was a service where you could phone a number advertised in the back of Smash Hits, and listen to records. It was kind of ludicrous, as lo-fi a listening experience as you could get, but also unbelievably exciting. Instead of waiting for some prattling DJ to play the song you wanted to hear, you could just get it on your phone. If only there was something like that now. Wait, there is! Kind of.

We’ve had the Now That’s What I Call Music app on our iPhone 4 for a month now, and can’t fault it. For just £5 for 5 weeks (yes, that’s a pound a week but they then give you a week free and we can’t do the maths) you can listen to any track in the current UK Top 40.

The useful bit is that, having updated each week (we found it took about 50 seconds on our home wi-fi, and not much longer on BT Openzone) you then have those 40 tracks to listen to whenever, wherever, instantly with no streaming. And there are no Spotify type ads, spoiling your Katy Perry.

There’s an actually interesting and relevant music news-ticker too, that we liked. And should we wish to buy any of the tracks we’re listening to it’s just one click through to iTunes (and similarly one click to share on social networks).

The only downside is that most of the music is ruddy awful, but that’s your fault for buying too many Olly Murs records. We know it was you. 

It’s available for iPhone, Android and BlackBerry. The app is free to download and there’s a free two week trial too.

Now if only there were lots of different charts to choose from, like in the old days. We miss the old days.

Visit www.nowtop40.com for a free 2 week trial or text NOW to 66968