The first compilation, The Hit Factory: The Best of Stock Aitken Waterman, was issued by Stylus Records in 1987.

The album gained a platinum BPI Award and reached No.

When compilation albums were excluded from the main chart on January 14, 1989, the album crossed to the new UK Compilation Chart for the remainder of its run.

The Hit Factory Vol 2 was also released in Japan by PWL in association with Alfa Records.

UK track listing (UK: Fanfare Records/PWL Records HFCD 4) † This track was not included on the LP version of the collection, presumably due to time restrictions.