Taken literally, C86 was simply a cassette given away with the (British) New Musical Express in 1986 (hence (C)assette 86). However, over time it came to represent a movement within the British indie scene, sometimes derided for its tweeness (a defining characteristic), but very much of its era. Many of the bands often referred to as being 'C86' weren't even on the compilation, such as The Poohsticks , Talulah Gosh, The June Brides or the BMX Bandits who in 1989 released an album called C86. Furthermore, many of the bands who were on the compilation had a much harder punkier sound that was completely at odds with the jangly guitars and strong melodies of the 'C86' bands.

In his book Time Travel, respected pop historian Jon Savage traced the origins of C86 and Twee pop to the Velvet Underground's eponymous third album. Perhaps a more relevant influence was the tweer side of punk rock: bands such as The Television Personalities and the Swell Maps. However, C86 was also rooted in the post-punk scene of the early 1980s especially jangly guitar bands on the Postcard label such as Orange Juice and Josef K. The movement segued into the indie guitar bands of the early 1990s, with bands like The Wedding Present continuing to record until the late 1990s. Its influence was somewhat discreet among the bands who came to the fore during the Britpop era and the less melodic bands that emerged as part of the 'New Rock Revolution' that came after the post-Britpop hiatus of the new century.

The Pastels remain influential on many bands that avoid the glare of the mainstream music press, while Primal Scream plough an altogether different furrow these days. The Soup Dragons subsequently took a more indie-dance direction (scoring the biggest hits of their career in 1990) and McCarthy went on to form the nucleus of the critically-lauded Stereolab.

The full tracklisting was:

1. The Age of Chance - From Now On, This Will Be Your God
2. A Witness - Sharpened Sticks
3. Big Flame - New Way
4. The Bodines - Therese
5. Bogshed - Run To The Temple
6. Close Lobsters - Firestation Towers
7. Fuzzbox - Console Me
8. Half Man Half Biscuit - I Hate Nerys Hughes ( From The Heart )
9. The MacKenzies - Big Jim
10. McCarthy - Celestial City
11. Miaow - Sport Most Royal
12. The Mighty Lemon Drops - Happy Head
13. Mighty Mighty - Law
14. The Pastels - Breaking Lines
15. Primal Scream - Velocity Girl
16. The Servants - Transparent
17. Shop Assistants - It's Up To You
18. The Shrubs - Bullfighter's Bones
19. The Soup Dragons - Pleasantly Surprised
20. Stump - Buffalo
21. The Wedding Present - This Boy Can Wait
22. The Wolfhounds - Feeling So Strange Again