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Post by acidburn on Feb 10, 2008 1:46:41 GMT 1
I have added more facts about Bananarama here, this time I'm doing a full discography of all they're single releases, but I won't posting all they're singles in a single thread, I'll doing them in separate threads, like for now I've posted the singles from 1981 to 1984 for now and rest will follow soon.Aie A Mwana Banananarama's very first single release before this point They were encouraged to put their own band together while playing around with instruments in ex-Sex Pistols Paul Jones and Steve Cook's rehearsal room in Denmark Street. At this point the girls decided against playing intsruments and became a vocal group and this track was one of they're earliest recordings. This not very well known track is actually a cover version of a group called Black Blood, Bananarama's version was given to a small record label Demon Records and the song was released in September 1981, the single peaked at #92 in the charts due to the fact that there was no music video and little or no airplay. It Ain't What You Do was creditied to The Fun Boy Three with Bananarama featured which proved to be a success peaking at #4 in January 1982 this inevitably thrust Bananarama very quickly into the limelight. It Ain't What You Do was originally a jazz song performed by trumpeter Sy Oliver back in 1939, and the Fun Boy Three turned it into a unique blend of ska and pop. Really Saying Something After the enormous success of It Ain't What You Do, Bananarama endeavoured to release their version of The Velvette's Really Sayin' Somethin' which they had been working on, prior to their duet with the Fun Boys. The collaboration wiht The Fun Boy Three was so successful, that they contributed backing vocals to Bananarama's next single, and appeared in the accompanying video. Really Saying Something was released in Febuary 1982 peaking at #5 and spent 10 weeks in UK charts. Shy Boy After the success of they're last 2 singles Bananarama were directed to successful song-writers and producers Steve Jolley and Tony Swain who were sharing a great deal of success with bands like Imagination and Spandau Ballet (and later Alison Moyet) and this was the first track they did with them, released in July 1982 and reached #4 in the charts giving the group they're third top 5 single in 6 months. It was also they're first single to dent the American charts peaking at #83. Cheers Then was Bananarama's first self penned single and their first attempt to release a ballad. But unfortunately along with poor radio promotion resulted in the single flopping badly, released in December 1982 and charted at #45 and spent 7 weeks in the charts. Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye) After the dismal response to the Cheers Then single, London Records decided that another cover was needed to put Bananarama back into the charts. The chose song was a rendition of Steam's 1970 US #1 Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye) which has been subsequently covered by many other artists. Fortunately this worked in they're favour released in February 1983 and reached #5 putting them back in the charts, they're first album "Deep Sea Skiving" was released shortly after this. Cruel Summer is certainly one of the most prolific Bananarama songs - it was released in July 1983 and charted at a respectable #8 and stayed in UK charts for ten weeks. More success for the single came later when the track was used prominently in the soundtrack for the hit movie The Karate Kid in 1985. This propelled the song into the US top ten peaking at #9, therefore breaking them in the USA this was also the first single released from they're 2nd album "Bananarama". Robert De Niro's Waiting the 2nd single taken from they're 2nd album, this was one of they're more lyrically challegned songs about rape and obession, released in March 1984 and peaked at #3 quickly becoming a big seller, the song was also released in America where it peaked at a disappointing #95 but it did lead to the band to getting to meet Robert De Niro himself as he heard the song and loved it. To this day this track remains one of Bananarama's best loved hits in the UK along with Cruel Summer. Rough Justice The third single released from they're 2nd LP, released in a time where artists wrote songs about poverty and famine was popular and plus the girls were going through a serious phase in an attempt the show the press and critics that they weren't just bimbos making pop songs. Released in May 1984 and peaked at #23 in the charts. The Wild Life is one of the few singles that doesn't feature on any of they're albums, but this was atually featured on the American version of the "Bananarama" album, this track was also exclusively for the movie soundtrack of the same name. The Wild Life was only released in USA in November 1984 and peaked at #70. Hot Line To Heaven The 4th and final single released from they're 2nd album "Bananarama", again tackling a serious lyrical topic, this time about drugs this again one of they're moodier tracks and didn't quite match the success of they're other singles from the album, Released in November 1984 the USA got "The Wild Life" single release and the UK had this one resulting in flopping badly at #58, due to this the single didn't get released in any other country. Coming next I'll posting they're single releases from 1985 to 1988, so please post your comments and tell me what u think
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Smurfie
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Post by Smurfie on Feb 10, 2008 17:43:36 GMT 1
Great commentary Acidburn, thanks for this. Some shocking single covers there! What were they thinking of with the cover art on Cheers Then?
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Post by acidburn on Feb 11, 2008 19:38:06 GMT 1
Here's some more singles facts about Bananarama, part 2 with singles from 1985 - 1988Do No Disturb comes nine months after they're last single release, the girls returned to Jolley and Swain to record new material. Released in August 1985 and peaked at #32 and spent 6 wks inside the charts, and a rethink was required as the band considered jacking it in, but they decided to stay together and recorded most of they're album with Jolley and Swain. Do Not Disturb was the first track they recorded for the album and was basically put out to show the public that they were still around, to this day Bananarama dislikes this track. VenusVenus is Bananarama's most prolific and successful songs which they continue to include in their regular club appearances. The song was one of their earliest rehearsal songs. It sat in their repertoire for nearly five years, until they decided to get professional in 1985. Bananarama recorded their third album with Jolley & Swain, and requested to cover Venus with the album: Jolley & Swain refused believing they could not improve it. In an inspired move, Bananarama sought out fledgling producers Stock, Aitken & Waterman who had UK chart success with Dead Or Alive's NRG classic You Spin Me Round. Banananarama eventually got their way and recorded Venus. The single was released in May 1986 and reached #8 in the charts and stayed in the charts for 13wks, Venus was also a success worldwide went #1 in America a feat they never acheived in the UK and Top 10 in 21 countries, to this date this remains they're biggest worldwide hit. More Than Physical After the overwhelming success of Venus, Bananarama returned to Stock Aitken & Waterman to produce their new single More Than Physical, the third single taken from "True Confessions", remixed from it's original version given brash synthesized horns, looped vocal samples and an unmistakable pop beat. Despite Bananarama's more glamourous new image which was also showcased in they're last 2 videos, More Than Physical failed to emulate the success of its predecessor, when it peaked at #41 (spent five weeks in UK charts) when released in August 1986. Part of the reason for More Than Physical's poor chart action was a result of Bananarama's inability to do extensive promotion for the single due to Keren's pregnancy. A Trick Of The Night The 4th and final release from "True Confessions"Bananarama originally wanted to release the song as the first single from the True Confessions album, but the record company felt that it would not sell and opted for some uptempo singles to precede its issue. The single was first released in America where it peaked at a dismal #76 in late 1986, but delayed in the UK until February 1987 to coincide with a BBC documentary. This documentary was called In At The Deep End and outlined the stages of how a music video was created through the eyes of a novice. Bananarama were supposed to use the resultant video to promote the A Trick Of The Night single, but hated it so much, they used another video clip to promote the single overseas. The single reached #32 and spent 5 weeks in the UK charts. I Heard A Rumour the first single to be taken from the "WOW" album, released in July 1987 and reached #14 in the UK charts, spending 9 wks on the charts and became a big seller. The song was even better received in the USA where it peaked at #4, and was included in the soundtrack for the Fat Boys debut movie The Disorderlies. Love In The First Degree Love In The First Degree was a title that Siobhan invented for a song during the recording of their fourth album Wow with producers Stock, Aitken and Waterman (the song was co-written by Bananarama & S/A/W). Love In The First Degree stands as Bananarama's most successful single in the UK selling over 300,000 copies and earning a gold disc, but Venus stands as they're biggest international hit. Released in September 1987 and reached #3 spending 12 weeks on the charts. Part of the success of the Love In The First Degree single is atrributed to its peculiar b-side track Mister Sleaze which was often marketed as a double A side. For the U.S. release, PolyGram records sought to issue I Can't Help It as the second single from Wow, instead of Love In The First Degree but both charted poorly in comparison to their predecessor I Heard A Rumour by stalling in the high 40s. Also, the sleeves for the singles were interchanged, so that the UK sleeve for I Can't Help It was supplanted onto the US single for Love In The First Degree. To add to the inconsistency, the b-sides were also swapped so that Ecstasy was flip side for Love In The First Degree when issued in the US in April 1988 - two months after Siobhan announced her departure from the band. I Can't Help It The third single released from WOW, released in December 1987. Promoting I Can't Help It was difficult due to Siobhan's ballooning pregnancy (and wish to be near Dave overseas) hampering her ability to join Sarah & Keren in the UK. This single would turn out to be the last single with Siobhan; who officially left two months after it was released to develop a solo career as Shakespear's Sister. The single was well received in England and peaked at #20 in the UK charts (6 weeks in UK charts), and was the first Bananarama single to be issued as a CD-single. I Want You BackThe first single issued after the departure of founding member, Siobhan Fahey, was the aptly titled, I Want You Back. This was the fourth single to be issued from the successful Wow album, and the single captured both Siobhan's departure, and interest in new Bananarama singer, Jacquie O'Sullivan. The single was remixed and Jacquie's vocals were added. The most notable difference was the replacement of the lines "don't go away" in the album version to the more Kylie-esque "I-I-I want you back". Released in March 1988 and peaked at #5 in the UK charts spending 10wks in the charts. Love Truth And Honesty The first single to lifted from they're Greatest Hits Collection, released in August 1988 and reached #23 in the UK charts and spent 8 wks on the charts. This is infact the only song that new member Jacquie co-wrote there were 2 other songs she wrote but never released during the 4 years in which she was a member and this is also they're last song to date to chart in USA peaking a mere #89. Nathan Jones was the last single to be taken from the WOW album and also featured on the Greatest Hits Collection. Released in November 1988 and reached #15 in the charts spending 9 wks on the charts. It's release was inspired after the announcement of Bananarama as the most successful all-girl British group. The song was originally performed by The Supremes. Nathan Jones was issued as a tribute to The Supreme's and features a visual tribute in the I Want You Back video. Initially the song was recorded for the Wow album (including Siobhan on vocals), but after the issue of the Greatest Hits Collection, it was re-recorded to include Jacquie's vocals and completely overhauled to be suitable as a single. The next lot of single releases from 1989 - 2005 will be coming soon, so please give your opinions and thanks to all the comments this forum has recieved.
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Smurfie
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Post by Smurfie on Feb 12, 2008 21:17:23 GMT 1
Oh, much more my Bananas era. I have lots of these on 7 and 12 inch, though could never quite work out why I ended up with three copies of Love Truth and Honesty. I'm interested in your bit about The Trick Of The Night video! I recall a TV programme, but its long disappeared in my memory which channel/name etc, but I seem to remember they made a documentary about the making of the video of this song. It could have been possibly made for the BBC (?) I haven't seen the video for ages (or I think at all), but remember a bit on the programme where they were being filmed walking past a brick wall at night, in time to the tune in long coats (again ??). Anyway, thanks for this AB.
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Post by acidburn on Feb 14, 2008 22:38:45 GMT 1
Here's the final part of Bananarama's singles discography from 1989 - 2005. Help In 1988, French & Saunders recorded a Christmas Special episode that included a skit which was a parody of Bananarama - including a rather close-to-the-bone documentary of their recording a Motown song (Bananarama actually released The Supreme's Nathan Jones, but in the parody Lananeeneenoonoo sing a cover of Martha and The Vandelles Jimmy Mack), and interviewing antics. Prior to its showing on television the skit was sent to Bananarama; and rather than being offended by the skit - they loved it! This led to discussions for recording a track for England' Comic Relief charity fund (that coincides the UK red nose days). These discussions culminated in the recording of the Beatles' 1965 US#1 song Help with all proceeds going towards charity (2/3 to famine relief and 1/3 to homelessness, disability and substance abuse centres in England). The resulting single was issued in February 1989 and reached #3 in the charts (9 wks spent inside the charts. To date this is they're last ever Top 10 hit. Cruel Summer '89 To concide with they're world tour, Cruel Summer was remixed and re released in June 1989 and peaked at #19 and spent 6 wks in the charts. The 1989 re-release version is unique as the seven inch version features two additional lyric lines that were not previously incorporated in the original song version: "Who can I find while I am trapped here inside these four walls". These extra lyrics were added after the instrumental break, and perhaps reinforces the message of claustrophobia that Siobhan had so miserably failed to communicate in the original lyrics. Only Your Love released in June 1990, after a lengthy break, after the world tour ended and Bananarama took a well deserved holiday. Bananarama decided to work with indie producer Youth instead of Stock Aitken and Waterman, but they did work with Stock Aitken And Waterman on 2 tracks for the album and with Youth on the rest. Only Your Love was chosen as the first single one of the tracks with indie producer Youth gave the girls a whole new sound, the track recieved rave reviews given to they're more artisic direction and earned them credibilty, however the single failed to make an impression stalling at #27 in the UK charts. Preacher Man The 2nd single released from the Pop Life album, released in December 1990 and peaked at #20 in the UK charts. Preacher Man was actually one of the last tracks recorded for the album, they'd originally planned to release "Tripping On Your Love" as the 2nd single but when the girls came up with this track they changed they're minds and when London records heard Preacher Man they thought it would be a sure fire hit. Preacher Man became the best selling single from the Pop Life album and would they're last appearance in the Top 20 until 2005. Long Train Running Originally a classic by the Doobie Brothers, Long Train Running was covered by Bananarama on their Pop Life album. The decision to record this song, was based entirely on serendipity: Bananarama needed one more track to complete their album, and decided to do a "cover" (for which they are reknown), they uncovered the track while rifling through Youth's record collection. During recording, it was decided to include a flamenco guitar in the track which culminated in employing the Gypsy Kings to provide the authentic flamenco sound. Long Train Running was chosen as the third single in April 1991 and charted at #30 as a responce to mixed reviews. Long Train Running was chosen as the first single in the USA from Pop Life but both failed to chart on the Top 200. Tripping On Your Love The final release from the Pop Life album, originally intended as the 2nd release and then the 3rd and finally became the 4th. This is also the last single to feature new member Jacquie O' Sullivan as she left shortly after the single's release and their long-time manager Hillary Shaw, also departing. Released in August 1991 and became Bananarama's most convincing flop record ever issued on a major record label, charting outside the Top 75 at #76 and sunk without a trace. Part of the reason that Tripping On Your Love was such a commercial failure can be attributed to gross mismanagement on the timing of the singles issue, it managed to get some good reviews, but since it had been delayed so much after the issue of Pop Life interest had waned. This coupled with the required changes in line-up, Sara Dallin's pregnancy and management reorganisation doomed the song to failure. Movin' On The first single that featured Bananarama as a duo was Movin' On. This aptly titled single is perhaps one of the greatest ironies in Bananarama's career: it symbolized a huge step backwards for the bandby returning to producers Stock & Waterman to record their sixth allbum. After severing ties with Stock Aitken & Waterman to record the Pop Life album, they found themselves being forced/persuaded to return to producers Stock & Waterman (Aitken had since departed) by London Records. The result was the Please Yourself album that fared more poorly than the mixed successes of Pop Life. Movin' On was released in July 1992 and became a moderate hit peaking at #24. Last Thing On My Mind released in December 1992 and charted at a miserable #71. It was the 2nd release from the Please Yourself album, minor airplay and a controversal video that hardly aired probably contributed to the poor chart position. Steps covered this track in 1998 as they're 2nd single from they're debut album Step One and took it to #6 in the charts and became an international hit. More More More Originally a disco song by The Andrea True Connection, Bananarama resurrected this track as a follow-up single to the poorly received Last Thing On My Mind. More More More is also the last single to be released in the UK for 12 years prior to their departure from London Records, released in March 1993 and peaked at #24 in the charts. The most notable aspect of this song, was that Bananarama added an additional second verse to the lyrics that are not present in the original rendition of More More More. Move In My Direction After a 12 year absence from the UK singles charts, Bananarama would make a triumphant return in June 2005 with their brand new single, Move In My Direction. Since their last single, More More More taken from the album Please Yourself Bananarama had left long time label London Records but been actively making music which had spawned 2 new albums around the world, Ultraviolet and Exotica. However, both albums were on the 'budget' side and failed to re-launch the group with any notable success; but in 2004, the girls finally secured a deal with an independent UK label, A&G Records, in which they could make proper a return to the UK. Recorded in the early stages of making they're new album, released in June 2005 and charted at #14 in the UK charts greenlighting the release of further material. To coincide with the release the girls would embark on a massive promotional tour which would see them performing all over the country at festivals and roadshows and at one point even supporting The Scissor Sisters on stage at a secret gig. Look On The Floor (Hypnotic Tango) After the success of the previous single Move In My Direction, Bananarama began what would be a very difficult task of releasing the 2nd single from Drama. Look on the Floor, using samples from the 1990s club hit Hypnotic Tango from the Italian house combo, proved more difficult that expected. Little media interest in the girls would mean the single recieved no exposure and despite their best efforts the track entered and stalled at number 26 in the UK Charts.
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Post by acidburn on Feb 25, 2008 0:55:37 GMT 1
What do u think of all the info I have posted
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Post by o on Feb 25, 2008 13:44:55 GMT 1
Nice job, my faves are Rough justice, Only your love and venus.
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Post by wonderwall on Feb 25, 2008 16:19:39 GMT 1
Venus is a great pop song but not a fan of much else they did.
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Jan
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Post by Jan on Feb 26, 2008 16:03:41 GMT 1
What do u think of all the info I have posted Very detailed and interesting, thanks! They had so many great tunes, I heard u rumour along with This time i know it's for real (Donna Summer) are the two finest moments ever for Stock Aitken Waterman in my opinion, yes that does even include ms Hazell Dean.
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borneoman
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Post by borneoman on Feb 26, 2008 21:50:26 GMT 1
Thanks for all the info!! Great reading!!! Just made me realise I have the Wow album in vinyl
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