She's got it...yeah, baby, she's got it! The first six albums by the beloved girl group Bananarama have recently been reissued in expanded editions from London Music Stream Limited. These albums - Deep Sea Skiving (1983), Bananarama (1984), True Confessions (1986), Wow! (1987), Pop Life (1991), and Please Yourself (1993) - represent the first decade of the band, spanning 1983-1993 and including such hits as "Shy Boy," "Cruel Summer," "More Than Physical," "I Heard a Rumour," and of course, "Venus."
As TSD wrote in 2017 upon the expanded reissue of the band's The Greatest Hits Collection:
Sara Dallin, Siobhan Fahey and Keren Woodward were once named the female vocal group with the most chart entries ever by the Guinness Book of World Records, and it's not too outlandish a claim. If you've been near a radio on both sides of the Atlantic since the '80s, you've probably heard at least one of their hits: soul-pop covers like "Really Saying Something" with Fun Boy Three, "Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye)," and "Venus" (the group's biggest American hit, which topped the Billboard Hot 100), plus originals powered by hit U.K. producers like Jolley & Swain ("Cruel Summer," "Robert De Niro's Waiting...") and Stock Aitken Waterman ("I Heard a Rumour"). Their distinct vocal style, relying less on harmonies and more on catchy melodies sung in unison, make them a delight to sing along with to this day.
The new reissues on the London label have been streamlined, however, from the expansive 2CD/1DVD editions released via Edsel in 2013. Each single-disc title has between 5 and 9 bonus tracks primarily culled from single releases. For those who didn't pick up Edsel's lavish casebound reissues, however, this budget-priced series with "just the essentials" might prove to be enticing alternatives. Vinyl reissues are also planned, with Deep Sea Skiving, Bananarama, and True Confessions due on October 12.
You can peruse the track listings and order links below!
Deep Sea Skiving: Collector's Edition (originally released as London RAMA 1, 1983 - reissued London, 2018) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
- Shy Boy
- Doctor Love
- What a Shambles
- Really Saying Something
- Cheers Then
- Aie a Mwana
- Young At Heart
- Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye)
- Hey Young London
- Boy Trouble
- Wish You Were Here
- He's Got Tact (single A-side - London/Barclay S07P-1025 (JP), 1982)
- Girl About Town (B-side to "Cheers Then" - London NANA 3, 1982)
- Tell Tale Signs (B-side to "Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye)" - London NANA 4, 1983)
- No Feelings (from Party Party: Original Soundtrack Recording - A&M Records AMLH 68551, 1982)
- Aie a Mwana (Extended Version) (12″ A-side - Demon/Deram DMX 446, 1981)
- Really Saying Something (Extended Version) (12″ A-side - London NANX 1, 1982)
- Shy Boy (Extended Version) (12″ A-side - London NANX 2, 1982)
- Cheers Then (Extended Version) (12″ A-side - London NANX 3, 1982)
- Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye) (12″ Version) (12″ A-side - London NANX 4, 1983)
Bananarama: Collector's Edition (originally released as London RAMA 2, 1984 - reissued London, 2018) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
- Cruel Summer
- Rough Justice
- King of the Jungle
- Dream Baby
- Link
- Hot Line to Heaven
- State I'm In
- Robert De Niro's Waiting...
- Through a Child's Eyes
- The Wild Life (from The Wild Life: Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - MCA Records 5523 (U.S.), 1984)
- Cairo (12″ B-side to "Cruel Summer" - London NANX 5, 1984)
- Push! (B-side to "Robert De Niro's Waiting..." - London NANA 6, 1984)
- Live Now (B-side to "Rough Justice" - London NANA 7, 1984)
- Cruel Summer (Extended Version) (12″ A-side - London NANX 5, 1984)
- Robert De Niro's Waiting (Extended Version) (12″ A-side - London NANX 6, 1984)
- Rough Justice (Extended Version) (12″ A-side - London NANX 7, 1984)
- King of the Jungle (Extended Version) (from In a Bunch: The Singles 1981-1993 - Edsel BANANABOX01, 2015)
- The Wild Life (Extended Version) (from Bananarama: Deluxe Edition - Edsel EDSG 8030, 2013)
True Confessions: Collector's Edition (originally released as London RAMA 3, 1986 - reissued London, 2018) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
- True Confessions
- Ready or Not
- A Trick of the Night
- Dance with a Stranger
- In a Perfect World
- Venus (Single Version) (single A-side - London NANA 10, 1986)
- Do Not Disturb
- A Cut Above the Rest
- Promised Land
- More Than Physical
- Hooked on Love
- Ghost (B-side to "Do Not Disturb" - London NANA 9, 1986)
- White Train (B-side to "Venus" - London NANA 10, 1986)
- Scarlett (B-side to "More Than Physical" - London NANA 11, 1986)
- Riskin' a Romance (from The Secret of My Success: Music from the Motion Picture - MCA Records 6205, 1987)
- Venus (Extended Version) (12″ A-side - London NANX 10, 1986)
- A Trick of the Night (The Number One Mix) (12″ A-side - London NANX 12, 1987)
Wow! Collector's Edition (originally released as London RAMA 4, 1987 - reissued London, 2018) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
- I Can't Help It
- I Heard a Rumour
- Some Girls
- Love in the First Degree
- Once in a Lifetime
- Strike It Rich
- Bad for Me
- Come Back
- Nathan Jones
- I Want You Back
- Mr Sleaze (B-side to "Love in the First Degree" - London NANA 14, 1987)
- I Heard a Rumour (Horoscope Mix) (12″ A-side - London NANX 13, 1987)
- Love in the First Degree (Jailers Mix with Intro) (12″ A-side - London NANX 14, 1987)
- I Can't Help It (Extended Club Mix) (12″ A-side - London NANX 15, 1987)
- I Want You Back (Extended European Mix) (12" A-side - London NANX 16, 1988)
- Nathan Jones (Extended Version) (12" A-side - London NANX 18, 1988)
Pop Life: Collector's Edition (originally released as London 828 246-1, 1991 - reissued London, 2018) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
- Preacher Man
- Long Train Running
- Only Your Love
- What Color R the Skies Where U Live?
- Is Your Love Strong Enough
- Tripping on Your Love
- Ain't No Cure
- Outta Sight
- Megalomaniac
- I Can't Let You Go
- Heartless (CD bonus track - London 828 246-2, 1991)
- Only Your Love (Milky Bar Mix) (12″ A-side - London/FFFR NANX 21, 1990)
- Preacher Man (Shep's Club Mix) (12″ A-side - London/FFFR NANX 23, 1991)
- Long Train Running (Alma De Noche Version) (12″ A-side - London/FFFR NANX 24, 1991)
- Tripping on Your Love (Euro Trance Mix) (12″ A-side - London/FFFR NANX 22, 1991)
Please Yourself: Collector's Edition (originally released as London 828 357-2, 1993 - reissued London, 2018) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
- Movin' On
- Last Thing on My Mind
- Let Me Love You One More Time
- More, More, More
- Is She Good to You
- Only Time Will Tell
- Give It All Up for Love
- You'll Never Know What It Means
- You're Never Satisfied
- I Could Be Persuaded
- Another Lover (B-side to "Last Thing on My Mind" - London NANA 26, 1992)
- Treat Me Right (B-side to "Movin' On" - London NANA 25, 1992)
- Movin' On (Bumpin' Mix) (12″ A-side - London NANX 25, 1992)
- Last Thing on My Mind (Hi-NRG Mix) (CD single B-side - London NANX 26, 1992)
- More, More, More (12" Mix) (12″ A-side - London NANA 27, 1993)
- Is She Good to You? (12" Club Mix) (from Please Yourself: Deluxe Edition - Edsel EDSG 8034, 2013)
Christophe says
Do we know what are the versions of "Some Girls", "Strike It Rich" and "Nathan Jones" on "WOW!" ?
The original LP had the "original" versions...
The original CD had 12" versions for "Some Girls" and "Strike It Rich"...
The 2007 enhanced CD had a strongly edited version for "Strike It Rich"...
The 2013 latest CD had a full length version (20'' longer) for "Nathan Jones"...
Shaun says
How in the hell does Banana-freakin’-rama get their catalogue reissued in expanded, deluxe editiona but artists like, oh, The Beatles only do that for (so far) Sgt. Pepper and, coming soon, the White Album? Springsteen’s only had the box set treatment for three of his albums. How about Billy Joel’s catalogue? Just asking.
Robert Lett says
This is like the third or forth time these have gotten the reissue treatment in what, less than ten years? Collectibles and twice on Rhino that come to mind. I can't see any reason to get these again. Why don't they do a nice career spanning box set or something and change it up a little? I'm so bewildered by this except maybe to cash in on the reunion?
Larry Davis says
Ummmm...they have?? On Edsel...that label put out both mini-book 2CD/1DVD reissues of these 6 albums AND an expansive 29 (I think) CD singles boxset as well...
Robert Lett says
I think some were joint Edsel/Rhino releases but yes these have been done multiple times.
Tom says
The 2CD/1DVD reissues were absolutely brilliant. These are scaled down reissues but still look good if you missed out on the previous ones.