There were few "girl groups" as prolific and successful during the MTV era as Bananarama.  The London-formed pop group had a long string of Top 10 U.K. and U.S. singles during the '80s, including "It Ain't What You Do...," "Really Saying Something," "Shy Boy," and covers of Steam's "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" and The Shocking Blue's  "Venus."  Their popularity on the charts and on the dance floor continues, with the group tallying up an impressive 28 Top 50 U.K. singles from 1982 to 2009.  Now, Cherry Red's Strike Force Entertainment (SFE) imprint has announced new, expanded editions of two of Bananarama's oughties electro-pop albums, Drama in a 3-CD configuration and Viva in a 2-CD configuration.  Both will be released on January 25.

At the time of its release, 2005's Drama was Bananarama's first U.K. release in 12 years.  The album's lead single, "Move in My Direction" peaked at #14 and marked their return to the U.K. singles chart.  "Look on the Floor (Hypnotic Tango" also made a splash on the dancefloor and on the charts, making it to #26 on the charts.  SFE's 3-disc comprehensive, slipcased reissue includes all the original club remixes, dubs, end edits for these two main singles, along with the album proper, plus the original album bonus tracks and a non-album CD single B-side, "Live in the Sun."  What's more, the set features two remixes of Bananrama classics:  Marc Almond's Hi-NRG Showgirls Mix of "Venus" and the Solasso Mix of "Really Saying Something."  Finally, the collection includes a 20-page booklet with lyrics, photos, and a brief, new introduction from Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward of Bananarama.

Originally released in 2009, Bananarama's next studio effort, Viva, was a collaboration between Bananarama and producer-songwriter Ian Masterson, who had previously worked with Kylie Minogue and Pet Shop Boys.  The result was an album full of feel-good dance-pop.  Originally intended to be a collection of reinterpretations of dancefloor classics, halfway through, the group switched gears and focused on delivering an album of mainly original material, with just three covers appearing on the final album.  SFE's 2-CD expanded edition includes additional covers that were originally relegated to download-only contenet or CD single B-sides.  Among those covers are:  "Voyage, Voyage," originally a 1986 hit by the French singer Desireless; "Run To You" originally by Bryan Adams; the Simon and Garfunkel classic, "The Sound Of Silence;" and "Tokyo Joe," originally by Bryan Ferry.  Aside from the original B-sides and downloads, the reissue will include all the commercially available remixes and edits of the two singles from Viva, "Love Comes" and "Love Don't Live Here."  Rounding out the slipcased set is a colorful 20-page booklet featuring photographs, lyrics, and an introductory message from Sara and Keren.

Together, these two reissues shine a light on the most recent Bananarama albums, collecting all the pertinent singles, B-sides, remixes, and other extras, each in a new, comprehensive package.  Oli Hemingway has remastered both titles.  SFE's expanded reissues of Drama and Viva will be released on January 25 and are available now to pre-order.  You can check out the full tracklists and find pre-order links below!

Bananarama, Drama (originally A&G Productions CD AG003CD, 2005 -- reissued SFE 080T, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Link TBD)

Disc One: Original Album & Bonus Tracks
1. Move in My Direction
2. Look on the Floor (Hypnotic Tango)
3. Waterfall
4. Frequency
5. Feel for You
6. Don't Step on My Groove
7. Middle of Nowhere
8. I Love the Way
9. Lovebite
10. Rules of Attraction
11. Your Love Is Like a Drug
12. Live in the Sun
13. Venus (Marc Almond's Hi-NRG Showgirls Mix)
14. Really Saying Something (Solasso Mix)

Disc Two: Full Length Dance Remixes
1. Move in My Direction (Bobby Blanco & Miki Moto Vocal Mix)
2. Look on the Floor (Hypnotic Tango) (Solasso Remix)
3. Move in My Direction (the Lovefreekz Club Mix)
4. Look on the Floor (Hypnotic Tango) (Soul Seekerz Remix)
5. Move in My Direction (Angel City Club Remix)
6. Look on the Floor (Hypnotic Tango) (Angel City Extended Remix)
7. Move in My Direction (Redanka's Fascination Remix)
8. Look on the Floor (Hypnotic Tango) (Yomanda Remix)
9. Move in My Direction (Pat the Cat Ibiza Mix)
10. Move in My Direction (Redanka's Fascination Instrumental)

Disc Three: Remix Edits & Dub Remixes
1. Move in My Direction (Angel City Remix Edit)
2. Look on the Floor (Hypnotic Tango) (Angel City Short Mix)
3. Move in My Direction (Bobby Blanco & Miki Moto Vocal Edit)
4. Move in My Direction (The Lovefreekz Radio Edit)
5. Move in My Direction (Pat the Cat Edit)
6. Look on the Floor (Hypnotic Tango) (Solasso Remix Dub)
7. Move in My Direction (The Lovefreekz Dub)
8. Look on the Floor (Hypnotic Tango) (Soul Seekerz Remix Dub)
9. Move in My Direction (Angel City Dub)
10. Look on the Floor (Hypnotic Tango) (Yomanda Dub Remix)
11. Move in My Direction (Bobby Blanco & Miki Moto Dub)
12. Move in My Direction (Pat The Cat Dub)

Bananarama, Viva (originally Fascination CD 271 776-0, 2009 -- reissued SFE 081D, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Link TBD)

Disc One: Original Album, Bonus Tracks & Edits
1. Love Comes
2. Love Don't Live Here
3. Rapture
4. Seventeen
5. Twisting
6. Tell Me Tomorrow
7. The Runner
8. Extraordinary
9. Dum Dum Boy
10. S-s-s-single Bed
11. We've Got the Night
12. The Sound of Silence
13. Run to You
14. Love Comes (Radio Edit)
15. Love Don't Live Here (Radio Mix)
16. Love Comes (Riff & Rhys Radio Mix)
17. The Runner (Buzz Junkies 7" Mix)
18. Love Comes (Wideboys Club Edit)
19. Love Comes (Wideboys A-mix)

Disc Two: Extended Dance Remixes & Original Singles' Bonus Tracks
1. Love Comes (Ian Masterson's Extended Mix)
2. Love Don't Live Here (Ian Masterson's Extended Mix)
3. Love Comes (Wideboys Club Mix)
4. The Runner (Buzz Junkies 12" Mix)
5. Love Comes (Riff & Rhys Club Mix)
6. Here Comes the Rain
7. Voyage Voyage
8. Tokyo Joe
9. Cruel Summer '09
10. Every Shade of Blue '10
11. Love Comes (Wideboys Dub)