Bananarama is one of my favorite pop groups from the '80s. Their music was a ton of fun to listen to and it still is for me to this very day. I recently got hold of a copy of THE VERY BEST OF BANANARAMA. I never thought about it until recently that the group was a precursor to The Spice Girls but a lot more fun and a lot less stupid. THE VERY BEST OF BANANARAMA is a comprehensive look at the group's past and present hits, with and without Siobhan Fahey. Yeah a lot of the group's songs are corny like "Robert DeNiro's Waiting" and "Nathan Jones" but Bananarama's music has always been a lot of fun to listen for me. My personal favorite songs are when Siobhan was still in the group. I absolutely love "Cruel Summer", "Venus", and "I Heard a Rumor". I don't consider Bananarama a guilty pleasure. I am not ashamed that I was and still am a fan of the British pop group today.
Like most girl groups, Bananarama were never really considered heavy-hitters in the music biz, despite consistent success in the mid-'80s. This double-disc collection though recalls just how good they were at making, light, feel-good dance-pop where they sounded like they were always having a good time.
For years I have owned the 1988 Greatest Hits release, but this one is ten times better. The bonus disc alone is worth the price.
Of course, some of their biggest hits still sound great today: "Venus", "I Heard a Rumour", "Shy Boy" all are here.
The Stock-Aitken-Waterman production really put Bananarama on the map and their sound runs rampant with tracks like "I Can't Help It", "Love , Truth and Honesty" and "I Want You Back".
There are some lesser-known gems on this collection such as the covers of Steam's "Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye)" (which, like "Venus", doesn't top the original but is great in its own right); the Doobie Brothers' "Long Train Runnin'" (which possesses a slight Spanish flavour reminiscent of Madonna's "Deeper and Deeper"); Andrea True's "More, More, More"; The Beatles' "Help"; and for those who may not have heard it, The post-Diana-Ross Supremes' hit "Nathan Jones" (this is the re-recorded version with Jacqui, not the original).
Other lesser-known songs include the tribal sounds of "T'Aint What You Do It's The Way That You Do It"; and the irressitible house track "Only Your Love".
The capper is a great Miami Remix of "I Heard a Rumour".
This CD would be the ultimate Bananarama collection on its own, but there is an awesome bonus disc of remixes.
The scorching "Hellfire" remix of "Venus" is the best of the extras and right up there with SAW's Murder Mix of Dead or Alive's "You Spin Me Round" or Divine's 12" versions of "I'm So Beautiful" and "You Think You're a Man" as the best dance tracks S/A/W ever produced.
The second best thing on the bonus disc would be "Cruel Summer '88" and is clearly the version Ace of Base were listening to when they remade the song ten years later.
"Tripping on Your Love" does not appear on the first disc, and it's trance mix included here is greatly appreciated.
The 12" version of "I Can't Help It" is also noteworthy and much better than the single edit; another S/A/W triumph.
While I normally prefer to have greatest hits packages contain the songs in chronological order, the fact this isn't the case here is actually a benefit. To have all the S/A/W tracks in succession would be a little repetitive, so having them spread out works well.
The liner notes are great; there are thumbnails of all their LP covers as well as lyrics for every track here. This is THE definitive Bananarama collection and well worth the money!
mmm.....I have their "Greatest Hits" and that's a truly magnificent piece of work.I was just wondering that how can somebody review a CD album when that title hasn't arrived at all in the country itself! He has to be kidding!!! In India so sorry that this title still isn't available......Based on 'The Greatest Hits" a review cannot be made to this title too.....What can I say to such buyers PLEASE AVOID THIS GROUP IF YOU DO NOT LIKE THEM AND DO NOT BLUFF UP NONSENSE!!!!OK??.....I would be sensible enough to avoid Bananarama if I did not like the songs from Greatest hits itself!! So why go for another compilation!!......Weirdos !As I said,Indian groups themselves are DAMN lousy and Bananarama have an advantage of teaching them what "girl-power " is ALL ABOUT.I would be geting this title shortly anyway and let me hear it....and get back here."Long Train Running" Is a real Diamond-hard dancey,bubbly,yummy take-on of the Doobie Brothers cover version.....I love Bananarama so much! Just wait till I get this one and speak up for them again!!.....They are awesome!! Jeasus! I have heard nothing like their songs!I would strongly recommend it......
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