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I'm a Bananarama fan since I was younger. My Nana favourite single is "Venus".

Contents 1 Bananarama 1.1 "Greatest Hits" 1.1.1 "Venus" 1.1.2 "I Heard A Rumour" 1.1.3 "Love In The First Degree" 1.1.4 "I Can't Help It" 1.1.5 "I Want You Back" 1.1.6 "Love, Truth And Honesty" 1.1.7 "Nathan Jones" 1.1.8 "Help!"

[edit] Bananarama

Bananarama is a British female group of pop music.

The band was founded in 1981 by Keren Woodward, Sarah Dallin and Siobhan Fahey. They took this name from one of their favourite Roxy Music's song called "Pyjamarama". Before the girls got together Keren had a job at the BBC and Sarah and Siobhan were studying fashion journalism. They met in a London nightclub and shared a flat before forming a group.

In early 1988 Siobhan decided to leave the group to form Shakespears Sister. Keren and Sarah enlisted the services of an old pal, Jacquie O'Sullivan, for their first World Tour. By this time, Bananarama were massive. They was the all-female group who had most chart entries in history, 9 Top UK Singles Chart and 3 US Top 10 Hits, being honoured in "The Guinnes Book of World Records" as The Most Successful British All-girl Group Ever. So they released their retrospective compilation "The Greatest Hits Collection", which was a huge success on Britain, peaking at 3 and remained on UK Albums Chart for 37 weeks.

With the 80's back in vogue, the time was right for a Bananarama revival. In 2002 London Records repackaged their "Greatest Hits" into a "Very Best Of" collection.

	Single	Album	Date	Performed by	Written by	Produced by	Top UK Chart	Top US Chart
1	"Venus"	"True Confessions"	1986	Bananarama	Robert Leeuwen	Stock, Aitken & Waterman	8	1
2	"I Heard A Rumour"	"WOW!"	1987	Bananarama	Stock/ Aitken/ Waterman/ Dallin/ Fahey/ Woodward	Stock, Aitken & Waterman	14	4
3	"Love In The First Degree"	"WOW!"	1987	Bananarama	Stock/ Aitken/ Waterman/ Dallin/ Fahey/ Woodward	Stock, Aitken & Waterman	3	48
4	"I Can't Help It"	"WOW!"	1987	Bananarama	Stock/ Aitken/ Waterman/ Dallin/ Fahey/ Woodward	Stock, Aitken & Waterman	20	47
5	"I Want You Back"	"WOW!"	1988	Bananarama	Dallin/ Fahey/ Woodward/ Stock/ Aitken/ Waterman	Stock, Aitken & Waterman	5	-
6	"Love, Truth And Honesty"	-	1988	Bananarama	Dallin/ Woodward/ O'Sullivan/ Stock/ Aitken/ Waterman	Stock, Aitken & Waterman	23	89
7	"Nathan Jones"	-	1988	Bananarama	Wakefield/ Caston	Stock, Aitken & Waterman	15	-
8	"Help!"	-	1989	Bananarama and Lananeeneenoonoo	Lennon/ McCartney	Stock, Aitken & Waterman	3	-
9	"Really Saying Something"	"Deep Sea Skiving"	1982	Bananarama with The Fun Boy Three	Whitfield/ Holland/ Stevenson	Fun Boy Three & Dave Jordan	5	-
10	"Shy Boy"	"Deep Sea Skiving"	1982	Bananarama	Swain/ Jolley	Tony Swain & Steve Jolley	4	83
11	"Robert De Niro's Waiting"	"Bananarama"	1984	Bananarama	Jolley/ Swain/ Dallin/ Fahey/ Woodward	Tony Swain & Steve Jolley	3	95
12	"Cruel Summer"	"Bananarama"	1983	Bananarama	Jolley/ Swain/ Dallin/ Fahey/ Woodward	Tony Swain & Steve Jolley	8	9
13	"It Ain't What You Do (It's The Way That You Do It)"	-	1982	The Fun Boy Three and Bananarama	Oliver/ Young	The Fun Four	4	-
14	"Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye)"	"Deep Sea Skiving"	1983	Bananarama	De Carlo/ Frashuer/ Leka	Tony Swain & Steve Jolley	5	-
15	"Rough Justice"	"Bananarama"	1984	Bananarama	Jolley/ Swain/ Dallin/ Fahey/ Woodward	Tony Swain & Steve Jolley	23	-
16	"A Trick Of The Night"	"True Confessions"	1987	Bananarama	Jolley/ Swain	Tony Swain & Steve Jolley	32	76
17	"Aie A Mwana"	"Deep Sea Skiving"	1981	Bananarama	Vangarde/ Kluger	Little Paul Cook, John Martin & Sara	92	-

[edit] "Greatest Hits"

[edit] "Venus"

“Venus”
Single by Bananarama from the album "True Confessions"
B-side	"White Train"
Released	May 26, 1986 (1986-05-26)
Format	7", 12"
Label	London Records
Writer(s)	Robert Leeuwen
Producer	Stock, Aitken & Waterman

Chart	entry date	weeks	Chart run	peak	peak date
UK Top 75 Singles	05/31/1986	13	-55-36-26-22-15-9-8-8-9-16-25-40-73-	8	07/12/1986
IRL Top 30 Singles	06/19/1986	5	-?-19-16-12-14-	12	07/10/1986
US The Billboard Hot 100	06/28/1986	19	-89-57-43-34-23-15-9-6-3-2-1-5-7-17-25-42-53-68-99-	1	09/06/1986
US Hot Dance Club Play (Top 50)	07/05/1986	11	-40-15-6-2-2-1-1-3-8-21-32-	1	08/09/1986
US Hot Dance Music/ Maxi-Singles Sales	07/05/1986	17	-32-6-5-2-1-1-1-2-2-4-4-4-8-9-19-27-42-	1	08/02/1986
US The Cash Box Top 100 Singles	06/28/1986	19	-82-62-41-35-30-24-17-12-7-4-3-3-6-18-28-51-57-87-99-	3	09/06/1986
US The ARC Weekly Top 40	07/12/1986	13	-39-31-20-13-8-5-3-2-1-5-9-18-28-	1	09/06/1986
CAN RPM Weekly Top 100	08/16/1986	16	-80-60-37-18-9-4-4-5-6-9-13-22-28-40-59-71-	4	09/20/1986
CAN Steede Report			?-1-1-?	1	10/06/1986
AUS Australian Music Report (Top 50)	08/18/1986	22	-16-8-4-2-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-5-9-11-16-18-20-25-?-?-34-29-	1	09/15/1986
NZ RIANZ Weekly Top 40	08/22/1986	14	?-?-1-1-1-1-?-?-?-?-?-?-?-?-?	1	09/05/1986

Bananarama's first collaboration with producers Stock/ Aitken/ Waterman, and also their first number one in the USA. The band wanted an injection of high glamour and disco and that is exactly what they got.

The song was originally recorded by Dutch rock group Shocking Blue in 1970, and was updated for the 80's. The girls had done this cover from the beginning, when they were starting out.

The single was promoted by a rather camp video (directed by Peter Care) and a catchy dance routine. The video marks a pivotal shift towards a more glamourous and sexy visual image: the girls are presented in several costumes (she-devil, female vampire, Grecian goddesses...), and it's also start of the use of male boy-toys dancers which would become a hallmark of their videos.

The visual iconography and High Energy influenced sound turn the girls into gay icons the world over.

"Venus" still is Bananarama's biggest hit, topping the charts in many countries.

[edit] "I Heard A Rumour"

“I Heard A Rumour”
Single by Bananarama from the album "WOW!"
B-side	"Clean Cut Boy"
Released	July 6, 1987 (1987-07-06)
Format	7", 12"
Label	London Records
Writer(s)	Stock/ Aitken/ Waterman/ Dallin/ Fahey/ Woodward
Producer	Stock, Aitken & Waterman

Chart	entry date	weeks	Chart run	peak	peak date
UK Top 75 Singles	07/11/1987	9	-55-28-15-14-15-16-28-37-54-	14	08/01/1987
IRL Top 30 Singles	07/16/1987	5	-30-13-9-9-22-	9	07/30/1987
US The Billboard Hot 100	07/18/1987	19	-74-65-54-44-36-26-21-17-10-8-4-4-4-10-21-30-51-59-88-	4	09/26/1987
US Hot Dance Club Play	08/01/1987	11	-30-22-17-14-8-6-4-3-3-8-24-	3	09/19/1987
US Hot Dance Music	08/08/1987	13	-36-27-20-20-17-13-12-9-7-8-17-35-44-	7	10/03/1987
US The Cash Box Top 100	07/11/1987	23	-88-73-62-47-42-36-30-21-16-12-9-7-4-4-9-15-23-33-29-58-69-90-93-	4	10/03/1987
US The ARC Weekly Top 40	08/15/1987	12	-34-25-22-16-10-8-4-3-2-11-25-32-	2	10/10/1987
CAN RPM Weekly Top 100	08/08/1987	23	-93-83-69-53-36-23-16-10-4-3-2-4-4-6-11-23-27-33-49-63-78-84-99-	2	10/17/1987
AUS AMR (Top 50)	08/24/1987	11	-49-out of Chart-37-33-33-32-35-33-38-?-35-42-	32	09/28/1987
NZ RIANZ Weekly Top 40	10/09/1987	12	?-8-?	8	?

The song is just the usual thing -boys and girls and relationships- what everybody's always written about since the beginning of music.

The girls think this is the best they've written with Stock/ Aitken/ Waterman. It's also Pete Waterman and many group fans favourite Bananarama's song.

For their video (directed by Andy Morahan) group members are seen emulating various film starts, projected on screens behind them. Also shows the girls, dressed in French can-can, with letters "W" "O" "W" (a reference to their album tittle) emblazoned on the seat.

[edit] "Love In The First Degree"

“Love In The First Degree”
Single by Bananarama from the album "WOW!"
B-side	"Mr. Sleaze"
Released	September 28, 1987 (1987-09-28)
Format	7", 12"
Label	London Records
Writer(s)	Stock/ Aitken/ Waterman/ Dallin/ Fahey/ Woodward
Producer	Stock, Aitken & Waterman

Chart	entry date	weeks on Chart	Chart run	peak	peak date
UK Top 75 Singles	10/10/1987	12	-46-22-5-3-4-7-13-16-25-39-49-63-	3	10/31/1987
IRL Top 30 Singles	10/15/1987	7	-19-16-9-17-10-6-29-	6	11/19/1987
US The Billboard Hot 100	03/19/1988	10	-82-74-64-55-51-48-49-57-75-98-	48	04/23/1988
US Hot Dance Club Play (Top 50)	04/02/1988	8	-30-18-18-15-12-10-22-44-	10	05/07/1988
US Hot Dance Music/ Maxi-Singles Sales	04/09/1988	5	-54-49-44-34-27-	27	05/07/1988
US The Cash Box Top 100 Singles	03/12/1988	11	-90-77-73-65-55-50-49-48-60-62-99-	48	04/30/1988
US The ARC Weekly Top 40	04/23/1988	1	-39-	39	04/23/1988
AUS Australian Music Report (Top 50)	01/30/1988	18	-35-?-17-16-11-9-10-8-12-10-7-5-6-7-9-17-?	5	04/25/1988
NZ RIANZ Weekly Top 40	02/12/1988	7	?-11-?	11	?

The band's best selling single ever in the UK. The success is party due to the B-side "Mr. Sleaze" being heavily played by English radio stallions.

They got so over the top with the video for this single, directed by Andy Morahan. The girls perfoming the song in a jail cell, dressing up as convicts (complete with stripy jump suits, balls and chains) as several boy dancers perform around them in their little uniforms.

Bananarama perfomed the song at the BPI Awards. The group stole the show when they introduced the Albert Hall to the delights of well-greased lads.

By the time the single was released in the USA (as the album's third single, after "I Can't Help It") Siobhan had already announced her departure from the band.

[edit] "I Can't Help It"

“I Can't Help It”
Single by Bananarama from the album "WOW!"
B-side	"Ecstasy"
Released	December 28, 1987 (1987-12-28)
Format	7", 12"
Label	London Records
Writer(s)	Stock/ Aitken/ Waterman/ Dallin/ Fahey/ Woodward
Producer	Stock, Aitken & Waterman

Chart	entry date	weeks on Chart	Chart run	peak	peak date
UK Top 75 Singles	01/09/1988	6	-45-23-20-22-37-70-	20	01/23/1988
IRL Top 30 Singles	01/14/1988	3	-17-12-25-	12	01/21/1988
US The Billboard Hot 100	11/21/1987	13	-78-66-60-55-53-48-48-47-50-58-80-87-99-	47	01/09/1988
US Hot Dance Club Play (Top 50)	11/14/1987	11	-45-36-24-14-12-7-7-7-13-22-47-	7	12/19/1987
US Hot Dance Music/ Maxi-Singles Sales	11/21/1987	11	-54-50-32-30-23-21-21-22-22-25-40-	21	12/26/1987
US The Cash Box Top 100 Singles	11/21/1987	13	-89-82-77-67-55-55-?-?-57-59-66-74-92-	?	12/19/1987
US The ARC Weekly Top 40	01/09/1988	1	-38-	38	01/09/1988
AUS Australian Music Report (Top 50)	09/04/1988	6	31-30-27-27-41-50-	27	09/18/1988
NZ RIANZ Weekly Top 40	-	-	did not chart	-	-

For Bananarama Stock/ Aitken/ Waterman had such a brilliant attitude to making pop records and here is a fine example.

Most people would think that writhing around with naked men in a milk bath filled with fruit would be very erotic, so for the music video (from Andy Morahan) Sarah and Keren get to bathe in asses milk and fruit. Siobhan, extremely pregnant by this time, was only shown on camera from the shoulders up.

World famous photographer Herb Ritts shot the girls for the record's sleeve.

The sleeves for "I Can't Help It" and "Love In The First Degree" were switched with each other for the UK and USA markets. There "I Can't Help It" was released as the second single from "WOW!"', following "I Heard A Rumour" and before "Love In The First Degree".

[edit] "I Want You Back"

“I Want You Back”
Single by Bananarama from the album "WOW!"
B-side	"Amnesia"
Released	April 4, 1988 (1988-04-04)
Format	7", 12", CD single
Label	London Records
Writer(s)	Dallin/ Fahey/ Woodward/ Stock/ Aitken/ Waterman
Producer	Stock, Aitken & Waterman

Chart	entry date	weeks on Chart	Chart run	peak	peak date
UK Top 75 Singles	04/09/1988	10	-36-14-7-5-5-6-9-21-40-54-	5	04/30/1988
IRL Top 30 Singles	04/14/1988	6	-3-3-8-10-18-26-	3	04/14/1988
US The Billboard Hot 100	-	-	did not chart	-	-
AUS Australian Music Report (Top 50)	05/15/1988	15	?-49-21-14-7-6-3-5-5-6-7-9-18-15-22-	3	06/26/1988
NZ RIANZ Weekly Top 40	07/29/1988	8	?-10-?	10	?

Siobhan decided to leave the group in 1988. Sarah and Keren had seen this coming for some time and had already lined up a possible replacement: their longtime friend Jacquie O'Sullivan.

Before releasing this song -a track from the "WOW!" album- as a single the vocals were re-recorded with Jacquie.

The video was directed by Andy Morahan, and features the group in various dance sequences, go-go boys with wigs and in cages, and the girls dressed up as The Supremes.

"I Want You Back" was not released in the United States.

In Australia this single was released after "Love In The First Degree" and before "I Can't Help It".

[edit] "Love, Truth And Honesty"

“Love, Truth And Honesty”
Single by Bananarama
B-side	"Strike It Rich"
Released	September 12, 1988 (1988-09-12)
Format	7", 12", CD single
Label	London Records
Writer(s)	Dallin/ Woodward/ O'Sullivan/ Stock/ Aitken/ Waterman
Producer	Stock, Aitken & Waterman

Chart	entry date	weeks	Chart run	highest position	highest position date
UK Top 75 Singles	09/24/1988	8	-31-28-25-23-23-32-43-63-	23	10/15/1988
IRL Top 30 Singles	09/29/1988	4	-15-13-12-21-	12	10/13/1988
US The Billboard Hot 100	11/26/1988	3	-91-89-96-	89	12/03/1988
US Hot Dance Club Play (Top 50)	11/26/1988	7	-45-40-31-26-28-28-41-	26	12/17/1988
US The Cash Box Top 100 Singles	11/12/1988	7	-86-78-75-72-72-82-94-	72	12/03/1988
AUS ARIA Chart (Top 50)	12/11/1988	5	-43-out of Chart-out of Chart-32-44-	32	12/18/1988
AUS Australian Music Report (Top 50)	11/21/1988	?	?-24-?	24	?
NZ RIANZ Weekly Top 40	12/16/1988	5	?-20-?	20	?

This is a new song from the new line-up group.

The video features the trio perfoming in front of mirrors and neon lights as a well-groomed man looks on.

[edit] "Nathan Jones"

“Nathan Jones”
Single by Bananarama
B-side	"Once In A Lifetime"
Released	November 7, 1988 (1988-11-07)
Format	7", 12", CD single
Label	London Records
Writer(s)	Wakefield/ Caston
Producer	Stock, Aitken & Waterman

Chart	entry date	weeks on Chart	Chart run	highest position	highest position date
UK Top 75 Singles	11/19/1988	9	-30-20-19-15-16-16-24-23-42-	15	12/10/1988
IRL Top 30 Singles	11/17/1988	3	-25-16-17-	16	11/24/1988
US The Billboard Hot 100	-	-	did not chart	-	-
AUS ARIA Chart (Top 50)	-	-	did not chart	-	-
AUS AMR Weekly Hot 100	03/12/1989	9	?-61-?	61	?
NZ RIANZ Weekly Top 40	03/17/1989	4	?-22-?	22	?

This is a spirited version of a 1971 single by The Supremes.

The group had done this song on "WOW!" album. They didn't originally want that cover to be on their "Greatest Hits" compilation, and they just had to record it.

The video shows the girls perfoming the song in large sun hats and dresses. They dance vogue style with several male dancers dressed in British-style suits, hats and umbrellas.

[edit] "Help!"

“Help!”
Single by Bananarama
B-side	"Love In The Factory"
Released	February 13, 1989 (1989-02-13)
Format	7", 12", CD single
Label	London Records
Writer(s)	Lennon/ McCartney
Producer	Stock, Aitken & Waterman

Chart	entry date	weeks on Chart	Chart run	highest position	highest position date
UK Top 75 Singles	02/25/1989	9	-12-5-3-3-6-9-24-37-68-	3	03/11/1989
IRL Top 30 Singles	02/23/1989	7	-21-3-2-3-5-16-29-	2	03/09/1989
US The Billboard Hot 100	-	-	did not chart	-	-
AUS ARIA Chart (Top 50)	05/21/1989	6	-26-25-27-37-42-49-	25	05/28/1989
NZ RIANZ Weekly Top 40	06/30/1989	4	?-35-?	35	?