The Story So Far (Bucks Fizz album)

The Story So Far is a compilation album released by pop group, Bucks Fizz. It collected together 18 of the group's biggest hits spanning the years 1981 to 1988, including their three number ones.^[1]

Background

The album was released in November 1988 on the Stylus record label - which had licenced the tracks from Bucks Fizz's record companies, RCA and Polydor. At the time, the group had just released the single, "Heart of Stone" - which became their 20th and final hit and was the only new song featured on this collection.^[2][3]

Other tracks were the bulk of the group's hit singles and two album tracks. One notable omission however was "When We Were Young" - one of the group's biggest hits. This was most likely because lead singer of the track, Jay Aston was no longer with the band. Another single, "You Love Love" from this album was released in 1989, but this was an old song from 1983 album, Hand Cut.^[4] The album failed to chart despite TV advertising and was the last album Bucks Fizz released featuring this line-up. The album was reviewed in Number one magazine, where it gained a favourable response, saying that Bucks Fizz made unashamedly good music and listing tracks "The Land of Make Believe", "If You Can't Stand the Heat" and "Talking in Your Sleep" as favourites.^[5] The same magazine had also claimed current single "Heart of Stone" to be a contender for the Christmas Number One, although this proved to be way out in terms of time (October) and actual peak position (No.50).

Track listing

Side one

1. "Heart of Stone" (Andy Hill / Pete Sinfield)
2. "Talking in Your Sleep" (Palmer / Skill / Canler / Solley / Marinos)
3. "20th Century Hero (Live)" (Hill / Sinfield)
4. "One of Those Nights" (Steve Glen / Mike Burns / Dave Most)
5. "Now Those Days Are Gone" (Hill / Nichola Martin)
6. "Magical" (John Parr / Meat Loaf)
7. "Piece of the Action" (Hill)
8. "The Land of Make Believe" (Hill / Sinfield)
9. "I Hear Talk" (Hill / Sinfield)

Side two

1. "New Beginning (Mamba Seyra)" (Mike Myers / Tony Gibber)
2. "If You Can't Stand the Heat" (Hill / Ian Bairnson)
3. "My Camera Never Lies" (Hill / Martin)
4. "You Love, Love" (Andy Sells)
5. "Run for Your Life" (Hill / Bairnson)
6. "You and Your Heart so Blue" (Hill / Sinfield)
7. "London Town" (Hill)
8. "Making Your Mind Up" (Hill / John Danter)
9. "Keep Each Other Warm" (Hill / Sinfield)

Personnel

• Bobby G - vocals
• Cheryl Baker - vocals
• Mike Nolan - vocals
• Jay Aston - vocals on all tracks except "New Beginning (Mamba Seyra)", "Keep Each Other Warm" and "Heart of Stone"
• Shelley Preston - vocals on "New Beginning (Mamba Seyra)", "Keep Each Other Warm" and "Heart of Stone"
• Andy Hill - producer
• Mike Myers - co-producer on "New Beginning (Mamba Seyra)"

References