Bananarama Album: “Greatest Hits Collection [Bonus Tracks]”

Why Bananarama usually falls under "guilty pleasure" material or a mere single track on an '80s retrospective is beyond this reviewer, as they deserve better analysis and appreciation than that. Infinitely more talented than the Spice Girls (and decidedly less annoying), Bananarama were, up until the mid-90's, the biggest British girl band of all-time. Yes, they were sometimes not polished (see bandmember Keren Woodward's being unable to mime correctly for a performance on Top of the Pops), but they were eminently catchy (okay, and they were major babes as well)...and better than most pop groups of their epoch.

That said, Bananarama's albums did not include a "Rubber Soul" or an "Abbey Road" - they were a singles group, and are best discovered through a singles compilation. This is a very interesting retrospective, covering everything from the very beginnings of Bananarama and their collaboration with Specials-splinter group Fun Boy Three on "Really Saying Something" to the late '80s and their dabblings with Stock-Aitken-Waterman production. "Cruel Summer" is one of the greatest pop songs of the mid-80's, and the Stock-Aitken-Waterman "I Heard A Rumour" is probably Bananarama's musical apotheosis. While it would have been more interesting to have the tracks sequenced chronologically, the track-list flows well and despite one glaring omission (the oh-so-catchy "Cheers Then") covers all the Bananarama bases.

Worth the album price alone for "Cruel Summer" and their cover of Steam's "Na Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye)", there are plenty more pop gems for the uninitiated to discover within this collection. Recommended.

Everytime i hear any 80's music i wonder what happened to the music industry these days. Back then everything was a breath of fresh air, and funny at times. Bananarama was the best Girl group of the 80's.I really wish they come back with a new album soon cause they are really talented.

Includes 4 xtra songs than the original greatest hits mix. Preacher man 7 inch mix, venus hellfire mix, love in the first degree eurobeat style mix, and it aint what you do.