Bananarama

1984, their 2nd album. This 2CD/DVD Deluxe Edition by Edsel is nothing short of spectacular!! I was amazed at the quality and packaging this one has. I love every bit of it!! The liner notes and pictures inside are wonderful as well all the content for the album!CD 1 has the original lineup of songs on the album, plus bonus tracks, 9 in all.CD 2 has 12" versions of the hit songs, and some other mixes, 16 songs in all!DVD has 7 promo videos for the album, plus 4 segments on Bananarama at the BBC.If you are a new Bananarama fan or have been following them since their beginnings, you MUST GET THIS ONE!!CDs sound wonderful and the DVD looks great on the UHD TV.Highly recommended!!

Their second album in all of its quirky, fun, new waveish glory. This reissue, all six in the series as a matter of fact, are the type of release fans dream of. How I wish other bands would follow suit and release quality, all-inclusive, reissues like these. The packaging is great, the liner notes superb, tons of extra photos, and every b-side, demo, single mi1x, dub mix, and 12" remix associated with the album. This newest release collects ALL versions in their complete, unedited formats. Add to this a bonus DVD that includes all of the music videos from the album and even a few live TV appearances to top that off. Even though the band has stated their disappointment as not being included in the track selection and remastering, l feel the record company did an excellent job with these re-issues and the girls should be proud of their accomplishments and these stellar re-releases! Quite simply, a collector's dream. NOTE: This review is for the 2CD/1DVD 2013 Re-Issue from Edsel Records.

"Cruel Summer" remains one of the all-time best pop songs of the 80's. And "Link" has to be the best harmonies the group ever recorded. "Bananarama" & 1982's "Deep Sea Skiving" stand as their most charismatic albums. After that 2 year pop peak they're more of a singles & dance act - never the same once Siobhan Fahey departs. Additional favorites: "Wild Life", "Hot Line To Heaven", and "Robert DeNiro's Waiting".

(Track listing follows.) As an album, "Bananarama" is a solid accomplishment, and proves that Keren, Sara and Siobhan's songwriting skills had matured since "Deep Sea Skiving." "Cruel Summer" would have been a better title for this collection of (mostly) socially-conscious themes and beach-friendly sounds. Not all is doom and gloom, but this is far and away the most thought-provoking album from the group to date. The Jolley & Swain production, generally upbeat and slightly whimsical, offers a contrast to lyrics about alienation, injustice and loss. It's a balancing act, and not every listener will find the contrast appealing.Along with "Cruel Summer," this album produced hits like "Rough Justice," "Hot Line To Heaven" and "Robert DeNiro's Waiting," and this deluxe three disc set includes album/single and extended versions of them all. It also includes a non-lp track, "The Wild Life," in single, instrumental, extended and dub versions. The remainder of "bonus" tracks on discs one and two are b-sides, dub versions, and remixes. Of these, "Cairo," "Push!" and "Live Now" are especially notable. The 1989 "Swing Beat" remixes of "Cruel Summer" were produced by Stock Aitken Waterman over five years after the original version debuted, and in this reviewer's opinion they don't add much value to this collection.The dvd in the set is one of the better compilations to come with these deluxe reissues, with seven promotional music videos, and four additional appearances on the BBC. And like the other Bananarama packages, the discs all come in a small hardcover book that also includes song lyrics, release notes, chart data, original album/single art, and an informative essay by reissue producer Tom Parker. Be aware that some collectors have reported problems with split disc sleeves, and small amounts of adhesive on the edges of discs that make it difficult to remove them from the sleeves. My set does have the split bottoms on the sleeves, but only the lower edge of each disc protrudes slightly.As an essential early release from Bananarama, the original 1983 album is highly recommended to new listeners and casual fans. This deluxe collection adds such great supplemental material to the package (including six previously unreleased cuts) that it's a recommended buy for Bananafans and completists alike.DISC ONE: Cruel Summer 3:35, Rough Justice 5:04, King Of The Jungle 3:26, Dream Baby 3:08, Link 1:30, Hot Line To Heaven 7:16, State I'm In 2:45, Robert DeNiro's Waiting 3:42, Through A Child's Eyes 3:39, plus bonus tracks The Wild Life 3:54, Cairo 3:46, Push! 4:08, Live Now 3:05, Cruel Summer (12" version) 4:55, Robert DeNiro's Waiting (extended version) 5:42, Rough Justice (extended version) 5:20, The Wild Life (extended version) 6:23, Cruel Summer ('89 swing beat dub) 5:17DISC TWO: Cruel Summer ('89 swing beat version) 3:21, Robert DeNiro's Waiting (7" version) 3:29, Rough Justice (7" version) 3:38, Hot Line To Heaven (7" version) 3:45, The Wild Life (7" version) 3:17, Cruel Summer (cruel dub) 3:27, Rough Justice (original 12" mix) 6:40, King Of The Jungle (unsegued version) 3:18, Dream Baby (unsegued version) 3:09, Push! (extended version) 5:55, State I'm In (extended version) 4:37, The Wild Life (dub version) 7:04, Cruel Summer (summer dub) 5:13, State I'm In (instrumental) 3:07, The Wild Life (instrumental) 4:06, Cruel Summer ('89 swing beat instrumental) 5:02DISC THREE (dvd): Cruel Summer, Robert DeNiro's Waiting, Rough Justice, Hot Line To Heaven, State I'm In, The Wild Life, Cruel Summer '89, Cruel Summer (On "Top Of The Pops"), Robert DeNiro's Waiting (on "The Russell Harty Show"), Rough Justice (on "Top Of The Pops"), Michael Row The Boat Ashore (on "Saturday Superstore")

They may have been the best group to come out of the 80's and their record sales backs it up.this cd is so good from the first song to the last.I love cruel summer and rough justice alsodream baby and king of the jungle.Bananarama had such a clean pure original sound but like all groups in the music scene money,getting older and self-interest cuts a groups creative process short and banarama was no exception.WOW was their last great album after that they became generic sounding dance music machine every song sounding the same.It's sad siobhan left the group she was bannarama!I love keren and sara but their is something about siobhan!

Since back in the day in 1984 have loved Bananarama, especially this album. I really dig the bonus tracks included such as the Rough Justice single radio version, Cairo is really catchy also. The Wild Life is nice to finally have on cd, also Live Now a great song they execute so well, should have been on the album and released as a single. Most of all the song Through a Child's Eyes really shines remastered, such a beautiful, powerful song, I wish they would release this song, it is a hit. Who cares if it was done back in 1984, it sounds just as good today, it should be put on the next album they do, and released.

I agree with other reviewers, this is their best album by far. Much as I like SAW, the Jolley & Swain production suited them more. They were never part of the SAW production line of artists & I think the tracks they co-wrote with them prove that. Notably I Heard A Rumour & Love, Truth & Honesty. I put them in the same category as Dead Or Alive who seemed to have a clear identity & just used SAW for a commercial production sound. I would really like the True Confessions re-issue, just for the BBC documentary where, if I remember correctly, some poor guy made a video for A Trick Of The Night only to have it rejected. It wasn't a hit a big hit (why??), so maybe they should have stuck with his effort.

Pop perfection included cd version, all tracks are great definite purchase for any 80's fan, includes Cruel Summer.

Good 80s band

I have been after this album on cd for ages. Now that I have got it, I was surprised it came with a bonus DVD, so yes I am pleased with this product.The item on this product , which I am not sure of is the case itself, which is cardboard, unlike the normal plastic cases, other that that , excellent value.

I remember buying this on vinyl when it was first released in 1984.Still one of my favourite Bananarama albums.