Bananarama: Cruel Summer vs Robert de Niro's Waiting

Over on twitter, the Bananarama Singles Battle is continuing....

The #Bananarama singles battle is back! It’s round 8. Which single will survive to the next round?

Remember, the rules are...
Retweet... for Cruel Summer.
Like... Robert de Niro’s Waiting

The most votes wins the fight. 🥊 #80s #Eighties #PopMusic #Retro pic.twitter.com/mMzLTTJ1Bs

— ❤️ LoveBananarama (@LoveBananarama) February 10, 2019

Both songs are often mentioned in articles celebrating the most memorable songs from the eighties.  Which will you choose?

Cruel Summer (1983/84)

• Cruel Summer is the 8th single featuring Bananarama, if you take into account their collaboration with Fun Boy Three and the Japan only single 'He's Got Tact'.  The song was recorded in 1983 and released in the UK in June of that year.

• The now iconic video was filmed in New York and features the girls fixing a car, hijacking a truck and being chased by the NYPD.  The video ends with a dance competition on top of a building overlooking the New York skyline.

• Famously, the song was featured in the classic eighties film, 'The Karate Kid' but not on the soundtrack album. It was released in the USA in 1984.

• The song was a huge success all over the world reaching the top 10 in countries such as UK, France, Ireland, South Africa and the USA.

• The song is often regarded as one of the best singles from the eighties having been placed in both VH1 and Billboard listings, amongst others.

Robert de Niros Waiting (1984)

• Robert de Niro's Waiting is the second single from Bananarama's second album.

• The video features a Robert de Niro look-a-like who is armed with a violin case, which is later revealed to contain pizza.

• The single was produced in various versions; including separate picture discs and coloured vinyl versions.

• Robert asked to meet them after hearing about the song.  He famously telephoned Bananarama and they initially didn't believe it was him!  Robert also 'allegedly' took a shine to one of them.

• The song rose to number 3 in the UK charts, making it one of Bananarama's best performing and selling UK singles.

Pet Shop Boys: Agenda e.p.

The Pet Shop Boys new e.p. is out today and it features 4 amazing new tracks.

Earlier this week, we listened to 'Give Stupidity a Chance' and 'On Social Media' and both tracks are instant classics.  It's so good to have the PSB's back.  They really don't disappoint.

You can order the e.p. on vinyl here.

More thoughts on HMV

hmv is built on the passion of our colleagues. We are sorry to have to say goodbye to some amazing people today. Thank you for your hard work and dedication over the years. We will miss you pic.twitter.com/8KbhIQ1Gyb

— hmv (@hmvtweets) February 5, 2019

With yesterdays news about HMV still ringing in my ears, I've had some further thoughts about the situation.

Whereas in the past, youths were probably the largest demographic buying music from shops, I think it's people of my age (40+) that hold all the cards for HMV.

I don't imagine that new owner, Sunrise Records plans to splash the cash on every store interior immediately but it's clear that the business model needs to change, otherwise they'll be in danger of the same fate again.

Let's breakdown the age demographics, as how I see them.

25 and below.  They mainly stream music - either directly from subscription services such as Spotify and iTunes (or illegal sources).  It's doubtful that many would be as interested in purchasing CD's or vinyl, or DVD's and Blurays for that matter.  Everyone has a Netflix account or knows of a website that streams films.  Don't neglect this age-group - but also don't imagine that they'll be a huge money-spinner in-store either.  Keep an eye on youth trends and perhaps find a completely different product to get them through the door.

25-35.  Musical tastes have changed.  Not afraid of physical formats, even vinyl.

35-50.  The 80s was such a memorable decade and quite often, nostalgia has a huge role in musical tastes and purchases.  Some remember vinyl very fondly and began collecting all over again. There are lot of passionate music geeks like myself.  We remember what we liked about the record shops of our youth, we were probably just recently looking through that racks in charity shops for a vintage find  - much of what made record shops so good was the simple things, but getting your stock right is so very important.

50+.  Mature, often brilliant musical knowledge.  Not necessarily fussed about flash displays and interiors.  Plenty of music geeks.

I realise that's a simplistic and possibly a little bit insulting run through the age demographics, but there is some truth there.  Of course, I'm not speaking on behalf of everyone.

My followers on social media are largely my age and we LOVE physical formats, we love our collections and we love the experience of shopping.  We remember the days of browsing through racks of records very fondly.

We often post pictures of our collections on Instagram because we're excited and proud of them.  This interaction starts some really great conversations with others and that's when you very clearly witness the enthusiasm that people still have.

HMV - it's not over.

Use this opportunity to truly understand what customers want.  Don't be lazy and carry on as usual.  No more tacky neon sale signs as that cheapens the experience. We love a bargain but don't want to feel like HMV has become a discount warehouse - so find a middle ground, where prices are fair ...and that no doubt involves lots of discussions with industry stakeholders, so make some calls and get the appointments sorted now.

Make clearly thought-out, sensible changes and for gods sake, speak to your often wonderful staff, as I bet they have some great ideas as most of them are geeks like me.

Donna Summer - Another Place and Time (30th Anniversary)

Donna’s ‘80s close-out album was 1989’s ‘ANOTHER PLACE AND TIME’, which paired her with multi-hit making, multi-million-selling UK producers Stock Aitken Waterman.

The album’s lead single ‘This Time I Know It’s For Real’ was an uplifting, club floorfiller and radio-friendly hit, peaking at #3 in the UK (#7 on the US Billboard Hot 100), giving Donna her highest charting single for more than a decade.

Four further singles were released from the album including the two Top 20 hits, ‘I Don’t Wanna Get Hurt’ and ‘Love’s About To Change My Heart’, giving Donna back-to-back UK Top 10 hits for the first time since 1977, as well as remixed versions of ‘When Love Takes Over You’ and ‘Breakaway’.

This 30th Anniversary Edition is packaged in a sumptuous 24-page A5 Media Book, which contains the original full album credits and acknowledgements, as well as the lyrics, a newly authored 6,400 word liner note by noted US writer Christian John Wikane, featuring new interviews with Pete Waterman, Matt Aitken, Bruce Sudano, Phil Harding and Video Director Dieter Trattmann.

This 3CD version contains 35 Tracks and Mixes, including the original studio album and a large selection of extra singles mixes, 6 unreleased mixes and 2 anniversary megamixes. DONNA SUMMER gained prominence during the 1970s disco era, propelled by her incessant and creative driving force behind the genre’s global popularity, rightly earning the title “Queen Of Disco” and becoming one of the most successful recording artists of the entire decade.

Pet Shop Boys - Inner Sanctum

Blu-ray/ DVD/ 2CD package of Pet Shop Boys breath-taking show 'Inner Sanctum', filmed at London's Royal Opera House during a sold-out run in 2018 summer.

The iconic duo's acclaimed production, first presented at the Royal Opera House in 2016 over four sold-out shows, was reprised at the venue for a further four nights in July 2018 as part of their 'Super' tour. Staged by long-term PSB designer Es Devlin and choreographer/director Lynne Page, the show was filmed by director David Barnard. Filmed on 27 and 28 July 2018, the full-length film on DVD and Blu-ray is accompanied by two CDs of the complete audio of the live show plus a bonus feature of PSB live at Rock in Rio, which was recorded on 17 September 2017 at the Brazilian festival.

 The 'Inner Sanctum' production won rave reviews for a musical and visual extravaganza which brought lasers, dazzling choreography and immersive visuals and stage design to the ornate surroundings of the Royal Opera House for an electrifying show. The set-list featured contemporary PSB material from their last two albums 'Super' and 'Electric' mixed with many PSB's classic hits from their peerless back catalogue including 'Love comes quickly', 'West End girls', 'It's a sin', 'Go West' and 'Always on my mind'.

Heaven 17: Play To Win (The Virgin Years) *Signed, Limited Edition*

This Exclusive Edition comes with a limited edition signed print.

To order......

Original members of Sheffield's Human League, Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh left after the first two albums and formed Heaven 17 in 1980. Named after a fictional band in Anthony Burgess's "A Clockwork Orange", they recruited Glenn Gregory on vocals (who had been the original choice for lead singer of the Human League).

Signed to Virgin Records, debut single "(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang" attracted a lot of attention in March 1981, and a BBC Radio 1 ban. Debut album "Penthouse And Pavement" was released in September 1981 and was certified Gold the following year. Many more chart singles followed, including Top 5 hits "Temptation" and "Come Live With Me", taken from a further four albums - "The Luxury Gap" (1983), "How Men Are" (1984), "Pleasure One" (1986), and "Teddy Bear, Duke & Psycho" (1988).

This 10 CD set includes the five original albums that the band recorded for Virgin Records, along with over a hundred bonus tracks: non-album A- and B-sides, 7" edits, US edits, instrumentals, 1980 demos, and four CDs of 12" remixes (many of which only saw very limited release).

Housed in a 12" x 12" album-style book, the set will also include a 36 page 12" x 12" booklet with the lyrics, credits, photos, and ephemera from the band's collection, and brand new annotation, based on new interviews with the band.

Coming Soon: Resources

I'm developing a Resource page.  It's under construction at the moment but it will contain lots of useful information including Record Fair listings, Online Record Stores and other useful links.

I know that many of you go to Record Fairs around the country on the look-out for your next big find.  Maybe I can help?

Vinyl Heaven

Each week. I'll update readers on my choice picks of vinyl on my new feature titled 'Vinyl Heaven'.

This week there is a Prince vinyl picture disc for the classic album, Purple Rain.  It's a bit pricey but maybe you're worth it!

Click on the photo for this week choices.

Gary Numan - I, Assassin

Fans of Gary Numan will be pleased that his 1982 album 'I, Assassin' is being reissued on green vinyl in March.

It looks rather lovely doesn't it.

It's currently only £15 here.

Bananarama: Live at the London Eventim Hammersmith Apollo

Seeing the original Bananarama line-up deliver a tour was such an unexpected and incredible moment.  

Having lived and breathed Bananarama since my youth and experiencing the dramatic devastation of the split (I blame my hormones), nobody ever thought this would happen - but it did and it was one of the single most joyful moments of my life.

I bought the merch.  I stood shaking with excitement with my friends.  I danced until my legs fell off.  I looked in awe at the incredible screen graphics.  I was blown away by the new production and the makeover of those hits.  It ticked all of the boxes.

This tour didn't just live up to our expectations, it blew them away.  To look around the venues and see the faces of happy audience members was unexpectedly emotional.  It wasn't just middle aged gay men and wives.  There was a diverse collection of people of all ages and most importantly, they knew the songs ...and many of them also knew all of the camp arm movements too.  It was a genuinely endearing moment to see so many people experiencing utterly, blissful, unabashed pure joy. 

We were all so thankful that we got to experience that joy again with the Live album in various versions, including a DVD and bluray.  Many people don't realise that it's also available on iTunes, see link below.  It was Blue Monday yesterday and I can't think of a better way to wash those blues away than watch one of the worlds greatest pop groups back together again.

Bananarama - Dance Music

Dance Music, the first Bananarama song in a long time is going down really well with fans, with many posting gleeful message across social media.  It's all going rather well, isn't it?

Incidentally, if you want to hear slightly different clips of 'In Stereo' click here.

Bananarama Live album on vinyl on sale!

Just shy of £16. Be quick! Link: Click here