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Pop Life (Bananarama album)

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Pop Life
Studio album by
Bananarama
Released13 May 1991
RecordedJuly 1989 – May 1990
Genre
LabelLondon
Producer
Bananarama chronology
The Greatest Hits Collection
(1988) 		Pop Life
(1991) 		Please Yourself
(1993)
Singles from Pop Life
  1. "Only Your Love"
    Released: 16 July 1990
  2. "Preacher Man"
    Released: 24 December 1990
  3. "Long Train Running"
    Released: 8 April 1991
  4. "Tripping on Your Love"
    Released: 19 August 1991

Pop Life is the fifth studio album by English group Bananarama, released on 13 May 1991 by London Records. It is the only Bananarama studio album which features singer Jacquie O'Sullivan, who replaced Siobhan Fahey following her departure in 1988. This album marks the end of the group's association with the Stock Aitken Waterman production team (they produced only two songs on the album: "Ain't No Cure" and "Heartless") as most of Pop Life was produced by Youth (real name Martin Glover). English singer Zoë provided backing vocals on "Long Train Running". This would be the last album by Bananarama as a trio.

Background and recording

[edit]

After their first world tour in 1989, Bananarama started recording their fifth album with producers Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW), but found themselves dissatisfied with the majority of the songs resulting from the sessions, although "Ain't No Cure" and "Heartless" were eventually included on the album.[3] The group started looking for other producers, first working with David Z, with whom they recorded "Some Boys"; however, they felt the song did not fit the direction they wanted to follow, and it remained unreleased until 2013. Bananarama then worked with Steve Jolley who, along with Tony Swain, had produced the group's first three records. A song co-written by him, "Is Your Love Strong Enough", ended up on the album, while another remains unreleased.

Bananarama eventually settled on having Youth – who had been an acquaintance of theirs during their early years as a group – produce the majority of the album, with recording sessions taking place at Youth's home studio in Wandsworth. Group members Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward later recalled the sessions fondly, with Dallin noting that in contrast to SAW, who worked at a relatively fast pace, "Youth gave us as much time as we needed to play around with ideas and fully immerse ourselves in the process."[4] Under Youth's direction, the group experimented with newer production techniques on Pop Life, including the use of samples and drum loops.[4][5] Woodward described the recording process as "very DIY, like going back to the way we worked with the Fun Boy Three",[5] contrasting Pop Life with previous Bananarama records that had been produced in more professional studios.[6]

Pop Life was a departure from Bananarama's previous albums as it incorporates a much more diverse range of musical genres, including flamenco guitar (a cover of the Doobie Brothers song "Long Train Runnin'" featuring Alma de Noche, a pseudonym for the Gipsy Kings), retro-rock ("Only Your Love", "Outta Sight"), acid house ("Tripping on Your Love"), reggae ("What Colour R the Skies Where U Live?"), experimental club ("Megalomaniac"), and their hallmark Eurodisco sound ("Preacher Man", "Ain't No Cure").

Bananarama completely re-recorded the SAW track "Ain't No Cure" with Youth in a more subdued style to fit in better with the other tracks on the album. A furious response from SAW ultimately saw the band relent, however, and include the original SAW version on the album.[3] The song was re-recorded by SAW-produced girl group Delage in 1991, although their rendition was not released until 1997.[7]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Chicago Sun-Times[8]
Chicago Tribune[1]
Entertainment WeeklyA[9]
NME4/10[10]
Number One[11]
Q[12]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[13]
Select3/5[14]
Smash Hits4/10[15]

In a rave review for Entertainment Weekly, Chuck Eddy said that Pop Life, "while energetic, is far moodier than anything they've ever done. The Gipsy Kings ... help engineer the Doobie Brothers' 'Long Train Running' into a scary locomotive blues. Other tracks venture deep into the dark tunnel of dreamland: Pulses from an alternate universe underline fizzy computerized harmonies; sleepy voices trying hard to wake up ask 'What color are the skies where you live?' ... Two other songs even have heavy psychedelic guitars. We usually visit Bananaramaland to escape our problems, but this album takes us to an eerier place than we'd ever expect."[9] Number One's Tim Green called Pop Life "a well-tuned album of respectable pop tunelets",[11] while in Melody Maker, Caroline Sullivan wrote that Bananarama, after "years of service on perky SAW anthems", had "acquired a new and altogether haunting timbre" and produced "their best album" to date.[16]

Other critics were less enthusiastic. NME reviewer Simon Williams found Pop Life lacking in standout songs despite its "contemporary touches and 'now' club beats", calling it "proof ... that being a slave to the current rhythm means selling yourself short every time."[10] Kirsty McNeill of Smash Hits felt that Bananarama had failed to progress musically, and dismissed the record as "more of the same, familiar, squeaky-voiced harmonies over that ever-present, pounding '80's 'disco' beat."[15]

Chart performance

[edit]

Commercially, Pop Life reached number 42 in the United Kingdom,[17] number 37 in Sweden,[18] and number 146 in Australia.[19] Four mid-charting singles were issued from the album, and following the release of "Tripping on Your Love", Jacquie O'Sullivan left the group, leaving Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward to continue as a duo.

Track listing

[edit]

CD

  1. "Preacher Man" – 3:15 (Sara Dallin, Youth, Andy Caine)
  2. "Long Train Running" – 3:31 (Tom Johnston)
  3. "Only Your Love" – 3:58 (Sara Dallin, Youth, Andy Caine)
  4. "What Colour R the Skies Where U Live?" – 4:27 (Sara Dallin, Youth, Andy Caine, Keren Woodward)
  5. "Is Your Love Strong Enough" – 5:07 (Sara Dallin, Steve Jolley)
  6. "Tripping on Your Love" – 3:20 (Sara Dallin, Youth, Andy Caine, Danny Schogger)
  7. "Ain't No Cure" – 3:27 (Mike Stock, Matt Aitken, Pete Waterman, Sara Dallin)
  8. "Outta Sight" – 4:31 (Sara Dallin, Youth, Andy Caine)
  9. "Megalomaniac" – 6:16 (Sara Dallin, Bassey Walker, Youth, Andy Caine)
  10. "I Can't Let You Go" – 6:10 (Sara Dallin, Youth, Andy Caine)
  11. "Heartless" – 3:22 (Mike Stock, Matt Aitken, Pete Waterman, Sara Dallin, Keren Woodward)
  12. "Preacher Man" (Ramabanana Alternative Mix) – 7:31 (Sara Dallin, Youth, Andy Caine)

LP and Cassette

Side A

  1. "Preacher Man" – 3:15
  2. "Long Train Running" – 3:31
  3. "Only Your Love" – 3:58
  4. "What Colour R the Skies Where U Live?" – 4:27
  5. "Is Your Love Strong Enough" – 5:07

Side B

  1. "Tripping on Your Love" – 3:20
  2. "Ain't No Cure" – 3:27
  3. "Outta Sight" – 4:31
  4. "Megalomaniac" – 6:16
  5. "I Can't Let You Go" – 6:10

2007 CD re-issue plus bonus tracks

  1. "Preacher Man" – 3:15
  2. "Long Train Running" – 3:31
  3. "Only Your Love" – 3:58
  4. "What Colour R the Skies Where U Live?" – 4:27
  5. "Is Your Love Strong Enough" – 5:07
  6. "Tripping on Your Love" – 3:20
  7. "Ain't No Cure" – 3:27
  8. "Outta Sight" – 4:31
  9. "Megalomaniac" – 6:16
  10. "I Can't Let You Go" – 6:10
  11. "Heartless" – 3:22
  12. "Only Your Love" (7-inch mix) – 4:02
  13. "Preacher Man" (alternative 7-inch mix) – 3:39
  14. "Megalomaniac" (edit) – 4:35
  15. "Tripping on Your Love" (single mix) – 3:15
  16. "What Colour R the Skies Where U Live?" (J-Jagged Mix) – 6:24
  17. "Ain't No Cure" (alternative version) – 4:03

2013 Deluxe Edition 2CD/DVD re-issue

Disc 1

  1. "Preacher Man" – 3.14
  2. "Long Train Running" – 3.30
  3. "Only Your Love" – 3.58
  4. "What Colour R The Skies Where U Live?" – 4.27
  5. "Is Your Love Strong Enough?" – 5.06
  6. "Tripping on Your Love" – 3.19
  7. "Ain't No Cure" – 3.27
  8. "Outta Sight" – 4.32
  9. "Megalomaniac" – 6.22
  10. "I Can't Let You Go" – 6.07
  11. "Heartless" – 3.20
  12. "I Don't Care" – 6.16
  13. "Some Boys" – 5.33
  14. "Only Your Love" [Milky Bar Mix] – 8.11
  15. "Tripping on Your Love" [Dance Floor Justice Mix] – 6.10
  16. "Preacher Man" [Original 12" Mix] – 6.08

Disc 2

  1. "Only Your Love" [Monkey Drum Mooch] – 7.33
  2. "Preacher Man" [Ramabanana Alternative Mix] – 7.31
  3. "Long Train Running" [Alma De Noche Version] – 6.39
  4. "Tripping on Your Love"[Euro Trance Mix] – 7.20
  5. "Ain't No Cure" [Alternative Version] – 4.06
  6. "What Colour R The Skies Where U Live?" [Paco's Revenge Mix] – 6.55
  7. "Tripping on Your Love" [Smoove Mix] – 7.07
  8. "I Don't Care" [Tony King Remix] – 6.10
  9. "Ain't No Cure" [Original 12" Mix] – 7.02
  10. "Tripping on Your Love" [Silky 70s Mix] – 6.26
  11. "Long Train Running" [Sparky's Magic Button Mix] – 4.34
  12. "Tripping on Your Love" [Sweet Exorcist Remix] – 8.12

DVD

  1. "Only Your Love"
  2. "Preacher Man"
  3. "Long Train Running"
  4. "Tripping on Your Love"
  5. "Only Your Love" [On Wogan]
  6. "Preacher Man" [On Top of the Pops]

Personnel

[edit]
Bananarama
Additional personnel
  • Youth – bass, keyboards, drum programming
  • Crispin "Spry" Robinson – percussion
  • Johnny Mars – harmonica
  • Nigel Butler – additional keyboards
  • Paul Cooke – additional drums
  • Andy Caine – guitar and bass on "Long Train Running"
  • Alma De Noche (Gipsy Kings) – voice and flamenco guitar on "Long Train Running"
  • Guy Pratt – additional keyboards on "Long Train Running"
  • Danny Schogger – additional keyboards on "Long Train Running" and "Tripping on Your Love"
  • Zoë – backing vocals on "Long Train Running"
  • Carol Kenyon – backing vocals on "Long Train Running"
  • Robin Goodfellow – bass on "Is Your Love Strong Enough"
  • Paul Inder – bass on "Outta Sight"
  • Linda Taylor – additional backing vocals on "Preacher Man", "Only Your Love", "What Colour R the Skies Where U Live?" and "I Can't Let You Go"
Technical

Charts

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Chart (1991) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[19] 146
European Albums (Music & Media)[20] 81
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[21] 8
French Albums (IFOP)[22] 43
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[23] 53
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[18] 37
UK Albums (OCC)[17] 42

References

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  1. ^ a b Rothschild, David (10 October 1991). "Bananarama: Pop Life (London)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  2. ^ a b Mason, Stewart. "Pop Life – Bananarama". AllMusic. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  3. ^ a b "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 43: Help! (and Pop Life) on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  4. ^ a b Dallin, Sara; Woodward, Keren (2020). Really Saying Something. Hutchinson. ISBN 978-1-786-33266-0.
  5. ^ a b Hughes, Rob (May 2024). "Fruits of Their Labours". Record Collector. No. 557. pp. 64–67.
  6. ^ Harnell, Steve (April 2019). "Going for the Youth vote". Classic Pop. No. 51. p. 31.
  7. ^ "Delage – Ain't No Cure – PWL Overdose Mix – Mixed By DJ JAY | Video Youtube – NMETV Latest Music Videos and Clips". NME. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  8. ^ "Bananarama, 'Pop Life' (London)". Chicago Sun-Times. 7 July 1991. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  9. ^ a b Eddy, Chuck (12 July 1991). "Pop Life". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  10. ^ a b Williams, Simon (18 May 1991). "Bananarama: Pop Life". NME. p. 38. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  11. ^ a b Green, Tim (May 1991). "Bananarama: Pop Life". Number One.
  12. ^ Sutcliffe, Phil (May 1991). "Bananarama: Pop Life". Q. No. 56.
  13. ^ Considine, J. D. (2004). "Bananarama". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 41–42. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  14. ^ Higginbotham, Adam (June 1991). "Girls on Top!". Select. No. 12. p. 70.
  15. ^ a b McNeill, Kirsty (1–14 May 1991). "Bananarama: Pop Life". Smash Hits. Vol. 13, no. 9. p. 44.
  16. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (11 May 1991). "Bananarama: Pop Life". Melody Maker. p. 35.
  17. ^ a b "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  18. ^ a b "Swedishcharts.com – Bananarama – Pop Life". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  19. ^ a b "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 15 July 2015". Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2015 – via Imgur.
  20. ^ "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 23. 8 June 1991. p. 24. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  21. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 263. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  22. ^ "Le Détail des Albums de chaque Artiste". InfoDisc (in French). Retrieved 4 June 2024. Select "BANANARAMA" from the drop-down menu and click "OK".
  23. ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
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