Bananarama - Deep Sea Skiving (Deluxe Edition) (2013)

Quintessential British girl group Bananarama’s first single “Aie A Mwana” was produced ex-Sex Pistol Paul Cook and released on Demon Records in 1981, but the trio only came to the pop world’s attention when they guested on the Fun Boy Three’s second hit “It Ain’t What You Do…” in February 1982. They signed to Decca and hit the Top 5 immediately with “Really Saying Something” (on which the Fun Boy Three guested). Two more Top 5 singles followed in “Shy Boy” and “Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye)” along with the self-penned “Cheers Then”. The ensuing album including writing and production contributions from Paul Weller, Jolley & Swain (hired because of their recent work on Imagination’s hits), and hit producer/ writer Barry Blue. The album also featured the first recording of “Young At Heart”, a year before The Bluebells’ hit version. Remastered from the original studio tapes, this Deluxe 2 CD + DVD casebound book edition, expertly compiled and annotated by acknowledged expert Tom Parker, features twenty-five bonus tracks! Aside from the non-album B-sides, and amongst the many mixes, are versions only released in released in Canada, Spain and Japan. Also included are two versions of the Sex Pistols’ “No Feelings” (one previously unreleased), originally exclusive to the “Party Party” soundtrack.