The Essentials (Bananarama album)

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The Essentials is one of several greatest hits collections by Bananarama. This particular release was only released in the USA by Rhino Records' Essentials series. Also released within the same year was The Very Best of Bananarama, issued by WEA to mark the group's twentieth anniversary.

The compilation only includes all of the group's singles that charted inside the Billboard Hot 100 or the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles except for their 1987 single "I Can't Help It", making it the most comprehensive compilation of the group's most popular hits in the USA. Only one song featured in this collection was recorded after the departure of group member Siobhan Fahey, i.e. 1988 "Love, Truth and Honesty", originally on their Greatest Hits Collection. In addition, "The Wild Life", a rare soundtrack single, which briefly appeared on their second album Bananarama, was included on compact disc for the first time. In addition, the versions of "Really Saying Something" and "Shy Boy" on the compilation are the U.S. 7" mixes, which differ from the ones released in Europe.

Track listing

1. "Really Saying Something" (with Fun Boy Three)
2. "Shy Boy"
3. "Cruel Summer"
4. "The Wild Life"
5. "Venus"
6. "More Than Physical"
7. "A Trick of the Night"
8. "I Heard a Rumour"
9. "Love in the First Degree"
10. "Love, Truth and Honesty"
11. "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye"