Bananarama
Bananarama are an English girl group who had several hit pop and new wave songs in the 1980s. They have had ten singles in the top-ten of the UK singles chart to date, as well as three U.S. top-ten hits, one of which hit number one. Some of their biggest international hits include "Cruel Summer", "Venus", "Love in the First Degree" and "I Heard a Rumour". They are known for their unique vocal style which features all members singing the same notes in unison (rather than three-part harmonies). Lead vocals and background vocals were recorded in this way, and much of Bananarama's early material was recorded with all three members at the same microphone at the same time.
The group was founded in London in 1981 by friends Siobhan Fahey, Sara Dallin, and Keren Woodward. Dallin and Woodward had been friends since the age of 4. In 1981, Bananarama's members were living above the rehearsal room which was used by former Sex Pistols members Steve Jones and Paul Cook. With their help, Bananarama recorded their first demo "Aie a Mwana" (a cover of a song by Black Blood, sung in Swahili). The demo was heard at Demon Records, who offered the girls their first deal. The song was an underground hit and the girls were subsequently signed by Decca (later London Records). They remained on this label until 1993. Bananarama's previous experience in a recording studio was as background vocalists on the Department S b-side "Solid Gold Easy Action", a T. Rex cover in early 1981.
UK fashion magazine The Face featured an article on Bananarama after their first single, and it caught the attention of ex-Specials member Terry Hall, who invited them to collaborate with his new vocal group Fun Boy Three on the track "T'ain't What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It)". In 1983, the song hit the top five in the UK and gave the girls their first significant mainstream success. Fun Boy Three then guested on Bananarama's song "Really Saying Something" later that year.
Dallin and Woodward are also featured as backing vocals on two songs on Family Album (1986, produced by John Lydon). These songs were live recordings, and are (according to the album's cover notes) the first public performance by Bananarama.
Deep Sea Skiving is the debut album by Bananarama, released in 1983 (see 1983 in music). Deep Sea Skiving became a success in the United Kingdom and the United States. It includes covers of The Jam and Steam. The album was - amongst other people - produced by Steve Jolley and Tony Swain, who also wrote and produced hits for Imagination, Alison Moyet and others.
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