Pop Life (Reis) [Extra tracks, Import, Original recording remastered]

Bananarama | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 26, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: Rhino/Wea UK
• ASIN: B000N2G1GM
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #189,470 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Preacher Man

2. Long Train Running

3. Only Your Love

4. What Colour R the Skies Where U Live?

5. Is Your Love Strong Enough?

6. Tripping on Your Love

7. Ain't No Cure

8. Outta Sight

9. Megalomaniac

10. I Can't Let You Go

11. Heartless

12. Only Your Love [7" Mix][*]

13. Preacher Man [Alternative 7" Mix][*]

14. Megalomaniac [Edit][*]

15. Tripping on Your Love [Single Mix][*]

16. What Colour R the Skies Where U Live? [*]

17. Ain't No Cure [Alternative Version][*]

Editorial Reviews

2007 digitally remastered and expanded reissue of this 1991 album by the most successful British girl group in Pop history featuring six bonus tracks: 'Only Your Love' (Seven Inch Version), 'Preacher Man' (Alternative Seven Inch Mix), 'Megalomaniac' (Seven Inch Edit), 'Tripping On Your Love' (Seven Inch Version), 'What Color Are The Skies Where You Live' (Jagged Mix) and 'Aint No Cure' (Alternative Version). Pop Life is the first and only Bananarama album to feature Jacqui O'Sullivan, who replaced original member Siobhan Fahey (Shakespeare's Sister). 17 tracks total including the hits 'Preacher Man', 'Megalomaniac' and more. Warner.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars No movement in style for the Rams, December 5, 2003

By 

Daniel J. Hamlow (Narita, Japan) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pop Life (Audio CD)

Following their hit album Wow and the departure of Siobhan Fahey, the Rams took on Jacqui O'Sullivan, released a greatest hits album, and then came out with Pop Life in 1991. This time, they have Youth producing most songs here, although they get one song with additional production and remix by Shep Pettibone, and one by Stock-Aitken-Waterman. The overall tempo is the same hi-energy stuff as in Wow, but a different kind of sound. They try some industrial-type drum machines but nothing much has changed. They're treading water with this one.

"Preacher Man" is a strong opening track on the title character warning a girl about the wrong kind of man sporting the bouncy bubblegum synths that coloured Wow.

The seven and a half Ramabanana Alternative Mix features the usual techno padding, airy synths, thumping drum machines, quick vocal dubs, and miscellaneous keyboards.

The cover song of this album is a likeable and bubbly take on The Doobie Brothers' "Long Train Running," complete with accompanying guitar. One of their better cover songs.

Another uptempo song is "Only Your Love" featuring an "ooh ooh" chorus reminiscent to that done in "Sympathy For The Devil." Not bad of its kind.

The Rams liltingly ask "What Colour R The Skies Where U Live" in this dub reggae jam featuring piano and industrial style drum programming. It's lower tempo but at least decent.

A strong bass beat backs the mid-tempo "Is Your Love Strong Enough" with bubblegum synths like S-A-W. The trip the Rams offer to take one on is that of life, "where the winds of change are bittersweet" and where "good intentions are hard to keep."

A weird sitar like instrument and intense interlocking drum machines colour "Tripping On Your Love", which later briefly features a guest rap vocalist. A trippy cacophony here.

"Ain't No Cure" is the S-A-W produced song, meaning it shouldn't miss, and it doesn't. Definitely the best song here, with a kicking tempo and keyboard synths. According to the Rams, "ain't no cure for love, there ain't a remedy, joy and pain was the same as it ever was." The vicious cycle and addictive nature of love is exemplified here as well: "you'll be back for more, and you'll be hurt just like before"

"I Can't Let You Go" has a slower beat, with Stevie Wonder-type keyboards a la "Superstitious", an industrial drum machine beat like Madonna's "Justify My Love," and old style rap scratching. A well-paced multilayered cacophony of sounds.

"Heartless" is another uptempo bubblegum tune that rivals the S-A-W sound.

Sadly, Jacqui O'Sullivan left after her contribution here, resulting in Keren and Sarah continuing as a duo. As for Pop Life, well, it's rich in continuing Bananarama's reputation as pleasing harmony-singing bubblegum pop damselles, but doesn't represent a step up or down. Maybe a return to songs like "Young At Heart" or "Cheers Again" is in order.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid Album at last, December 20, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Pop Life (Audio CD)

Bananarama have never been known as an 'albums' band, most of their previous releases consisted of a few singles, with the rest acting as filler. Pop Life is a refreshing change. Recognising that the market in the 1990's was moving away from the Stock Aitken Waterman sound, the girls employed Youth (of Killing Joke)and recorded this gem. Stand out tracks, notably Preacher Man, What Colour R The Skies Where U Live, and Long Train Running focus on strong harmonies and melodies. Never known as especially powerful singers, the singing on Pop Life is stronger than previous albums (probably due in part to the addition of Jacquie O'Sulivan).

Pop Life is by far their best effort! Highly recommeneded

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Come back Siobhan, Sarah and Keren are talented!, May 12, 2007

By 

William (United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pop Life (Reis) (Audio CD)

Pop Life is an excellent album, especially Preacher Man, Long Train Running, and Only Your Love. The only thing I do not like about the album is that Jacqui O'Sullivan, I am sure she is a nice lady, but she never belonged in Bananarama. Keren Woodward and Sarah Dallin are so talented and beautiful. It would be so awesome if Siobhan Fahey reunited with them and made new albums as a trio the way it was meant to be, it would mean so much to fans around the world. The truth is Keren and Sarah alone make excellent albums, that last release Drama was the best work they have done ever. Pop Life is right up there too, it gets an A.