True Confessions (album)

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True Confessions
Studio album by
Bananarama
Released14 July 1986 (1986-07-14)
RecordedApril 1985 – May 1986
StudioOdyssey, London
GenreDance-pop[1]
Length47:47
LabelLondon
Producer
Bananarama chronology
Bananarama
(1984) 		True Confessions
(1986) 		Wow!
(1987)
Singles from True Confessions
  1. "Do Not Disturb"
    Released: 12 August 1985
  2. "Venus"
    Released: 30 May 1986
  3. "More Than Physical"
    Released: 11 August 1986
  4. "A Trick of the Night"
    Released: January 1987
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Smash Hits8/10[2]
Record Mirror[3]
Windsor StarB+[4]

True Confessions is the third studio album by British group Bananarama. It was released on 14 July 1986 by London Records. The majority of the album was produced by Tony Swain and Steve Jolley (who produced Bananarama's eponymous second album), with the exception of "Venus" and "More Than Physical". The latter, given a garage remix for its single version, was Bananarama's first songwriting collaboration with the Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) production team.

The album contains the group's most commercially successful single to date, a cover version of Shocking Blue's 1969 song "Venus", which peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. True Confessions reached number 46 on the UK Albums Chart and number 15 on the US Billboard 200, becoming the group's highest-charting album on the latter chart.

The fourth single, "A Trick of the Night" was written by Jolley and Swain and re-recorded and remixed by SAW for release in the UK.[5]

In contrast to the two dance-oriented songs produced by SAW, the majority of the songs produced by Jolley and Swain tend towards rock-based, serious-minded pop. The lyrical content addresses overcoming obstacles in relationships ("Ready or Not", "Promised Land") and tackles social issues, such as the anti-drug stance on "Hooked on Love". Two ballads are included: the aforementioned "A Trick of the Night", which is a cautionary ballad about a male friend trying to survive on city streets, and the jazzy, sophisto-pop track "Dance With a Stranger".

Critical reception[edit]

Jerry Smith, reviewer of British music newspaper Music Week, wrote a warm and positive review of the album. He wrote: "They're rather good notice how they're always five minutes ahead of high street fashion, so maybe it's their suitability as teen role models that's kept them afloat on a tide of paper thin melodies far so long. Fashionable targets they may be, but their latest hit single says they still know what their public wants."[6] In a review published in Record Mirror, Lesley O'Toole was less enthusiastic, stating that the album, despite its title, come "as no revelation whatsoever. Yet another slab of formula Bananas sees the girls executing cooing harmonies and fey storylines – all about as heavyweight as a mosquito, though marginally less bothersome".[3] Tom Hibbert of Smash Hits praised the album as being "undeniably, convincingly listenable" and "a proper pop "album"", adding that Bananarama "make "intriguing" pop – and can even sustain the charm across an entire LP".[2]

Track listing[edit]

All tracks are written by Steve Jolley, Tony Swain, Sara Dallin, Siobhan Fahey and Keren Woodward, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."True Confessions" 5:19
2."Ready or Not" 3:53
3."A Trick of the Night"
  • Jolley
  • Swain
4:38
4."Dance with a Stranger" 4:30
5."In a Perfect World" 6:02
6."Venus"Robbie van Leeuwen3:48
7."Do Not Disturb"
  • Jolley
  • Swain
3:23
8."A Cut Above the Rest" 3:40
9."Promised Land" 3:43
10."More Than Physical"
5:03
11."Hooked on Love" 3:48
2007 remastered reissue bonus tracks[7]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Ghost"
4:03
13."White Train"
  • Dallin
  • Fahey
  • Woodward
  • Bishop
  • Seymour
3:51
14."More Than Physical" (single version)
  • Stock
  • Aitken
  • Waterman
  • Dallin
  • Fahey
  • Woodward
3:19
15."Scarlett"
  • Bishop
  • Dallin
  • Woodward
  • Fahey
4:12
16."A Trick of the Night" (single version)
  • Jolley
  • Swain
4:17
17."Set on You"
  • Stock
  • Aitken
  • Waterman
  • Dallin
  • Fahey
  • Woodward
3:56
18."Riskin' a Romance"
  • Ollie Marland
  • Fahey
  • Paul Waller
3:53

2013 deluxe edition[edit]

Disc one[8]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."True Confessions" 5:19
2."Ready or Not" 3:53
3."A Trick of the Night"
  • Jolley
  • Swain
4:38
4."Dance with a Stranger" 4:30
5."In a Perfect World" 6:02
6."Venus"van Leeuwen3:48
7."Do Not Disturb"
  • Jolley
  • Swain
3:23
8."A Cut Above the Rest" 3:40
9."Promised Land" 3:43
10."More Than Physical"
  • Stock
  • Aitken
  • Waterman
  • Dallin
  • Fahey
  • Woodward
5:03
11."Hooked on Love" 3:48
12."Too Much of a Good Thing" 5:12
13."Vicious Circle"
  • Jolley
  • Swain
3:51
14."Ghost"
  • Bishop
  • Seymour
  • Dallin
  • Woodward
  • Fahey
4:03
15."White Train"
  • Dallin
  • Fahey
  • Woodward
  • Bishop
  • Seymour
3:51
16."Scarlett" (extended version)
  • Bishop
  • Dallin
  • Woodward
  • Fahey
5:19
17."Riskin' a Romance"
  • Marland
  • Fahey
  • Waller
3:53
18."Set on You"
  • Stock
  • Aitken
  • Waterman
  • Dallin
  • Fahey
  • Woodward
3:56
Disc two[8]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Do Not Disturb" (extended version)
  • Jolley
  • Swain
6:07
2."Venus" (extended version)van Leeuwen7:23
3."More Than Physical" (garage mix)
  • Stock
  • Aitken
  • Waterman
  • Dallin
  • Fahey
  • Woodward
8:46
4."A Trick of the Night" (The Number One mix)
  • Jolley
  • Swain
8:14
5."Ready or Not" (Pettibone & Forest mix) 6:34
6."Venus" (Fire & Brimstone mix)van Leeuwen6:43
7."More Than Physical" (Musclebound mix)
  • Stock
  • Aitken
  • Waterman
  • Dallin
  • Fahey
  • Woodward
9:57
8."A Trick of the Night" (dub)
  • Jolley
  • Swain
4:33
9."Venus" (dub)van Leeuwen8:15
10."More Than Physical" (dub)
  • Stock
  • Aitken
  • Waterman
  • Dallin
  • Fahey
  • Woodward
4:57
11."Ready or Not" (Pettibone & Forest dub) 4:45
12."Venus" (original mix)van Leeuwen3:18
DVD[8]
No.TitleDirectorLength
1."Do Not Disturb" (music video)Simon Milne 
2."Venus" (music video)Peter Care 
3."More Than Physical" (music video)Peter Care 
4."A Trick of the Night" (music video; UK version)Paul Heiney 
5."A Trick of the Night" (music video; US version)Peter Care 
6."Venus" (music video; 12″ version)Peter Care 
7."Venus" (on Top of the Pops)Brian Whitehouse 
8."More Than Physical" (on Wogan)Kevin Bishop 
9."The Making of 'A Trick of the Night'" (on In at the Deep End)Nick Handel 

Personnel[edit]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of True Confessions.[9]

Bananarama[edit]

Additional musicians[edit]

  • Tony Swain – keyboards (tracks 1–5, 7–9, 11)
  • Steve Jolley – guitar (tracks 1–5, 7–9, 11)
  • Keith Thomas – saxophone (tracks 1–5, 7–9, 11)
  • Matt Aitken – guitar (track 6); keyboards (track 10)
  • Mike Stock – keyboards (tracks 6, 10)
  • Gary Hughes – keyboards (track 6)
  • Drum Machine – drums (tracks 6, 10)
  • Andy Stennett – keyboards (track 10)

Technical[edit]

  • Tony Swain – production (tracks 1–5, 7–9, 11)
  • Steve Jolley – production (tracks 1–5, 7–9, 11)
  • Stock Aitken Waterman – production (tracks 6, 10)
  • Richard Lengyel – recording engineering
  • Chips – engineering assistance
  • Paul Batchelor – engineering assistance
  • Tim Young – mastering (at CBS Studios, London)

Artwork[edit]

  • Dennis Cockell – tattoos design
  • Martin Brading – photography
  • Peter Barrett – sleeve design

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[22] Platinum 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[23] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Promis, Jose F. "True Confessions – Bananarama". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 May 2019. ... this album, along with the hit 'Venus,' are prime examples of classic '80s dance-pop music.
  2. ^ a b Hibbert, Tom (16 July 1986). "Review: Bananarama — True Confessions". Smash Hits. Vol. 8, no. 15. Peterborough: EMAP National Publications, Ltd. p. 62. ISSN 0260-3004. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  3. ^ a b O'Toole, Lesley (12 July 1986). "Albums" (PDF). Record Mirror. London: Spotlight Publications Ltd. p. 16. ISSN 0144-5804. Retrieved 6 November 2023 – via World Radio History.
  4. ^ Shaw, Ted (27 September 1986). "Pop spins towards Christmas". Windsor Star. p. 24. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  5. ^ "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 19: Looking Good Diving to I Just Can't Wait on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  6. ^ Smith, Jerry (12 July 1986). "Review: Bananarama – True Confessions" (PDF). Music Week. London: Spotlight Publications Ltd. p. 24. ISSN 0265-1548. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2022 – via World Radio History.
  7. ^ "True Confessions [Bonus Tracks] – Bananarama". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  8. ^ a b c Sinclair, Paul (30 August 2013). "Bananarama reissue track listings". Super Deluxe Edition. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  9. ^ True Confessions (liner notes). Bananarama. London Records. 1986. RAMA 3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. pp. 25–26. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  11. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0730". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  12. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Bananarama – True Confessions" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  13. ^ "European Hot 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 31. 9 August 1986. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Bananarama – True Confessions" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  16. ^ Okamoto, Satoshi (2006). Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  17. ^ "Charts.nz – Bananarama – True Confessions". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  18. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Bananarama – True Confessions". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  19. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  20. ^ "Bananarama Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  21. ^ "Top 100 Albums of '86". RPM. Vol. 45, no. 14. 27 December 1986. p. 9. ISSN 0315-5994 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  22. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Bananarama – True Confessions". Music Canada. 31 October 1986. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  23. ^ "American album certifications – Bananarama – True Confessions". Recording Industry Association of America. 1 October 1986. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
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