My Album of .... Girl Groups

 

1. Bananarama - Preacher Man - Quite simply the greatest British girl group of all time. Virtually impossible to select one track. But rather than go for any of the obvious contenders. I've gone from this fantastic Youth produced track from their 1991 Pop Life album.

 

2. Go Gos - Head Over Heels - The group that featured Belinda Carlisle & Jane Wiedlin. This was their last US Top10 hit single, as the signs of their legendary hedonistic lifestyle and one particular US tour with INXS was taking it's toll.

http://www.dailymotion.com/playlist/xagv8_...ver-heels_music

 

3. Bangles - In Your Room - The group that replaced the Go Gos in the US public affections was the more popular Bangles fronted by the lovely Susannah Hoffs. This track clearly influenced by Led Zeppelin's Kashmir failed to reach the UK Top30, but went Top 5 in the USA around the end of 1988. Like the Go Gos it was taken from the third & final album (first time around) before they reformed a decade later.

http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/searc...your-room_music

 

4. TLC - No Scrubs - T-Boz, Lisa Left-Eye Lopes & Chili are for me the greatest girl group that ever existed. Sadly the untimely death of Lisa Lopes affectively ended the trio. They were clearly as big an influence on the next act featured, whom admitted on their first ever live interview on Chris Evans TFI Friday that they were most influenced by both TLC & Bananarama....

http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/searc...no-scrubs_music

 

5. Spice Girls - 2 Become 1 - Ginger; Scary, Sporty, Baby & Posh Spice became the biggest British pop export of the last two decades with their Girl Powered assault from 1996-1998. Of course it crashed & burned all too soon. But the fact that their worldwide sales is still treble Girls Aloud & Sugababes put together speaks volumes. Their comeback was a bit of a disaster with a poor comeback single & initially under-rehearsed promo performances. But by the time of their World Tour they were back to top form. As this live vocal performances from the Strictly Come Dancing live final (Dec 2007) proves.

http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/searc...e-on-stri_music

 

6. All Saints - I Know Where It's At - For me this was Shaznay Lewis, Nicole & Natalie Appleton & the other slightly hippy one who married one of the session musicians who made up Jamiroquai best track. Their sassy debut single. I certainly prefer it to their rewrite of the hymn Amazing Grace. :lol:

http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/searc...re-its-at_music

 

7. Belle Stars - Sign Of The Times - This almost Northern Soul like Top 3 hit from early 1983 was their best known track. Their lead vocalist also sung on the Jam's Bitterest Pill single.

http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/searc...the-times_music

 

8. We've Got A Fuzzbox, And We're Gonna Use It - Love Is The Slug - This four piece started off making ultra cool indie type tracks like this & Rules & Regulations. But then they lost & replaced a member of the group, signed to a major record label went very commercial (i.e. sold out), had some chart success before splitting. (Sounds like a description of the Pipettes in 2010 :lol:)

http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/searc...g-fuzzbox_music

 

9. Strawberry Switchblade - Since Yesterday This Scottish duo had a huge Top5 hit late 1984 with this magnificent track. They are perhaps most famous for being put on the front cover of Smash Hits magazine ahead of the story of the Band Aid Charity single. As David Hepworth has since admitted "Not one of Smash Hits finest decisions. But at least we choose the better record..." :lol:

http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/searc...ce-yester_music

 

10. Wendy & Lisa - Waterfall Former members of Prince's Revolution, this was their debut single. After three albums worth of ever decreasing commercial success, they moved on to session and TV & film music soundtracks. Anyone who watches Heroes would have heard their latest work. Ironically both Mel B (a mutual friend of Wendy Melvoin) & Mel C wanted to cover this track instead of going with Headlines as the comeback single. Well I think that Geri, Emma & Victoria with the casting vote made the wrong decision. :lol:

http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/searc...waterfall_music

 

11. Mai Tai - History This Dutch/Guyana trio had a brief run of hit singles produced by (the Timbaland of his day) Nile Rodgers. This was their breakthrough UK hit. Sounding like a funkier Pointer Sisters thanks to the former Chic guitarist's fret work, arrangement & production.

http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/searc...i-history_music

 

12. Shakespear's Sister - You're History This was their debut single by the former Bananarama member Siobhan Fahey & Marcella Detroit (US session singer who'd sung on Eric Clapton & Bob Dylan records amongst others). She'd also co-written EC's Lay Down Sally). Fascinating fact: They first featured on Tom Petty's Don't Come Around Here No More single, which was produced by Siobhan's then husband Dave Stewart (Eurythmics).

http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/searc...e-history_music

 

 

Please note: I discovered Lush had two males in the group so I could not select their shoe gazing classic De Luxe (& wishes I'd included them in my Female fronted album ahead of Miami Sound Machine :cry: )

Girl groups! Yes!

 

01. Mel And Kim "Get Fresh At The Weekend (Showing Out)"

So, so tragic what happened to sweet Mel. A very short, but irresistably sweet career and certainly one of the few gems to be conceieved by SAW.

 

02. The Pointer Sisters "Automatic"

This was their biggest hit, way back in 1984 (being a matter of only a few months old at the time). I love early 80s soul and funk and by this year, it started to become more technological, thanks to innovators like Patrick Cowley and Kraftwerk. Great, great track!

 

03. Sister Sledge - Lost In Music

Nile Rodgers easily saved his best work for Chic, but 'Lost In Music' is easily on parr with 'Good Times' or 'Everybody Dance'. Still sounds great 30 years on!...

 

04. En Vogue "Hold On"

The intro to this is a complete knock-out! The acapella is soaring! Absolutely by far the best R+B girl group, despite their differences and less-prolific-than-others career.

 

05. TLC "Ain't Too Proud To Beg"

There's no denying 'Creep' and 'No Scrubs' are generally the most remembered, so it's little wonder their debut single - a ballsy siren of a choon - seems to barely get a look in! Oh yeah, TLC also revolutionised girl groups - for better. Lisa Left Eye RIP (and I will, one day, forgive you for doing that awful song with that vile townie!)

 

06. Bananarama "Robert De'Niro's Waiting"

I could've easily chosen about six others, but I'm gonna settle for this three odd-minutes of 80s wholesome pop! And this nicely leads onto..

 

07. Shakesphere Sister "Your History"

I also love 'Stay', but I think the attitude of this fits better with the whole girl group concept. Shame they never really battled it out thus having a fairly brief chart career before quickly diminishing.

 

 

 

Interesting list TIP

 

I liked Bananarama, don't know this song well though but liked a lot of their stuff

 

The Go Gos I quite like Our lips are sealed

 

Not a huge fan of the Bangles,TLC,Spice Girls or All Saints

 

Remember the Belle Stars liked this song

 

Fuzzbox and Strawberry switchblade good songs

 

Also remember Mai Tai and Shakespeare sister

I would have included...

 

1) Spice Girls - Stop! (My fave single of theirs! ^_^)

2) Shakespears Sisters - Stay

3) B Witched - C'est La Vie

4) All Saints - Lady Marmalade

5) Eternal - Angel Of Mine

interesting list cod... some i like ( strawberry switchblade, bele stars) some i hate (tlc)

bananarama - trick of the night one bananabints track i could tollerate, nice and melodic

 

strawberry switchblade - since yesterday yeah, an excellant pop song, nice upbeat track

 

belle stars - sign of the times another replicated track from cod, good un though.

 

waitresses - christmas wrapping my fav crimbo track of all time

 

bananarama - shy boy ok they did have some good uns and i rate this 60's sounding classic ... was it a cover?

 

b*witched - too you i belong erm...lol... guilty pleasure! think its a cracking track! for what it is anyway...

 

all saints - booty call an odd choice, how can any female sing that low? ok though.

 

mai tai - history another duplicated track, but i rate it.

 

shakespeares sister - goodbye cruel world my fav by them

 

bangles - hazy shade of winter a good cover, poss better then the simon n garfunkel original.

 

fuzzbox - pink sunshine decent enough track for 89! lol.