Wow! (Bananarama album)


WOW! is the fourth album by Bananarama, released in September 1987. The album was entirely produced and co-written with the Stock Aitken Waterman production trio and is the last album by the girl group to generate significant chart hits. Tensions between group member Siobhan Fahey and Stock, Aitken and Waterman regarding songwriting input and lyrical content prompted Fahey's departure from Bananarama months after its release. By the time the album's fourth single, "I Want You Back", was released, Fahey had been replaced with Jacquie O'Sullivan, who re-recorded the vocals for the single version of the song. Fahey would resurface in 1988 with her new band, Shakespears Sister.
While the album was a moderate success in both the UK and the US, it was a particularly big hit in Australia, where it topped the charts. The album was certified gold in the UK.
WOW! was re-issued in 2013 as a 3-Disc Deluxe Version and includes "Reason for Living", which is an early version of "I Want You Back".

Track listing

All songs written by Sara Dallin, Siobhan Fahey, Keren Woodward, Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman, except where noted.
LP version
  1. "I Can't Help It" – 3:32
  2. "I Heard a Rumour" – 3:25
  3. "Some Girls" – 4:19
  4. "Love in the First Degree" – 3:33
  5. "Once in a Lifetime" – 4:05
  6. "Strike It Rich" – 3:25
  7. "Bad for Me" – 3:39
  8. "Come Back" – 3:40
  9. "Nathan Jones" – 5:12
  10. "I Want You Back" – 3:53
CD and cassette version
  1. "I Can't Help It" – 3:32
  2. "I Heard a Rumour" – 3:25
  3. "Some Girls" – 5:47
  4. "Love in the First Degree" – 3:33
  5. "Once in a Lifetime" – 4:05
  6. "Strike It Rich" – 6:01
  7. "Bad for Me" – 3:39
  8. "Come Back" – 3:40
  9. "Nathan Jones" – 5:12
  10. "I Want You Back" – 3:53
Australian CD version
  1. "I Can't Help It" – 3:32
  2. "I Heard a Rumour" – 3:25
  3. "Some Girls" – 4:19
  4. "Love in the First Degree" – 3:33
  5. "Once in a Lifetime" – 4:05
  6. "Strike It Rich" – 3:25
  7. "Bad for Me" – 3:39
  8. "Come Back" – 3:40
  9. "Nathan Jones" – 5:12
  10. "I Want You Back" – 3:47
  11. "Some Girls" – 5:47
  12. "Strike It Rich" – 6:01
  13. "The Bananarama Mega-Mix" – 7:31
Limited double vinyl edition
  1. "I Can't Help It" – 3:32
  2. "I Heard a Rumour" – 3:25
  3. "Some Girls" – 4:19
  4. "Love in the First Degree" – 3:33
  5. "Once in a Lifetime" – 4:05
  6. "Strike It Rich" – 3:25
  7. "Bad for Me" – 3:39
  8. "Come Back" – 3:40
  9. "Nathan Jones" – 5:12
  10. "I Want You Back" – 3:53
  11. "The Bananarama Mega-Mix" – 7:26
  12. "Mr. Sleaze"
  13. "Ecstasy" – 5:37
2007 CD re-issue plus bonus tracks
  1. "I Can't Help It" – 3:32
  2. "I Heard a Rumour" – 3:25
  3. "Some Girls" – 4:21
  4. "Love in the First Degree" – 3:33
  5. "Once in a Lifetime" – 4:05
  6. "Strike it Rich" – 2:18
  7. "Bad for Me" – 3:39
  8. "Come Back" – 3:40
  9. "Nathan Jones" – 5:12
  10. "I Want You Back" – 3:53
  11. "Clean Cut Boy" – 4:39
  12. "Mr. Sleaze" – 4:44
  13. "Ecstasy" – 5:37
  14. "Nathan Jones" – 3:03
  15. "I Want You Back" – 3:47
  16. "Amnesia" – 6:28
  17. "Nathan Jones" – 3:18
2013 Deluxe Edition 2CD/DVD re-issue
Disc 1
  1. "I Can't Help It" – 3:32
  2. "I Heard a Rumour" – 3:25
  3. "Some Girls" – 4:19
  4. "Love in the First Degree" – 3:33
  5. "Once in a Lifetime" – 4:05
  6. "Strike It Rich" – 3:25
  7. "Bad for Me" – 3:39
  8. "Come Back" – 3:40
  9. "Nathan Jones " – 5:34
  10. "I Want You Back" – 3:53
  11. "Clean Cut Boy " - 4.43
  12. "Mr Sleaze" - 4.49
  13. "Ecstasy" - 4.11
  14. "Amnesia" - 6.26
  15. "I Heard a Rumour" - 5.57
  16. "Love in the First Degree" - 6.19
  17. "I Can't Help It" - 8.03
Disc 2
  1. "Love in the First Degree" - 8.33
  2. "I Heard a Rumour" - 7.22
  3. "I Can't Help It" - 6.33
  4. "Reason for Living" - 6.08
  5. "Some Girls" - 5.46
  6. "Strike It Rich" - 5.59
  7. "I Heard a Rumour" - 7.06
  8. "Nathan Jones" - 5.45
  9. "I Want You Back" - 7.18
  10. "Ecstasy" - 5.57
  11. "I Heard a Rumour" - 5.18
  12. "Mr Sleaze" - 6.02
DVD
  1. "I Heard a Rumour"
  2. "Love in the First Degree"
  3. "Mr Sleaze"
  4. "I Can't Help It"
  5. "I Want You Back"
  6. "Love, Truth and Honesty"
  7. "Nathan Jones"
  8. "Help!"
  9. "I Can't Help It"
  10. "I Want You Back"
  11. "I Heard a Rumour"
  12. "I Want You Back"
  13. "Love, Truth and Honesty"
  14. "Nathan Jones"
Notes on "Some Girls" and "Strike It Rich"

Certifications

Personnel

Bananarama
Musicians
Additional personnel