Love, Truth and Honesty

Last updated

"Love, Truth and Honesty"
Banana ltah.jpg
Single by Bananarama
from the album Greatest Hits Collection
B-side "Strike It Rich"
Released12 September 1988
RecordedApril 1988
Genre Dance-pop
Length3:25
Label London
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Stock Aitken Waterman
Bananarama singles chronology
"I Want You Back"
(1988)		"Love, Truth and Honesty"
(1988)		"Nathan Jones"
(1988)
Music video
"Love, Truth and Honesty" on YouTube

"Love, Truth and Honesty" is a song by English girl group Bananarama from their first greatest hits album, Greatest Hits Collection (1988). Co-written and produced by the Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) trio, the song was released on 12 September 1988 by London Records as the album's lead single. It achieved a moderate success, peaking out of the top 20 in the majority of countries where it was released. The music video was produced by Big TV!.

Contents

Background and writing

"Love, Truth and Honesty" is the only Bananarama's single to give a songwriting credit to new member Jacquie O'Sullivan, [1] and was also the last single Bananarama would write with SAW as a trio. [1] Speaking of the subject matter of the song, Keren Woodward noted, "The single’s more bitter than it appears on the surface. It's not 'Hey! Love, Truth and Honesty!' It’s what a fool I was to believe in love truth and honesty.” [1]

Critical reception

Reviews

Jonh Wilde from Melody Maker wrote, "Another blithely cheerful nursery-rhyme that will get housewives rattling their J-cloths all over the home counties, flicking the dust-beetles under the rugs as they whistle along, "Never trust your emotions, they'll always let you down", they yodel." [2] Jack Barron from NME said, "A tale of betrayal, 'Love Truth and Honesty' doesn't bleat about the bush but blushes with a tacky SAW electrodance beat and purple prose passion. Prime pop delivered in a screw-top." [3] James Hamilton from Record Mirror was critical of the song, describing it as a "surprisingly dull and uninspired Stock Aiken Waterman produced blandly lolloping 116+1⁄3 bpm canterer with the girls's usual unison vocal patterns and typically nagging hook". [4] Similarly, in another issue of the same magazine, David Gilles called it a "lesser song", adding "it's about time they [Bananarama's members] broke away from SAW". [5] By contrast, in 2017, Christian Guiltenane of British magazine Attitude praised this Bananarama song as being "one of their more glum affairs (though still wrapped up in a tinny SAW package), but is sensational nevertheless". [6]

Impact and legacy

In 2021, British magazine Classic Pop ranked it number 15 in their list of "Top 40 Stock Aitken Waterman songs", describing it as a "bleak yet lovable ode to the nasty business of love cheats" and as being "charming, simple, honest". [7] In 2023, Tom Eames of Smooth Radio ranked the song at number nine in his "Bananarama's 10 greatest songs, ranked" list. [8]

Chart performance

"Love, Truth and Honesty" was not as successful as Bananarama's previous singles from the Wow! album. In the UK, it entered the chart at number 31 on 24 September 1988, peaked at number 23 for consecutive two weeks and fell off the chart after eight weeks of presence. [9] The only country where it peaked within the top ten is Finland where it topped the chart, [10] while it was a top 20 hit in Ireland where it attained number 12 with four weeks of charting, [11] and New Zealand where it peaked at number 20 and appeared on the chart for five weeks. [12] In addition, it reached number 25 in Switzerland, [13] missed the top 30 in Australia and the top 40 in West Germany by two places in each case, [14] [15] and barely made the top 100 in the Netherlands. [16] In the United States, "Love, Truth and Honesty" peaked at number 89 on the Billboard Hot 100 and charted for three weeks, marking the group's last appearance on the chart, [17] but did better on the Dance Club Songs chart, peaking at number 26 in its fourth week out of a seven chart run. [18] On the European Hot 100 singles chart compiled by Pan-European magazine Music & Media , it ranked for eight weeks, with a peak at number 41 twice, in its fourth and fifth weeks. [19]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Love, Truth and Honesty", directed by Big TV!, features the trio performing in front of mirrors and neon lights as a well-groomed man looks on. The three members of the band are shown alternately in evening gowns—a departure from their previous looks—as well as more casual black outfits.

Track listings

  1. "Love, Truth and Honesty" – 3:25
  2. "Strike It Rich" – 5:03
  1. "Love, Truth and Honesty" (Dance Hall Version) – 7:20
  2. "Strike It Rich" (Full Length Club Mix) – 5:55
  1. "Love, Truth and Honesty" (Balearacidic Mix) – 8:20
  2. "Love, Truth and Honesty" (Hot Power 12″) – 9:15
  3. "Strike It Rich" – 2:15
  1. "Love, Truth and Honesty" (Hot Power Mix) – 9:24
  2. "Love, Truth and Honesty" (Hot Power Edit) – 3:30
  3. "Love, Truth and Honesty" (Dance Hall Version) – 7:20
  4. "Strike It Rich" (Full Length Club Mix) – 5:58
  1. "Love, Truth and Honesty" (Dance Hall Version) – 7:25
  2. "Strike It Rich" (Full Length Club Mix) – 5:17
  3. "I Want You Back" – 3:49
  4. "Love, Truth and Honesty" – 3:25

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Love, Truth and Honesty"
Chart (1988)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [14] 32
Denmark (Hitlisten) [20] 15
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles) [19] 41
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) [10] [21] 1
Ireland (IRMA) [11] 12
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [16] 87
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [12] 20
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [22] 13
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [13] 25
UK Singles (OCC) [9] 23
UK Dance ( Music Week ) [23] 21
US Billboard Hot 100 [17] 89
US Dance Club Songs ( Billboard ) [18] 26
US Cash Box Top 100 [24] 72
West Germany (Official German Charts) [15] 42

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bananarama</span> British-Irish girl group

Bananarama is a British-Irish girl group formed in London in 1980. The group, originally a trio, consisted of friends Sara Dallin, Siobhan Fahey, and Keren Woodward. Fahey left the group in 1988 and was replaced by Jacquie O'Sullivan until 1991, when the trio became a duo. Their success on both pop and dance charts saw them listed in the Guinness World Records for achieving the world's highest number of chart entries by an all-female group. Between 1982 and 2009, they had 30 singles reach the Top 50 of the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Venus (Shocking Blue song)</span> 1969 song by Shocking Blue

"Venus" is a song by Dutch rock band Shocking Blue, released as a single in the Netherlands in the summer of 1969. Written by Robbie van Leeuwen, the song topped the charts in nine countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Je ne sais pas pourquoi</span> 1988 single by Kylie Minogue

"Je ne sais pas pourquoi" (English: "I Do Not Know Why"), also known as "I Still Love You (Je ne sais pas pourquoi)" in Australia and New Zealand, is a song by Australian recording artist and songwriter Kylie Minogue from her debut studio album Kylie (1988). Released as a single on 10 October 1988 by PWL, the song has subsequently appeared on most of Minogue's hits compilations including Greatest Hits (1992), Ultimate Kylie (2004) and, most recently, Step Back in Time: The Definitive Collection, released in 2019. Like most of Minogue's material between 1988 and 1992, it was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turn It into Love</span> 1988 single by Kylie Minogue

"Turn It into Love" is a single released by Australian singer Kylie Minogue. It was taken from her debut studio album Kylie (1988). The single was released in December 1988 in Japan only. The B-side was a new song "Made in Heaven", which also served as the B-side to both "Je ne sais pas pourquoi" and "It's No Secret" in other international territories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In Love with Love</span> 1987 single by Debbie Harry

"In Love with Love" is a 1987 song recorded by the American singer Debbie Harry. It was taken from her second solo album Rockbird and released as the third single in 1987.

<i>Wow!</i> (Bananarama album) 1987 studio album by Bananarama

Wow! is the fourth studio album by English group Bananarama, released on 4 September 1987 by London Records. The album was entirely produced and co-written with the Stock Aitken Waterman production trio. Tensions between group member Siobhan Fahey and Stock, Aitken and Waterman regarding songwriting input and lyrical content prompted Fahey's departure from Bananarama five months after its release. The album reached number 26 on the UK Albums Chart and number 44 on the US Billboard 200, while peaking at number one in Australia. The album was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on 3 February 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Heard a Rumour</span> 1987 single by Bananarama

"I Heard a Rumour" is a song by English girl group Bananarama from their fourth studio album, Wow! (1987), and was released on 29th June 1987 as the album's lead single. It became a hit in UK where it reached the top 20, but was more successful in North America, where it peaked within the top five.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nathan Jones (song)</span> 1971 single by The Supremes

"Nathan Jones" is a song by American girl group the Supremes from their twenty-third studio album, Touch (1971). It was released on April 15, 1971, as the album's lead single. Produced by Frank Wilson and written by Kathy Wakefield and Leonard Caston, "Nathan Jones" was one of eight top-40 entries the Supremes recorded after its original frontwoman, Diana Ross, left the group for a solo career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">More Than Physical</span> 1986 single by Bananarama

"More Than Physical" is a song by English girl group Bananarama from their third studio album, True Confessions (1986). It was released on 11 August 1986 as the album's third single. It was co-written and produced by the Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) trio. A reworked version of the song was released as the single version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Trick of the Night</span> 1986 single by Bananarama

"A Trick of the Night" is a mid-tempo ballad recorded by English girl group Bananarama. It was written and produced by Steve Jolley and Tony Swain and released as the final single from Bananarama's album True Confessions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love in the First Degree (Bananarama song)</span> 1987 single by Bananarama

"Love in the First Degree" is a song by English girl group Bananarama from their fourth studio album, Wow! (1987). It was released on 28 September 1987 as the album's second single, except in the United States, where it was released in 1988 as the third single. The track was co-written and produced by the Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) trio. It achieved major success in the UK and Australia, and also peaked within the top 20 in many European countries, but, unlike "I Heard a Rumour", it reached only the lower end of the top 50 in the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Can't Help It (Bananarama song)</span> 1987 single by Bananarama

"I Can't Help It" is a song by English girl group Bananarama from their fourth studio album, Wow! (1987). It was released on 29 December 1987 as the album's third single, except in the United States, where it was the second single, and Australia, where it served as the fourth single. The track was co-written and produced by the Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) trio. The single peaked at number 20 in the UK singles chart, number 27 on the Australian ARIA chart, and number 47 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Want You Back (Bananarama song)</span> 1988 single by Bananarama

"I Want You Back" is a song by English girl group Bananarama from their fourth studio album, Wow! (1987). It was released on 28 March 1988 by London Records as the album's fourth and final single. The track was co-written and produced by the Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) trio. It became one of Bananarama's highest-charting singles, peaking at number five on the UK Singles Chart. It also climbed into the top three in Australia and the top 10 in New Zealand. The single was not released in the United States. Andy Morahan directed its accompanying music video.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Movin' On (Bananarama song)</span> 1992 single by Bananarama

"'Movin' On" is a song written and performed by English girl group Bananarama. Released on 17 August 1992, it was the first single from their sixth album, Please Yourself (1993). It was produced by Mike Stock and Pete Waterman, two-thirds of the Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) trio who had produced a number of Bananarama's past hits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All of Me (Boy Oh Boy)</span> 1988 single by Sabrina

"All Of Me (Boy Oh Boy)" is a song by Italian singer Sabrina, released in Italy in July 1988 by Metronome as the first single from her second album, Super Sabrina (1988). It was also her fifth international single. Written and produced by Stock Aitken & Waterman, it followed her previous single "Hot Girl" in Europe, while it was her second single release in the United Kingdom, following "Boys (Summertime Love)". Entering the charts in mid-summer 1988, the single became Sabrina's third major European hit. It followed Sabrina's two previous singles into the top ten or top 20 in several European countries, and reached the top 30 of the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shattered Glass (song)</span> 1987 single by Laura Branigan

"Shattered Glass" is a song written by Bob Mitchell and Steve Coe which was originally recorded in 1980 by Scottish singer Ellie Warren. The song was recorded in 1987 by American singer Laura Branigan with the Stock Aitken Waterman production team to serve as the lead single from Branigan's fifth studio album, Touch (1987).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Don't Believe in Miracles (Sinitta song)</span> 1988 single by Sinitta

"I Don't Believe In Miracles" is a song by American-British singer Sinitta, released in September 1988 by Fanfare Records as the first single from her second album, Wicked (1989). The song was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, and was a top 30 hit in UK and Ireland. It was also her last single produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, as after this release, Sinitta moved away from working directly with them although she continued to record at PWL under the direction of mixmasters Pete Hammond, Phil Harding and Ian Curnow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">That's What Love Can Do</span> 1991 single by Boy Krazy

"That's What Love Can Do" is a song by American female pop group Boy Krazy, written and produced by British hitmaking team Stock Aitken Waterman, and first released in 1991 as Boy Krazy's debut single. Lead vocals were performed by group member Johnna Cummings. This was the only single in which group member Renée Veneziale would be involved, leaving the band in 1991 soon after its release. The song did not become a hit, peaking at number 86 in the UK; however, it reached number 18 in US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Say I'm Your Number One</span> 1985 single by Princess

"Say I'm Your Number One" is a song by English singer Princess, released in 1985 as the lead single from her self-titled debut studio album (1986). Written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW), the song peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart. In the United States, it reached number 20 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart, while it reached the top ten in the UK and several of European and Oceanian countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Handful of Promises</span> 1990 single by Big Fun

"Handful of Promises" is a pop-dance song written by Stock Aitken Waterman for British boys band Big Fun. It was the third single from their 1990 debut studio album A Pocketful of Dreams on which it is the first track. The B-side of the various formats is a new song, "Catch a Broken Heart", which was not included on the parent album. Released on 5 March 1990 with two different covers, it failed to reach the top 20 in United Kingdom where it stalled at number 21. However, it was a top ten hit in Ireland and Spain.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 37: Love, Truth And Honesty to All Of Me on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  2. ↑ Wilde, Jonh (17 September 1988). "Singles". Melody Maker . p. 35. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  3. ↑ Barron, Jack (24 September 1988). "Singles". NME . p. 16. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  4. ↑ Hamilton, James (27 August 1988). "DJ directory by James Hamilton" (PDF). Record Mirror . London: Spotlight Publications Ltd. p. 39. ISSN   0144-5804 . Retrieved 30 October 2023– via World Radio History.
  5. ↑ Giles, David (17 September 1988). "45 reviewed by David Giles" (PDF). Record Mirror . London: Spotlight Publications Ltd. p. 30. ISSN   0144-5804 . Retrieved 30 October 2023– via World Radio History.
  6. ↑ Guiltenane, Christian (7 September 2017). "The very best hits (and misses) of Stock Aitken Waterman". Attitude . London. ISSN   1353-1875 . Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  7. ↑ "Top 40 Stock Aitken Waterman songs". Classic Pop . 18 August 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  8. ↑ Eames, Tom (30 August 2023). "Bananarama's 10 greatest songs, ranked". Smooth Radio . Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  9. 1 2 "Bananarama: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  10. 1 2 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.
  11. 1 2 "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Love Truth & Honesty". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  12. 1 2 "Bananarama – Love, Truth & Honesty". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  13. 1 2 "Bananarama – Love, Truth & Honesty". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  14. 1 2 "Bananarama – Love, Truth & Honesty". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  15. 1 2 "Offiziellecharts.de – Bananarama – Love, Truth & Honesty" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  16. 1 2 "Bananarama – Love, Truth & Honesty" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  17. 1 2 "Bananarama Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  18. 1 2 "Bananarama Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  19. 1 2 "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 5, no. 44. 29 October 1988. p. 24. OCLC   29800226 – via World Radio History.
  20. ↑ Danish Charts Archive. 28 October 1988.
  21. ↑ "Top 3 Singles in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 5, no. 47. 19 November 1988. p. 24. OCLC   29800226 . Retrieved 15 August 2023– via World Radio History.
  22. ↑ Davidalic (11 February 1989). "Listas de superventas: 1989". AFE . Listas De Superventas. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  23. ↑ "Top Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week . 1 October 1988. p. 13. Retrieved 28 August 2023– via World Radio History.
  24. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending December 10, 1988". Cash Box . Retrieved 14 November 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.