Bananarama - "Venus"

A little info on 12" mixes. The 7:25 mix listed in the database is the "extended" version. It is also on many import cds.

There is also 9:16 12" version called the "Hellfire Mix"

I have that on Bananarama "Please Yourself" 2 disc London CD. Also on Culture Dance Vol 8, a French CD.

The other promo 12" version runs 6:44 and is called the "Fire & Brimstone Mix." I have yet to find it on CD.

I do have a version I can't identify, it also runs 7:25 but is not the "extended version." It is on the Unidisc Dance Classics The Hits Vol 3. Liner notes credit the production to PWL which also did the "Hellfire Mix" but it isn't that version. The disc was produced in 1993 so it is at least that old.

Edited by Indy500

Fetta wrote: Hi Indy500, The Unidisc Collection is great (I think I own all 16 Volumes) but some of mixes they used were a little strange including the Venus... -Jeff

Maybe it's one of the dub versions but I no longer have the original promo to compare it to.

LP and 45 versions

The LP and 45 (both US and UK) are the same versions, running 3:48.

Of the 22 versions I have for "Venus", I traced all the masterings back to just two analog transfers for this song.

One analog transfer is used on London's Bananarama Greatest Hits Collection (1988), where it runs at 125.6 BPM throughout, but fades early to about 3:38. The following discs all use the same analog transfer as Greatest Hits Collection (all run 3:37 or 3:38 except where noted, 125.6 BPM throughout):

• a Dutch multi-artist compilation pressed in Germany called Hits On CD Vol. 5 (Mercury, 1986) - it came out two before GH, but I'm not going to attempt to untangle that detail
• Sandstone's Rock The First Vol. 1 (1992) - 60 Hz hum
• a cheapie European 4-CD collection called Disco Fever (1993) - faded early to 3:33
• EMI Virgin PolyGram's 2-CD Now 1986 (1993) - faded early to 3:27
• Priority's Rock Of The '80s Vol. 4 (1993)
• Razor & Tie's 2-CD Awesome '80s (1994) - 60 Hz hum
• Simitar's Number Ones: Party Time (1998)
• EMI Virgin PolyGram's 2-CD Now The Millennium Series 1986 (1999)
• EMI's 2020 rerelease of Now 7 - mastered way too loud

The other analog transfer runs at 126.1 BPM throughout and runs out to the full 45/LP length of 3:48. I suspect (but can't confirm) that it originated on the full-length Bananarama True Confessions album, which first appeared on CD in Europe in 1986. The following discs all use the same analog transfer as (I think) True Confessions (all running 3:47 or 3:48, 126.1 BPM throughout):

• Cema's Entertainment Weekly Presents Rock Archives Vol. 2 (1990) - clips a bit around -3 dB
• swaitek's 50-CD promo set for radio The A List Disc 34 (1994) - has a lot of added noise reduction; avoid
• Rhino's Billboard Top Hits 1986 (1994)
• Time-Life's Sounds Of The Eighties Vol. 4 1986 (1994)
• JCI's Only Dance 1985-1989 (1995)
• Razor & Tie's promo Razor & Tie 1995 Sampler No. 4 (1995) - I suspect that the Razor & Tie 1995 rerelease of True Confessions also uses the same analog transfer, but I can't confirm
• Rhino's Hang The DJ 1986 (1996) - digitally exactly 1.431 dB quieter than Billboard
• EMI's Rock 'N Roll Relix 1986-1987 (1998) - differently EQ'd digital clone of Rock Archives Vol. 2, so also includes clipping
• Rhino's Runway Hits Music From The Catwalk (1998) - mastered too loud and clips a lot
• Rhino's Instant Party Irresistible '80s (2001)
• Rhino's 7-CD Like Omigod (2002) - mastered too loud and clips a lot

My recommendation

Pick up Rhino's Billboard Top Hits 1986 (1994). It's cheap and it sounds great for "Venus".

Hmm... the UK box set In a Bunch... · The Singles 1981–1993 has all the 12" versions, but for the 7" they have just a 3:29 early fade running at 125.2 BPM. Was the song ever actually released in this length?


Edited by mjb50

Magnificent description of this single Ron.
On the other hand, I always wondered if Rick Astley
participates with his voice at the end of the song,
saying "Venus was her name", at approximately 2.57
minutes, does anyone know this information or have more
information about it?

Edited by kaqueno