Bananarama “Venus” 1986. 12″ single, London Records. A smash dance pop/new wave hit, going to #1 in the US and a bunch of other countries, “Venus” is a cover of Shocking Blue’s 1969 groovy psychedelic #1 hit. Bananarama reworked the song into a dance track and included it on their LP True Confessions. I adored “Venus” in ’86 and imitated the wavy/flamey-arm thing the Bananarama women do on the dance floor (I still do!).

The 12″ single version we have (there are several out there) has four remixes of the single, which weirdly does not appear on the record. “Venus (The Hellfire Mix)” is pretty similar to the single, maybe just a bit more sparse in instrumentation and amplified percussion. “Venus (Fire & Brimstone Mix)” simply bleeds 80’s over-the-top production with big echoey and twanging basslines and synth work, stamping 1986 permanently into the record’s grooves. The only thing missing is a saxophone solo. “Venus (Extended Version)” is longer, obviously, with extra vocal samples and extended hooks giving it a hi-NRG vibe, perfect for the dance club. Finally, “Venus (Dub Version)” is the longest of the bunch, clocking in at over eight hypnotic, repetitive minutes.