 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2011) |
| Please Yourself | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 29 March 1993 | |||
| Recorded | July 1991 – May 1992 | |||
| Studio | PWL Studios, Borough High Street, London; BMG Recording Studios, New York City | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Label | London | |||
| Producer | Stock & Waterman | |||
| Bananarama chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Please Yourself | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Calgary Herald | C[3] |
Please Yourself is the sixth studio album by English pop act Bananarama. It was released on 29 March 1993 by London Records, the group's last release under the label. It is also the first album from Bananarama as a duo – with original members Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward continuing after the departure of Jacquie O'Sullivan in 1991. Please Yourself also reunites Bananarama with two-thirds of the Stock Aitken Waterman production team (Stock and Waterman). Musician Gary Miller was brought in to do keyboards and guitar and would be Bananarama's next collaborator on their following album Ultra Violet.
The concept of the album, described by Pete Waterman as 'ABBA-Banana', was initially suggested by the band's A&R man, Pete Tong.[4] Tong wanted to feature pop songs in the style of ABBA, but updated for the 1990s.[4] Ultimately, however, much of the album ended up incorporating a ‘90s Euro-disco sound with only “Movin’ On” and “Last Thing On My Mind” utilising an ABBA-esque influence.
Stock described the writing and recording sessions with the band as difficult, but the collaborative process was initially highly praised in the press by Woodward.[4] She later retrospectively dismissed the sessions as creatively disappointing and uninspired.[4]
Please Yourself was the first Bananarama album not to be released in the United States. Upon its release in the UK, it was panned by critics and charted at a low number forty-six.[1] A limited double CD edition featured 12" remixes of some of the band’s past singles. Dallin and Woodward have later admitted in interviews that they are not fond of this album. Two of the songs on the album would later be reworked by Pete Waterman for use with the band Steps. "Last Thing on My Mind" would be their second single and the track "Movin' On" would be included on their second album Steptacular.
- ^ a b c d "Bananarama - Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
- ^ "Bananarama – Bananarama's Please Yourself". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ Obee, Dave (23 May 1993). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald.
- ^ a b c d "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 75: Summer Holiday, What Kind Of Fool (Heard All That Before), Higher And Higher and Movin' On on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 19 August 2024.