Wikipedia

Last Thing on My Mind (Bananarama song)

This article is about the Bananarama song later covered by Steps. For other songs of this name, see Last Thing on My Mind.

"Last Thing on My Mind" is by English girl group Bananarama from their sixth studio album, Please Yourself (1993). It was released on 16 November 1992 by London Records as the album's second single. The track was produced by Mike Stock and Pete Waterman, two-thirds of the Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) trio. Waterman stated in 2002 the song was influenced by Mozart.[2] The single peaked at number 72 on the UK Singles Chart. Composer Mike Stock blamed the song's poor chart performance on what he claimed to be a deteriorating relationship between the band and their label, London Records, resulting in a poor marketing campaign.[3]

"Last Thing on My Mind"
Single by Bananarama
from the album Please Yourself
B-side"Another Lover"
Released16 November 1992 (1992-11-16)[1]
Length3:35
LabelLondon
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Mike Stock
  • Pete Waterman
Bananarama singles chronology
"Movin' On"
(1992) 		"Last Thing on My Mind"
(1992) 		"More, More, More"
(1993)
Music video
"Last Thing on My Mind" on YouTube

In 1998, British group Steps released a cover version of the song as a single, peaking at number six on the UK Singles Chart.

Critical reception

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Quentin Harrison from Albumism described the song as a "champagne pop-soul sparkler".[4]

Music video

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A music video was made to accompany the song, directed by Zowie Broach. It features the two girls dressed in suits, ties, and gloves as they meet in a high-class European cafe where they chat, giggle, and whisper into each other's ears. These scenes are intercut with scenes of each of the girls being caressed or hugging a male companion in an upscale bedroom. The video ends with the two girls leaving together in a limousine.

Track listings

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  • UK CD single[5]
  1. "Last Thing on My Mind" (7" Mix) – 3:34
  2. "Another Lover" – 3:31
  3. "Venus" (Extended) – 7:25
  4. "I Heard a Rumour" (Horoscope Mix) – 5:53
  • UK 7-inch single[6]
  1. "Last Thing on My Mind" – 3:35
  2. "Another Lover" – 3:31

Credits and personnel

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Vocals

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  • Lead vocals – Sara Dallin, Keren Woodward
  • Background vocals – Cleveland Watkiss, Lance Ellington, Leroy Osborne*, Mae McKenna, Mark Williamson, Mike Stock, Miriam Stockley

Personnel

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  • Production – Mike Stock, Pete Waterman
  • Mixing – Dave Ford
  • Engineer – Gordon Dennis, Peter Day
  • Assistant engineer – Chris McDonnell, Dean Murphy, Jason Barron, Jesse Tranbury, Les Sharma, Martin Neary, Paul Waterman
  • Additional engineer – Dillon Gallagher
  • Drums – A. Linn
  • Drums – Gary Miller
  • Keyboards – Gary Miller, Julian Gingell, Mike Stock

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Please Yourself.[7]

Charts

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Chart (1992–1993) Peak
position
Germany (GfK)[8] 63
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[9] 4
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[10] 47
UK Singles (OCC)[11] 71

Steps version

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"Last Thing on My Mind"
 
Single by Steps
from the album Step One
B-side"A Love to Last"
Released20 April 1998 (1998-04-20)[12]
Recorded1998
StudioPWL (Manchester)
Genre
Length3:04
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Mark Topham
  • Karl Twigg
  • Pete Waterman
Steps singles chronology
"5,6,7,8"
(1997) 		"Last Thing on My Mind"
(1998) 		"One for Sorrow"
(1998)
Music video
"Last Thing on My Mind" on YouTube

British group Steps recorded a version of "Last Thing on My Mind" for their debut studio album, Step One (1998).

Background and release

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Following the release of their debut single "5,6,7,8", "Last Thing on My Mind" was released as their next single and became their first top 10 in the United Kingdom. The song became the group's first top 10 single in the United Kingdom charting at number six, outselling and outpeaking the original version.[13] The song was produced by Pete Waterman and lasts for a duration of three minutes and five seconds.[14] The two main verses are performed by Faye and Claire, respectively, whilst Lisa performs the bridge, after the instrumental. The chorus is performed by the entire group, and the song features no solo male voice.

Critical reception

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Andy Coleman from Birmingham Evening Mail wrote, "The single sounds like a nineties ABBA and the video even contains "tongue in cheek" references to the 1970s Swedish pop icons."[15] Also another editor, Phil Gould, noted it as a "ABBA soundalike".[16] Can't Stop the Pop described it as an "out-and-out party song" with "elements of disco heartbreak in the lyrics", adding that it "absolutely radiates joy".[17] Geir Rakvaag from Norwegian Dagsavisen felt it "could have been made by ABBA".[18] Julie MacCaskill from Scottish Daily Record stated that it is "wonderful".[19] Gary James from Entertainment Focus described it as "pure pop heaven", adding, "although when you stop dancing and start listening to the lyrics it’s actually about an unexpected break up; classic Stock and Waterman."[20]

Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian wrote that the track "aspires to ABBAesque melodrama".[21] Music Week praised it as "addictive" and "nauseatingly brilliant".[22] In a separate review, the magazine named it Single of the Week, adding, "This track - which gives more than a nod in the direction of Abba - is a welcome and surprisingly enjoyable diversion from the line-dancing pop sensation "5,6,7,8", which sold more than 300,000 units. It proves Steps are the Kings and Queens of boogie nights to come and, while it will find initially low support at radio, expect that trend to be reversed when they win even more fans over."[23]

Composer Mike Stock has been complimentary of Steps' version, praising the vocal performances and production on the record.[3]

Commercial performance

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"Last Thing on My Mind" debuted at number six on the UK Singles Chart on 26 April 1998,[24] and after fluctuating inside the top 10 for three weeks,[25] it re-peaked at number six in its fifth week.[26] It spent a further week in the top 10, and collectively had a chart run of 14 consecutive weeks.[25] Following their debut single "5,6,7,8" becoming their first top-40 entry, peaking at number 14 in November 1997,[27] their subsequent 15 single releases all charted within the top 10, however "Last Thing on My Mind" was the only one to not make the top five prior to their split in 2001.[28] "Last Thing on My Mind" is the fifth best selling song of Steps career, and it was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on 21 January 2022 for sales and streams shipments of 400,000 units.[29]

In continental Europe, the song debuted at number 41 in the Flanders region of Belgium on 9 May 1998.[30] It jumped to number four the following week, and reached number one in its third week, a position it held for 10 consecutive weeks.[30] In the Wallonia region, the song did not achieve the same success, peaking at number 16 in its second week, and remaining on the chart for five weeks.[31] "Last Thing on My Mind" peaked at number 13 in the Netherlands,[32] number 30 in France,[33] and number 59 in Sweden.[34] Elsewhere, the song peaked spent three non-consecutive weeks at number five in Australia, and peaked at number 24 in New Zealand.[35][36]

Promotion

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The music video for "Last Thing On My Mind" was directed by Phil Griffin.[37] The video, which was filmed in Cuba, features Lee picking up all the band members in his convertible. When they sing the chorus, each member is singing a scene is similar to ABBA's "Mamma Mia". The final scenes of the video are set around a pool where the band perform the full dance routine.[38]

Track listings

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Credits and personnel

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Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[29] Gold 400,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Notable cover versions

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Sha-Na recorded a version of the song, peaking at number 38 on the Ultratop Flanders chart.[57]

References

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  1. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 14 November 1992. p. 25. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Pop mogul 'inspired by classics'". BBC News. 7 October 2002. Retrieved 17 October 2008.
  3. ^ a b "Ep 76: Did I Say Ti Amo, Last Thing On My Mind, Celebration and Slam Jam". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  4. ^ Harrison, Quentin (25 April 2018). "Bananarama's 'Please Yourself' Turns 25: An Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  5. ^ "Bananarama "Last Thing on My Mind" (CD) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  6. ^ "Bananarama "Last Thing on My Mind" (CD) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  7. ^ Please Yourself (Liner notes). Bananarama. London Records. 1992. 422-828 357-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ "Bananarama – Last Thing on My Mind" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  9. ^ "Bananarama – Last Thing On My Mind" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  10. ^ "Bananarama – Last Thing on My Mind" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  11. ^ "Bananarama: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  12. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 18 April 1998. p. 27. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  13. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 26 April 1998 – 2 May 1998". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  14. ^ "Step One". iTunes Store. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  15. ^ Coleman, Andy (12 May 1998). "Five Steps to pop music heaven...". Birmingham Evening Mail. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  16. ^ Gould, Phil (26 December 1998). "Attack of the TEENS; What's Been Hot, and What's Not in 1998? as Chart Stars B*Witched Jet off Today to Conquer America, PHIL GOULD Looks Back over a Year during Which Teen Pop Has Taken over the Charts". Birmingham Evening Mail.
  17. ^ "Steps – Last Thing On My Mind". Can't Stop the Pop. 15 April 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  18. ^ Rakvaag, Geir (28 October 1998). "Nye og gamle popstjerner". Dagsavisen (in Norwegian). p. 28. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  19. ^ MacCaskill, Julie (2 April 1999). "Steps Are Perfect Pop Tonic; Steps, Glasgow Clyde Auditorium". Daily Record.
  20. ^ James, Gary (11 September 2018). "Step's Step One: looking back at their debut album 20 years on". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  21. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (18 September 1998). "This Weeks Pop CD Releases". p. 21. The Guardian.
  22. ^ "Music Week Playlist" (PDF). Music Week. 7 March 1998. p. 14. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  23. ^ "Reviews - For Records Out On 20 April 1998". Music Week. 11 April 1998.
  24. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 26 April 1998 – 02 May 1998". Official Charts Company. 26 April 1998. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  25. ^ a b c "Steps: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  26. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 24 May 1998 – 30 May 1998". Official Charts Company. 24 May 1998. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  27. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 16 November 1997 – 22 November 1997". Official Charts Company. 16 November 1997. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  28. ^ Myers, Justin (15 March 2014). "Official Charts Pop Gem #49: Steps – One For Sorrow". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  29. ^ a b "British single certifications – Steps – Last Thing on My Mind". British Phonographic Industry. 21 January 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  30. ^ a b c "Steps – Last Thing on My Mind" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  31. ^ a b "Steps – Last Thing on My Mind" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  32. ^ a b "Steps – Last Thing on My Mind" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  33. ^ a b "Steps – Last Thing on My Mind" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  34. ^ a b "Steps – Last Thing on My Mind". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  35. ^ a b "Steps – Last Thing on My Mind". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  36. ^ a b "Steps – Last Thing on My Mind". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  37. ^ "Last Thing On My Mind (1998) by Steps". IMVDb.com. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  38. ^ "Ultimate Steps – Last Thing on My Mind". Ultimate Steps. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  39. ^ Last Thing on My Mind (UK CD1 liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, EBUL. 1998. 051849-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  40. ^ Last Thing on My Mind (UK CD2 liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, EBUL. 1998. 052100-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  41. ^ Last Thing on My Mind (UK cassette single sleeve). Steps. Jive Records, EBUL. 1998. 051849-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  42. ^ Last Thing on My Mind (European CD single liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, EBUL. 1998. 059849-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  43. ^ Last Thing on My Mind (Aystralian CD single liner notes). Steps. Mushroom Records. 1998. MUSH01764.2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  44. ^ Step One (Liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, EBUL. 1998. 0519112.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  45. ^ "Last Thing on My Mind" (Liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, EBUL. 1998. 0518492.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  46. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 21. 23 May 1998. p. 19. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  47. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (15.10.1998 – 22.10.1998)" (PDF). DV (in Icelandic). ISSN 1021-8254 – via Timarit.is.
  48. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Last Thing on My Mind". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  49. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Steps" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  50. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  51. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  52. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1998". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  53. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1998 – Singles" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  54. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1998" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  55. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1998" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  56. ^ "Best Sellers of 1998 – Singles Top 100". Music Week. 16 January 1999. p. 7. ISSN 0265-1548.
  57. ^ "Sha-Na – Pluk de dag" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
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