Bananarama’s ‘True Confessions’ Gets The 40th Anniversary Treatment

True Confessions

(40th Anniversary Editions)

Bananarama’s classic album released via a multitude of physical and digital formats

One hour radio special on ‘True Confessions’ this Sunday on Greatest Hits Radio  

★★★★ “True Confessions made Bananarama global stars and steered them in an ultra-pop direction that led to even more indelible hits. This anniversary release does the group – and the album – justice.” CLASSIC POP

This very week in 1986 Bananarama took ‘Venus’, their most commercially successful single, to its peak position of #1 on the US Billboard Top 100 and Billboard Dance Charts. Its American success was the tip of a very large iceberg: ‘Venus’ rocketed to #1 in five other countries including Australia, Canada and South Africa, as well as hitting #2 in Germany and Top 10 in more than 20 countries around the world.

With ‘Venus’ and its accompanying album, True Confessions, Bananarama set the world’s imagination ablaze. In four short years Sara Dallin, Siobhan Fahey and Keren Woodward transformed from D.I.Y. girls about town to bonafide global superstars. ‘Venus’ brought a new look and sound to match, accompanied by the band’s biggest budget video to date: sleek, sexy and sophisticated, with a knowing sense of camp and humour.

The success of ‘Venus’ and singles ‘Do Not Disturb’, ‘More Than Physical’ and ‘A Trick of the Night’ would see True Confessions go on to be their most commercially successful album internationally, achieving Gold Sales in the US (and Platinum in Canada), and a big hit across Europe and Australasia. The band’s newly formed relationship with Stock Aitken Waterman on ‘Venus’ and ‘More Than Physical’ would begin Bananarama’s unstoppable phase of peerless hit singles, leading them into the Guinness World Records for the highest number of chart entries for an all-female group.

To celebrate 40 years of True Confessions London Records has re-issued the album across a multitude of formats available from the Official Bananarama Store. 

The original members of the band signed 3 special editions of the album, one featuring Sara, Keren and Siobhan housed in unique individual sleeves. Each version features the original album plus audio from each band member on their recollections around the album, as well as a bonus secret track. While the official store has exhausted the international allocation, a final bunch has been signed by the band and available from Banquet Records (shipping worldwide). The official store also features original 1986 merchandise including T-shirts, tote bags and badge sets. 

This week also sees the release of three extra digital versions, each one with unique artwork. For a very limited time iTunes hosts two new editions: a Rarities Edition (including the lost ‘Kelly’s Eye’ version of ‘Do Not Disturb’) and a Remix Edition with full versions of the 2026 remixes. Townsend Music hosts an exclusive ‘Obsessions Of Your Mind’ version with digital polaroids and more.  

This Sunday August 30th, Greatest Hits Radio celebrates True Confessions with ‘Greatest Hits Superstars: Bananarama’. Hosted by Kate Thornton, this one hour special is an in-depth celebration of True Confessions and the global success of ‘Venus’, featuring interviews with Keren, Sara, Siobhan and many more. 

Tune in from 4pm BST to Greatest Hits Radio on your radio or at greatesthitsradio.co.uk or ask your smart speaker to ‘play Greatest Hits Radio’. ‘Greatest Hits Superstars: Bananarama’ will also be able to play back on demand for one month via the free Rayo app.