Artist
Bananarama
Crate Digger's Guide
- Studio Medium:
- Bananarama primarily used analog multi-track magnetic tape during their peak recording era in the 1980s.
- Pressing Plants:
- Core records were often pressed at major facilities like CBS and RCA.
- Lacquer Cut:
- Their frequency ranges emphasize mid-range clarity, which can lead to inner-groove distortion if cut too close to the center.
- Matrix Runout:
- Look for matrix codes like 'A1' or 'B1' in the runout groove to identify authentic 1st pressings.
Vinyl Collector Intelligence
- Grail Pressing:
- Securing an authentic 1983 first pressing on the London label remains the ultimate pursuit for anyone hunting down Bananarama on wax.
- Best Reissue:
- Recent deluxe Demon Records catalog remasters successfully preserve the depth of the original Bananarama audio master tapes.
- Mastering & Translation:
- The dense multitrack vocal harmonies and electronic sub-bass frequencies characteristic of Bananarama's production demand a stable microlinear stylus to prevent high-frequency sibilance.
- Shelf Alternatives:
- Collectors tracking this era typically search out companion pressings from Depeche Mode (Mute) alongside New Order (Factory).
