Preacher Man

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Not to be confused with Preacherman.

"Preacher Man"
Banana pm.jpg
Single by Bananarama
from the album Pop Life
B-side"Megalomaniac"
ReleasedDecember 1990
Recorded1990
Genre
Length
  • 3:15 (Album Version)
  • 3:38 (Alternative 7-Inch Mix)
LabelLondon Records
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Youth
Bananarama singles chronology
"Only Your Love"
(1990) 		"Preacher Man"
(1990) 		"Long Train Running"
(1991)
Music video
"Preacher Man" on YouTube

"Preacher Man" is a song recorded by English girl group Bananarama. It appears on the group's fifth studio album Pop Life and was released as the album's second single. The track was co-written and produced by Youth with additional production and remix by Shep Pettibone.

"Tripping on Your Love" had been originally slated as the second single from the album,[citation needed] and some promotional singles of the song were sent to radio stations in late 1990. Around this time, group member Sara Dallin contracted meningitis, which delayed the release of the single some months.[citation needed] When she recovered, London Records decided "Preacher Man" was a better choice for a single and so it was released in December 1990. "Tripping on Your Love" was eventually released as the album's fourth single.

The pop/dance tune became the highest-charting and biggest-selling single released from the Pop Life album, climbing to number 20 in the UK singles chart. The single was Bananarama's last appearance in the UK top 20 until "Move in My Direction" in 2005. In Australia, the single peaked at #147 on the Australian ARIA singles chart.[1] "Preacher Man" was not released in the United States.

The song was performed on The Original Line Up Tour in 2017-2018. Despite being recorded after she left, original member Siobhan Fahey has always liked the song[citation needed] and chose to include it in the setlist.

Critical reception[]

Music & Media wrote, "Strong hooks and strong looks. A catchy tune with undeniable pop appeal. Watch the striking harp solo in the middle."[2] Gary Crossing from Record Mirror commented, "Those sexy mistresses of unison vocals return to form with a supremely contagious dance offering. Once again produced by Youth and remixed by Shep Pettibone, this has a powerful, gloopy bassline and a wondrous bluesy harmonica bit in the middle. Long may the 'Nanas fill the dancefloors."[3] Caroline Sullivan from Smash Hits said the song sounded like "everything they did with S/A/W" and noted "the chugging beat, same slick strings and the harmonica solo."[4]

Music video[]

The music video for the song featured a man tied to a chair in the interrogation room of a prison. As he breaks down and goes crazy, the girls, as well as various other carnival-like costumed entertainers such as a midget and a girl in a winged outfit, appear as hallucinations before him. These scenes are intercut with the girls performing the song in front of candles. Harmonica player Johnny Mars appears on the video.[5] The video was directed by long-time collaborator Andy Morahan and would be the last video he directed for the group.

Official versions and remixes[]

  1. "Preacher Man" (Album Version) - (3:15)
  2. "Preacher Man" (Ramabanana Alternative Mix) - (7:31)
    Remixed by Shep Pettibone
  3. "Preacher Man" (Shep's Club Mix) - (7:19)
    Remixed by Shep Pettibone
  4. "Preacher Man" (Shep's Dub Mix) - (4:44)
    Remixed by Shep Pettibone
  5. "Preacher Man" (Bonus Beats Dub)
    Remixed by Shep Pettibone
  6. "Preacher Man" (Shep's Instrumental)
    Remixed by Shep Pettibone
  7. "Preacher Man" (Alternative 7" Mix) - (3:38)
    Remixed by Shep Pettibone
  8. "Preacher Man" (Original 12" Mix) - (6:07)
    Unreleased until 2013

Personnel[]

Bananarama

Musicians

  • Peter 'Ski' Schwartz - Keyboards

Charts[]

Chart (1990) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[1] 147
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[6] 40
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 57
Germany (Official Charts Company)[6] 46
Ireland (IRMA) 11
Italy (Musica e dischi) 42
UK Singles (Official Charts Company) 20
UK Dance Singles (Music Week)[7] 22

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 2014-06-17". imgur.com. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  2. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 19 January 1991. p. 16. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  3. ^ Crossing, Gary (5 January 1991). "Singles". Record Mirror. p. 11. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Review: Singles". Smash Hits. No. 316. 9 January 1991. p. 49. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  5. ^ Richard Skelly. "Johnny Mars". Allmusic. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b "BANANARAMA - PREACHER MAN (SONG)". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  7. ^ "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 12 January 1991. p. xii. Retrieved 28 September 2020.

External links[]


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