Last Thing on My Mind (Bananarama song)

"Last Thing on My Mind" is a song written and recorded by English girl group Bananarama. The song is featured on their album Please Yourself and was released as the album's second single in the UK in 1992. It was produced by Mike Stock and Pete Waterman, two-thirds of the Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) trio. Pete Waterman said in 2002 the song was influenced by Mozart.[1] The single met with little success, peaking at number seventy-one in the UK Singles Chart. However, the song later became a bigger hit when a cover by the band Steps was released as a single in 1998 and peaked at number six in the UK Singles Chart.

"Last Thing on My Mind"
Single by Bananarama
from the album Please Yourself
B-side"Another Lover"
ReleasedNovember 1992
RecordedAugust 1991
Length
  • 3:35
LabelLondon Records
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

Music video

The music video 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. The video was directed by Zowie Broach.

Formats and track listings

Album version - Please Yourself[2]

  1. "Last Thing on My Mind" – 3:35

7" CD - UK[3]

  1. "Last Thing on My Mind" – 3:35
  2. "Another Lover" – 3:31

CD Maxi single - UK[4]

  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

Credits and personnel
Vocals
  • Lead vocals – Sara Dallin, Keren Woodward
  • Background vocals – Cleveland Watkiss, Lance Ellington, Leroy Osborne*, Mae McKenna, Mark Williamson, Mike Stock, Miriam Stockley
Personnel
  • Songwriting – Mike Stock, Pete Waterman, Sara Dallin, Keren Woodward
  • 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.[5]

Charts
Chart (1992-1993) Peak
position
Germany (GfK Entertainment Charts)[6] 63
Netherlands (Tipparade)[7] 4
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[6] 47
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[8] 71

Steps version
"Last Thing on My Mind"
Single by Steps
from the album Step One
A-side"Last Thing on My Mind"
B-side"A Love to Last"
Released27 April 1998
Recorded1998
StudioPWL Studios (Manchester)
Length3:04
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Karl Twigg
  • Mark Topham
  • 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" on their debut studio album, Step One (1998).

Background and release

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.[9] The song was produced by Pete Waterman and lasts for a duration of three minutes, 5 seconds.[10] 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

CantStopThePop described the song as an "out-and-out party song" with "elements of disco heartbreak in the lyrics", adding that it "absolutely radiates joy".[11] Geir Rakvaag from Dagsavisen said in his review of Step One, that the song "could have been made by ABBA".[12] 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."[13]

Chart performance

"Last Thing on My Mind" debuted at number six on the UK Singles Chart on 26 April 1998,[14] and after fluctuating inside the top 10 for three weeks,[8] it re-peaked at number six in its fifth week.[15] It spent a further week in the top 10, and collectively had a chart run of 14 consecutive weeks.[8] Following their debut single "5,6,7,8" becoming their first top 40 hit, peaking at number 14 in November 1997,[16] 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.[17] "Last Thing on My Mind" is the fifth best selling song of Steps career, and it was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry on 29 May 1998 for shipments of 200,000 copies.[18][19]

In Europe, the song debuted at number 41 in the Flanders region of Belgium on 9 May 1998.[20] It jumped to number four the following week, and reached number one in its third week, a position it held for 10 consecutive weeks.[20] 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.[21] "Last Thing on My Mind" peaked at number 13 in the Netherlands,[22] number 30 in France,[23] and number 59 in Sweden.[24] Elsewhere, the song peaked spent three non-consecutive weeks at number five in Australia, and peaked at number 24 in New Zealand.[25][26]

Promotion

The music video for "Last Thing On My Mind" was directed by Phil Griffin.[27] 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.[28]

Formats and track listings

Remixes
  • Last Thing On My Mind (WIP't Up In The Disco Mix)

Credits and personnel

Charts and certifications

Notable cover versions
  • Sha-Na recorded a version of the song, peaking at number 38 on the Ultratop Flanders chart.[44]

References
  1. "Pop mogul 'inspired by classics'". BBC News. 7 October 2002. Retrieved 17 October 2008.
  2. "Please Yourself". iTunes Store. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  3. "Bananarama "Last Thing on My Mind" (CD) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  4. "Bananarama "Last Thing on My Mind" (CD) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  5. Please Yourself (Liner notes). Bananarama. London Records. 1992. 422-828 357-2.CS1 maint: others (link)
  6. "Bananarama - Last Thing on My Mind". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  7. "Bananarama - Last Thing On My Mind" (in Dutch). top40.nl. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  8. "Last Thing on My Mind Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  9. "Official Singles Chart Top 100 26 April 1998 - 2 May 1998". Official Charts Company (UK). Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  10. "Step One". iTunes Store. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  11. "Steps – Last Thing On My Mind". CantStopThePop. 15 April 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  12. Rakvaag, Geir (28 October 1998). "Nye og gamle popstjerner". Dagsavisen (in Norwegian). p. 28. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  13. James, Gary (11 September 2018). "Step's Step One: looking back at their debut album 20 years on". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  14. "Official Singles Chart Top 100 26 April 1998 - 02 May 1998". Official Charts Company. 26 April 1998. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  15. "Official Singles Chart Top 100 24 May 1998 - 30 May 1998". Official Charts Company. 24 May 1998. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  16. "Official Singles Chart Top 100 16 November 1997 - 22 November 1997". Official Charts Company. 16 November 1997. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  17. Myers, Justin (15 March 2014). "Official Charts Pop Gem #49: Steps – One For Sorrow". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 11 May 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  18. Copsey, Rob (14 March 2017). "Steps' biggest selling singles revealed". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  19. "British single certifications – Steps – Last Thing on My Mind". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 10 May 2017. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Last Thing on My Mind in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  20. "Steps - Last Thing on My Mind". ultratop.be (in German). Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  21. "Steps - Last Thing on My Mind". ultratop.be/fr (in French). Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  22. "Steps - Last Thing on My Mind". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  23. "Steps - Last Thing on My Mind". lescharts.com (in French). Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  24. "Steps - Last Thing on My Mind". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  25. "Steps - Last Thing on My Mind". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  26. "Steps - Last Thing on My Mind". charts.nz. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  27. "Last Thing On My Mind (1998) by Steps". IMVDb.com. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  28. "Ultimate Steps - Last Thing on My Mind". Ultimate Steps. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  29. "Steps "Last Thing on My Mind" (CD) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  30. "Steps "Last Thing on My Mind" (CD) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  31. "Steps "Last Thing on My Mind" (CD) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  32. "Steps 12" Promo at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  33. "Steps "Last Thing on My Mind" Max single at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  34. Step One (Liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, EBUL. 1998. 0519112.CS1 maint: others (link)
  35. "Last Thing on My Mind" (Liner notes). Steps. Jive Records, EBUL. 1998. 0518492.CS1 maint: others (link)
  36. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  37. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (15.10.1998 - 22.10.1998)" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir - Tónlist. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  38. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 26 April 1998 - 02 May 1998". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  39. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  40. "ARIA End of Year Singles Chart 1998". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  41. "Jaaroverzichten 1998". Ultratop. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  42. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1998". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  43. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1998" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  44. "Sha-Na - Pluk de dag" (in Dutch). Ultratop.be. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
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