Love in the First Degree (Bananarama song)

This article is about the song by Bananarama. For the song by Alabama, see Love in the First Degree (Alabama song).

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Love in the First Degree" Bananarama song – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (October 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

|

1987 single by Bananarama

"Love in the First Degree"

Single by Bananarama
from the album Wow!
B-side| "Mr. Sleaze"
Released| 28 September 1987
Recorded| October 1986
Genre|

* Dance-pop
* synth-pop

Length| 3:33
Label| London
Songwriter(s)|

* Sara Dallin
* Siobhan Fahey
* Keren Woodward
* Mike Stock
* Matt Aitken
* Pete Waterman

Producer(s)| Stock Aitken Waterman
Bananarama singles chronology
| "I Heard a Rumour"
(1987)  | "Love in the First Degree"
(1987)  | "I Can't Help It"
(1987)

|
|

Music video
"Love in the First Degree" on YouTube

"Love in the First Degree" is a song by English girl group Bananarama from their fourth studio album, Wow! (1987). It was released on 28 September 1987 as the album's second single, except in the United States, where it was released in 1988 as the third single (following "I Can't Help It"). The track was co-written and produced by the Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) trio.

The song is an uptempo pop tune similar to many hits produced by SAW during this time period. The surreal lyrics, composed by Siobhan Fahey and built upon by SAW and Bananarama members Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward, describes a dream in which they find themselves being tried in court for love. The musical structure could be compared to Pachelbel's Canon.

Producer Pete Waterman variously claimed he came up with the idea for the song while in the bath, and after waking up one morning with the tune in his head.[1] However Dallin has stated that he was not present during the song's composition.[1] Waterman further claimed he had to threaten to pull SAW off the Wow! project in order to force the release of the track as a single, after it was dismissed by the band and label as too commercial.[1]

"Love in the First Degree" peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart, tying with "Robert De Niro's Waiting..." (1984) and "Help!" (1989) as Bananarama's highest-charting single in the United Kingdom to date. The single also charted within the top 10 in Australia, Belgium, Ireland, Norway and South Africa, and the top 20 in Finland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. In the United States, the song reached number 48 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 10 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart.

As one of their final performances with Fahey, the group performed the song at the 1988 Brit Awards with a large entourage of male dancers dressed only in black bikini briefs. The song was nominated for British Single of the Year at that year's Brit Awards, but lost to Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up", also produced by Stock Aitken Waterman.

By the time "Love in the First Degree" was released in the United States, Fahey had already announced her departure from Bananarama.

The record sleeves for "Love in the First Degree" and "I Can't Help It", were switched with each other, for UK, and North American markets.

The song was featured in episode 3 of the 2019 comedy-drama TV series Back to Life, sung in a recording by teenage girls.

In 2021, British magazine Classic Pop ranked it number 5 in their list of "Top 40 Stock Aitken Waterman songs".[2]

## Contents

* 1 Music video
* 2 Track listings
* 2.1 Other versions
* 3 Personnel
* 4 Charts
* 4.1 Weekly charts
* 4.2 Year-end charts
* 5 References

## Music video[edit]

The music video for "Love in the First Degree", directed by Andy Morahan,[3] features the group performing the song in a jail cell, alternately dressed in black outfits and prison uniforms. Several male dancers perform around them. The imagery plays off of Elvis Presley's 1957 film Jailhouse Rock. Fahey was pregnant with her first child at the time of filming. Sections of the video featuring acrobatics used body doubles.

On Bananarama's The Greatest Hits Collection video compilation, the music video for "Love in the First Degree" is intercut with the live performance of the song at the 1988 Brit Awards, which was Fahey's last performance with the group.

## Track listings[edit]

* 7-inch single

1. "Love in the First Degree" (Album Version) – 3:33
2. "Mr. Sleaze" – 4:45

* UK 12-inch single

1. "Love in the First Degree" (Jailer's Mix) – 6:03

Available on the CD album "The Greatest Remixes Collection".
2. "Love in the First Degree" (Escapee Instrumental) – 3:33
3. "Mr. Sleaze" (Single Version) – 4:45

* 2nd 12-inch single / German 12-inch single

1. "Love in the First Degree" (Eurobeat Style) – 7:15

Available on the CD album "Greatest Hits Collection".
2. "Mr. Sleaze" (Rare Groove Mix) – 6:00

* US 12-inch single

1. "Love in the First Degree" (Eurobeat Style) – 7:15
2. "Love in the First Degree" (7" Mix) – 3:33
3. "Love in the First Degree" (Jailer's Mix) – 6:03
4. "Ecstacy" (Wild Style) – 5:35

### Other versions[edit]

1. "Love in the First Degree" (House Mix / House Mix Edit) – 5:45

Available on the CD single "I Want You Back".
2. "Love in the First Degree" (Love In The House Mix / Full House Mix) – 8:35

Available on the CD album Wow (2013 deluxe edition 2CD/DVD re-issue)
3. "Love in the First Degree" (House Dub) – 4:57

Available on the CD Compilation Megarama - The Mixes
4. "Love in the First Degree" (Jailer's Mix With Intro) – 6:15

Available on the CD album Wow (2013 deluxe edition 2CD/DVD re-issue)

## Personnel[edit]

Bananarama

* Sara Dallin – vocals
* Siobhan Fahey – vocals
* Keren Woodward – vocals

## Charts[edit]

### Weekly charts[edit]

Weekly chart performance for "Love in the First Degree"  | Chart (1987–1988)  | Peak
position

|

Australia (Australian Music Report)[4] | 5
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5] | 9
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[6] | 9
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[7] | 15
Ireland (IRMA)[8] | 6
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[9] | 13
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[10] | 12
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[11] | 11
Norway (VG-lista)[12] | 10
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[13] | 10
Spain (AFYVE)[14] | 12
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[15] | 15
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[16] | 18
UK Singles (OCC)[17] | 3
US Billboard Hot 100[18] | 48
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[19]
with "Ecstacy" | 10
US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[20]
with "Ecstacy" | 27
US Cash Box Top 100[21] | 48
West Germany (Official German Charts)[22] | 21

### Year-end charts[edit]

1987 year-end chart performance for "Love in the First Degree"  | Chart (1987)  | Position

|

Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[23] | 100
UK Singles (Gallup)[24] | 32
1988 year-end chart performance for "Love in the First Degree"  Chart (1988)  | Position

|

Australia (ARIA)[25] | 24

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 28: A Walk In The Park to Whatever Makes Our Love Grow on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
2. ^ "Top 40 Stock Aitken Waterman songs". Classic Pop. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
3. ^ Garcia, Alex S. "Bananarama – "Love in the first degree [version 1]"". mvdbase.com. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
4. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 26\. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
5. ^ "Bananarama – Love in the First Degree" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
6. ^ "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 48\. 5 December 1987. p. 14\. OCLC 29800226 - via World Radio History.
7. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 263\. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
8. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Love in the First Degree". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
9. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Bananarama" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
10. ^ "Bananarama – Love in the First Degree" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
11. ^ "Bananarama – Love in the First Degree". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
12. ^ "Bananarama – Love in the First Degree". VG-lista. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
13. ^ "SA Charts 1965–1989 (As presented on Springbok Radio/Radio Orion) – Acts B". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 1 September 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
14. ^ Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
15. ^ "Bananarama – Love in the First Degree". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
16. ^ "Bananarama – Love in the First Degree". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
17. ^ "Bananarama: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
18. ^ "Bananarama Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
19. ^ "Bananarama Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
20. ^ "Bananarama Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
21. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending April 30, 1988". Cash Box. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
22. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Bananarama – Love in the First Degree". GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
23. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1987 – Singles" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
24. ^ "Gallup Year End Charts 1987: Singles". Record Mirror. London. 23 January 1988. p. 36\. ISSN 0144-5804.
25. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1988". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 14 November 2020.

* v
* t
* e

Bananarama

* Sara Dallin
* Keren Woodward

* Siobhan Fahey
* Jacquie O'Sullivan

Studio albums|

* Deep Sea Skiving
* Bananarama
* True Confessions
* Wow!
* Pop Life
* Please Yourself
* Ultra Violet / I Found Love
* Exotica
* Drama
* Viva
* In Stereo
* Masquerade

Extended plays|

* Now or Never

Compilation albums|

* The Greatest Hits Collection
* Bunch of Hits
* The Very Best of Bananarama
* Really Saying Something: The Platinum Collection
* 30 Years of Bananarama
* Master Series
* The Essentials

Remix albums|

* The Greatest Remixes Collection
* The Twelve Inches of Bananarama
* Drama Remixes, Vol. 1

Singles|

* "Aie a Mwana"
* "It Ain't What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It)"
* "Really Saying Something"
* "Shy Boy"
* "Cheers Then"
* "He's Got Tact"
* "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye"
* "Cruel Summer"
* "Robert De Niro's Waiting..."
* "Rough Justice"
* "Hot Line to Heaven"
* "The Wild Life"
* "Do Not Disturb"
* "Venus"
* "More Than Physical"
* "A Trick of the Night"
* "Set on You"
* "I Heard a Rumour"
* "Love in the First Degree"
* "I Can't Help It"
* "I Want You Back"
* "Love, Truth and Honesty"
* "Nathan Jones"
* "Help!"
* "Only Your Love"
* "Preacher Man"
* "Long Train Running"
* "Tripping on Your Love"
* "Movin' On"
* "Last Thing on My Mind"
* "More, More, More"
* "I Found Love"
* "Every Shade of Blue"
* "Take Me to Your Heart"
* "Careless Whisper"
* "Move in My Direction"
* "Look on the Floor (Hypnotic Tango)"
* "Love Comes"
* "Love Don't Live Here"
* "Now or Never"

Featured singles|

* "Do They Know It's Christmas?"
* " Let It Be"

Promotional singles|

* "Megarama '89"
* "Really Saying Something (Solasso Remix)"
* "Baby It's Christmas"

Video compilations|

* And That's Not All...
* The Video Singles
* The Greatest Hits Collection
* 30 Years of Bananarama

Related articles|

* Discography
* "Young at Heart"
* Fun Boy Three
* Shakespears Sister

* v
* t
* e

Stock Aitken Waterman

* Mike Stock
* Matt Aitken
* Pete Waterman

Notable artists|

* Kylie Minogue
* Jason Donovan
* Rick Astley
* Bananarama
* Dead or Alive
* Mel and Kim
* Donna Summer
* Princess
* Sinitta
* Divine
* Sonia
* Hazell Dean
* Big Fun
* Samantha Fox
* Brother Beyond
* Lonnie Gordon
* Mandy Smith
* Pepsi & Shirlie
* Sybil

Notable songs|

* "I Should Be So Lucky"
* "The Loco-Motion"
* "Got to Be Certain"
* "Better the Devil You Know"
* "Especially for You"
* "Too Many Broken Hearts"
* "Never Gonna Give You Up"
* "Together Forever"
* "Whenever You Need Somebody"
* "Take Me To Your Heart
* "Venus"
* "Love In The First Degree
* "I Heard a Rumour"
* "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)"
* "Respectable"
* "This Time I Know It's for Real"
* "I Don't Wanna Get Hurt"
* "Say I'm Your Number One"
* "Toy Boy"
* "All of Me (Boy Oh Boy)"
* "You Think You're a Man"
* "I'm So Beautiful"
* "You'll Never Stop Me Loving You"
* "Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go)"
* "Blame It on the Boogie"
* "Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now"
* "The Harder I Try"
* "Beyond Your Wildest Dreams"
* "Happenin' All Over Again"
* "Let It Be"
* "Ferry Cross the Mersey"
* "Shattered Glass"
* "Looking Good Diving"

Compilations|

* The Hit Factory: The Best of Stock Aitken Waterman
* The Hit Factory Volume 2
* The Hit Factory Volume 3
* A Ton of Hits: The Very Best of Stock Aitken Waterman
* The Hit Factory: Pete Waterman's Greatest Hits
* Stock Aitken Waterman Gold
* Pete Waterman Presents the Hit Factory

Related articles|

* List of songs produced by Stock Aitken Waterman
* Pete Waterman Entertainment
* Hi-NRG
* Eurobeat

Authority control |

* MusicBrainz
* release group
* MusicBrainz
* work

|

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template