UK release date: June 6th 1994
UK album chart peak: #13
Buy Bad Boys Inc album here (Amazon GB)
My drug of choice as a teen teetering on adulthood (20 was well within my sights as 1993/94 rolled around) was percolating, potent and fabulously coiffed boy bands. Whilst Take That were dominating the charts with their slick second album, I was drawn to the vibrant sounds of the four piece better known as Bad Boys Inc. Put together by Ian Levine (who had worked on some of the tracks on Take That and Party; notably the marvelous dance tracks I Found Heaven and Could It Be Magic), Ally, David, Matthew and Tony positively smouldered from every Smash Hits feature, record cover and video they put together. But other than the obvious aesthetic appeal of the group, they actually focused on putting out pop songs that were jolly good fun. Their blend of hi-nrg, mixed with soulful pop and aching ballads were just what I needed to put a spring in my step or a smile on my face. To promote their singles and albums, they took the tried and tested approach of touring clubs up and down the UK, ingratiating themselves with teen press and Saturday morning music shows, and, most importantly, offered fans plenty of bonus tracks and remixes across the whopping six top thirty hits they scored from their one and only album. While I later read that being in Bad Boys Inc wasn't the best time for some of the band (lack of control, sheer exhaustion, being treated poorly), the music they sang helped me through a difficult couple of years and, because of that - and incessantly catchy hooks - I always have fond memories of their time in the spotlight. Here's a look back at the singles from the album...
- Don't Talk About Love ~ when I saw the brooding looks of BBI staring out at me from the new release section of Woolworths record department I knew I (rather vacuously) had to buy the single. It was a balmy early August evening and, even though I hadn't heard the song, it was boy band catnip to me. I wasn't disappointed when I got the CD single home to play. It was actually a rather risque finger clicker about eschewing long term commitment for a night of frivolous fun at your local discotheque and I was immersed in every radiant second of it. The infectious chorus was instant sing-along bliss that stayed in your head long after the song finished. And the CD came with some tantalising remixes, including the oddly titled Serious Rope Remix. Were they going to lasso you for some 50 shades fun?! It was all rather titillating and my safe word was yes please. It gave them a solid top twenty hit and I was eager for more... Whenever You Need Someone ~ clearly keen to capitalise on the breakout success of Don't Talk About Love, the horn infused, summery bliss of single number two hit the stores barely 8 weeks later. It was a more sophisticated affair than their debut single, showcasing the gorgeous soulful vocals of Matthew and the intricate harmonies of Ally, David and Tony. What was constant was the effervescent hook which sparkled like the sun dancing on icy cool waters. It was practically a double A side with remixes both of Whenever You Need Someone and the equally enticing Spend The Night With Me - forging a strong debut but also peak of number 26. It may have only had a short chart run but I felt like I played these songs non-stop for well into the darkening nights of winter.
- Walking On Air ~ though there was a clear commitment to the band, the record label must have been slightly spooked that the lads couldn't seem to capitalise on the first week sales of their singles by appealing to a wider fanbase. Although not one of their higher charting hits, Walking On Air (released in the busy Christmas market), was the song that changed that. The dreamy, Motown inspired ballad was full of romantic lyrics that had me all doe eyed at every gorgeous falsetto and swooning at the video (where the guys got all gussied up in suits, like horny Mormon missionaries who'd flung their ties off with gay abandon). And once again, the CD single package was full of non-album goodies including the 70s disco vibe of Never Ever Say Goodbye and the funky sass of the seasonal Christmas Get Together. It debuted at 29 in a hugely competitive chart period, but climbed every week until it peaked at 24 in its 5th week on the chart. This was the momentum the boys and label were looking for - setting up 1994 to be their year.
- More To This World ~ I'm not sure when More To This World was recorded but if they had been sitting on it for a while, the urge to release it into the world must have been huge. Perhaps it was after Walking On Air, justifying the four month wait between releases (it came out in May 1994). Not just a great boy band song, a phenomenal feel good pop song that showered glitters over the cracks in your life, healing them with an effusive dance beat and sumptuous sing-along harmonies. The West End radio mix ensured the song appealed to club goers looking for an uplifting gem to kick their Saturday night off with a bang. Of course I bought the 7" picture disc as well as the CD Single (full of the now requisite remixes), adding to my collection. At this stage, even though the album was still a few weeks away, it was easy to make your own mix tape BBI album by compiling all the bonus tracks together. The song leapt into the top ten on its first week, climbed to number eight and lingered in the top twenty for another two weeks. Play loud and proud next to Sybil's The Love I Lost.
- Take Me Away (I'll Follow You) ~ I do love a bit of parenthesis in pop and as soon as I played the Bad Boys Inc debut album I was yearning for this to be the next single. The powers that be agreed and the delicious house-piano chords and percolating percussion were indelibly pressed into vinyl and CD single format. The fellas certainly knew how to bring the sunshine to pop music and this, much like Whenever You Need Someone, should be added to Summer Playlists on spotify from now until the end of time. I do recall being super disappointed that this didn't make the top ten (it stalled at fifteen). Perhaps it was boy band overkill - Let Loose were storming up the top ten with Crazy For You whilst Take That were breaking hearts one place behind with Love Don't Live Here Anymore. Regardless, this shouldn't have been so overlooked and is a lovely, languorous treat.
- Love Here I Come ~ oh the audacity of releasing six singles from an album (though Take That got EIGHT!!! from their debut), though it was remixed for radio and put it more in line with the dance dominated chart sound that proliferated the top 40. Personally I thought the chanted refrain of "this love we feel/just keep it coming" was a pride anthem just waiting to happen (and would surely go down a storm at G-A-Y during Pride month), empowering me to make some decisions about my life. Funny how pop music can do that to you. It was to be their last chart hit (peaking at 26, their sixth top 30 smash) but they'd provided many with a lifetime of memories - and you can't ask for much more than that.
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