Burning The Ground Exclusive
When most people think of The Bangles, it’s their sparkling 80s pop hits that come to mind—Walk Like an Egyptian, Manic Monday, or In Your Room. But buried within their catalog is one of their most haunting and understated songs, Following, a stark ballad that stands apart from the rest of their repertoire.
Written and sung by bassist Michael Steele, Following was chosen as the band’s fifth single from their massively successful Different Light album and released in April 1987 across Europe. Uniquely, it became the only Bangles single to feature Steele on lead vocals.
Musically, Following is a world away from the shimmering harmonies and Paisley Underground jangle the band was known for. Stripped-down acoustic guitar, mournful cello, and Steele’s hushed, confessional delivery make it one of the most intimate recordings of their career. Its lyrical core—quiet devotion and quiet longing—gives the song a timeless quality, closer to the English folk stylings of Nick Drake than to mainstream 80s pop.
For its single release, Following was slightly edited, trimming most of the outro from the album version. The 7″ was backed with Dover Beach, a track from their 1984 debut All Over the Place. The 12″ single sweetened the deal with the “Bangles Hit Mix,” a megamix that stitched together the band’s earlier hits: Manic Monday, If She Knew What She Wants, Walk Like an Egyptian, Walking Down Your Street, and Going Down To Liverpool.
Unfortunately, no music video was filmed to support the release, and the group did little to promote the single. As a result, Following had only modest chart success, peaking at #55 in the UK and faring best in Ireland, where it reached #22. It failed to chart in other European territories. The song was never released as a single in the U.S., leaving it as something of a hidden treasure for fans who dug deeper than the radio hits.
Even so, Following remains a standout in The Bangles’ discography. It gave Michael Steele her one and only chance to take the spotlight on a single, and showed a darker, more contemplative side of the band that still resonates with listeners today. Haunting, fragile, and deeply personal, it’s one of those songs that lingers long after the last note fades.
SIDE A:
Following 3:00
Written-By – M. Steele*
Dover Beach 3:46
Written-By – S. Hoffs, V. Peerson
SIDE B:
Bangles Hits Mix 14:39
DJ Mix – Mark Chamberlain
B1.1 Manic Monday
Written-By – Christopher
B1.2 If She Knew What She Wants
Written-By – J. Shear*
B1.3 Walking Down Your Street
Written-By – D. Kahne, L. Gutierrez, S. Hoffs*
B1.4 Going Down To Liverpool
Written-By – K. Rew*
B1.5 Walk Like An Egyptian
Written-By – L. Sterberg*
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: CBS – BANGS T2
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single, Partially Mixed, Stereo
Country: UK
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Pop Rock, Synth-pop
CREDITS:
- Producer – David Kahne
NOTES:
Made in England.
Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for burningtheground.net
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon Concorde Music Black
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
DAC: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 25 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!
Password: burningtheground
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Fun fact: “Going Down To Liverpool” is written by singer/songwriter Kimberly Rew, a.k.a. Katrina of Katrina & The Waves fame, and most of us recall the songwriter of “Manic Monday” billed as ‘Christopher’ is none other than Prince Rogers Nelson himself!
What a treasure, and kind of lost to the mists of time if not for your wide-ranging collection and generous sharing of great needle-drops like this. Thank you so much, Paul!
You’re welcome, Grant 🙂
Wow what a rarity Paul!! I was aware of this single, but it got overlooked among their sparkling radio hits. So nice to deservedly turn the spotlight onto this single and Michael Steele to reclaim her moment of glory. So excited for the megamix as well. Big thank you Paul!!
Wow thank you!! Yes, this one definitely tends to slip through the cracks since it wasn’t pushed in the U.S. and had very little promotion in Europe. Michael Steele really brought something special to Following—it’s haunting and beautiful, and absolutely deserves more recognition. The megamix is a real treat too, like a time capsule of their peak Different Light era. So glad you’re excited for it!
Thank you, Paul. So nice to see this rarity surface with your TLC given to it.
You’re very welcome. I appreciate your comment.
What a grand 12-inch this was is, Paul! I’ve always been a Bangles fan, and I’m extra pumped for the “Hits Mix” here! Gosh, how I miss these things because they rarely happen today, unless you know of someone or you might be able to do it yourself. Damn, I am so nostalgic these days.
Thank you ever so much for these treats from yesteryear.
Jeff
Jeff, I hear you loud and clear! Those classic megamixes were such a thrill—part of the fun of collecting 12-inch singles back in the day. They really captured the spirit of the era, and you’re right, it’s something we just don’t see much of anymore. That Hits Mix is pure nostalgia fuel, and I’m so glad it brings back those feelings for you. Always a pleasure to share these gems with a fellow Bangles fan!
I love you more and more each day Paul! You’re my lifeline, Paul! Not to sound mushy, but I don’t know if you know how important you are. Not only the records, but you and your enthusiasm and love you have for your followers!
Jeff
Thank you, Paul! I love this song and had no idea that the single differs from the album version. The entire album is perfect, and this song really rounds it out. The fact that the record label did not create a video for it shows that it was not an earnest effort to promote the single. It was probably done to appease Steele. I’m also super excited about the Megamix!
You’re very welcome! I agree with you—Different Light really is a near-perfect album, and Following gives it such a unique and haunting closing note. The edit for the single is subtle but makes it even more of a curiosity, especially since it didn’t get the push it deserved. I think you’re spot-on that the release may have been more about giving Michael Steele her due than a serious promotional effort. And yes, the Megamix is such a fun bonus—pure 80s magic!
Interesting that at such a minor hit it still made the Greatest Hits compilation! I look forward to refreshing my memory on this one as I can’t recall it to mind! Has anyone heard their reunion albums? I was always curious but never bit the bullet… obviously as a Prince fan Manic Monday will always be a fave. So glad that didn’t end up as an Apollonia 6 track! Susanna Hoffs seemed so primed for a solo album produced by Joey Coco, Alexander Nevermind or Camille. 😆. Too bad it never happened. Thanks again.
Yes, it is pretty fascinating that Following earned a place on the Greatest Hits despite being such a minor single—definitely shows the band had a soft spot for it too. The reunion albums (Doll Revolution and Sweetheart of the Sun) are worth a listen if you ever get curious; both have some real gems even if they didn’t make waves commercially. And ha! I’m with you on Manic Monday—so glad Prince passed it along to The Bangles, because they made it iconic. A Joey Coco–produced Susanna Hoffs solo album? Now that would’ve been something!
Of course, the flip side is Prince was reportedly surprised when they re-recorded Manic Monday instead of just overdubbing onto his recording… fact or fiction? Lost in time, but he also was impressed with their version… he did always champion female musicians!