Kate Bush - 4 of her Greatest Songs

Kate Bush & Peter Gabriel - Don't Give Up (1986)



Kate Bush - Running up that Hill (1985)



Kate Bush - Babooshka (1980)




Kate Bush - Wuthering Heights (1978)

Cock Robin

Named after a 17th century story titled 'The Marriage of Cock Robin and Jenny Wren', Peter Kingsbery, Anna LaCazio, Clive Wright and Lou Molino III formed the band in California in 1982 and were signed to CBS Records.
Cock Robin's 1985 self-titled debut album was largely ignored in their native country, as with the majority of their output, but it was an overnight success in Europe, where the singles 'When Your Heart Is Weak' and 'The Promise You Made' became big hits. 'When Your Heart Is Weak' was the band's only chart single in the US. It also became a radio favorite in South Africa.
Two years later the band, reduced from the original quartet to the duo of Peter Kingsbery and Anna LaCazio, released a second album, After Here Through Midland. As with their debut, Cock Robin's second album attracted much attention in continental Europe, and also scored hits with the singles 'Just Around the Corner' and 'The Biggest Fool of All'.
In 1989, they released a their third album, First Love/Last Rites, and, as with their previous releases, the LP fared well in mainland Europe, but, due to poor management and promotion, failed to make an impact in the USA. The duo went their separate ways shortly after the release of the album and a European Tour, with Kingsbery releasing a string of solo projects in France, most notably a hit single 'Only the Very Best', recorded for the Michel Berger & Luc Plamandon concept musical album 'Tycoon', with English lyrics by Tim Rice in 1992. Anna LaCazio recorded her own solo album Eat Life circa 1992-93 but it was only officially released in its entirety for download in 2009.
The duo reformed in 2006, releasing another two albums, mainly noted in France.

Cock Robin - When Your Heart Is Weak (1985)
DE#8, FR#9, IT#26, US#35, NL#39



Lyrics:

What's the matter with the way we look?
Surely it's not the end
I only meant to make my motions clear
You worry too much if it's understood
Should we be seen as friends?
Seems like a real good beginning right here

'Cause when your heart is weak
I'm gonna pick the lock on it
My fingertips won't fail me
No matter what you do
The love you cannot see yet
Is about to witness a dawning
And you can twist and turn
But you won't get loose

Better forget getting rid of me
I don't see how you can
You put me off and I will hunt you
down...again
I'm mighty patient when I have to be
You have given me that
Still I look forward to the day you let me in
'Cause when your heart is weak
I'm gonna pick the lock on it
My fingertips won't fail me
No matter what you do
The love you cannot see yet
Is about to witness a dawning
And you can twist and turn
But you won't get loose
I'm gonna prove myself worthy
No more just hanging on
Without a prayer of a chance
I'm gonna come without warning
when your defenses are down and you're in
a desperate need
Oh, I bet you you then, you'll welcome me...
Your ol' companion
Your ol' companion
Remember baby,
'Cause when your heart is weak
I'm gonna pick the the lock on it
And you can twist and turn
But you won't get, you won't get
No you won't get loose
Oh no

Cock Robin - The Promise You Made (1986)
NL#1, FR#4, DE#6, CH#7, IT#18, UK#28



Lyrics:

If I laid down my love
To come to your defense
Would you worry for me
With a pain in your chest?
Could I rely on your faith to be strong
To picked me back up and to push me along?
Tell me
You'll be there in my hour of need
You won't turn me away
Help me out of the life I lead
Remember the promise you made
Remember the promise you made
If I gave you my soul
For a piece of your mind
Would you carry me with you
To the far edge of time?
Could you understand if you found me untrue
Would we become one, or divided in two
Please tell me
You'll be there in my hour of need
You won't turn me away
Help me out of the life I lead
Remember the promise you made
Remember the promise you made
Could I rely on your faith to be strong
To pick me back up and to push me along
Please tell me
You'll be there in my hour of need
You won't turn me away
Help me out of the life I lead
Remember the promise you made
Remember the promise you made

Cock Robin - Just Around The Corner (1987)
CH#6, SWE#12, DE#16, IT#17, FR'18, NL#19, AT#28



Lyrics:

Come ease my mind
For my prayers have not been answered in a long time

Things aren't quite as they seem inside my domain
You can't know about everything, only pleasure and pain
You wonder why I come here with head to my hands
Where else can I be cured and the king of your mansion
A thorn in your side
And a child to protect that claims he's free

Just around the corner, half a mile to heaven
Strong enough to hold you, starved for some affection
Darling come quickly, come ease my mind
For my prayers have not been answered in a long time

I've already made my bed, like it or not
As long as there's no regrets, I'll be here when the ride stops
These comforts to me
And these crosses to bear with which we live

Just around the corner, half a mile to heaven
Strong enough to hold you, starved for some affection
Baby, I can't drag you into this mess

I'm the thorn in your side and the child to protect
Yes, yes I'm

Just around the comer, half a mile to heaven
Strong enough to hold you, starved for some affection
Darling come quickly, come ease my worried mind
For my prayers have not been answered in a long time

Just around the comer
Strong enough to hold you
Half a mile to heaven
Just around the comer

Cock Robin - The Biggest Fool Of All
FR#47, DE#50



Lyrics:

My excuse is only human
Like any animal that breathes
Just to find a scent that's soothing
I give you power over me
I'm more weak than strong
And not a stranger to a fall
But I won't leave you till I turn to find you gone
I'm the biggest fool of all
But, I'm the biggest fool of all
There's no path of least resistance
It's a fable that you've heard
Any love that lacks conviction
Is gonna grovel in the dirt, yes it is
God this road is long
And surrounded by a wall
But I won't leave you till I turn to find you gone
I'm the biggest fool of all
I'm the biggest fool of all
I'm the biggest fool of all
Foolish as the prisoner
That listens for the jangling keys
And smart enough to know
That it's crazy I should run
When you've got no claim on me
So before your panic taunts you
To make relations disappear
You could help to ease my conscience
If just for once by standing here
I'm more weak than strong
And surrounded by a wall
But I won't leave you till I turn to find you
But I won't leave you till I turn to find you
But I won't leave you till I turn to find you
But I won't leave you till I turn to find you gone
I'm the biggest fool of all
Oh, yes I am
I'm the biggest fool of all
Oh yeah
I'm the biggest fool of all
Oh, I am
I'm the biggest fool of all
Oh, I am
I'm the biggest fool of all

Billy Idol

So you think New Jersey, US is an unlikely launch pad for a music star? How about Bromley, UK, then?

William Michael Albert Broad, a.k.a. Billy Idol, was born 1955 in Stanmore, England, deriving his stage name Idol from a schoolteacher's description of him as 'idle'.
Billy went on to join the Bromley Contingent of Sex Pistols fans. He first joined the punk rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees (before the band had decided on that name) in 1976, but soon quit and joined Chelsea in 1977 as a guitarist. But him and bandmate Tony James soon quit and co-founded Generation X, with Billy switching from guitarist to lead singer. Generation X signed to Chrysalis Records, released three albums and performed in the 1980 film, D.O.A., before disbanding.
The year after Billy moved to New York to start his solo career, which began with the EP titled Don't Stop. This included the Generation X song 'Dancing with Myself', originally recorded for their last album Kiss Me Deadly, and a cover of Tommy James & The Shondells' song 'Mony Mony'. In 1982 Idol instantly became an MTV staple with 'White Wedding'. In an effort to introduce himself to American audiences not yet as familiar with him as those in England, Billy's label re-released 'Dancing with Myself' in the US in conjunction with a music video (directed by Tobe Hooper, produced by Jeffrey Abelson, and conceptualised by Keith Williams) that played in heavy rotation on MTV for six months. That video sparked a new era of feature film directors trying their hand at music videos, which helped make Idol a household name.
My favourite Billy Idol tracks are 'Eyes Without A Face' and 'Flesh For Fantasy'.

Billy Idol - Dancing With Myself (1981 & 1983)
1981 - UK#62, US#102
1983 - NZ#9, AUS#42



Billy Idol - Mony Mony (1981)
1981 - US#1, CAN#1, NZ#2, UK#7, CH#13, DE#38, NL#89



Billy Idol - Hot In The City (1982 & 1988)
1982 - AT#5, NZ#5, AUS#18, CH#19, US#23, NL#40, UK#58
1988 - UK#13, CH#13, US#48



Billy Idol - White Wedding (1982 & 1985)
NZ#5, AUS#9, US#36



Billy Idol - Rebel Yell (1984 & 1985)
NZ#3, AUS#7, US#46, UK#64 in 1984 and UK#6 in 1985



Billy Idol - Eyes Without A Face (1984)
NZ#4, US#4, DE#10, NL#13, IT#14, UK#18, CH#21, FR#50



Billy Idol - Flesh For Fantasy (1984)
NZ#5, DE#11, CH#20, AUS#28, US#29, IT#30, UK#54



Billy Idol - Catch My Fall (1985)
DE#11, NZ#42, US#50, AUS#61



Billy Idol - To Be A Lover (1986)
NZ#2, FIN#3, AUS#3, US#6, CH#7, SWE#8, IT#16, UK#22, DE#28



Billy Idol - Don't Need A Gun (1987)
FIN#8, AUS#22, UK#26, NZ#27, CH#29, DE#36, US#37



Billy Idol - Sweet Sixteen (1987)
DE#2, NZ#3, AUS#9, CH#12, FIN#16, UK#17, US#20, IT#30



Billy Idol - Cradle of Love (1990)
US#2, FIN#8, IT#8, AUS#10, CH#11, NZ#16, UK#34, DE#38

Eurythmics

Annie Lennox (born 1954 in Aberdeen, Scotland) and Dave Stewart (born 1952 in Sunderland, Northern England), a.k.a. Eurythmics, met in a London restaurant in 1975. Annie was working there at the time and both went on to form and the play together with Peet Coombes in their group The Catch. They released one single, 1977's 'Borderline/Black Blood'. The single was released in the UK, NL, ES and POR. The Catch soon became known as The Tourists, who had some chart success in 1979-80 though disbanded soon after due to legal issues with management, publishers and their record label at the time, Logo Records.
Also having a personal relationship by then, Annie and Dave decided to go it alone and became Eurythmics (named after a style of Greek dance that Annie had did as a child), signed to RCA Records. Their breakthrough came with their second album, Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), released early 1983. The title track featured a dark and powerful sequenced synth bass line and a dramatic video with Annie sporting an orange crew haircut, rapidly making her the new pop icon.
After strenuous years of touring and recording (Eurythmics had released eight studio albums in eight years), a rift had developed between the duo and Eurythmics disbanded, although no official notice was given. Dave began writing film soundtracks and had a big international hit in 1990 with the instrumental track 'Lily Was Here', featuring saxophonist Candy Dulfer, while in 1992, Annie released her first solo album, Diva. The album was a critical and popular success .

Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (1983)
US#1, FR#1, CAN#1, UK#2, BE#2, IRL#2, NZ#2, DE#4, RSA#5, AUS#6, CH#8, AT#9, NL#10



Eurythmics - Who's That Girl? (1983)
FR#2, UK#3, IRL#5, BE#13, NZ#13, SWE#14, CAN#15, DE#19, AUS#20, US#21, NL#30



Eurythmics - Here Comes The Rain Again (1984)
FR#1, US#4, UK#8, IRL#8, CAN#8, NOR#10, BE#12, DE#14, AUS#16, CH#19, SWE#20, NZ#32, NL#33



Eurythmics - Sex Crime (1984)
DE#3, BE#3, SWE#3, UK#4, IRL#4, AUS#5, CH#6, FR#7, NZ#8, NOR#9, NL#12, CAN#18, IT#25, US#81



Eurythmics - Would I Lie To You? (1985)
AUS#1, CAN#2, NZ#5, SWE#10, BE#10, US#5, IRL#10, UK#17, CH#21, IT#24, NL#24, DE#34, FR#41



Eurythmics - There Must Be An Angel (1985)
UK#1, IRL#1, NOR#1, SWE#2, NL#3, AUS#3, DE#4, NZ#5, JAP#7, BE#7, RSA#6, FR#8, AT#9, US#22, CAN#23, IT#41



Eurythmics feat. Aretha Franklin - Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves (1985)
IRL#5, NZ#6, UK#9, AUS#15, NL#17, BE#17, US#18, CH#20, DE#22, CAN#33



Eurythmics - It's Alright Baby's Coming Back (1986)
IRL#8, UK#12, AT#14, NZ#18, NL#21, DE#22, CH#23, BE#25, AUS#32, CAN#37, US#78



Eurythmics - When Tomorrow Comes (1986)
SWE#4, NOR#5, AUS#7, IRL#13, IT#16, BE#18, RSA#19, NZ#19, DE#22, NL#22, UK#30



Eurythmics - Thorn In My Side (1986)
IRL#2, UK#5, SWE#6, NZ#7, AUS#12, AT#14, DE#26, BE#28, CAN#41, US#68



Eurythmics - The Miracle Of Love (1986)
IRL#10, AUS#14, BE#15, FR#16, SWE#18, CH#21, UK#23, NZ#30, NL#43, DE#53



Eurythmics - Missionary Man (1987)
AUS#9, NZ#12, IRL#13, CAN#13, US#14, BE#16, UK#31, NL#77



Eurythmics - Beethoven (1987)
FR#4, NZ#6, NOR#6, SWE#9, IT#10, IRL#11, AUS#13, CH#19, UK#25, BE#25, DE#28, NL#41



Eurythmics - I Need A Man (1988)
CAN#14, NZ#19, IRL#23, BE#23, UK#26, US#46, AUS#78



Eurythmics - Revival (1989)
SWE#7, CH#8, IRL#14, IT#14, AUS#14, BE#17, NZ#21, NL#25, UK#26, DE#33, FR#46



Eurythmics - The King & Queen of America (1990)
BE#16, IRL#23, UK#29, NL#38, DE#51, JAP#62, AUS#72

Eurythmics - I Saved The World Today (1999)
FIN#2, IT#7, UK#11, BE#12, CH#16, AT#18, IRL#23, DE#28, SWE#31, NZ#33, JAP#37, NL#44

Modern Talking Megamix

Modern Talking Megamix

Brother Louie (1986) - DE#1, SWE#1, AT#2, CH#2, IRL#2, UK#4, BE#6, FR#6, NOR#8, NL#20, IT#32

Geronimo's Cadicallac (1986) - DE#3, AT#3, BE#4, CH#6, SWE#6, NOR#7, IT#27, NL#36, FR#43

You Can Win If You Want (1985) - DE#1, AT#1, BE#2, CH#2, NL#6, FR#8, IT#39, UK#70

Atlantis Is Calling (1986) - DE#1, AT#2, CH#3, BE#4, NL#6, NOR#8, IT#13, FR#21, UK#55

You're My Heart You're My Soul (1984) - DE#1, AT#1, BE#1, CH#1, FR#3, NOR#3, SWE#3, NL#4, IT#22, UK#56

In 100 Years (1987) - DE#30

John Farnham - You're The Voice (1986)

John Farnham - You're The Voice (1986)
1986: AUS#1, DE#1, DK#1, ICE#1, NOR#1, SWE#1, CH#3, IRL#3, AT#6, UK#6, NL#15
1990: US#82


Lyrics:

We have the chance to turn the pages over
We can write what we want to write
We gotta make ends meet, before we get much older

We're all someone's daughter
We're all someone's son
How long can we look at each other
Down the barrel of a gun?

You're the voice, try and understand it
Make the noise and make it clear, oh, woah
We're not gonna sit in silence
We're not gonna live with fear, oh, woah

This time, we know we all can stand together
With the power to be powerful
Believing we can make it better

Ooh, we're all someone's daughter
We're all someone's son, oh
Give a look at each other
Down the barrel of a gun

You're the voice, try and understand it
Make the noise and make it clear, oh, woah
We're not gonna sit in silence
We're not gonna live with fear, oh, woah

Ooh, we're all someone's daughter
We're all someone's son
How long can we look at each other
Down the barrel of a gun?

You're the voice, try and understand it
Make the noise and make it clear, oh, woah
We're not gonna sit in silence
We're not gonna live with fear, oh, woah

You're the voice, try and understand it
Make the noise and make it clear, oh, woah
We're not gonna sit in silence
We're not gonna live with fear, oh, woah

You're the voice, try and understand it
Make the noise and make it clear, oh, woah
We're not gonna sit in silence
We're not gonna live with fear, oh, woah

You're the voice, try and understand it
Make the noise and make it clear, oh, woah
We're not gonna sit in silence
We're not gonna live with fear, oh, woah

Modern Talking Megamix

Modern Talking Megamix

Brother Louie (1986) - DE#1, SWE#1, AT#2, CH#2, IRL#2, UK#4, BE#6, FR#6, NOR#8, NL#20, IT#32

Geronimo's Cadicallac (1986) - DE#3, AT#3, BE#4, CH#6, SWE#6, NOR#7, IT#27, NL#36, FR#43

You Can Win If You Want (1985) - DE#1, AT#1, BE#2, CH#2, NL#6, FR#8, IT#39, UK#70

Atlantis Is Calling (1986) - DE#1, AT#2, CH#3, BE#4, NL#6, NOR#8, IT#13, FR#21, UK#55

You're My Heart You're My Soul (1984) - DE#1, AT#1, BE#1, CH#1, FR#3, NOR#3, SWE#3, NL#4, IT#22, UK#56

In 100 Years (1987) - DE#30

Curiosity Killed the Cat - Misfit (1986)

Curiosity Killed The Cat - Misfit (1986)
UK#7, US#42


Curiosity Killed The Cat - Misfit by jpdc11

Lyrics:

Sensitive child
Keep running wild
In a confined space
But you're not to blame
'Cause you're not the same
Get on the case

Crazy sheep, you are the odd one out
Crazy sheep, let them know what you're all about

Misfit
Freak that's on the street
Well I can see the sorrow in your eyes
How long? How low? How high can you go?
There'll be a bind for every kind
You'll see

Sensitive child
Your threat is so mild
It worries me
Build yourself some protection
To avoid the injection
Then you can be happy

Crazy sheep you are the odd on out
Crazy sheep let them know what you're all about

Misfit
Freak that's on the street
Now I can see the sorrow in your eyes
How long? How low? How high can you go?
There'll be a bind for every kind
You'll see

Set your mode to emotion
Your secret potion
Designed to satisfy your soul
And underneath
Your broken dreams
You need to satisfy your soul

Misfit
Freak that's on the street
Now I can see the sorrow in your eyes
How long? How low? How high can you go?
There'll be a bind for every kind
You'll see

Too fat, too thin, you lose or you win
This may come as some surprise
Too tall, too short, too loose or too taut
There'll be a bind for every kind

Misfit
Freak that's on the street
Now I can see the sorrow in your eyes
How long? How low? How high can you go?

Too fat, too thin, you lose or you win
This may come as some surprise
Too tall, too short, too loose or too taut
There'll be a bind for every kind...

Nick Kamen - Each Time & I Promised Myself

Left: Nick Kamen in 1986 - Right: Nick Kamen now (and still as sexy)

Nick Kamen - Each Time (1986)
CH#2, IT#2, IRL#3, UK#5, US#5, NL#5, SWE#6, DE#8, FR#8, AT#25


Nick Kamen - Each Time You Break My Hear
Uploaded by funkyvincent. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

Nick Kamen - I Promised Myself (1990)
AT#1, SWE#1, CH#3, DE#5, NL#6, FR#11, UK#50



...meanwhile at the RVT

Rio Reiser - König von Deutschland (1986)

Ralph Christian Möbius, a.k.a. Rio Reiser, was somewhat of an icon in Germany, particularly in the left-alternative scene. Born in West-Berlin in 1950, he was asked - and in 1970 joined - the group Ton Steine Scherben, an influential formation, which shaped much of Germany's punk and rock scene those days. Ton Steine Scherben - often simply referred to as Die Scherben - also paved much of the way for the Neue Deutsche Welle (NDW), Germany's dominant musical genre of the 1980s, of which Nena was also a part. The group and Rio himself soon racked up massive debts by promoting a commune-like lifestyle and Rio sought out ways to solve their problems. He went solo in 1985, and a year later managed to repay all of his debts with the proceeds of his first - and most successful - album, which also contained 'König von Deutschland' (English: King of Germany), in which he light-heartedly presents what he would do if he was just that.
Rio came out gay very early in his career; and died much too early in 1996 at the farm in Northern Frisia, which Ton Steine Scherben had bought. He was sent off with one of the biggest and moving Goodbye-tributes Germany's who-is-who in society has ever staged.

Rio Reiser - König von Deutschland (1986)



Lyrics:

Jede Nacht um halb eins wenn das Fernsehn rauscht
leg ich mich auf's Bett und mal mir aus
wie das wäre wenn ich nicht der wäre der ich bin
sonder Kanzler Kaiser König oder Königin

ich denk mir was der Kohl da kann das kann ich auch
ich würd Vivaldi hörn tagein tagaus
ich käm viel rum würd nach USA reisen
Ronnie mal wie Waldi in die Waden beißen

Das alles und noch viel mehr würd ich machen
wenn ich König von Deutschland wär
das alles und noch viel mehr würd ich machen
wenn ich König von Deutschland wär

Ich würd die Krone täglich wechseln würde zweimal baden
die Lottozahlen eine Woche vorher sagen
bei der Bundeswehr gäb es nur noch Hitparaden
ich würd jeden Tag im Jahr Geburtstag haben

im Fernsehn gäb es nur noch ein Programm
Robert Lempke vierundzwanzig Stunden lang
ich hätte zweihundert Schlösser und wär nie mehr pleite
ich wär Rio der Erste Sissy die Zweite

Das alles und noch viel mehr würd ich machen
wenn ich König von Deutschland wär
das alles und noch viel mehr würd ich machen
wenn ich König von Deutschland wär

Die Socken und die Autos dürften nicht mehr stinken
ich würd jeden Morgen erstmal ein Glas Schampus trinken
ich wär schicker als der Schmidt und dicker als der Strauß
und meine Platten kämen ganz groß raus

Reinhard Mey wäre des Königs Barde
Paola und Kurt Felix wären Schweizer Garde
vorher würd ich gerne wissen ob sie Spaß verstehn
sie müssten 48 Stunden ihre Show ansehn

Das alles und noch viel mehr würd ich machen
wenn ich König von Deutschland wär
das alles und noch viel mehr würd ich machen
wenn ich König von Deutschland wär
Das alles und noch viel mehr würd ich machen
wenn ich König von Deutschland wär

Nu Shooz - I Can't Wait (1986)

Husband-and-Wife team John Smith & Valerie Day from Portland, Oregon (US) were Nu Shooz. They released four albums during the 1980s, but it was their third album which brought them global attention. Talk about transatlantic co-operation... :

Nu Shooz originally released the single I Can't Wait in Portland in April 1985 on Poolside Records. The original recording was done at Cascade Recording in Portland in the fall of 1984. The track was a big hit on Portland radio stations at the time, but they were turned down by every major label. A copy of the song made it to the Netherlands, where it was remixed by Peter Slaghuis. This version is known as the 'Dutch Mix.' The remix came back into the US as an import on Dutch label Injection Records. It was this version that got the attention of Atlantic Records, which signed the band to a contract in January 1986.

The song's American chart run coincided with that of a Stevie Nicks song also titled 'I Can't Wait', a rare incidence of two different songs with the same title charting at the same time. The extended mix contains more samples, such as 'c'mon!' from Madonna's 'Into the Groove', and takes the pitchshifting of the chorus even further, creating an eventual pitchdown at the ending.
According to Billboard in 2009, I Can't Wait plays somewhere on earth every eleven minutes.

Nu Shooz - I Can't Wait (1986)
UK#2, DE#2, US#3, NZ#3, CH#4, NL#9, IT#9, IRL#10, AT#16, FR#24

Falco

Hardly anyone knows him by his real name Johann - or Hans - Hölzel , but when you say Falco, then most ears prick up in recognition. Born 19 February 1957 in Vienna, Austria, and died - far too early - just before his 41st birthday in a car crash in the Dominican Republic.

Unbelivable but true: he is the first and only artist to date whose principal language was German to score a number-one hit in the United States - with 'Rock Me Amadeus', even Nena's 99 Red Balloons did not achieve that. He has sold 40 million albums and 20 million singles, which makes him one of the best selling Austrian singers ever.
Falco began to show signs of unusual musical talent very early. As a toddler, he was able to keep time with the drumbeat in songs he heard on the radio. He was given a baby grand piano for his fourth birthday; a year later, his birthday gift was a record player which he used to play music by Elvis Presley, Cliff Richard, and the Beatles. At age five, he auditioned for the Vienna Music Academy, where it was confirmed that he had perfect pitch.
He entered the Vienna Music Conservatory in 1977, but left after one semester to 'become a real musician'. For a short time, he lived in West Berlin while singing in a jazz-rock band and exploring the club scene. When he returned to Vienna he decided on his stage name Falco in tribute to the East German ski jumper Falko Weißpflog (he changed one letter to make the name more international).
Falco's first hit was 'Der Kommissar' from the 1982 album Einzelhaft (Soliary Confinement). A German language song about drug consumption that combines rap verses with a sung chorus, Falco's record was a number-one success in many countries but failed to break big in the US. But the song would prove to have a life of its own in two English-language versions: British rock band After the Fire recorded an English cover version, loosely based on Falco's lyrics and also called 'Der Kommissar' (with uh-oh and alles klar Herr Kommissar the only other lyrics held over from the original). This time, the song shot to US#5 (their only major hit there) in 1983, though it failed to crack the UK Top40.
That same year, Laura Branigan recorded a version of the song with new English lyrics under the title 'Deep In The Dark' on her album Branigan 2.
After a second album, Junge Roemer (Young Romans) failed to provide a repeat to his debut single's success outside of Austria and Germany (where the album topped the charts), Falco began to experiment with English lyrics in an effort to broaden his appeal, and chose a new production team. The result would be the most popular album and single of his career: Falco recorded 'Rock Me Amadeus' inspired in part by the Oscar-winning film Amadeus, and the song became a worldwide hit in 1986.
'Jeanny', the third release from his third album Falco 3, was highly controversial when it was released in Germany and the Netherlands, the story of Jeanny was told from the point of view of a rapist and possible murderer. Several DJs and radio stations refused to play the ballad, which was ignored in the U.S., though it became a huge hit in many European countries, and inspired two sequels on later albums.
The following years were somewhat his decline: he went on a World Tour, sang a duet with Brigitte Nielsen, 'Body Next to Body' and released another album, Wiener Blut (Viennese Blood) but it did not get much publicity outside Germany and Austria.
His 1992 comeback attempt, the album Nachtflug (Night Flight) was very successful in the German speaking territories, but failed to chart internationally.
Falco died of severe injuries from a collision with a bus on the road linking the towns of Villa Montellano and Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. It was initially reported that the autopsy showed high blood levels of alcohol and cocaine, which was later dismissed. At the time of his death, he was planning a comeback.
He was buried in the Zentralfriedhof (Central Cemetery) in Vienna, Austria.

Falco - Der Kommisar (1981)
AT1, DE#1, ES#1, FIN#1, FR#1, IT#1, JAP#1, CH#2, NOR#3, SWE#4, NZ#4, AUS#7, CAN#11, NL#18, US#72



Falco - Junge Römer (1984)
ES#2, AT#8, CH#24



Falco - Rock Me Amadeus (1985)
AT#1, DE#1, UK#1, ES#1, SWE#1, FIN#1, RUS#1, US#1, CAN#1, JAP#1, NZ#1, RSA#1, CH#2, IT#2, NL#2, FR#3, DK#4, NOR#6, AUS#15



Falco - Rock Me Amadeus (American Version) (1985)



Falco - Vienna Calling (1985)
AT#1, SWE#3, DE#4, FIN#5, ES#5, CH#7, UK#10, DK#10, CAN#13, JAP#14, US#18, NL#40, AUS#75



Falco - Jeanny (1985)
AT#1, DE#1, CH#1, NL#1, NOR#1, SWE#1, JAP#5, IT#14, FR#24, UK#68



Falco The Sound of Musik (1986)
AT#4, DE#4, ES#4, JAP#6, CH#11, NZ#11, DK#13, US#13, IT#42, UK#61, NL#67,



Falco - Coming Home (Jeanny Part II) (1986)
DE#1, SWE#1, CH#3, AT#4, NOR#4



Falco & Brigitte Nielsen - Body Next To Body (1987)
JAP#1, AT#6, DK#9, DE#22, IT#35, ES#37, AUS#44



Falco - Wiener Blut (1988)
AT#4, DE#9, DK#13, CH#24



Falco - Mutter, der Mann mit dem Koks ist da (1995)
AT#3, DK#3, D#11, CH#30



Falco - Out Of Dark (1998)
AT#2, DE#2, CH#3



Falco - Egoist (1998)
DE#4, AT#6, CH#19

Billy Idol

So you think New Jersey, US is an unlikely launch pad for a music star? How about Bromley, UK, then?

William Michael Albert Broad, a.k.a. Billy Idol, was born 1955 in Stanmore, England, deriving his stage name Idol from a schoolteacher's description of him as 'idle'.
Billy went on to join the Bromley Contingent of Sex Pistols fans. He first joined the punk rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees (before the band had decided on that name) in 1976, but soon quit and joined Chelsea in 1977 as a guitarist. But him and bandmate Tony James soon quit and co-founded Generation X, with Billy switching from guitarist to lead singer. Generation X signed to Chrysalis Records, released three albums and performed in the 1980 film, D.O.A., before disbanding.
The year after Billy moved to New York to start his solo career, which began with the EP titled Don't Stop. This included the Generation X song 'Dancing with Myself', originally recorded for their last album Kiss Me Deadly, and a cover of Tommy James & The Shondells' song 'Mony Mony'. In 1982 Idol instantly became an MTV staple with 'White Wedding'. In an effort to introduce himself to American audiences not yet as familiar with him as those in England, Billy's label re-released 'Dancing with Myself' in the US in conjunction with a music video (directed by Tobe Hooper, produced by Jeffrey Abelson, and conceptualised by Keith Williams) that played in heavy rotation on MTV for six months. That video sparked a new era of feature film directors trying their hand at music videos, which helped make Idol a household name.
My favourite Billy Idol tracks are 'Eyes Without A Face' and 'Flesh For Fantasy'.

Billy Idol - Dancing With Myself (1981 & 1983)
1981 - UK#62, US#102
1983 - NZ#9, AUS#42



Billy Idol - Mony Mony (1981)
1981 - US#1, CAN#1, NZ#2, UK#7, CH#13, DE#38, NL#89



Billy Idol - Hot In The City (1982 & 1988)
1982 - AT#5, NZ#5, AUS#18, CH#19, US#23, NL#40, UK#58
1988 - UK#13, CH#13, US#48



Billy Idol - White Wedding (1982 & 1985)
NZ#5, AUS#9, US#36



Billy Idol - Rebel Yell (1984 & 1985)
NZ#3, AUS#7, US#46, UK#64 in 1984 and UK#6 in 1985



Billy Idol - Eyes Without A Face (1984)
NZ#4, US#4, DE#10, NL#13, IT#14, UK#18, CH#21, FR#50



Billy Idol - Flesh For Fantasy (1984)
NZ#5, DE#11, CH#20, AUS#28, US#29, IT#30, UK#54



Billy Idol - Catch My Fall (1985)
DE#11, NZ#42, US#50, AUS#61



Billy Idol - To Be A Lover (1986)
NZ#2, FIN#3, AUS#3, US#6, CH#7, SWE#8, IT#16, UK#22, DE#28



Billy Idol - Don't Need A Gun (1987)
FIN#8, AUS#22, UK#26, NZ#27, CH#29, DE#36, US#37



Billy Idol - Sweet Sixteen (1987)
DE#2, NZ#3, AUS#9, CH#12, FIN#16, UK#17, US#20, IT#30



Billy Idol - Cradle of Love (1990)
US#2, FIN#8, IT#8, AUS#10, CH#11, NZ#16, UK#34, DE#38

Robbie Nevil

Robbie Nevil, born 1960 in LA had his breakthough in 1986 with his self-titled debut album, although his subsequent albums were not as successful.
It was one of the first albums I bought in 1989 after the fall of the Berlin Wall. It still graces my music shelf as one of the best albums I ever bought.
Between 1986 and 1991, Robbie recorded three solo albums, the most successful was produced by Alex Sadkin and recorded in England. Prior to this, he was involved in writing material for other artists and sang a duet with Courtney Love at the funeral service for American pop artist Andy Warhol.
In recent years, Robbie has been more involved in producing and writing for other artists than in solo performance. He co-wrote three songs on the High School Musical Soundtrack: 'The Start of Something New', 'We’re All In This Together' and 'I Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You'.

Robbie Nevil - C'est La Vie (1987)
CH#1, US#2, NZ#2, DE#2, SWE#2, UK#3, AT#4, AUS#4, NOR#4, NL#18



Robbie Nevil - Dominoes (1986)
US#14, CH#17, UK#26, DE#27, AUS#38, NZ#38, NL#97



Robbie Nevil - Wot's it to ya (1987)
US#10, NZ#37, DE#43

Nick Kamen

Ivor Neville, a.k.a. Nick Kamen

Nick Kamen - Each Time (1986)
CH#2, IT#2, IRL#3, UK#5, US#5, NL#5, SWE#6, DE#8, FR#8, AT#25


Nick Kamen - Each Time You Break My Hear
Uploaded by funkyvincent. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

Nick Kamen - I Promised Myself (1990)
AT#1, SWE#1, CH#3, DE#5, NL#6, FR#11, UK#50



...meanwhile at the RVT

Stéphanie of Monaco

Singing royalty? But of course. In the 80s that was far from unthinkable. But fear not, I won't give you our dear Lizzy giving her vocal best in the shower...

...instead I give you Princess Stéphanie of Monaco, daughter of Grace Kelly and Rainier Louis Henri Maxence Bertrand Grimaldi, otherwise known as Rainer III of Monaco. While the famous couple (both of them have since died: Grace Kelly in the infamous 1982 car crash and Rainier in 2005) also hhad two other children, Albert II and Princess Caroline, their mother always called Stéphanie lovingly her 'Wild Child'. And perhaps rightly so, she has been a swimwear designer and fashion model, but in the 80s she was widely known for her youthful attempts to make it big in the music industry.
In February 1986, Stéphanie self produced and released her first single with the French label 'Carrere', under the production of Yves Roze. The song 'Ouragan (Hurricane) and its English version 'Irresistible' quickly reached the international Top10, selling more than 2 million copies.
In September, she released a full album called Besoin reportedly selling more than 1.5 million copies (also released as Stéphanie in some countries) with eight new songs, including 'Flash' (in French; its English version 'One Love To Give'), which was released as a single and reached top spots all over Europe.

Stéphanie - Irresistible/Ouragan (French/English) (1986)
FR#1, DE#2, AT#5, Euro Hot100 #5, CH#11, NL#31, UK#84



Stéphanie - Flash (French) (1986)
SWE#1, FR#4, DE#10, Euro Hot100 #26, CH#28



Stéphanie - One Love To Give (English) (1986)

Münchener Freiheit

Stefan Zauner, Aron Strobel & Co. met in 1980 and named their project Münchener Freiheit, after a square and tube station in Munich's affluent quarter Schwabing. The remnant 'e' results from the band adapting the name before the city dropped it. They are also known as Freiheit, under which name the single and album releases in the English language were published.
First tries to lunch themselves into the German music landscape of the early 1980s were largely ignored, as other acts of the then dominating genre Neue Deutsche Welle (New German Wave) were fiercely competing for chart positions. Nena was one of them.
Their breakthrough came in 1985: Ohne Dich stormed up the charts and reached the top slot in Austria and Switzerland and managed to clmb to number 2 in their native Germany. Their style is a somewhat odd one, combining elements of the very perculiar Schlager with commercial pop. Although their last big hit was Liebe auf den Ersten Blick in 1992, the band remains very popular in Germany, often selling out big concert halls all over the country.

Münchener Freiheit - Ohne Dich (1985)
AT#1, CH#1, DE#2



Münchener Freiheit - Every Time (1985)



Münchener Freiheit - S.O.S. (1985)



Münchener Freiheit - Herzschlag ist der Takt (1985)



Münchener Freiheit - Tausendmal Du (1986)
AT#7, DE#9, CH#25



Münchener Freiheit - Es gibt kein nächstes Mal (1986)
DE#24



Münchener Freiheit - Herz aus Glas (1987)
DE#24



Münchener Freiheit - Play it Cool (1987)



Münchener Freiheit - So lang' man Träume noch leben kann (1987)
DE#2, CH#17 - English version below UK#14



Münchener Freiheit - Keeping The Dream Alive (1987)
UK#14



Münchener Freiheit - Bis Wir Uns Wiederseh'n (1988)
DE#11



Münchener Freiheit - Kissed You in the Rain (1988)



Münchener Freiheit - So heiß (1988)
DE#47



Münchener Freiheit - Liebe auf den ersten Blick (1992)

Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex, England - although their origins date back to 1977, when schoolmates Vince Clarke and Andrew Fletcher formed a band called No Romance in China, with Vince on vocals and guitar and Andrew on bass.
Vince then played guitar in 'Ultravox rip-off band' The Plan in 1979 with friends Robert Marlow and Paul Langwith, while Martin Gore played guitar in acoustic duo Norman & The Worms with school friend Philip Burdett on vocals. Marlow, Gore, and Paul Redmond formed a band called The French Look.
In March 1980, Vince, Martin and Andrew formed a band called Composition of Sound. Soon after the formation of Composition of Sound, Vince and Andrew switched to synthesizers. Dave Gahan joined the band in 1980 after Vince heard him perform at a local scout hut jam session, singing to a rendition of David Bowie's 'Heroes' - and Depeche Mode were born.
When explaining the choice for the new name, taken from a French fashion magazine, Dépêche Mode, Martin Gore said: 'It means hurried fashion or fashion dispatch. I like the sound of that.'
Martin recollects that the first time the band played as Depeche Mode was a school gig in May 1980. The band made their recording debut in 1980 on the Some Bizzare Album with the song 'Photographic', which was later re-recorded for their debut album Speak & Spell.
While playing a live gig at the Bridge House in Canning Town, London, Depeche Mode were approached by Daniel Miller, founder of Mute Records, who was interested in them recording a single for his label. The result of this verbal contract was their first single, recorded in December 1980 and released in February 1981:
Dreaming of Me (1981) - US#47, UK#57 - non album single release (no video)

Encouraged by this, the band recorded their second single:
New Life (1981) - UK#11, IRL#22, US#29 - Speak & Spell

The next single was a relentlessly upbeat piece of synthpop, which became the band's first UK Top10 hit and it remains one of their best known songs. It was also the first Depeche Mode song to get a music video and is the only one of the band's videos to feature Vince Clarke. Depeche Mode's debut album, Speak & Spell, was released in November 1981 and peaked at number ten on the UK album charts:

Depeche Mode - Just Can't Get Enough (1981) - Speak & Spell
AUS#4, UK#8, SWE#14, IRL#16, US#26



During the touring and promotion for Speak & Spell, Vince began to voice his discomfort at the direction Depeche Mode were taking and, in November 1981, he was leaving the band. He joined up with blues singer Alison Moyet to form Yazoo and, later, the duo Erasure with Andy Bell. Initial talk of continuing to write material for Depeche Mode amounted to nothing. Vince offered them the track 'Only You, but they declined. It went on to become a UK Top3 hit for Yazoo.

In late 1981, they placed an anonymous advertisement in British music mag Melody Maker looking for another musician. Alan Wilder from Hammersmith, West London was hired in early 1982 initially on a trial basis as a touring member. In January 1982, the band released:

Depeche Mode - See You (1982) - A Broken Frame
UK#6, IRL#9, DE#44



The tour that followed the release of the single saw the band playing their first shows in North America. Two more singles were released ahead of the band's second studio album:

Depeche Mode - The Meaning of Love (1982) -A Broken Frame
UK#12, IRL#17, SWE#16, DE#64



Depeche Mode - Leave in Silence (1982) - A Broken Frame
IRL#13, SWE#17, UK#18, DE58



Depeche Mode began work on their second album in July 1982. Daniel Miller informed Alan that he was not needed for the recording of the album, as the band wanted to prove that they could succeed without Vince Clarke.
A Broken Frame was released that September and the following month the band set off on their second tour of 1982. A non-album single was released in January 1983, and was the first Depeche Mode track to be recorded with Alan:

Depeche Mode - Get the Balance Right! (1983) - non album single release
UK#13, IRL#16, US#31, DE#38



For their third album, Construction Time Again, Depeche Mode worked with producer Gareth Jones, at John Foxx's Garden Studios and at Hansa Studios in West Berlin. The album saw a dramatic shift in the group's sound: by sampling the noises of everyday objects, the band created an industrial sound.
Along with the music, Martin's songwriting was also rapidly evolving, focusing increasingly on political and social issues. An example of the new sound was on the first single, a commentary on the perceived greed of multinational corporations:

Depeche Mode Everything Counts (1983) - Construction Time Again
UK#6, CH#8, IRL#15, SWE#18, DE#23, AT#26, IT#32



In September 1983, to promote Construction Time Again the band launched a concert tour all over Europe.

Depeche Mode - Love in Itself (1983) - Construction Time Again
UK#21, IRL#27, DE#28



In their early years, Depeche Mode had only really attained success in Europe and Australia, however this changed in March 1984 when they released:

Depeche Mode- People are People (1984) - Some Great Reward
DE#1, IRL#2, UK#4, CH#4, US#13, SWE#15, IT#20, AUS#25



The song was used as the theme to West German TV's coverage of the 1984 Olympics and also charted in the US charts in mid-1985. The song had then become an anthem for the LGBT community. In September 1984, Some Great Reward was released.
In contrast to the political and environmental subjects addressed on the previous album, the songs on Some Great Reward were mostly concerned with more personal themes such as sexual politics...

Depeche Mode - Master and Servant (1984) - Some Great Reward
DE#2, SWE#7, CH#8, UK#9, IT#27, FR#34, US#49, AUS#89



... adulterous relationships...

Depeche Mode - Lie To Me (1984)



...and arbitrary divine justice...

Depeche Mode - Blasphemous Rumours (1984) - Some Great Reward
IRL#8, UK#16, CH#19, DE#22, AUS#87



Depeche Mode - Blasphemous Rumours (1984)
********** RARE 8 min version! *********



Also included was the first Martin Gore ballad. 'Somebody' was released as a double a-side with 'Blasphemous Rumours' and was the first single with Martin on lead vocals:

Depeche Mode - Somebody (1984) - Some Great Reward
was the flip-side of Blasphemous Rumours



In October 1985, Mute Records released a compilation, The Singles 81>85, which included the two non-album singles 'Shake the Disease' (one of my personal favourites of Depeche Mode) and 'It's Called a Heart'.

Depeche Mode - Shake the Disease (1985) - Singles 81->85
DE#4, SWE#5, CH#6, IRL#9, FR#13, UK#18, IT#29



Depeche Mode's musical style shifted again in 1986 with the release of 'Stripped', and its accompanying album Black Celebration. Retaining their sampling and the industrial sound, the band introduced an ominous, highly atmospheric and textured sound. Martin's lyrics also took on darker tone and became more pessimistic. 'New Dress' would mark the last time he attempted the kind of overt social commentary.

Depeche Mode - Stripped (1986) - Black Celebration
DE#4, CH#8, CH#9, IT#14, UK#15



Depeche Mode - A Question of Lust (1986)


Depeche Mode A Question Of Lust
Uploaded by burtonienne. - Watch more music videos, in HD!

The music video for 'A Question of Time' was the first to be directed by Anton Corbijn, beginning a working relationship that continues to the present day. He has directed a further 19 videos (the latest being 2006's 'Suffer Well') and has also filmed some of their live performances and designed stage sets and album and single covers.

Depeche Mode - A Question of Time (1986)



Music for the Masses saw further alterations in the band's sound. David Bascombe was called to assist with the recording sessions. In making the album the band largely eschewed sampling in favour of more synth experimentation. While the chart performance of the singles the next three singles 'Strangelove', 'Never Let Me Down Again' and 'Behind the Wheel' were somewhat disappointing in the UK, they scored high in Canada, Brazil, Germany, South Africa, Sweden and Switzerland. The album also achieved the long awaited breakthrough in the US, which would be eternally manifested by the final concert of the their promotional tour at the Rose Bowl, Pasadena - see my previous post - a concert I would do or give anything for to attend again in time travel. The '101' live album and documenary was the result. I could watch it over - and over - and over - and over, again. Orgasmic!

Depeche Mode - Strangelove (1987)



Depeche Mode - Never Let Me Down Again (1987)



Depeche Mode - Behind The Wheel (1987)



Depeche Mode - Pimpf (1987)



Depeche Mode - Little 15 (1988)



In mid-1989, the band began recording in Milan with producer Flood and engineer François Kevorkian. The initial result of this session was the single:

Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus (1989)



Released in January 1990, 'Enjoy the Silence' became one of Depeche Mode's most successful singles to date, reaching number six in the UK. A few months later it became Depeche Mode's biggest hit in the US, reaching number eight and earning the band a second gold single. It won 'Best British single' at the 1991 Brit Awards.

Depeche Mode - Enjoy The Silence (1990)



To promote their album Violator, the band held an in-store autograph signing at Wherehouse Entertainment in Los Angeles. The event attracted approximately 20,000 fans and turned into a near riot.
Some of those who attended were injured by being pressed against the store's glass by the crowd. As an apology to the fans who were injured, the band released a limited edition cassette tape to fans living in Los Angeles.

Depeche Mode - Policy of Truth (1990)



Depeche Mode - World in my Eyes (1990)



Depeche Mode - Halo (1990)



Depeche Mode - Clean (1990)

Depeche Mode - I Feel You (1993)



Depeche Mode - Walking in my Shoes (1993)



Depeche Mode - Condemation (1993)



Depeche Mode - In Your Room (1994)



Depeche Mode - Barrel of a Gun (1997)



Depeche Mode - It's No Good (1997)



Depeche Mode - I Feel Loved (2001)



Depeche Mode - Precious (2005)



Depeche Mode - Suffer Well (2006)



Depeche Mode - Wrong (2009)

Talk Talk

If, when you hear Talk Talk, the first thing you think of a certain British telecommunications company typically associated with the X Factor and dire and abysmal broadband connections - shame on you.
Talk Talk began as a quartet consisting of Mark Hollis on the vocals, Simon Brenner, Lee Harris and Paul Webb. They were generally associated with the New Romantic movement; more specifically, in their early years, they were often compared with Duran Duran, as both bands not only featured a double-barrelled name and a Roxy Music-inspired musical direction, but also shared the same record label (EMI) and producer (Colin Thurston).
Talk Talk's first album in 1982 entitled The Party's Over. The band charted with 'Talk Talk' (a remake of the The Reaction's 1977 song and 'Today', both produced by Thurston (whose other production credits include The Human League, Duran Duran and Kajagoogoo).
They were introduced to a much wider live audience in October that year when they supported a Genesis reunion concert in Milton Keynes. But the reaction of the audience to their New Romantic style that day was one more of hostility than mild acceptance, as Mark Hollis spent a lot of time on stage avoiding missiles directed at him. The irony of the situation was that it would only be a matter of three years before the band would be making music that an average Genesis audience would find acceptable.
Talk Talk achieved considerable international success in 1984/85, particularly in continental Europe, with the album It's My Life. The single release 'Such a Shame', a song inspired by the book The Dice Man, went on to become one of their most successful, charting high in Austria, Germany, Italy and Switzerland. The title track of the album was also a Top10 hit in Italy, and made it in the US, Canadian, French, German, New Zealand and Dutch Top 40, although the album and its singles were largely ignored in their native UK.
They eventually abandoned the New Wave style completely with The Colour of Spring in 1986. This became their biggest studio album success in the UK.
Talk Talk split after their album Laughing Stock, with Mark Hollis briefly trying to embark on a solo career, however, he did call it a day soon after.
It's My Life was successfully covered by No Doubt.

Talk Talk - Talk Talk (1982)
UK#52



Talk Talk - Today (1982)
NZ#10, UK#14, IRL#16



Talk Talk - My Foolish Friend (1983)
UK#57



Talk Talk - It's My Life (1984)
IT#7, FR#25, NL#30, CAN#30, US#31, NZ#32, UK#46



Talk Talk - Such A Shame (1984)
CH#1, DE#2, IT#4, FR#7, NL#9, NZ#39, UK#49, US#89



Talk Talk - Dum Dum Girl (1984)
DE#20, CH#24, NL#31, NZ#34, UK#74



Talk Talk - Life's What You Make It (1986)
NZ#11, NL#11, IT#14, UK#16, IRL#17, CH#17, DE#24, CAN#48, FR#49, US#90



Talk Talk - Living In Another World (1986)
NL#22, CH#23, IT#26, DE#34, FR#44, UK#48

Kim Wilde

I first heard of Kim at the tender age of 9, when my twelve year older sister blasted Kids in America through our flat, jumping up and down. It was fun bouncing around the house with her. More aware I became of Kim at the release of her 1988 album 'Close' - having just proudly invested all the money I received from family and relatives for the 'Jugendweihe' (the 'Coming of Age' celebrations as a youngster in East Germany) - in my first Stereo Cassette Recorder.
Back then western media (music and TV) was prohibited from consuming, being classified as 'capitalist smut' - seriously... - but a brave Radio Station in Berlin called 'DT64' which was aimed at the younger generation was testing the communist gouvernment's limits by airing a complete album of a popular artist each weekend. One of them was Kim Wilde's 'Close'.

Kim Smith, a.k.a, Kim Wilde, daughter of 1950s Rock'n'Roller Reginald Smith, a.k.a. Marty Wilde, and Joyce Baker of The Vernons Girls, is a London girl, being born on 18 Nov 1960 in Chiswick. She attended Oakfield Prep School in Dulwich (woo-hoo, she's a neighbour! :-) before moving with her family to Hertfordshire, and completing a foundation course at St. Albans College of Art & Design in 1980. That year Kim was signed to RAK Records. She burst onto the music scene in 1981 with the New Wave classic 'Kids in America', which her brother, Ricky Smith, a.k.a Ricky Wilde, wrote for her in his bedroom. Kim shot to instant fame, particulary in continental Europe, while success in the US was largely subdued. Several successful single releases followed.
Failure of her 1983 Album Catch As Catch Can led to her leaving RAK Records and her being signed to MCA Records, where her career re-ignited with the 1984 album Teases and Dares.
Kim Wilde holds the record for being the most-charted British solo female act of the 1980s, with seventeen UK Top 40 singles. In France, she was known as the 'Brigitte Bardot of Rock' and her song 'Cambodia' sold over a million copies. A number of artists have performed covers of Kim Wilde songs, ranging from pop and rock to dance and death metal versions.
Having married and giving birth to children, Kim switched down a gear in her life, becoming a reconised Landscape Gardener. While her brother also choe the same route, her sister Roxanne is currently background singer for Kylie Minogue.
In 2010, Kim signed a new record deal with another label called Starwatch who released her eleventh studio album, 'Come Out and Play'.

Kim Wilde - Kids In America (1981)
DK#1, IRL#1, RSA#1, UK#2, SWE#2, FR3, BE#4, DE#5, CH#5, AUS#5, NL#8, NOR#9, AT#12, US#25, CAN#34



Kim Wilde - Chequered Love (1981)
RSA#1, DK#2, DE#2, CH#2, NL#2, BE#2, UK#4, SWE#6, AUS#6, FR#64



Kim Wilde - Cambodia (1981)
DK#1, CH#1, SWE#1, FR#1, DE#2, RSA#2, NOR#3, AT#4, BE#4, NL#5, AUS#7, UK#12, IRL#15



Kim Wilde - View From A Bridge (1982)
IT#1, CH#2, BE#3, SWE#4, DE#6, NL#7, AUS#7, AT#10, FR#15, UK#16, IRL#16



Kim Wilde - Child Come Away (1982)
DK#3, CH#6, SWE#10, BE#21, FR#21, DE#36, UK#43, NL#47, AUS#76



Kim Wilde - The Second Time (in the US released as 'Go For It') (1984)
CH#7, DE#9, DK#9, SWE#11, BE#14, NL#23, UK#29, US#65



Kim Wilde - You Keep Me Hangin' On (1986)
US#1, AUS#1, NOR#1, UK#2, CH#2, IRL#2, DK#3, DE#8, IT#8, BE#13, FR#16, NL#17, AT#20



Kim Wilde - Another Step (1987) - a duet with Junior Giscombe
UK#6, AUS#88, NL#95



Kim Wilde - Hey Mister Heartache (1988) - with vocals of Junior Giscombe
NOR#3, SWE#6, IT#7, DK#12, CH#12, DE#13, IRL#22, UK#31, NL#35, AUS#96



Kim Wilde - You Came (1988)
DK#1, SWE#1, UK#3, CH#3, IRL#3, IT#4, NOR#4, DE#5, FR#5, AT#8, BE#10, NL#11, AUS#34, US#41, CAN#42



Kim Wilde - Never Trust A Stranger (1988)
SWE#1, NL#3, BE#4, CH4, IRL#5, UK#7, AT#7, DK#7, DE#11, FR#18



Kim Wilde - Four Letter Word (1988)
IRL#5, UK#6, NL#9, BE#11, CH#18, AT#23, DE#27, IT#47



Kim Wilde - If I Can't Have You (1993)
DK#3, AUS#3, BE#7, IRL#9, UK#12, IT#13, CH#18, NL#18, SWE#24, AT#29 DE#51, FR#62



Kim Wilde & Nena - Anyplace, Anywhere, Anytime (2003)
English adaption of Nena's 1984 track 'Irgendwie Irgendwo Irgendwann'
AT#1, NL#1, BE#2, DE#3, CH#9, DK#19