Kim Wilde (album)
Encyclopedia
Kim Wilde is the first studio album
by Kim Wilde
, released in June 1981.
Most of the music on this album was played by the symphonic rock band The Enid
and the songs were all written by Marty Wilde
and Ricky Wilde. Production duties were fulfilled by Ricky Wilde. The cover photography was by Gered Mankowitz
.
Musically, the album was mainly new wave
and rock-oriented, but it also featured a reggae track ("Everything We Know") and a brass section appeared on "2 6 5 8 0". Lyrically, Marty Wilde included love songs and also a song ("Water on Glass
") about tinnitus
(a medical condition that causes ringing in the ears), a song about the deterioration of inner cities ("Our Town") and a song about a theory that sound is alive ("Tuning In Tuning On").
The album entered the UK album charts at #10, moving into the Top 3 the next week and the album was certified Gold by the BPI
for sales of 100,000 copies. During promotion, Kim's band consisted of Ricky Wilde, James Stevenson
and later boyfriend Calvin Hayes, who also appeared on the sleeve of the album. Kim later commented that, at that time in the industry, it was passé for a female to attempt to launch a serious career in pop music on her own, and that the backing band had been shown on the sleeve to give credibility to the album. Still, she was attacked for trying to copy the allure of U.S. band Blondie
. The album was released in North America in 1982, reaching #86 in the USA and #42 in Canada.
except "Falling Out," written by Ricky Wilde.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde is an English pop singer, author and television presenter who burst onto the music scene in 1981 with the number 2 UK Singles Chart new wave classic "Kids in America". In 1987 she had a major hit in the United States when her version of The Supremes' classic "You Keep Me Hangin' On"...
, released in June 1981.
Most of the music on this album was played by the symphonic rock band The Enid
The Enid
The Enid is a British rock band founded in 1975 by Robert John Godfrey, Stephen Stewart and Francis Lickerish. Another early member was William Gilmour, who subsequently founded his own band Craft and now plays keyboards in Lickerish's band Secret Green....
and the songs were all written by Marty Wilde
Marty Wilde
Marty Wilde is an English singer and songwriter. He was among the first generation of British pop stars to emulate American rock and roll, and is the father of pop singers Ricky Wilde, Kim Wilde and Roxanne Wilde.-Career:Wilde was performing under the name Reg Patterson at London's Condor Club in...
and Ricky Wilde. Production duties were fulfilled by Ricky Wilde. The cover photography was by Gered Mankowitz
Gered Mankowitz
Gered Mankowitz is a British photographer of the rock music scene over the last 40 years. Some of his portraits of rock musicians, such as The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix and Slade, are now part of the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery.-Personal life:His father was the late...
.
Musically, the album was mainly new wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
and rock-oriented, but it also featured a reggae track ("Everything We Know") and a brass section appeared on "2 6 5 8 0". Lyrically, Marty Wilde included love songs and also a song ("Water on Glass
Water on Glass
"Water on Glass" is the third single by British singer Kim Wilde from her self titled album.A slightly different version of the song was featured on Wilde's self-titled debut album. It was released in the UK, Ireland and The Netherlands only with the non-album track "Boys" on the B-Side...
") about tinnitus
Tinnitus
Tinnitus |ringing]]") is the perception of sound within the human ear in the absence of corresponding external sound.Tinnitus is not a disease, but a symptom that can result from a wide range of underlying causes: abnormally loud sounds in the ear canal for even the briefest period , ear...
(a medical condition that causes ringing in the ears), a song about the deterioration of inner cities ("Our Town") and a song about a theory that sound is alive ("Tuning In Tuning On").
The album entered the UK album charts at #10, moving into the Top 3 the next week and the album was certified Gold by the BPI
British Phonographic Industry
The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies...
for sales of 100,000 copies. During promotion, Kim's band consisted of Ricky Wilde, James Stevenson
James Stevenson (musician)
James Stevenson is a UK punk / rock guitarist, at one time appearing with The Alarm, Gene Loves Jezebel, Generation X and Chelsea.-Music career:...
and later boyfriend Calvin Hayes, who also appeared on the sleeve of the album. Kim later commented that, at that time in the industry, it was passé for a female to attempt to launch a serious career in pop music on her own, and that the backing band had been shown on the sleeve to give credibility to the album. Still, she was attacked for trying to copy the allure of U.S. band Blondie
Blondie (band)
Blondie is an American rock band, founded by singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the early American New Wave and punk scenes of the mid-1970s...
. The album was released in North America in 1982, reaching #86 in the USA and #42 in Canada.
Track listing
All songs written by Ricky Wilde & Marty WildeMarty Wilde
Marty Wilde is an English singer and songwriter. He was among the first generation of British pop stars to emulate American rock and roll, and is the father of pop singers Ricky Wilde, Kim Wilde and Roxanne Wilde.-Career:Wilde was performing under the name Reg Patterson at London's Condor Club in...
except "Falling Out," written by Ricky Wilde.
- "Water on GlassWater on Glass"Water on Glass" is the third single by British singer Kim Wilde from her self titled album.A slightly different version of the song was featured on Wilde's self-titled debut album. It was released in the UK, Ireland and The Netherlands only with the non-album track "Boys" on the B-Side...
" — 3:31 - "Our Town" — 3:49
- "Everything We Know" — 3:46
- "Young HeroesYoung Heroes"Young Heroes" is a song from the self-titled debut album by British singer Kim Wilde. It was released as a single in Peru in 1982....
" — 3:13 - "Kids in AmericaKids in America (Kim Wilde song)"Kids in America" is a New Wave song by British singer Kim Wilde, released in the United Kingdom as her debut single in January 1981, and in the US in 1982. It has famously been covered by many artists from different genres.-Background:...
" — 3:27 - "Chequered LoveChequered Love"Chequered Love" is the second single by British singer Kim Wilde.The song was released in the spring of 1981 to follow Wilde's successful debut "Kids in America." As with that single, writing credits were given to Wilde's father and brother Marty and Ricky Wilde with the latter also being given...
" — 3:21 - "2-6-5-8-0" — 3:12
- "You'll Never Be So Wrong" — 4:18
- "Falling Out" — 4:05
- "Tuning in Tuning On" — 4:27
Bonus Tracks (2009 Remastered CD Edition)
- "Shane" ("Chequered Love" B-side) (Ricky Wilde, Marty Wilde) — 4:11
- "Boys" ("Water On Glass" B-side) (Ricky Wilde, Marty Wilde) — 3:31
- "Water On Glass" (7" Version) (Ricky Wilde, Marty Wilde) — 3:32