KIM WILDE in the 80s
By Mark Nobes
Kim Wilde enjoyed a hugely successful pop music career throughout the decade and into the early nineties. Her first single "Kids In America" reached No.2, and was taken from the singer's self-titled debut album.
Many hit albums and singles were to follow. Kim reached No.2 again in 1986 with "You Keep Me Hanging On", but, unbelievably, has never reached the prestigious No.1 spot with her singles.

EARLY CAREER (1980-1983)
"KIDS IN AMERICA" (1981)
The song was recorded in 1980 after the boss of RAK Records, Mickie Most, heard Kim singing on a backing track for her brother Ricky. Ricky and Marty Wilde wrote the song "Kids in America" for Kim to record.
"WATER ON GLASS" (1981)
"Water On Glas"s was the third single release from Kim's self-titled debut album and reached #11 in the UK singles chart, although the album version is slightly different.
There can't be many songs out there which are about tinnitus, but that's exactly what the lyrics are referring to in "Water On Glass". By the way, tinnitus is a medical condition that causes ringing in the ears and is often caused by listening to music with the volume up too loudly - so turn your speakers down!
The previous two singles "Kids In America" and "Chequered Love" had both reached the Top 5. Overall, Kim Wilde released 21 singles during the 1980's, two of which were not released in the UK and three of them failing to break into the Top 40.

SELECT (1982)

MCA YEARS (1984-1996)

TEASES & DARES (1984)

ANOTHER STEP (1986)



"SAY YOU REALLY WANT ME" (1986)


"YOU KEEP ME HANGIN' ON" (1986)
This was the first single to be released from Kim Wilde's fifth studio album Another Step and reached #2 in the UK during 1986. However, for some European countries and in Australia, the first single was Schoolgirl which was not released in the UK.
Kim's version of "You Keep Me Hangin'" On was a U.S.
number one and a UK #2 in 1986.
In 1996, country singer Reba McEntire covered the song, reaching #2 in
the Amercian Hot Dance Club Palay chart. The tune was originally
recorded by The Supremes on the Motown label and was a U.S. #1
chart-topper in November 1966 for two weeks.

"YOU CAME" (1988)
This was the second single from the album Close and reached No.3 in the UK
singles chart. 1988 proved to be one of Wilde's most successful years
with other hits including "Never Trust a Stranger" and "Four Letter Word".

"LOVE IN THE NATURAL WAY" (1989)
This track was Kim Wilde's seventeenth and final
Top 40 hit of the eighties. Reaching #32 in March 1989, it was also the fifth
and final single from the best-selling album Close.
The four previous hit songs from the album were (in release order); "Hey Mister Heartache" (#31), "You Came" (#3), "Never Trust A Stranger" (#7) and "Four Letter Word" (#6).
Sadly, the hits became more erratic after this, and the British singer's career was somewhat less successful during the 90s.
"SLEEPING SATELLITE" (2011)
This is a cover version of Tasmin Archer's 1992 debut single from 1992 which reached No.1 in the UK. Kim's version was released as a double-A side, along with a cover of East 17's No.3 hit from 1993 entitled "It's Alright" - the video is below. Both tracks featured on Kim Wilde's covers album Snapshots which was released in 2011.
Although she is still having success with hit albums in Germany and Switzerland, in the majority of countries Kim Wilde hasn't really had a hit single since 2006, when a remixed version of You Came charted across Europe, although it wasn't a hit here in the UK.
Discography
80sSingles
Chequered Love #4 (1981)
Water On Glass #11 (1981)
Cambodia #12 (1981)
View From A Bridge #16 (1982)
Child Come Away #45 (1982)
Love Blonde #23 (1983)
Dancing In The Dark #67 (1983)
House Of Salome (Non UK Release 1984)
The Second Time #29 (1984)
The Touch #56 (1984)
Rage To Love #19 (1985)
Schoolgirl (Europe & Australia Only 1986)
You Keep Me Hangin' On #2 1986
Another Step (Closer To You) #6 1987
Say You Really Want Me #29 1987
Hey Mister Heartache #31 (1988)
You Came #3 (1988)
Never Trust A Stranger #7 (1988)
Four Letter Word #6 (1988)
Love In The Natural Way #32 (1989)
Chart positions are for the UK Singles Chart
Studio Albums
Kim Wilde (1981)
Select (1982)
Catch As Catch Can (1983)
Teases & Dares (1984)
Another Step (1986)
Close (1988)
Love Moves (1990)
Love Is (1992)
Now & Forever (1995)
Never Say Never (2006)
Come Out And Play (2010)
Snapshots (2011)
Wilde Winter Songbook (2013)
Here Come The Aliens (2018)