Kim Wilde
‘Dancing in the dark’/’Backstreet Driver’
(7″ promo, Australia, RAK 1143, 1983)
After hitting the big time in 1981 with smashes like ‘Kids In America’, ‘Chequered Love’ and ‘Cambodia’, Marty Wilde’s eldest daughter saw diminishing sales on Mickie Most’s Rak label and, by 1984, she had transferred to MCA.
Kim’s last UK single for Rak, ‘Dancing In The Dark’ (RAK 365), was lifted from her 1983 Catch As Catch Can album, and issued with limited poster editions for both 7″ and 12″.
Despite this promotion, the lacklustte dance/pop confection peaked at a whopping No.67. Nonetheless, the presence of a decent non-album B-side; the incessantly catchy ‘Backstreet Driver’, made the single desirable among collectors. Even more sought-after is this rare Australian promo 45 version, which is housed, unusually, in a full picture sleeve; in this case, using an image from the French-issued The Very Best Of Kim Wilde in 1983.
While numerous Kim Wilde promo singles have been issued in unique custom sleeves in various countries – such as the cool, matt black French ‘You Came’ – most have simply appeared in stock company sleeves. When ‘Dancing In The Dark’ appeared on the collectors’ market in the early 80s, it was selling for upwards of £50 and now commands a price approaching a remarkable three figures. Perhaps it will rise even further if the now green-fingered goddess can be tempted out of the garden again to spend more time on the stage.
With thanks ta Marcel Rijs, Engene Gnest, Pat Marchant and www.kimwilde.com
