Kim Wilde: greatest hits album of most successful British female singer

The success of Kim Wilde came sudden and stayed. After 11 years she has sold millions of records and earned the reputation of the most successful British female singer. And now there’s a compilation of all the hits.

When Kim entered the charts with ‘Kids in America’ in 1981 she was in the company of names like Adam and the Ants, Ultravox, The Stray Cats, Shaky and many others. A lot of so-called experts said she would have a very short career, a lot like the man who kept her off the no. 1 spot: Joe Dolce (‘Shaddupa Your Face’).

But mistakes have been made. Twelve years on Kim Wilde is making her ninth album and her 26th single. She has sales numbers that only cause gold and platinum. At this moment she is good for six million albums and eleven million singles sold. That’s why she can take home the prize for most successful British female singer.

Family

That she would work in music was predictable. The whole family – first of all her father Marty – was in the music world. As a teenager she sang during the recording sessions of her father. After doing art college she started working as a backing vocalist. It was soon obvious that she had more to offer. The first song her father and her brother wrote for her was a bull’s eye. ‘Kids in America’ shot into the charts.
“It all happened so fast that I didn’t get the time to get enthusiastic about it all”, says Kim Wilde. “After ‘Kids’ there was a pressure to continue the success with a new single and of course an album. It didn’t stop and it’s never stopped since.”
Kim Wilde doesn’t hide it that the first five years of her career were a lot of fun. “I had the feeling that I was always underway. And I got along well with my colleagues with whom I often shared hotels.”
After closing a deal with MCA Kim Wilde scored gigantically all over the world. And the big boys appreciated her too. Michael Jackson invited her for his European tour in 1988. Two years later she appeared in support of David Bowie. “That were two big challenges for me”, says Kim. “I had to learn a lot of things very fast, but I succeeded.”
By now a satisfied Kim delivers her compilation album “Singles Collection 1981-1993”. Besides a new song you can hear “Kids in America”, “Chequered Love”, “Another Step”, “Cambodia”, “Never Trust A Stranger”, “Love is Holy”, “Love Blonde”, “If I can’t have you”, “You keep me hangin’ on”, “You Came”, “Four Letter Word”, “View From A Bridge”, “Rage To Love”, “The Second Time”, “Child Come Away” and “Kids in America (Revisited)”.
“What it’s about”, says Kim Wilde, “is a good melody and good lyrics. Forget all the hip and trendy stuff. That’s what pop music always has been and should always be.”