Electric Songbooks Of 2013...

2013 is almost over, and it's time to take a look back at the Galaxy's favorite albums of the year.



Kim Wilde released what I consider to be her best album in more than 20 years. Wilde Winter Songbook really deserves several listens. Her covers of tracks like "White Winter Hymnal" and "Winter Song" are fabulous - but the new songs (written or co-written by Kimmy herself) are the ones that steal the show. An album that deserves much more widespread appreciation.
Favorite tracks: "Song For Beryl", "Burn Gold (Silent Night)", "Hope", "White Winter Hymnal", "One".



Pet Shop Boys released Electric in July and the album is ending up on several year-end lists by music magazines. Like always, the boys delivered an excellent album, although I personally prefer most of their previous albums over this one. That said, it's still a fantastic record that especially pleased the fans of "Dance-Pet Shop Boys".
Favorite tracks: "Love Is a Bourgeois Construct", "Vocal", "Fluorescent", "The Last To Die".



Alison Moyet made a spectacular comeback in 2013 with her hit album The Minutes, which became her highest charting album since 1987 in the UK.

Released in May, the album was met with spectacular reviews. Rightly so, since this album is pretty perfect! Produced and co-written by Guy Sigsworth, this is probably the album fans of the singer had been waiting for - it certainly delivers!
Favorite tracks: "Changeling", "Horizon Flame", "When I Was Your Girl", "Filigree", "Love Reign Surpreme".



Abba legend Agnetha Faltskog made a surprise comeback with A, her first album since 2004 and the first of original material since 1987. Even more surprising is how good it is!

Her voice still sounds beautiful, the songs are well crafted and overall it is a beautifully produced album. A most welcomed comeback.
Favorite tracks: "When You Really loved Someone", "Bubble", "Perfume In The Breeze", "Dance Your Pain Away", "I Was A Flower", "I Should've Followed You Home".



Erasure released their first holiday-themed album this year. Much like the Kim Wilde album, Snow Globe is not strictly a Christmas album, though it does feature some standards. And like Kimmy's album, the songs that really shine here are the new ones, along with a couple of traditional works. The overall tone is dark and moody, yet bright and uplifting. Another excellent album from the boys.
Favorite tracks: "Gaudete", "Sleep Quietly", "Bells Of Love", "Make It Wonderful","Loving Man".



The album of the year, hands down, was for me the long awaited comeback album from Cher!

Filled with both high energy dance songs and beautiful ballads, Closer To The Truth is one of the best albums of the diva's long career. It became a hit for her, charting in the Top 10 in the UK, Canada, Germany, Russia and of course the US where it became her highest charting solo album to date! The comeback of the year!
Favorite tracks: "I Hope You Find It", "My Love", "Dressed To Kill", "Woman's World", "I Walk Alone", "Take It Like A Man", "Sirens", "Red", "Favorite Scars" - OK, the whole album ;)





There are a few albums that came out this year that I still haven't had the change to listen to. I can't say I expect much from the Lady Gaga and Britney Spears albums, but I am really looking forward to hearing the ones from Goldfrapp, The Neighbourhood, OMD and Celine Dion (yes, I have heard a few tracks from the Celine album and I like them surprisingly much...).

EDIT:

OK, heard the Lady Gaga album - it's even worse than Born This Way! I really enjoyed her first two albums, but the last two have left a lot to be desired! The Celine album however is much better with some outstanding tracks!

Next year should bring us new albums from Kylie Minogue (!), Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Bruce Springsteen, Blondie, Toni Braxton (with Babyface), Tori Amos, Frank Ocean, Garbage, Ladytron and of course princess Lana Del Rey. Time will tell if Madonna will join the list...

SOTD...

Here is another track from the absolutely wonderful Kim Wilde album Wilde Winter Songs, which came out a few weeks ago.

Kimmy has been making videos for every song on the album - a fun treat for fans. Here is "Hope":

SOTD...

A test from hell that I have been studying for like a madman is now over. Time will tell if I passed. But for now, only one more test to go and then I am finished for a while! And to celebrate, here is a brand new track from the Kim Wilde Christmas album that came out last month.



Kimmy pokes fun of her surprise performance from last year in an excellent video with Nik Kershaw. The song itself is a cover of her 1987 hit with Mel Smith, which peaked at #3 in the UK and has become a holiday classic since. So let's go on a little train trip with Kim and the gang!

Wilde Winter...

Kim Wilde will release Wilde Winter Songbook on November 4th in the UK and 22nd in Germany. Kim recently released a rather fantastic 25 year anniversary edition of her timeless Close album and she will be releasing a new album next year.

Here is what Kimmy said on Twitter today:

OK Rockers, you heard it from me last ; ) WildeWinterSongbook is coming your way with 12 festive tunes, half original including duets with Nik Kershaw, Rick Astley, Marty Wilde and my husband Hal Fowler. Get your antlers at the ready!!!! : )

Tracklist:

01 Winter Wonderland – feat. Rick Astley

02 Hope

03 One

04 Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

05 Winter Song

06 New Life

07 White Winter Hymnal – feat. Marty+Ricky Wilde

08 Burn Gold (Silent Night) – feat. Hal Fowler

09 Song for Beryl

10 Let it Snow

11 Hey Mister Snowman

12 Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree – feat. Nik Kershaw

Wild Wilde...

Here is Kim Wilde like you have never seen her before!

No Yet The Season, But...

It may be July - but I am already looking forward to a couple of christmas albums this year!

I have already posted about the upcoming christmas album from Kim Wilde (tracklist and artwork to be posted later), but this year also sees a christmas album from Erasure! The record will contain 6 brand new Erasure songs, along with covers of some classic tracks. They have previously released the excellent christmas song "She Won't Be Home", along with a couple of other ones, so this album just might be a treat.

In addition, it seems that both Andy Bell and Vince Clark are working on solo records. There might also be a release of classic Erasure tracks in new, electronic ambient style arrangements (including violins) coming soon. No dates for any of those have been made available but most likely they won't be out until next year.

Getting Closer...

The tracklist for the 25th anniversary edition of Kim Wilde's Close album has just been revealed! And it looks really good - nothing seems to be missing, included are all the B-sides, single versions and the main remixes. The lot includes 8 tracks that were never released on CD in the UK.

CD1

Hey Mister Heartache

You Came

Four Letter Word

Love In The Natural Way

Love’s A No

Never Trust A Stranger

You’ll Be The One Who’ll Lose

European Soul

Stone

Lucky Guy

Tell Me Where You Are

Wotcha Gonna Do

She Hasn’t Got Time For You ’88

Hey Mister Heartache (Single Version)

You Came (Single Version)

Never Trust A Stranger (Single Version)

Love In The Natural Way (Video Edit)

You Came (Shep Pettibone US Single Version)

CD2

Hey Mister Heartache (12″ Version)

Hey Mister Heartache (Kilo Watt Remix)

Hey Mister Heartache (Bonus Beats) *

Hey Mister Heartache (Acapella With Percussion) *

You Came (12″ Version)

You Came (Shep Pettibone 12″ Mix)

You Came (Dub Version #1)

You Came (Dub Version #2)

Never Trust A Stranger (12″ Version)

Never Trust A Stranger (Sanjazz Mix)

Four Letter Word (12″ Version)

Four Letter Word (Late Night Mix)

Love In The Natural Way (Extended Version)

*Previously unreleased



Close will be released on September 2nd. It is already doing very well on pre-orders in the UK and you can get your copy here

Christmas Party...

Iconic pop singer Kim Wilde is announcing her first solo UK dates since 1986. Kim brings her Christmas Party, with special guest Nik Kershaw, to three dates this December, including London’s O2 Shepherds Bush Empire on Saturday 21st December. The dates will co-inside with the release of her debut Christmas album that will be a mix of original and classic yuletide tunes.

"I can't wait!! Sorry it's been so long for you guys in the UK - let's make up for that this Christmas….and I’m so looking forward to sharing the stage with Nik Kershaw, one of my favourite artists. It’s going to be such fun!" -- KIM WILDE MAY 2013

The dates are as follows:

Wednesday, December 18

Bristol - O2 Academy

Thursday, December 19

Birmingham - O2 Academy

Saturday, December 21

London - O2 Shepherds Bush Empire

Telephone: 0844 477 2000

Price: £25.00

Kim Wilde was born in Chiswick, West London to legendary 1950’s British Rock’n’Roll singer, Marty Wilde, and his wife Joyce - a member of the singing group, The Vernons Girls. Her first single release, ‘Kids In America’ in 1981, was a worldwide hit paving the way for a recording career which yielded ten albums and in excess of thirty singles, bringing success in every major record market and sales of 10 million and 20 million respectively.

Single successes included ‘Chequered Love’, ‘Water On Glass’, ‘Cambodia’, ‘View From A Bridge’, ‘You Keep Me Hangin’ On’ - a worldwide success and a number one in the USA - ‘Another Step (Closer To You)’ (a duet with Junior Giscombe), ‘You Came’, ‘Never Trust A Stranger’ and ‘Four Letter Word’.

In 1983 Kim was voted Best British Female Singer at the BPI Awards, while “live” highlights include performing to over 2 million people on a five month European stadium tour with Michael Jackson in 1988, and supporting David Bowie across Europe on his 1990 Greatest Hits Tour.

After a huge hit duet single with the German vocalist, Nena, in 2003 Kim was persuaded to make a new solo album and, having signed to EMI Germany in 2005 she enjoyed a Top 20 Album (‘Never Say Never’) and single (‘You Came 2006’) in the summer of 2006. In 2007 she took this project “on the road”, performing over 50 live concerts - including two solo tours - with dates in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Holland and Denmark and numerous Festival appearances across Europe. In December 2008 Kim appeared alongside Robin Gibb, Tears For Fears and 10cc – with a 40 piece orchestra and the Angels of Harlem Gospel Choir - in 20 arena shows for the annual ‘Night Of The Proms’ tour in Germany, and she completed another solo European Tour in April 2009.

In September 2008 Kim was signed up by the UK’s number one London commercial radio station, Magic 105.4; over four years later she still presents a weekly show, “Secret Songs” every Sunday from 10am-2pm. This year will see a number of new recording projects take centre stage, along with the re- packaging and re-release of a collector’s bonus edition of Kim’s album “Close”, which celebrates it's 25th Birthday. It will be a 2 CD set, released in July.

"If I Had Wings I'd Fly To You"...

I fully expect this to happen on my next flight...

 

Get Close Again...

The wonderful Close album by Kim Wilde is finally getting a re-release!

Kim herself mentioned on Twitter yesterday that a re-release is in the works, 25 years after it originally came out.

Great to hear various Close re-mixes for HeyMr Heartache,You Came,Never Trust a Stranger,Four Letter Word,Love in a Natural Way today

— Kim Wilde (@kimwilde) January 31, 2013

When asked by fans if she was doing this for a re-release of the album, Kim replied:

@aintetienne OH yes : )

— Kim Wilde (@kimwilde) January 31, 2013

The new reissue will most likely be released by Universal, who own the rights to Kim's recordings from this era. Record company Cherry Red, who released Kim's previous albums in expanded editions put in a request almost two years ago for the next three albums in the series ( Close, Love Moves and Love Is) but were denied.

I am VERY much looking forward to this - hopefully we will get a double disc, there were some excellent remixes made for the singles from this album. And I can not wait to hear this album re-mastered!!!

I will obviously post any more news on this release in the future...

SOTD...

The song of the day is one of the most perfect pop songs ever written, IMO. 

"You Came" by Kim Wilde was released in July 1988. It was the second single taken from the equally fabulous album Close (which became the biggest selling album of her career). The song became an instant favourite of mine back when it was released and it remains one of those songs that I can listen to again and again without ever getting tired of.

It became of one of Kim's biggest hits, reaching the Top 10 all over Europe and peaking at #3 in the UK. In 2006 a brand new version was released as a single to launch her album Never Say Never, which was a collection of new songs and reworked old hits. It became a hit again in Europe, but was sadly never released in the UK.



Here are both versions. I love the 2006 version, but nothing compares to the original...

But what will Kim be up to in 2013?

After teasing her fans last year with the idea of writing and recording a new album in 2013, Kim Wilde talked about a possible Christmas album a few days ago on Twitter.

Ok twitter,any ideas for my Xmas album.I'm thinking intimate and romantic,how about you?

Kim has also confirmed that along with working on the christmas album, she will be spending the year writing and recording material for a brand new studio album, which will be released in 2014!

"Kids" In London...

Kim Wilde stunned passengers on the London Underground this week by singing her hit single 'Kids In America' in an impromptu singalong.

The moment was recorded and uploaded to YouTube by passenger Katherine Eames.

Kim Wilde and Ricky Wilde serenade passengers on the train home after the MagicFM Christmas Party," Eames wrote.

"After a truly rubbish day, I got on the train home and couldn't get a seat, a man pulled out his guitar 'Oh here we go! I thought."

She added: "Then a drunken woman starts singing. Hang on a minute, I know that voice?! It really was KIM WILDE!

"This totally made my day. Thank you. She is an absolute legend! Merry Christmas everyone. Features 'Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree' and 'Kids in America'."

Kim commented afterwards on Twitter: "Trending?You'll all think i've pegged it : 0"

WTF?...

Grrrrrr!!! License requests for Kim Wilde's "Close", "Love Moves" and "Love Is" deluxe album re-issues via Cherry Pop have been rejected this week by Universal! Cherry Pop had been waiting for a year for an answer. I cant understand the thinking behind this - Cherry Pop have previously released excellent editions of Kim´s four previous albums, and one would think that it wouldnt be a problem to continue the series. But oh no - lets just have these album sit in the vaults, along with all the extra material that could be released along with them.

I have been waiting for these re-releases for years! "Close" and "Love Moves" are my favorite Kim albums, and they are in desperate need for a remastered deluxe editions... Those bloody record companies can be annoying beyond belief!

Tracks...

Not an awful lot has been happening on the music scene in the last coupe of months. But here are some recent tracks I like:




After her wonderful, return to form album Midwinter Graces, it seems that Tori Amos is still on the right track. The beautiful new song "Carry", taken from her new album Night Of Hunters is certainly an indication of that. The album is getting good advance reviews, and it just might be the album that all the people that fell in love with her music in the early 90s have been wating for. This is vintage Tori - a very good one.




A wonderful take on an old fave of mine - Kim Wilde covers the 1992 UK number 1 hit "Sleeping Satellite" by Tasmin Archer. Kim will be going on tour next year, playing tracks from her new covers album Snapshots, as well as many of her greatest hits. A tip: if you are planning to buy her new CD, make sure you get the Saturn version - it includes the bonus track "Forever Young" (orginally by by Alphaville).





The latest from Maroon 5 - I quite like them and this latest track from them is a lot of fun, despite it's subject and that person featured on it.





Jessie J does effortlessly what Pink has been trying to do for years. Good song and an even better video.





A very cool song and a fantastic video from Skrillex. If you like dubstep, you should love this.





I have featured Anjulie on my blog a couple of times before. Now she's back with a brand new song, and a very different sound from her previous singles. Now she is, apperantly, a brand new bitch. OK then.





The lovely Marina And The Diamonds is back - in a bit of a weird way. You see, she is releasing a new single called "Radioactive". The video is in two parts, the first one being a completely different song (which I like more then the actual single). Everything about single release feels very uncommercial, despite the song being very commercial. Confused yet? There's more: this is what Marina has to say:

Part 1: It’s not a single, it’s just an album track. And basically Electra Heart is a story. I don’t even know if it’s going to take the form of an album yet, but it’s a really cinematic 70s Americana-type film and each part of the story comes in Part One, Part Two, Part Three. The song that’s going online today is Part One. It’s quite hard to explain because I think a lot of people will think Electra Heart is an alter ego or something but she’s not, it’s kind of basically a vehicle to portray part of the American dream, with elements of Greek tragedy and that’s all going to be coming out through the visuals. It’s hard to explain but I think you’ll see it when it all comes together.

OK OK, lets just get to the songs then. I think Marina is very talented, I like her first album a lot and it will be fun to see what she comes up with for her next release. These two tracks are certanly promising.

Videos...

The music videos for the brand new singles from Ladytron and Kim Wilde.

It´s Here...

The full tracklist for the new Kim Wilde album Snapshots has been revealed. I must say that it looks very good - I cant wait to hear her takes on the tracks by Suede, East 17, Black, Erasure, Tasmin Archer - and most of all Diana Ross.

1. It's Alright (originally performed by East 17)
2. Inbetween days (originally performed by The Cure)
3. About you now (originally performed by The Sugababes)
4. Sleeping satellite (originally performed by Tasmin Archer)
5. To France (originally performed by Mike Oldfield, with vocals by Maggie Reilly)
6. A little respect (originally performed by Erasure)
7. Remember me (originally performed by Diana Ross)
8. Anyone who had a heart (originally performed by Cilla Black)
9. Wonderful life (originally performed by Black a.k.a. Colin Vearncombe)
10. They don't know (originally performed by Kirsty Mc Coll)
11. Beautiful ones (originally performed by Suede)
12. Just what I needed (originally performed by The Cars)
13. Ever fallen in love (originally performed by the Buzzcocks)
14. Kooks (originally performed by David Bowie)

"Kooks" will be a duet with Kim 's husband Hal Fowler. The album will be released on August 26th in Germany.

Tiny...

Some tiny bits of various music news:

*Kim Wilde has revealed the first three tracks on her new covers album:

It's Alright (by East 17)
Inbetween Days (by The Cure)
About You Now ( by The Sugababes)

*Lady Gaga is releasing one of the most boring tracks on her new album as the next single - "You And I". I loved "Speechless" from her previous album, but this track sounds like a cheap imitaion of it. Zzzzzzz... The video, with Gaga stumbling around some desert will debut soon. She should just abandon that record already, release a good album and start to come up with her OWN ideas instead of her endless ripoffs.

*Cher has revealed that the Gaga written track "The Greatest Thing", which will appear on the new Cher album, will also have vocals by Gaga on it.



*Diana Vickers about her next album: "It's pop, but it's different from the last one.I've grown up and have a lot more I want to write about. I was influenced by '80s Madonna, it's edgy - it definitely has an attitude." She also revealed that she has been working with songwriter legend Diane Warren.

*The new box set from Kylie Minogue entered the UK album chart at #37. Not bad for this kind of release!

*The new album from Gloria Estefan will be out "this fall". Come on Gloria, give us a proper release date!

And finally: there have been LOADS of rumour going around regarding the upcoming Madonna album. Here is what seems to be happening:

The album will most likely be released in late 2011/early 2012. Martin Solveig seems to be one of the producers, along with two others who have not been named yet. And that's it - the rest: the usual lies and rumours!

And in other M news: While the official announcement won’t occur until Thursday, Variety is reporting what appears to be the majority of the lineup for the 2011 Venice Film Festival.
Madonna’s W.E. is in competition with new works from David Cronenberg, Steven Soderbergh, Roman Polanski, Todd Solondz, Jonathan Demme, Alexander Sokurov, Mary Harron and William Friedkin.

Singles...

August 19th will see the release of a double A-side single from Kim Wilde's  forthcoming album Snapshots. The songs will be released to radio later this month.

The single will feature: "It's Alright" (originally by East 17) and "Sleeping Satellite" (originally by Tasmin Archer). A music video for "It's alright" will be released soon. Expect TV, radio and internet promotion.



Click to enlarge

Another single to look forward to: "Turn To Dust" by Boy George.

The track is taken from his album Ordinary Alien, - a  collection of tracks recorded with Boy George’s frequent collaborative partner Kinky Roland between 2000-2009. A release date for the single has not been anounced yet - but it will most likely be a different mix then the one below (which is a great one):

The Actual Snapshots...

After the promotional sleeve that was revealed the day before





















It turns out that the sleeve presented a few days ago for the new Kim Wilde album was for the promo. Above is the actual commercial sleeve, which I like a lot better!

It features some of the photos that were included on the promotional sleeve, but also a brand new shot in the middle. There will be lots more snapshots from Kim's past in the cd booklet.

Snapshots is released on August 26 and while there is no tracklist yet, the album will feature covers of songs originally performed by Cilla Black, Diana Ross, David Bowie, Suede, Sugababes, East 17 and Tasmin Archer.

I cant wait to see what songs she is picking from Miss Ross and Suede!

See a previous post on the album here

Born To Be Wilde...

Like I have mentioned before, Kim Wilde is releasing a new album called Snapshots next month. And while we wait for the tracklist (and the release itself), lets take a look at the career so far of one of the biggest female acts ever to come out of the UK.

ALBUMS:








SINGLES:

























COMPILATIONS: