Close (Kim Wilde album)
Close is the sixth studio album by Kim Wilde, released in June 1988.
| Close | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 13 June 1988 | |||
| Recorded | 1987–1988; Select Sound Studios, Knebworth, Hertfordshire | |||
| Genre | Pop · Hi-NRG · Synth-pop | |||
| Length | 51:22 | |||
| Label | MCA | |||
| Producer | Ricky Wilde, Tony Swain | |||
| Kim Wilde chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Close | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Number One | |
| Record Mirror | |
Produced by Ricky Wilde and Tony Swain, Close was the final album on which Marty Wilde had co-writer credits. The album is widely perceived by fans and critics (and Kim herself) as Wilde's most well-balanced, with many kinds of pop represented: dance, ballad, rock and midtempo.
The album's lead single was "Hey Mister Heartache", featuring backing vocals from Junior Giscombe – but its success was dwarfed by the follow-up single, "You Came", which hit the Top 10 in many countries and just missed the US Top 40.
"Never Trust a Stranger" and "Four Letter Word" also reached the UK Top 10, although a fifth single "Love in the Natural Way" was less successful. Attention for the album was bolstered by Kim's support slot on Michael Jackson's European tour.
Close reached the Top 10 in the UK, almost all Scandinavian countries, Austria and Germany and went on to become Wilde's biggest selling album, being certified platinum in the UK. In Australia, the album was less successful, peaking at #82 on the ARIA albums chart.
A 2-CD 25th Anniversary Edition of Close was released in the United Kingdom in September 2013, with the album's original 10 tracks bolstered by an additional 21 B-sides and remixes.