Kim Wilde Album: “Teases & Dares”

First, since Amazon doesn't give them, here's the timing of all the b-sides, remixes and extra-tracks of this edition : Lovers on a beach single 3:58, 12 inch 7:46, Putty in your hands 3:07, Turn it on 4:38, The second time / Go for it 7 inch 3:46, 12 inch 6:34, extended dance version 7:13, dub version 9:27, u.s. remix 5:26, The touch 7 inch 4:06, 12 inch 6:36, Rage to love 7 inch 3:50, 12 inch 6:00, Shangri-la alternative version 4:44, 12 inch 4:59, special re-mix 4:36.

Now, about this album, I need to say that this is one of the three Kim Wilde albums I had a hard time warming up to when I've first listened to them because like Catch as catch can and even Now and forever ten years later, these aren't compilations of hits like Close, Love moves or Love is have been, they are concept albums, so they are naturally very different sounding and need more than one listen to reveal their true gem songs, not all are hit singles alright, but they all are very good songs none the less (Is it over, Fit it, Shangri-la and Suburbs of Moscow are now my true favorites even though I didn't like them much at first).

Now let's get back to this newly remastered 2 cds edition. Finally we have on CD all single versions (and all the singles have different mixes than the album versions) and it's sad and true but no-other Kim Wilde compilation (and there are loads of them out there : and I know it because I've bought them all ! ) have ever compiled the single versions of this album 7 inches so thank you Cherry red for this treat because especially the Rage to love single version deserve this treatment since it is so much more powerful than the plain original album version.

But that`s not all this amazing edition has to offer, far from it : it has all the b-sides, the extended versions (some never released before like Shangri-la's alternative version) or never released on CD before like Go for it extended dance and dub remixes) and it even has Turn it on ! (the song only recorded for the soundtrack of the movie Weird Science from 1985).

And believe me, some b-sides are almost A-side material like Lovers on a beach : I just love this song, it should have been on the album because it's so much better than some of the weaker tracks of this album (such as Janine or Bladerunner). And like Depeche Mode's Get the balance right from 1983, the extended version of the track sounds almost like Techno music : seriously, it was musically really ahead of its time : okay the sounds were not as powerful back then but the repetitive beat and energy was already there.

Finally the 16-page booklet is nice too : it truly respects the torn design of the original album and you have like always with Cherry red re-editions, all the covers of the 7 inches, 12 inches, picture discs even from the American, European and Japanese records with the lyrics of all the songs, including the b-sides and extra-tracks with also the Steve Thorpe review of this era with again all official release dates, chart scores, and meaningful information like why the album is called that way or why the track The second time was renamed Go for it for the American market : funny and very interesting.

My only two regrets regarding this edition are first with this booklet: it doesn't say which musical instruments have been used in these songs like in the original booklet nor who remixed the extended versions or remixes - I like to know which mixes have been remixed by Ricki Wilde and which ones have been remixed by other engineers or with outside help (sorry, but I am a musician and a Kim Wilde obsessive fan) so these details are important to me and two : like in the Another step new edition (who has two) three tracks here are again taken from old vinyl records as a source (The Shangri-la special re-mix and the Go For It extended dance and dub versions) : I forgive them gladly because I admit that these are just two minor setbacks but it deserves to be said.

And personally I think, like some record companies do, they could print a statement or a sticker at least, saying that since these songs are taken from old tapes and recordings one or two tracks may only appear here in near-CD quality. I understand perfectly that these songs are almost 30 years old, I just think it would be more honest to say that than saying nothing (like they actually do) and letting the fans be disappointed when they discover it just like I did last night, that's all. It's just a matter of honesty and integrity, because of course I'm grateful to them of having unearthed real rarities like that Shangri-la special re-mix because I've never even heard that remix even existed in the first place and I'm glad to have it but since that wouldn't have stopped me from buying these records anyway, so why not be honest about it ?

As for the Go For It official mixes, I find it odd that MCA Records couldn't find other sources more reliable than vinyl records in their vaults. Are the original recordings definitively lost or did the Cherry red lads didn't dig any further than they should have, I think fans should be informed of these things. How did I noticed they were taken from vinyl records ? I use very good headphones as everyone should, and it's pretty obvious when you do (especially in the end of the tracks or sometimes even in the middle when the sound fades a little (when it shouldn't).

But let's be fair too, because the sound of all the other tracks, oh boy, how that sound is great, it's incredible. It's not only much louder, but it's more precise, more incisive, it's like I've never heard this record before, brand new details jump on my ears, talk about a brand new experience, sounds from Yamaha's cult synthesizer DX-7 are crispier than ever.

I hope Cherry Red won't stop there and will re-release all Kim Wilde albums like this (especially Love moves since the original is so weak sounding and poorly mastered) because one thing is for sure, I'll give all my old editions to my sister and will buy them all again, if they are re-released in this way (with 2 cds full of single versions, extra-tracks and remixes completed with respectful 16-page booklets) of course because they really are a true Kim Wilde fan dream come true.

I had pretty much given up hope of "upgrading" my vinyl copies of this album, singles and 12" remixes. But, thanks to Cherry Pop, I've been able to do so!

As indicated, this CD contains not just the original TEASES & DARES album, but also remixes and 12" versions, including that awesome 12" Extended Dance Version of "Go For It". Brings back memories of those college radio days!

As far as the music goes, it's probably not everybody's cup of tea. It may be dated, but, as far as that first wave of essentially totally synthesized pop music goes, this has to be THE gold standard. Can you say "programming?"

While lots of "New Wave" acts from the eighties did the techno-pop, synthesizer thing, I don't think anybody went as fully head-on into it as Kim Wilde did with TEASES & DARES. I loved it then, still get a kick out of it now!

High quality audio transfer puts those vinyl records to shame for sound quality. Flip-fold jewel case is well put together and the liner notes provide some interesting information about both the album and Kim's career at the time of this albums original release. Includes lyrics (as did the original LP). But, of course, they couldn't fit in the 6-panel fold-out poster that came with the original 7" vinyl single, featuring mirror images of a "post-apocalyptic" Kim sitting in a chair on the outside and a jumbo 6-panel poster head-shot of Kim on the other! I guess I'll have to hang on to that!

I give FIVE STARS to the TEASES & DARES reissue from Cherry Pop. Nothing screams "80s" quite like this album!