For those not in the know, Kim Wilde became an overnight sensation back in 1981 courtesy of the worldwide success of her single 'Kids In America,' which offered a very British twist on the new wave energy and glamour of Blondie.

In due course, Kim would enjoy numerous hits throughout the 1980s, first on RAK Records (with help from father Marty and brother Ricky) and then later on MCA (when she took up songwriting herself and toured with Michael Jackson and David Bowie).

On the back of Kim's acclaimed recent studio set Here Come The Aliens (and companion live collection), her first three albums, namely Kim Wilde, Select and Catch As Catch Can are being treated to deluxe 2CD+DVD and vinyl reissues.

Collectively, this represents the entirety of her output for RAK.

Each album is being presented as a plush 2-CD plus DVD expanded gatefold wallet boasting a raft of previously unissued tracks and new remixes, as well as new colored vinyl editions.

All of the tracks have been remastered from fresh transfers of the original analogue tapes.

All of the new and previously unheard material has been given the blessing of Kim herself. Additionally, each package includes lyrics, rare photos and memorabilia plus new sleeve notes written by Kim Wilde expert Marcel Rijs.

Kim’s third album, Catch As Catch Can was originally issued in autumn 1983 and includes the UK hit singles ‘Love Blonde’ (#23) and ‘Dancing In The Dark’ (#67).

The two singles from Catch As Catch Can were Kim’s first to be released in extended 12” vinyl mix form. In addition to those mixes by Ricky Wilde and Nile Rodgers, this release features two new ‘19:83’ mixes created from the original multi track reels.

These include a faithful, but refreshed Special Re-Mix of ‘Love Blonde’ and a more radical reinterpretation of the album standout ‘Can You Hear It’.

Bonus tracks include ‘Rain On’ (a previously unreleased out-take from the album sessions), the previously unheard original RAK Mix of ‘Dancing In The Dark’, the B-side ‘Back Street Driver’ and a Disconnect DJ-only extended edit of ‘Sparks’ plus a host of unreleased session out-takes.

The bonus DVD includes promo videos for ‘Love Blonde’ and ‘Dancing In The Dark’, plus two performances from Top Of The Pops and two more on the BBC shows Harty and Crackerjack, plus a 1984 TV commercial.

Disc 1: Catch As Catch Can
1. 'House of Salome 2. 'Back Street Joe 3. 'Stay Awhile 4. 'Love Blonde 5. 'Dream Sequence 6. 'Dancing in the Dark 7. 'Shoot to Disable 8. 'Can You Hear It 9. 'Sparks 10. 'Sing It Out for Love'

First up on this highly underrated album is 'House of Salome,' a pulsatingly sultry synth and sax track that is a wonderful way to showcase the older Kim and her vocals.

Next up is the pop one-two beats of 'Back Street Joe' (am album track I'd forgotten about a long time ago), and then the space haze love story 'Stay Awhile.'

With this third album, and as much as it kept largely to the electronic-heavy style of its predecessor, Kim departed from the formula every now and again to bring us some mature tracks. None more so than the stand out, finger-snappin, foot-tappin' pop brilliance of the jazzy 'Love Blonde.'

That's backed by the ethereal, at times trippy 'Dream Sequence' and then comes the second single from the album, 'Dancing in the Dark.' Penned by proven hitmaker Nicky Chinn ('Kiss You All Over' and 'Mickey') and Paul Gurvitz, the song is a throbbing synth beauty to listen to even today.

Bringing the original album to a close are the mysteriously hauntingly effective 'Shoot to Disable,' the mid-tempo twinkling ballad 'Can You Hear It,' and then the poptastic beats of 'Sparks' and the pop smoothness of 'Sing It Out for Love.'

Disc 1: Catch As Catch Can: Bonus Tracks
11. 'Rain On'+
12. 'Back Seat Driver'+
13. 'Love Blonde' [7" Version]
14. 'Dancing in the Dark' [RAK Mix]+
15. 'Can You Hear It' [7" Version]
16. 'Love Blonde' [Extended Version]
17. 'Dancing in the Dark' [Nile Rodgers Extended Version]
18. 'Dancing in the Dark' [Instrumental]
19. 'Dancing in the Dark' [Full Instrumental]+

+ Previously unreleased

The previously-unreleased, mid-tempo sway of the out-take cut ‘Rain On’ is lovely to hear now from those sessions, so too the B-side track ‘Back Street Driver.’

As for the others, they are all good, but as we get four (4) versions of 'Dancing in the Dark,' well, they become musical overkill very quickly. That said, the previously unheard original (and wonderfully funky) RAK Mix of that very same track is a great addition.

Disc 2: Catch As Catch Can: Sessions
1. 'House of Salome' [Rough Mix]+
2. 'Back Street Joe' [Original Mix]+
3. 'Stay Awhile' [Rough Mix]+
4. 'Dream Sequence' [Instrumental Demo]+
5. 'Dancing in the Dark' [Rough Mix]+
6. 'Shoot to Disable' [Rough Mix]+
7. 'Can You Hear It' [Rough Mix]+
8. 'Sparks' [Rough Mix]+
9. 'Sing It Out for Love' [Rough Mix]+
10. 'Sail On' [Original Version]+
11. 'Shoot to Disable' [Original Mix]+
12. 'House of Salome' [Instrumental]+
13. 'Dream Sequence' [In Reverse]+

Disc 2: Catch As Catch Can: The 19:83 Mixes
14. 'Love Blonde' [Popfidelity Allstars Special Re-Mix]*
15. 'Sparks' [Extended' [Edit]
16. 'Can You Hear It' [Project K: Project Kim]*
17. 'Love Blonde' [Popfidelity Allstars Instrumental]*

+ Previously unreleased
* Exclusive new remixes for 2020

As for this second disc of remixes, the first thirteen tracks are rough versions, demos and instrumentals born from what the songs would eventually become. In truth, save for some quieter moments where synth or guitar would eventually fill it, they aren't overly exciting, but I did quite like the saxy appeal of the previously-unreleased 'Stay Awhile' (Rough Mix) and the synth hipsway of 'Dream Sequence' (Instrumental Demo).

The remaining four tracks are now termed as 19:83 mixes and are great to hear in their newly-remixed and newly-imagined versions with the stand out for me being the trance-like approach to 'Can You Hear It' (Project K: Project Kim).

So, being a diehard fan I can accept them with open arms, but if you were only a passing fan of Kim's down the years, and moreover maybe just one of the '80s and early '90s, in general, the repetitive thumping beats, digitally zapped enhancement moments, and the aforementioned instrumentals will most likely be too much for you.

Disc 3: Catch As Catch Can: The Videos
1. 'Love Blonde'
2. 'Dancing in the Dark'

Disc 3: Catch As Catch Can: Kim At The BBC Videos
3. 'Love Blonde' [On Top of the Pops - 1st Performance]
4. 'Love Blonde' (On Top of the Pops - 2nd Performance]
5. 'Dancing in the Dark' [On Harty]
6. 'Dancing in the Dark' [On Crackerjack]
7. 'TV Ad'
8. 'The Very Best of Kim Wilde [1984 TV Advert] (Bonus Footage)

Kim Wilde remains a perennial icon of British pop with an adoring global fanbase and next year she will continue to enjoy a high profile as she embarks on her lengthy 2020 The Greatest Hits Tour!

Official 2CD/DVD Purchase Link

www.KimWilde.com

Kim Wilde @ Facebook