| Teases & Dares | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 5 November 1984 | |||
| Studio | Select Sound Studios (Knebworth, Hertfordshire) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 42:08 | |||
| Label | MCA | |||
| Producer |
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| Kim Wilde chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Teases & Dares | ||||
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Teases & Dares is the fourth studio album by the English pop singer Kim Wilde, released on 5 November 1984 by MCA Records. The song "Is It Over" is featured in the film Fletch (1985). All three singles were also released as picture discs, her only releases to ever be made into them.
After leaving Rak Records, who had released her first three studio albums, Wilde signed to MCA Records in 1984. Her brother, Ricky Wilde, continued to serve as her producer, though was now assisted by their father, Marty Wilde, who also continued to co-write material. For the first time, Kim Wilde received a co-producer credit and the album also marked the first time in which she earned a sole songwriting credit, for the tracks "Fit In" and "Shangri-La".
Three singles were taken from the album. "The Second Time" reached the UK Top 30 and the Top 10 in Germany, as well as becoming only her second single to reach the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, where it was retitled "Go for It" and peaked at No. 65. The second single from the album, "The Touch", was less successful but the third single, "Rage to Love" (remixed by Dave Edmunds), returned Wilde to the UK Top 20 for the first time in three years.
Prompted by her new record company, Wilde underwent a change of image for Teases & Dares and found herself being recast "in an entirely new light". [1] She changed from a girl wearing secondhand clothes with self-dyed hair, to a Barbarella-inspired sci-fi heroine (by XL Design) for the cover of "The Second Time". Though this was initially only for the single, MCA Records decided to use the new image for the album cover also, which Wilde objected to. She later claimed that the album sleeve was one of the reasons for its weak sales, stating that it confused members of her audience who still regarded her as the "girl next door". For subsequent single releases from the album, Wilde switched back to an image she identified more with. For the "Rage to Love" promotion, she wore one of her father's Teddy Boy jackets, in keeping with the rockabilly retro theme of the song.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Smash Hits | 6.5/10 [2] |
Billboard magazine praised Wilde for combining "techno-pop with a torch-styled edge" and described the sound as "somewhere between Sheena Easton and Debbie Harry". [3] Rolling Stone described the "randy" lyrics for "The Second Time", written by Wilde's brother and father, as "somewhat perverse" and found her "too bland and docile a singer to generate much heat or to enliven Ricki's stale wall-of-synths production." However, the reviewer reserved praise for Kim's self-written efforts, writing that "Fit In" and "Shangri-La" "have the passive, yearning tone of a jailhouse diary" and expressed hope that the "vivacious, earnest singer might be smart enough to cut loose her puppet strings." [4]
All tracks written by Ricky Wilde and Marty Wilde, unless otherwise noted.
Side one
Side two
All info taken from original LP.
Oberheim OBxa 1,2,3,5,6
| Chart (1984–1985) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| European Albums ( Music & Media ) [5] | 28 |
| Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) [6] | 24 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [7] | 22 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [8] | 35 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [9] | 10 |
| UK Albums (OCC) [10] | 66 |
| US Billboard 200 [11] | 84 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [12] | Gold | 25,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Kim Wilde is an English pop singer. She first gained success in 1981 with her debut single "Kids in America", which peaked at No. 2 in the UK. In 1983, she received the Brit Award for Best British Female solo artist. In 1986, she had a UK No. 2 hit with a reworked version of the Supremes' song "You Keep Me Hangin' On", which also topped the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1987. Between 1981 and 1996, she had 25 singles that charted within the Top 50 of the UK Singles Chart. Her other hits include "Chequered Love" (1981), "You Came" (1988), and "Never Trust a Stranger" (1988). In 2003, she collaborated with Nena on the song "Anyplace, Anywhere, Anytime", which topped the Dutch and Austrian charts.
"You Keep Me Hangin' On" is a song written and composed by Holland–Dozier–Holland. It was first recorded in 1966 by American Motown group the Supremes, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
Marty Wilde, is a British singer and songwriter. He was among the first generation of British pop stars to emulate American rock and roll, scoring several 1950s and 1960s hit singles including "Endless Sleep", "Sea of Love" and "Bad Boy". During the late 1960s to early 1980s, Wilde continued to record and, with Ronnie Scott, co-wrote hit singles for others including the Casuals' "Jesamine" and Status Quo's "Ice in the Sun". He is the father of pop singer Kim Wilde and co-wrote many of her hit singles including "Kids in America" with his son Ricky. He continues to perform and record.
The Last One to Know is the twelfth studio album by American country music artist Reba McEntire, released on September 7, 1987, by MCA Nashville. The title track and Love Will Find Its Way to You were both Number One singles from the album. It was also her first album to chart on the Billboard 200, in addition to peaking at #3 on Top Country Albums. "Just Across the Rio Grande" was also covered by Holly Dunn the following year in Across the Rio Grande.
The Singles Collection 1981–1993 is a greatest hits album by English singer Kim Wilde, released on 6 September 1993 by MCA Records.
"If I Can't Have You" is a disco song written by the Bee Gees in 1977. The song initially appeared on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack in a version by Yvonne Elliman, released in November 1977. The Bee Gees' own version appeared a month later as the B-side of "Stayin' Alive".
"Kids in America" is a song recorded by English pop singer Kim Wilde. It was released in the United Kingdom as her debut single in January 1981, and in the United States in spring 1982, later appearing on her self-titled debut studio album. Largely inspired by the synth-pop style of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) and Gary Numan, the song reached number two on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks and number one in Finland and South Africa, and charted in the top 10 of many European charts as well as Australia and New Zealand. In North America, it became the first top 40 hit, reaching the top 40 in Canada and the United States. It was certified gold in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia and Sweden; and has sold over three million copies worldwide. The song has been covered by many artists from different genres.
"Chequered Love" is the second single by British singer Kim Wilde. The song was released in the spring of 1981 to follow Wilde's successful debut "Kids in America". As with that single, writing credits were given to Wilde's father and brother Marty and Ricky Wilde, with the latter also being given production credits. The 12" version is no longer in length than the 7"; however, better sound quality is achieved by the grooves not being as compressed - a common practice for "marketing" during the 1980s. The song later appeared on Wilde's self-titled debut album.
"The Second Time" is the first single from Kim Wilde's fourth studio album Teases & Dares (1984). In North America, it was re-named "Go for It". The track was Wilde's first release on the MCA record label. Her last few releases on her original label had failed to make an impact commercially, but this one returned her to the charts of several European countries, peaking at number 29 in the United Kingdom. It also marked her second chart entry in the US, where it peaked at number 65.
"The Touch" is a song by the English pop singer Kim Wilde. It was the second single to be released from her fourth studio album Teases & Dares (1984). Released in November 1984, it peaked at #56 on the UK Singles Chart.
"Rage to Love" is the third and final single from Teases & Dares, the fourth studio album by Kim Wilde. Released in April 1985, the song was remixed by Dave Edmunds for its release as a single. It became Wilde's biggest UK hit for three years, reaching the UK Top 20. The B-side —a cover version of the Shirelles' "Putty in Your Hands"—is an exclusive non-album track. A six-minute extended version of "Rage to Love" was included on the 12" single.
"You Came" is a song by English singer Kim Wilde from her sixth studio album, Close (1988). It was released on 4 July 1988 as the album's second single. The song was written by Wilde and her brother Ricky Wilde, after the birth of his first child, Marty.
Kim Wilde is the debut studio album by English singer Kim Wilde, released on 29 June 1981 by Rak Records. Fronted by the top 10 singles "Kids in America" and "Chequered Love" and greeted with a generally positive response from critics, the album launched Wilde into stardom and remains one of her most popular recordings.
Select is the second studio album by English pop singer Kim Wilde, released on 10 May 1982 by RAK Records. The album was not released in North America, neither were the singles off the album.
Catch as Catch Can is the third studio album by Kim Wilde, released in autumn 1983. The album was not released in North America, neither were any of the singles.
Another Step is the fifth studio album by English pop singer Kim Wilde, released on 3 November 1986 by MCA Records. The album contained her comeback worldwide hit "You Keep Me Hangin' On", which reached No. 1 in the US, as well as the UK top 10 hit "Another Step " and "Say You Really Want Me".
Close is the sixth studio album by Kim Wilde, released in June 1988.
Love Moves is the seventh studio album by English pop singer Kim Wilde, released in May 1990 by MCA Records. The album was not released in North America.
Now & Forever is the ninth studio album by Kim Wilde, released in autumn 1995 via MCA Records.
Here Come the Aliens is the fourteenth studio album by English pop singer Kim Wilde, released on 16 March 2018 by Wildeflower Records. It is her first studio album since Wilde Winter Songbook (2013). It contains the singles "Pop Don't Stop", "Kandy Krush" and "Birthday", while a deluxe edition released in October housed the single "Amoureux des rêves". The album was produced by her long-time producer Ricky Wilde. In the United Kingdom, the album became her first charting album for 25 years, peaking at number 21.
