Kim Wilde - Catch as Catch Can (1983/2020) [Complete 2xCD] Deluxe Edition

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.

Having toured the UK and Europe in November and December 1982, there was a silence of six months. Kim Wilde returned with the single "Love Blonde", a jazz/swing-inspired track that lyrically mocked the blonde bombshell image that some media had dealt Kim in the previous years. But the sound was unique to the single; the rest of the album continued the electronic theme that was introduced on Select. Most of the songs were again written by Marty and Ricky Wilde, except the second single "Dancing in the Dark", which was written by Nicky Chinn and Paul Gurvitz. Ricky Wilde produced the album.

Some of the songs seemed to be telling a story ("House of Salome", which was released as a single in selected countries, and "Sing It Out for Love") whereas "Dream Sequence" was one of Marty's more imaginative lyrics, describing what seems to be a random sequence of images. The cool blue cover image was provided by photographer Sheila Rock.

The album suffered from mixed reviews in the press and the lack of successful singles. Even a second European tour could not help the decline in sales.

At the time of release, the new compact disc format was introduced. In Japan, the album was released on this new format. In later years, this release became a much sought-after item among Kim Wilde fans, who often paid more than $100 to get their hands on a copy. Elsewhere in the world, the album has been released on CD only once, as part of a 3-CD box set named The Originals (1995). Available for a limited period only, this also has become a collectable item. It was finally re-released on 18 May 2009 as a remastered special edition following Kim Wilde and Select in April.

Tracklist:
CD-1
01 - House Of Salome 0:00
02 - Back Street Joe 3:33
03 - Stay Awhile 8:02
04 - Love Blonde 11:43
05 - Dream Sequence
05 - Dancing In The Dark
07 - Shoot To Disable
08 - Can You Hear It
09 - Sparks
10 - Sing It Out For Love
Bonus Tracks:
11 - Rain On 41:17
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)

CD-2 The Catch As Catch Can Sessions
20 - House Of Salome (Rough Mix) 1:18:11
21 - Back Street Joe (Original Mix) 1:21:49
22 - Stay Awhile (Rough Mix)
23 - Dream Sequence (Instrumental Demo)
24 - Dancing In The Dark (Rough Mix)
25 - Shoot To Disable (Rough Mix)
26 - Can You Hear It (Rough Mix)
27 - Sparks (Rough Mix)
28 - Sing It Out For Love (Rough Mix)
29 - Sail On (Original Version)
30 - Shoot To Disable (Original Mix)
31 - House Of Salome (Instrumental)
32 - Dream Sequence (In Reverse)
The 1983 Mixes
33 - Love Blonde (PopFidelity Allstars Special Remix) 2:08:53
34 - Sparks (Extended Edit)
35 - Can You Hear It (Project K: Project Kim)
36 - Love Blonde (PopFidelity Allstars Instrumental) 2:31:41

Personnel
Kim Wilde – vocals, Prophet-5, Fairlight CMI, E-mu Emulator II, Roland Jupiter 8, Roland System 700
Ricky Wilde – keyboards, Synclavier, guitars, bass, Roland MC-8 Microcomposer, LinnDrum programming
Steve Byrd – lead guitars
Mark Hayward Chaplin – bass
Trevor Murrell – Electronic drums (Simmons)
Gary Barnacle – saxophones, flute