Kim Wilde's new album, Closer, has arrived from Cherry Red.  It's followed the release late in 2024 of three generously expanded editions from the singer's MCA catalogue, all newly remastered by Tom Parker and annotated by Marcel Rijs, the co-compilers of these comprehensive sets.

Wilde welcomed the 1990s with Love Moves.  Her seventh studio album, it followed a successful tour with Michael Jackson as well as her U.K. Platinum-certified 1988 LP Close.  Wilde described the album as a personal one, reflecting on current events in such songs as "Who's to Blame" ("Just like in a dream/I'm trying to scream/But no one can hear me when I call/I feel perplexed/Unable to cry/While watching the world around me fall") and "Hollywood" (which opens with soundbites about Mike Tyson and a certain real estate developer who hadn't yet turned to politics).  The album wasn't all doom-and-gloom, though, with the bright and optimistic "World in Perfect Harmony" offering a more positive outlook.  Wilde and her brother/producer Ricky wrote most of the album, though key tracks such as "Hollywood" and "Who's to Blame" came from the pen of Tony Swain.  Though the LP earned favorable comparisons to such artists as Madonna and Belinda Carlisle, Love Is became Wilde's first album to fail to notch a U.K. top 40 single.  "It's Here" and "Can't Get Enough," however, fared better in other European countries.  Cherry Pop's new expanded edition ups the ante for the album considerably.  The second disc adds 15 edits and remixes, while the DVD presents music videos, a commercial, and live performances at the BBC.  The 24-page booklet Marcel Rijs' copious notes, lyrics, a discography, and photos.

Kim's 1992 follow-up Love Is.  Rick Nowels ("Heaven Is a Place on Earth," "Circle in the Sand") joined the creative team, contributing three songs - one with frequent co-writer Ellen Shipley and two others with Kim.  The artist co-wrote nominal title track and lead single "Love Is Holy" with Nowels, returning her to the U.K. top 20 for the first time in four years.  The LP also represented somewhat of a shift in her musical direction, as she sought a more introspective, adult sound.  Wilde ruminates throughout on a relationship's ups ("Touched by Your Magic," "I Won't Change the Way That I Feel") and downs ("Who Do You Think You Are," "Try Again") as well as loss ("Million Miles Away," "Too Late"), and regret ("I Believe in You").  These mature reflections on love and personal identity were set to arrangements that showcased Wilde's versatile range while remaining true to her guitars-and-synthpop soft rock sound.  Cherry Pop's new 3CD/1DVD set is a more-than-generous expansion.  The first disc adds eight bonus cuts including non-LP sides such as Wilde's international hit cover of the Bee Gees' "If I Can't Have You" (a 1978 U.S. chart-topper for Yvonne Elliman) which appeared on her 1993 greatest-hits collection.  The second and third discs collectively present a treasure trove of 31 more tracks from the era including extended versions, remixes, radio edits, and rough mixes.  The DVD has music videos, BBC performances on such programs as Wogan and Top of the Pops, and various EPKs and mini-"making of" documentaries. The 24-page booklet again boasts liner notes, lyrics, photos, and a period discography.

Following the success of The Singles Collection 1981-1993, Wilde returned to the studio for Now and Forever - her final MCA release and last album of the 20th century.  She began conceiving the songs on tour, including the heartfelt "Life and Soul" inspired by her close bond with brother Ricky.  Indeed, she and Ricky would write the lion's share of the LP; she also collaborated with Tony Swain and George McFarlane, and brought in some outside compositions, too.  The resulting set was another personal one, reflecting her love of R&B, soul, and dance music with tunes ranging from the euphoric to the melancholy.  She's quoted in the liner notes about the song "Breakin' Away," written by Tracy Ackerman and ex-Dead or Alive members Mike Percy and Tim Lever, "It's about someone who disconnects from the past and their own limits.  It is about me in a way, because with this album in a different style, I disconnect from the past, as well."  The song welcomed background singers Georgia Lewis, Melanie Lewis, Sarah Nelson, and Richard Wayler; for the first time, Kim wasn't singing her own harmonies.  Though the album was only a moderate commercial success and "Breakin' Away" just missed the U.K. top 40, it was an artistic triumph for the artist who followed her creative muse.  Once again, the Cherry Pop expanded edition adds mightily to one's enjoyment of the album.  In addition to five bonus cuts on CD 1 (including Kim's 1996 cover of Evelyn "Champagne" King's "Shame," recorded while Kim was starring in the West End production of The Who's Tommy), the set is chockablock with extras: 26 songs on CDs 2 and 3 (among them the remix of Wilde's first hit, "Kids in America 1994"), plus more music videos and BBC performances on the DVD.  The booklet follows the essay, discography, lyrics, and photos format of the other releases in this series.

These three lovingly-curated deluxe editions make great complements to the release of Closer on CD and vinyl, with its ten new songs including "Sorrow Replaced" with Midge Ure and "Hourglass Human" with Scarlett Wilde.  All three reissues are available now at the links below.  As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Kim Wilde, Closer (Cherry Pop BRED911, 2025) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

1. Midnight Train
2. Scorpio
3. Trail Of Destruction
4. Sorrow Replaced (Feat. Midge Ure)
5. Lighthouse
6. Love Is Love
7. Rocket To The Moon
8. Hourglass Human (Feat. Scarlett Wilde)
9. Stones And Bones
10. Savasana

Kim Wilde, Love Moves (MCA 2292-57225-2, 1990 - reissued Cherry Pop CRPOP294, 2024) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD 1

1. It's Here
2. Love (Send Him Back to Me)
3. Storm in Our Hearts
4. World in Perfect Harmony
5. Someday
6. Time
7. Who's to Blame
8. Can't Get Enough (Of Your Love)
9. In Hollywood
10. I Can't Say Goodbye

Bonus Tracks

11. Virtual World (MCA (U.K.) KIM 12, 1990)
12. Time [7" Version] (MCA (U.K.) KIM 13, 1990)
13. Can't Get Enough (Of Your Love) [7" Version] (MCA (Europe) 2292 57246-7, 1990)
14. I Can't Say Goodbye [Edit] (MCA (U.K.) DKIMT14, 1990)
15. Sanjazz Megamix (MCA (U.K.) DKIMT14, 1990)

CD 2

1. Can't Get Enough (Of Your Love) [7" Edit] (MCA (Europe) 9031 72855-7, 1990)
2. World in Perfect Harmony [7" Remix]
3. Sanjazz Megamix [Edit] (MCA (U.K.) KIM 14, 1990)
4. It's Here [Extended Version] (MCA (U.K.) KIMT12, 1990)
5. Time [Extended Version] (MCA (U.K.) KIMT13, 1990)
6. Can't Get Enough (Of Your Love) [Extended Version] (MCA (Germany) 2292 57245-0, 1990)
7. I Can't Say Goodbye [Extended Version]
8. World in Perfect Harmony [Extended Version] (MCA (Germany) 9031 72856-2, 1990)
9. Can't Get Enough (Of Your Love) [Remix Version] (MCA (Germany) KIM1, 1990)
10. Virtual World [Extended Version] (MCA (U.K.) KIMT12, 1990)
11. Someday [Extended Version]
12. Can't Get Enough (Of Your Love) [12" Club Mix] (MCA (Germany) KIM1, 1990)
13. World in Perfect Harmony [Acoustic Version]
14. It's Here [Alternative Mix]
15. Can't Get Enough (Of Your Love) [Club Dub Mix] (MCA (Germany) KIM1, 1990)

CD 3

Promo Videos

1. It's Here
2. Time
3. Can't Get Enough (Of Your Love)

Kim at the BBC

4. It's Here [On Going Live]
5. Time [At the SOS Star Awards]
6. I Can't Say Goodbye [On Pebble Mill]

Bonus footage

7. It's Here [TV ad]

Kim Wilde, Love Is (MCA 10625, 1992 - reissued Cherry Pop CRPOP285, 1992) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

1. Love Is Holy
2. Who Do You Think You Are?
3. I Believe in You
4. Touched by Your Magic
5. I Won't Change the Way that I Feel
6. Million Miles Away
7. The Light of the Moon (Belongs to Me)
8. Heart Over Mind
9. A Miracle's Coming
10. Try Again
11. Too Late

Bonus Tracks

12. Birthday Song (MCA (U.K.) KIMTD15, 1992)
13. I've Found a Reason (MCA (U.K.) KIMTD16, 1992)
14. If I Can't Have You (from The Singles Collection, MCA (Europe) MCAD-10921, 1993)
15. In My Life (from The Singles Collection, MCA (Europe) MCAD-10921, 1993)
16. Never Felt So Alive (MCA (U.K.) KIMT18. 1993)
17. One Door Closes (previously unreleased)
18. Heart Over Mind [7" Version] (MCA (U.K.) KIMXD16, 1992)
19. Who Do You Think You Are? [7" Version] (MCA (U.K.) KIM17, 1992)

CD 2

1. Love Is Holy [Alternative Mix]
2. Million Miles Away [7" Version] (MCA (France) MCS 30061, 1992)
3. If I Can't Have You [Original Mix]
4. In My Life [Lifestyle Mix] (MCA (U.K.) KIMTD19, 1993)
5. Heart Over Mind [Extended Version] (MCA (U.K.) KIMTD16, 1992)
6. Who Do You Think You Are? [Extended Version] (MCA (U.K.) KIMTD16, 1992)
7. Touched by Your Magic [Extended Version] (MCA (U.K.) KIMTD16, 1992)
8. I Believe in You [Extended Version]
9. The Light of the Moon (Belongs to Me) [Alternative Mix]
10. Love Is Holy [Ambient Mix] (MCA (U.K.) KIMTD15, 1992)
11. Million Miles Away [Club Mix] (MCA (Europe) MCD 30063. 1992)
12. Try Again [Club Mix] (MCA (U.K.) KIM17, 1992)
13. Heart Over Mind [Club Mix] (MCA (U.K.) KIMXD17, 1992)
14. If I Can't Have You [Extended Version] (MCA (U.K.) KIMTD18, 1993)
15. In My Life [Get a Life Mix] (MCA (U.K.) KIMTD19, 1993)

CD 3

1. Love Is Holy [Rough Mix]
2. A Miracle's Coming [Rough Mix]
3. I Won't Change the Way that I Feel [Rough Mix]
4. In My Life [West End 7"] (MCA (U.K.) KIMXD19, 1993)
5. Who Do You Think You Are? [Bruce Forest Remix Edit] (MCA (Netherlands) MCT 30031, 1993)
6. If I Can't Have You [Kelsey Mix] (MCA (U.K.) KIMT18, 1993)
7. In My Life [West End 12" Remix] (MCA (U.K.) KIMXD19, 1993)
8. Who Do You Think You Are? [Bruce Forest 12" Mix] (MCA (U.K.) KIMTD17, 1992)
9. If I Can't Have You [Made in Japan] (MCA (U.K.) KIMXD19, 1993)
10. In My Life [West End 12" Radio Edit] (MCA (U.K.) WKIMT19, 1993)
11. Who Do You Think You Are? [Bruce Forest Dub Mix] (MCA (Netherlands) MCT 30031, 1993)
12. In My Life [Dub Mix] (MCA (U.K.) KIMTD19, 1993)
13. If I Can't Have You [Dub Mix] (MCA (U.S.) MCADM 54737, 1993)
14. In My Life [West End D'oomy Dub] (MCA (U.K.) KIMXD19, 1993)
15. If I Can't Have You [John Robinson Instrumental] (MCA (Japan) ICA-1, 1993)
16. In My Life [Wilde Groovy] (MCA (U.K.) WKIMX19A, 1993)

DVD

Promo Videos

1. Love Is Holy
2. Heart Over Mind
3. Who Do You Think You Are?
4. Million Miles Away
5. If I Can't Have You
6. In My Life
7. If I Can't Have You [Extended 12" Version]

Kim at the BBC

8. Love Is Holy [On Wogan]
9. Love Is Holy [On Tricks 'n' Tracks]
10. Love Is Holy [On Pebble Mill]
11. Love Is Holy [On Top of the Pops]
12. Heart Over Mind [On Summer Scene]
13. If I Can't Have You [On Top of the Pops]
14. In My Life [On Pebble Mill]
15. Four Letter Word [On Pebble Mill]
16. In My Life [On Family Affairs]

Bonus Footage

18. Behind-the-scenes & interview footage
19. Love Is EPK
20. The Making of 'Love Is Holy'
21. The Making of 'Heart Over Mind'
22. The Making of 'Million Miles Away'
23. The Making of 'If I Can't Have You'

Kim Wilde, Now and Forever (MCA 60002, 1995 - reissued Cherry Pop CRPOP288, 2024) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

1. Breakin' Away
2. High on You
3. This I Swear
4. C'mon Love Me
5. True to You
6. Hypnotise
7. Heaven
8. Sweet Inspiration
9. Where Do You Go from Here
10. Hold On
11. You're All I Wanna Do
12. Life & Soul
13. Now & Forever
14. Back to Heaven

Bonus Tracks

15. Staying with My Baby (from Now and Forever, MCA (Japan) MVCM-558, 1995)
16. Shame (from The Singles Collection, MCA (Europe) MCAD-10921, 1993)
17. Kids in America 1994 (MCA (Germany) MCD-31555, 1994)
18. This I Swear [Radio Mix] (MCA (U.K.) KIMTD22, 1996)
19. Heaven [Matt Darey 7"]

CD 2

1. Kids in America 1994 [Cappella Mix] (MCA (Germany) MCD 31555, 1994)
2. Shame [Jupiter's Radio Mix] (MCA (U.K.) MCSTD 40080, 1996)
3. Breakin' Away [Original Version]
4. This I Swear [Wilde Remix] (MCA (U.K.) KIMTD22, 1996)
5. Heaven [Original 12"]
6. Kids in America 1994 [12" Version]
7. Breakin' Away [Original 12" Mix] (MCA (U.K.) KIMTD21, 1995)
8. Shame [Jupiter's 12" Mix] (MCA (U.K.) MCST 40080, 1996)
9. Heaven [Eddy Fingers Vocal Mix] (MCA (U.K.) KIMTD22, 1996)
10. Kids in America 1994 [The Maranza Mix] (from The Remix Collection, MCA (Australia) MCD-31626, 1993)
11. Breakin' Away [Matt Darey Vocal Mix] (MCA (U.K.) KIMTD21, 1995)
12. Heaven [Matt Darey 12"] (MCA (U.K.) KIMTD22, 1996)
13. Shame [Matt Darey's Vocal Mix] (MCA (U.K.) MCST 40080, 1996)
14. Kids in America 1994 [Extension Mix] (MCA (U.K.) SAM 29T, 1994)

CD 3

1. Kids in America 1994 [Jimix Remix]
2. Breakin' Away [T-Empo Vocal Mix] (MCA (U.K.) WKIMT21, 1995)
3. Shame [T-Empo's Club Mix] (MCA (U.K.) MCST 40080, 1996)
4. Kids in America 1994 [Maximum Development 12"]
5. Heaven [Eddy Fingers Dub] (MCA (U.K.) WKIMT22, 1996)
6. Breakin' Away [T-Empo Dub] (MCA (U.K.) WKIMT21, 1995)
7. Shame [T-Empo's Dub Mix] (MCA (U.K.) MCST 40080, 1996)
8. Kids in America 1994 [X Club Dub] (MCA (U.K.) SAM 29T, 1994)
9. Breakin' Away [Matt Darey Dub] (MCA (U.K.) KIMT21, 1995)
10. Heaven [Matt Darey Dub] (MCA (U.K.) WKIMT22, 1996)
11. Shame [Matt Darey Dub] (MCA (U.K.) MCST 40080, 1996)
12. Kids in America 1994 [Plus Staples] (MCA (U.K.) SAM 29T, 1994)

DVD

Promo Videos

1. Kids in America 1994
2. Breakin' Away
3. This I Swear
4. Shame
5. Kids in America 1994 [Original Version]

Kim at the BBC

6. Breakin' Away [On Fully Booked]
7. They Can't Take That Away from Me [On Showstoppers]
8. This I Swear [On Pebble Mill]
9. I Believe My Own Eyes [On Pebble Mill]​