Mel and Kim
Encyclopedia
Mel and Kim were a British
pop duo, comprising sisters Melanie
and Kim Appleby
. They achieved success between 1986 and 1988 before Melanie succumbed to cancer.
and Jamaican parents. In 1985, Mel recorded two demos solo, under Alan Whitehead's management. The producers loved her voice and they asked her if she would have someone to sing with. That's how Kim got involved. The girls recorded about five demos (according to Mr. Whitehead). One of these songs - "Wild and Crazy Love",a Mary Jane Girls cover - can be heard on the Mel and Kim documentary on YouTube. The demos got them signed with Supreme Records, and Nick East - president of Supreme - put them in touch with Stock Aitken Waterman.
"System" was intended as their first single, but they and the producers were unhappy with it, and it became the "B-side" of their first release "Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)
", which reached number three on the British charts in 1986 and number one on the USA
Dance charts. Their next single "Respectable" reached number one in Britain and became one of the year's biggest hits. They became well-known celebrities, particularly in Britain, and were known for their visual style which combined urban street wear with high fashion; prior to their music career Mel had worked as a glamour model. Their third single "F.L.M." reached number seven in the UK, while their final single "That's the Way It Is" reached number ten, giving them an unbroken run of top ten hits.
During a promotional visit to Japan in June 1987, Mel became ill with a suspected spinal disc herniation
, after complaining of a back problem for several months. Upon returning to the UK, Mel was diagnosed with secondary cancer of the spine, after previously being treated for liver cancer
when she was 18, prior to the duo's rise to fame. The cancer was malignant paraganglioma
. The sisters withdrew from publicity while Mel underwent treatment, and footage from their Montreux Festival
performance was used to compile the "F.L.M." music video. While the media speculated that Mel was terminally ill, both sisters categorically denied this, stating that Mel had suffered a debilitating back injury.
Eventually, it was confirmed that Mel had been diagnosed with cancer, following the release of "That's the Way it Is" in February 1988. Mel discharged herself from hospital to record the vocals for the track. Work on a second album was not continued, due to Mel's illness. Both sisters appeared on the Wogan
show in April 1988 while Mel was still undergoing treatment, as part of European Cancer Week. She died of pneumonia
on 18 January 1990, after contracting a cold; her immune system weakened by chemotherapy
.
bassist
Craig Logan
, Kim launched a solo career with much of her debut solo album composed of songs co-written with Mel, for what was intended to be the next "Mel and Kim" album. The album, Kim Appleby, contained her debut solo single "Don't Worry
", which reached number two on the British charts in November 1990. A follow-up single "G.L.A.D
" was also a UK Top 10 hit. Subsequent singles from her debut album were "Mama" [#19] and "If You Cared" [#44]. Kim's second album Breakaway was not a commercial success and had a limited release. She released three further singles, "Light of the World" [#41, 1993], "Breakaway" [#56, 1993], and "Free Spirit" [#51, 1994]. A download-only single called "High" was released in 2007.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
pop duo, comprising sisters Melanie
Melanie Appleby
Melanie Susan Appleby was one half of the 1980s English pop duo Mel and Kim.Appleby was born in Hackney, London of mixed-race to a Jamaican father and a British mother...
and Kim Appleby
Kim Appleby
Kim Appleby , is an English singer, songwriter and actor. She participated in the duo Mel and Kim, with her sister Melanie Appleby, until her sister's death from pneumonia following treatment for cancer.- Biography :...
. They achieved success between 1986 and 1988 before Melanie succumbed to cancer.
Biography
Mel & Kim were born to BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Jamaican parents. In 1985, Mel recorded two demos solo, under Alan Whitehead's management. The producers loved her voice and they asked her if she would have someone to sing with. That's how Kim got involved. The girls recorded about five demos (according to Mr. Whitehead). One of these songs - "Wild and Crazy Love",a Mary Jane Girls cover - can be heard on the Mel and Kim documentary on YouTube. The demos got them signed with Supreme Records, and Nick East - president of Supreme - put them in touch with Stock Aitken Waterman.
"System" was intended as their first single, but they and the producers were unhappy with it, and it became the "B-side" of their first release "Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)
Showing Out (Get Fresh At The Weekend)
"Showing Out " is the debut single released by sister duo Mel and Kim in 1986. The song was originally intended to be a B-side to the group's first chosen single, "System", but was later flipped to be the A-side, and became a hit....
", which reached number three on the British charts in 1986 and number one on the USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Dance charts. Their next single "Respectable" reached number one in Britain and became one of the year's biggest hits. They became well-known celebrities, particularly in Britain, and were known for their visual style which combined urban street wear with high fashion; prior to their music career Mel had worked as a glamour model. Their third single "F.L.M." reached number seven in the UK, while their final single "That's the Way It Is" reached number ten, giving them an unbroken run of top ten hits.
During a promotional visit to Japan in June 1987, Mel became ill with a suspected spinal disc herniation
Spinal disc herniation
A spinal disc herniation , informally and misleadingly called a "slipped disc", is a medical condition affecting the spine due to trauma, lifting injuries, or idiopathic, in which a tear in the outer, fibrous ring of an intervertebral disc allows the soft, central portion A spinal disc herniation...
, after complaining of a back problem for several months. Upon returning to the UK, Mel was diagnosed with secondary cancer of the spine, after previously being treated for liver cancer
Liver cancer
Liver tumors or hepatic tumors are tumors or growths on or in the liver . Several distinct types of tumors can develop in the liver because the liver is made up of various cell types. These growths can be benign or malignant...
when she was 18, prior to the duo's rise to fame. The cancer was malignant paraganglioma
Paraganglioma
A paraganglioma is a rare neuroendocrine neoplasm that may develop at various body sites . About 97% are benign and cured by surgical removal; the remaining 3% are malignant because they are able to produce distant metastases...
. The sisters withdrew from publicity while Mel underwent treatment, and footage from their Montreux Festival
Montreux Festival
Montreux Festival is a Blues album by Albert King, Chico Hamilton andLittle Milton, recorded live on July 1, 1973 at the Montreux Jazz Festival.-Track listing:#"In View" – 12:20#"Let Me Down Easy" – 6:35...
performance was used to compile the "F.L.M." music video. While the media speculated that Mel was terminally ill, both sisters categorically denied this, stating that Mel had suffered a debilitating back injury.
Eventually, it was confirmed that Mel had been diagnosed with cancer, following the release of "That's the Way it Is" in February 1988. Mel discharged herself from hospital to record the vocals for the track. Work on a second album was not continued, due to Mel's illness. Both sisters appeared on the Wogan
Wogan
Wogan was a chat show on British television, hosted by Terry Wogan. It followed the format of a series broadcast in 1980 entitled What's On Wogan?, which failed to gather viewers. The Wogan show was initially broadcast on Tuesday evenings on BBC1 in 1981 and from 1982 to 1984, it moved into the...
show in April 1988 while Mel was still undergoing treatment, as part of European Cancer Week. She died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
on 18 January 1990, after contracting a cold; her immune system weakened by chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
.
After Mel and Kim
With the aid of her then boyfriend, ex-BrosBros
Bros were a British band active in the late 1980s and early 1990s, consisting of twin brothers Matt Goss and Luke Goss along with Craig Logan...
bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Craig Logan
Craig Logan
Craig Logan is a British music manager. He began his career as bassist in the pop band Bros.- Background :After a year of major UK success with Bros during 1988, Logan left the band in early 1989. After this, Logan focused on song-writing and producing and was nominated for an Ivor Novello award...
, Kim launched a solo career with much of her debut solo album composed of songs co-written with Mel, for what was intended to be the next "Mel and Kim" album. The album, Kim Appleby, contained her debut solo single "Don't Worry
Don't Worry (Kim Appleby song)
"Don't Worry" is the debut solo single of English artist Kim Appleby from her eponymous debut solo album.The song addresses the process of getting over being heartbroken....
", which reached number two on the British charts in November 1990. A follow-up single "G.L.A.D
G.L.A.D
"G.L.A.D" is a single by English singer Kim Appleby. The single remix features a rap from Aswad vocalist Drummie Zeb. It peaked at #10 on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in February 1991.-Track listings:CD single# "G.L.A.D " - 3:03...
" was also a UK Top 10 hit. Subsequent singles from her debut album were "Mama" [#19] and "If You Cared" [#44]. Kim's second album Breakaway was not a commercial success and had a limited release. She released three further singles, "Light of the World" [#41, 1993], "Breakaway" [#56, 1993], and "Free Spirit" [#51, 1994]. A download-only single called "High" was released in 2007.
Albums
- 1987 - F.L.M.F.L.M. (Mel and Kim album)F.L.M. is the first and only album by British pop duo Mel and Kim. It was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman and made it to number three on the UK Albums Chart in 1987....
(#3 UK, #2 Australia, #16 Germany) - 400.000 copise in UK (platinum), 3 million worldwide - 1989 - Something Special
Compilation Albums
- 1996 - The Best of Mel & Kim
- 2001 - That's the Way It Is - The Best of Mel & Kim/Kim Appleby
- 2002 - F.L.M. - The Best of Mel & Kim/Kim Appleby
- 2010 - F.L.M. - 2 CD incl. 7 new remixes + 6 remixes never released on CD before
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... |
IRE Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
U.S Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
U.S Dance Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
GER Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... |
AUS ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
NZ | FR France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... |
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| 1986 | "Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend) Showing Out (Get Fresh At The Weekend) "Showing Out " is the debut single released by sister duo Mel and Kim in 1986. The song was originally intended to be a B-side to the group's first chosen single, "System", but was later flipped to be the A-side, and became a hit.... " |
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| 1987 | "Respectable Respectable (Mel and Kim song) "Respectable" was a UK number one single for one week in March 1987 for Mel and Kim. Written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, it was the team's second number one... " |
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| "F.L.M. F.L.M. (Mel and Kim song) "F.L.M." was the third single of British pop duo Mel and Kim. It was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman and a UK number seven single in 1987... " |
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| 1988 | "That's the Way It Is That's the Way It Is (Mel and Kim song) "That's the Way It Is" was the fourth internationally-released single of British pop duo Mel and Kim. It was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman... " |
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| "More Than Words Can Say" (Swedish Release Only) | |
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| 1989 | "I'm the One Who Really Loves You I'm the One Who Really Loves You (Mel and Kim song) "I'm the One Who Really Loves You" was a track included on F.L.M., the first and only album by British pop act Mel and Kim. Although never released internationally as a single, after being subected to a handful of remixes by Clivillés & Cole and a limited North American release, it reached number... " (US Release Only) |
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| 1990 | "Megamix Ninety!" | |
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Certification
- "Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)" - (UK) Silver
- "Respectable" - (UK) Gold
- F.L.M. (album) - (UK) Platinum
External links
- Kim Appleby official website
- Dance Romance - Mel & Kim
- Kim Appleby Myspace
- Mel & Kim MySpace
- Stock Aitken Waterman fan site
- Back catalogue Mel & Kim CDs