‘The Riddle’: Nik Kershaw Solves The Second Album Puzzle

Some of the skilfully-crafted albums of the British pop increase of the Eighties made its massive entrance on November 10, 1984. The Riddle, the second LP launch by British singer-songwriter Nik Kershaw, swiftly constructed on the success of his debut launch Human Racing, which had appeared solely 9 months earlier.

By this time, Kershaw was a well-recognized customer to each the British singles and album charts. After scoring a minor chart entry with “I Received’t Let The Solar Go Down On Me” on the finish of 1983, he broke massive early within the new 12 months with the irresistibly catchy “Wouldn’t It Be Good,” following it with the highest 20 “Dancing Women” after which a significant No.2 success when that first chart entry was reissued. Human Racing, the album containing all these tracks, made No.5 within the UK.

All of it set the scene for an enormous follow-up, and The Riddle didn’t disappoint. The title monitor, launched as a single a month earlier, climbed to No.3, and the album peaked at No.8, additionally performing properly round Europe, notably in Norway, with a Prime 5 peak. It made No.113 within the States, though that was one thing of a step again from the No.70 peak of Human Racing.

All the identical, there have been additional wealthy pickings on the UK singles chart when each “Vast Boy” and “Don Quixote” made the Prime 10. The Riddle, produced like its predecessor by Peter Collins, featured some notable visitor contributors, together with Stage 42’s Mark King on “Simple,” short-term Squeeze member Don Snow, and future Paul McCartney band stalwart Paul “Wix” Wickens.

Hearken to the 80s Classic Hits playlist.

“I’m not embarrassed concerning the followers I’ve now,” Kershaw instructed Smash Hits in September 1984. “No one who issues goes to look down on me as a result of I’ve had ladies throwing teddy bears at me. Anyway I’ve solely bean right here ten months and even my followers can solely see the floor of me to date.

“That’s not their fault in any respect,” he continued. “I’m on stage, I’m on TV. They’ll’t presumably see and perceive me as a traditional human being. However I don’t fear about that an excessive amount of. It’s altering on a regular basis.”

Purchase or stream The Riddle.