F.L.M. (album)
F.L.M. is the only studio album by British pop duo Mel and Kim. It was released on 13 April 1987 by Supreme Records.[2][3] The album peaked at number three on the UK Albums Chart and has been certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).[3][4] It also reached the top five in Australia, Finland and Switzerland, the 10 in Norway and the top 20 in Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden.[5][6][7] Three successful singles are included on the album: "Showing Out" (number three on the UK Singles Chart), "Respectable" (number one) and "F.L.M." (number seven).[4]
F.L.M. | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 13 April 1987 | |||
Recorded | 1986–1987 | |||
Studio | P.W.L. Studios One and Two | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 38:49 | |||
Label | Supreme | |||
Producer | Stock Aitken Waterman | |||
Mel and Kim chronology | ||||
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Singles from F.L.M. | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
In the United Kingdom, the vinyl LP was issued with either a full colour or monochrome sleeve. US, Canadian, and Japanese pressings had a different sleeve design and track running order to other international releases. In addition, "Feel a Whole Lot Better" was retitled "Whatever It Is" for these territories.
The album was predominantly written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, and contained a mixture of house-infused productions and downtempo, soulful songs. One track, "I'm the One Who Really Loves You", was originally recorded in 1986 by Austin Howard. This song was considered for release as the fourth single, however, it was only released in South Africa and North America where it was issued with remixes by Clivillés & Cole.
Two other songs from F.L.M. would go on to be recorded by other Stock Aitken Waterman-produced artists; "More Than Words Can Say", which was only released as a single in Scandinavia, was also recorded by Carol Hitchcock and Hazell Dean, while Sinitta and Pepsi and Shirlie both recorded reworked versions of album closer, "Who's Gonna Catch You".
A two-disc deluxe edition of the album was released in 2010, including the duo's 1988 single "That's the Way It Is", and its B-side, "You Changed My Life", which were not included on the original release of the album, as well as 7″ mixes and extended versions of singles and album tracks.
Track listing
Side one
- "F.L.M." – 3:55
- "Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)" – 5:11
- "Respectable" – 5:41
- "Feel a Whole Lot Better" aka "Whatever It Is" – 4:24
Side two
- "I'm the One Who Really Loves You" – 3:40
- "More Than Words Can Say" – 4:08
- "System" – 4:08
- "From a Whisper to a Scream" – 3:24
- "Who's Gonna Catch You" – 3:34
CD bonus tracks
- "Showing Out" (Freehold mix) – 4:36
- "Respectable" (Extra Beats version instrumental) – 6:11
All songs written by Stock Aitken Waterman, except "Who's Gonna Catch You" written by Matt Aitken / Mike Stock / Pete Waterman / Stevie Wonder / Yvonne Wright,[8] and "From a Whisper to a Scream" lyrics by A & A.
2010 reissue
The album was reissued as a double CD in the United Kingdom through Cherry Red Records on 18 October 2010. Notably, the first three tracks are the 7" mixes, not the album versions contained on the original release.
Disc one
- "F.L.M." (7" version) – 3:33
- "Showing Out" (7" version) – 3:35
- "Respectable" (7" version) – 3:22
- "Feel a Whole Lot Better" – 4:27
- "I'm the One Who Really Loves You" – 3:41
- "More Than Words Can Say" – 4:09
- "System" – 4:09
- "From a Whisper to a Scream" – 3:25
- "Who's Gonna Catch You?" – 3:35
- "That's the Way It Is" – 3:27
- "You Changed My Life" – 3:27
- "Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)" (extended version) – 7:15
- "Respectable" (extended version) – 6:14
- "F.L.M." (extended version) – 7:50
- "That's the Way It Is" (extended version) – 6:49
- "System" (previously unreleased alternative mix) – 3:58
- "More Than Words Can Say"(previously unreleased extended version) – 6:50
Disc two
- "Respectable" (Extra Beats Vocal) – 8:09
- "F.L.M." (Two Grooves Under One Nation Remix) – 8:13
- "I'm the One Who Really Loves You" (Yoyo's 12" Mix – previously unreleased) – 6:43
- "That's the Way It Is" (Acid House Remix) – 7:38
- "System" (garage vocal – previously Unreleased) – 7:22
- "Feel a Whole Lot Better" (Yoyo's 12" Mix – previously unreleased) – 7:38
- "Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)" (The Mortgage Mix) – 6:26
- "That's the Way It Is" (House Remix) – 6:42
- "Respectable" (Shop Mix) – 6:17
- "F.L.M." (Sonic Remix) – 6:20
- "System" (original 12" mix – previously unreleased) – 5:45
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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New Zealand (RMNZ)[20] | Gold | 7,500^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[3] | Platinum | 300,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
- AllMusic review
- "Mel & Kim". Cherry Red Records. Archived from the original on 10 April 2011.
- "British album certifications – Mel & Kim – Flm (Fun, Love and Money)". British Phonographic Industry. 5 August 1987. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- "Mel and Kim | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
- Kent 1993, p. 197
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Mel & Kim – F.L.M." (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
- "Mel & Kim - Mel & Kim | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
- "European Hot 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4 no. 22. 6 June 1987. p. 15. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Mel & Kim – F.L.M." (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- "Charts.nz – Mel & Kim – F.L.M.". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- "Norwegiancharts.com – Mel & Kim – F.L.M.". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- "Swedishcharts.com – Mel & Kim – F.L.M.". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- "Swisscharts.com – Mel & Kim – F.L.M.". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- Kent 1993, p. 439
- "European Charts of the Year 1987 – Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4 no. 51/52. 26 December 1987. p. 35. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
- "Top Selling Albums of 1987". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- "Gallup Year End Charts 1987: Albums". Record Mirror. 23 January 1988. p. 37. ISSN 0144-5804.
- "New Zealand album certifications – Mel & Kim – F.L.M." Recorded Music NZ. 16 August 1987. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
Bibliography
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)