In 1985, back in the days when you could get spotted dancing and nab yourself a record deal, Kim Appleby and her sister, topless model Melanie Susan Appleby, got spotted dancing and nabbed themselves a record deal with eighties hit making machine Stock, Aitkin and "Uncle Pete" Waterman. Originally scheduled to release a song called "System" as their first single, there was a last-minute about-turn and "System" became the b-side to "Get Fresh (Showing Out)" instead.

Mel and Kim - hats were a large part of their look

"Showing Out" was a big hit, and reached number three. It was followed by an even bigger smash, the number one "Respectable" - Mel and Kim had arrived.

The FLM album - Sinitta would mine it for unwanted singles

Their debut album "F.L.M" (allegedly standing privately for "Fuckin' Lovely Mate!" - officially "Fun, Love and Money") was a huge hit in 1987, selling three million copies, and the sisters became a staple of popular contemporary rags "Smash Hits" and "Look In". The album contained a song called "Who's Gonna Catch You", later to be recorded by iconic and big-hatted fellow SAW stable mate Sinitta Malone.

However, dark clouds were on the horizon.

Mid 1987, Mel began to withdraw from publicity, and didn't appear in the videos for "FLM" or "That's The Way It Is". The first video utilised puppets, while the second is a bizarre old thing starring some backing dancers. You keep waiting for the girls to appear, but they never do.

Tragically, Mel was suffering from Cancer of the spine. On January 18th 1990, she died of pneumonia, her immune system weakened by chemotherapy she was receiving for the cancer.

Kim still had a hatful of songs co-written with Mel which would have formed the second "Mel and Kim" album. With her boyfriend, Bros reject Craig Logan, she put together a solo debut for release in 1990. Lead single "Don't Worry" hit number 2, however follow-ups "G.L.A.D" and "Mama" more or less sunk without trace.

Hat!

In 1994, there was a lost second Kim Appleby solo album called "Breakway" (songs included "Light of the World" and "I'm Not Your Property") but sadly it went unreleased in the UK, for shame.

More recently, Kim has turned to acting, including an episode of "Doctors", and has recorded a new song "Up Where I Belong" which is helpfully not on her Myspace. She's touting around for a deal. Yes, she's back! Sign her, someone!

The Dionne Warwick Years

myspace.com/kimapplebyonline

This "Best Of" gives you all the Mel and Kim there ever was, including a 1994 version of the solo hit "Don't Worry". Someone on Amazon complains that "Free Spirit" (a 1994 #51 smash) is missing - some people are never happy.

Kim today. Yesterday.