Belle Stars

Forged back in 1980 from the remnants of Two Tone’s Bodysnatchers, The Belle Stars were an all female, all singing, all dancing tour de force. Fusing limitless energy with incredible passion, they enjoyed no fewer than seven UK chart entries between 1982 and 1984 and toured with The Clash, Madness, The Police and Elvis Costello.

Their hit singles included fantastic, super-charged renditions of ‘Iko Iko’ and ‘The Clapping Song’, plus their self-penned smash ‘Sign Of The Times’.

Comprising all of their recordings for the legendary Stiff Records, including their debut album in its entirety, this comprehensive, enhanced collection also contains three of their best videos. Each band member has been interviewed about their recollections in brand new liner notes.

REVIEWS:

Lumbered with cover versions after their first self-penned singles failed to chart, The Belle Stars never had the "authentic" voice of their Stiff stablemates. They were still a great party band, however, and their one original hit, Sign Of The Times, was a grrrl power anthem ahead of its time. This collection brings together the band’s only studio album, with their A- and B-sides, plus that 80s inevitability: extended 12" mixes.

It’s a neat little package that hints at the band’s potential to do more. The eponymous album stands up as a competent, if compromised, debut, split 50/50 between band compositions and classic covers. And while the likes of Iko Iko and Harlem Shuffle don’t have the kick of, say, The Slits’ I Heard It Through The Grapevine, they often come damn close. Even better are those first two overlooked singles, Hiawatha and Slick Trick, the former remaining particularly skankable. The 12" versions are for completists only but, as this collection serves exactly that purpose, that’s hardly a complaint. Housed in a handsome digipak, it also includes three promo videos and illuminating sleevenotes by Terry Staunton. Exactly how this sort of compilation should be done. 4/5

Simon Hugo, Record Collector