Perfect Timing

Album: Perfect Timing / Perfect Timing... Plus
Artist: Kiki Dee
1981 Ariola / 2008 Demon-Edsel
LP: ALR 5050 / CD: EDSS 1019

Kiki Dee: lead vocals (all), backing vocals (1-10), finger pops (5)
Elton John: duet vocals (2, ), backing vocals (2)
Bob Jenkins: drums (1-8, 10), Claptrap (1), tympani (2, 5), percussion (2, 3), backwards cymbals (2), Simmonds syndrums (4), gong (4), tea tray (5), cabasa (6)
Gary Twigg: bass guitar (1, 3, 5-7, 9, 10), fretless bass (2, 4, 7-10)
Bias Boshell: pianos (1-3, 7-10), backwards piano (5), Yamaha Dream Machine (1, 3), Roland SH7 synths (1, 2, 4-6, 9), Roland SH7 brass (3, 7), Roland vocoder (4), Rhodes electric piano (2, 4-6, 8, 9), Wurlitzer electric piano (2, 6), Prophet synths (5), string machines (7), explosions (9), marimba (2), voice (5)
Pip Williams: electric guitars (1-3, 5-10), acoustic guitars (3, 5, 7, 9), Ovation acoustic guitar (4), guitar solo (10), bottleneck guitar solo (7), backwards guitar (5), backwards guitar solo (2), half speed guitar (3), bass synth (2), Roland guitar synth (3, 4, 6, 8, 9), electric sitar (4), cowbell (6), brass (9), marimba (2), percussion (9), backing vocals (3)
Frank Ricotti: sleigh bells (1), vibes (7), tympani (7), tambourines (7)
Chris Bradford: backing vocals (3)
Steve Holley: backing vocals (3), drums (9)
Kit Hain: backing vocals (5)
Phil Thornalley: harp transplant (6)
Stevie Lange: backing vocals (6, 7, 9, 10)
Joy Yates: backing vocals (6, 7, 9, 10)
Patrick Moraz: Clavitar (8)
The Kiki Dee Electric Choir: backing vocals (2)
The Gang: backing vocals (8)
Everybody: handclaps (6)

Produced by Williams
Recorded and mixed by Thornalley, except Greg Jackman (11), Norman Goodman (13)
Assisted by Goodman, Will Gosling, John Rule
Photography: Clive Arrowsmith
Make up: Barbara Daly
Sleeve design: The Hutton Company/John Jones Associates
Logo design: Adrian Sadgrove
Personal management: Gordon Hatton
... Plus project co-ordinator: Val Jennings
CD package: Jools at Mac Concept
CD mastering: Alchemy Soho

Tracks:
1. "Star" [Doreen Chanter] (3:15)
2. "Loving You is Sweeter Than Ever" [Ivy Jo Hunter/Stevie Wonder; arr. by Boshell/Williams] (5:06)
3. "Wild Eyes" [Bradford] (4:23)
4. "Twenty Four Hours" [Gary Osborne/Dee/Reid Kaelin] (3:15)
5. "Perfect Timing" [Hain] (5:41)
6. "Midnight Flyer" [D Chanter/Irene Chanter] (3:30)
7. "There's a Need" [Dee/Eric Kaz] (4:07)
8. "Another Break" [Williams/Peter Hutchins] (4:23)
9. "Love is Just a Moment Away" [Teresa Straley/Eddy Brown] (3:33)
10. "You are My Hope in This World" [Boshell] (6:08)
11. "Give It Up" [Dee/Kaz] (4:15), bonus track
12. "Perfect Timing (12'' Version)" [Hain] (7:23), bonus track
13. "The Chase is Finally On" [Osborne/Dee/Williams/Boshell] (3:27), bonus track
14. "Loving You is Sweeter Than Ever (Single Mix)" [Hunter/Wonder] (5:13), bonus track

All arrangements by Willliams, Boshell and the band

Notes: Perfect Timing... Plus is an expanded CD version of the orignal Perfect Timing album. Only writing credits are given for the bonus tracks.

The album made #47 in the UK. The first track, "Star", is perhaps something of a response to "Video Killed the Radio Star" with the lyric "This week hot shot, a video star", or maybe the phrase was just common at the time? It made #13 in the UK and #64 in Australia on release as a single (ARO 251) in Feb 1981, with (11) as the b-side. (11) had previously been released as a single in Japan in 1980 (with (4) as its b-side). (12) was also released as a single (ARO 257), making #66 in the UK in May 1981, with (7) as the b-side. (6) as ARO 266 (with (13) as its b-side) and (14) as ARO 269 (with (4) as its b-side) were subsequently released as singles, but neither charted. (2) is a cover of a 1966 Motown song.

Dee was born Pauline Matthews, adopting the "Kiki Dee" name during her first recording sessions in the early '60s, but she only hit the big time when she signed to Elton John and his manager's Rocket Records in 1973. After 3 years in Los Angeles, Dee had returned to the UK in 1980. She signed to Ariola and started recording this album in Feb 1980. The album was produced by Pip Williams, who had also worked with The Moody Blues, thus Moraz's guest appearance. Moraz's contributions are obvious on (8). (HP, 28 Mar 22)

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