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Mel and Kim were a British musical act that achieved success in the late 1980s.

Sisters Melanie (July 11, 1966 - January 18, 1990) and Kim Appleby (born August 28, 1961) were noticed dancing in a nightclub in their native London and signed to a recording contract with Supreme Records under the guidance of production team Stock Aitken Waterman in 1985, and began releasing records under the name of 'Mel & Kim'.



They achieved success as a dance act with their first single "Showing Out (Get Fresh At The Weekend)" reaching number three on the British charts and becoming a minor hit in the USA. Their next single "Respectable" reached number one in Britain and became one of the year's biggest hits. They became well known celebrities, particularly in Britain, and were known for their visual style which combined urban street wear with high fashion.



Subsequent hits followed, but the sisters were eclipsed by two new Stock Aitken Waterman acts, Kylie Minogue and Rick Astley, who became the production team's major focus in 1988. Mel, a former glamour model, began to withdraw from publicity in mid 1987 (the videos for "F.L.M." and "That's the Way It Is" comprised of collages of older footage), claiming to have suffered a debilitating back injury. While the media speculated that she was terminally ill, both sisters categorically denied this. Mel was suffering from cancer of the spine, after having previously undergone surgery for a tumour on her liver in December 1985, prior to the duo's rise to fame.



Mel was reportedly in remission but died of pneumonia on January 18, 1990 at the age of 23, due to a weakened immune system from prior chemotherapy.



With the aid of her boyfriend, ex-Bros bassist Craig Logan, Kim launched a solo career. Her debut single "Don't Worry" reached number two on the British charts in November 1990.

Albums:

* 1987 F.L.M. (..3 UK) (Sales: 3mil.)

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Singles:

* 1986 "Showing Out (Get Fresh At The Weekend)" (..3 UK, ..1 Germany, ..78 US 1987, ..12 Australia)

* 1987 "Respectable" (..1 UK, ..1 Germany, ..1 US Hot Dance Music/Club Play, ..1 Australia)

* 1987 "F.L.M." (..7 UK, ..17 Germany, ..19 Australia)

* 1988 "That's The Way It Is" (..10 UK, ..18 Germany, ..28 Australia)

* 1988 "More Than Words Can Say" (Swedish Only Single - chart position unknown)

* 1988 "I'm the One Who Really Loves You" (..11 US Hot Dance Music/Club Play)

* 1990 "Megamix:ninety"


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Compilations:

* 1989 Something Special

* 1989 12" Mixes (Japanese promo LP & CD)

* 1996 The Best Of

* 2001 Thats the Way It Is - The Best Of

* 2002 F.L.M. (Re-issue in Holland including some of Kim's solo tracks)

"Take or leave us, only please believe us, we ain't ever gonna be Respectable"
MEL & KIM