BY the eve of her debut solo album in November 1984, Alison Moyet was already a huge star, having made waves on both sides of the Atlantic with her work with Vince Clarke in the revolutionary synth act Yazoo.

Probably the hottest anticipated British album of the year, Alf eventually achieved quadruple platinum status and is unquestionably one of the quintessential albums of the decade. Produced by Steve Jolley and Tony Swaine, who had previously masterminded hits for Imagination and Bananarama, Alf was a perfect pop album of memorable, crowd pleasing material. The hits followed thick and fast: Love Resurrection, All Cried Out, the Lamont Dozier composition Invisible, and indeed fan favourite Honey For The Bees have all lasted the test of time.

Despite enormous commercial success, the relationship between Moyet and Swaine & Jolley was not a happy one. Determined not to be viewed as a pop puppet, she took an unexpected, less commercial path with future releases. Hit singles still followed, such as That Ole Devil Called Love, Weak In The Presence Of Beauty and Is This Love (written by Dave Stewart of The Eurythmics).

However, the frequency and intensity of chart action was never to be fully replicated. Regardless, Moyet’s solo albums contained much to be enjoyed. Lovingly restored and augmented with a wealth of 12” remixes, B-sides, and previously unreleased material, this is the second in BMG's series of Moyet remasters, this time covering the first four solo albums: Alf (1984), Raindancing (1987), Hoodoo (1991) and Essex (1994).

Among the rarities, please discover Let’s Get Personal featuring James Brown, a gorgeous acoustic rendition of Ne Me Quitte Pas, Whispering Your Name remixed by Vince Clarke, an impassioned There Are Worse Things I Could Do, from Grease, and selected songs from the Town & Country Club in 1991.

Ian Sime