Never Trust a Stranger
single
CoverNever trust a Stranger - Kim Wilde.jpg
ArtistKim Wilde
AlbumClose
B-sideWotcha Gonna Do
Released19 September 1988
GenreHi-NRG[1]
Length4:05
LabelMCA
Writer
ProducerRicki Wilde
Prev year1988
Next year1988

"Never Trust a Stranger" is a song by English singer-songwriter Kim Wilde, released as the third single from her sixth album, Close (1988). Remixed from the original album track by her brother, producer Ricki Wilde, it was released in September 1988 by MCA Records following several European tour dates supporting Michael Jackson. It became another big hit for Wilde in Europe, peaking within the top 10 in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland and United Kingdom. An extended version of the single remix is included on the 12-inch and CD-single formats, and a different remix ("Sanjazz") was released in the UK on an alternative 12-inch single.

Critical reception

Jack Barron from NME wrote, "Kim Wilde, meanwhile, has done the unthinkable and cross-fertilised Blondie with Ultravox thus producing an empty Box and spoiling her run of sparkling singles."[2]

Track listings

  • 7-inch: MCA / KIM 9 (UK)
  1. "Never Trust a Stranger" - 4:07
  2. "Wotcha Gonna Do" - 4:07

Note: Also available in gatefold sleeve (MCA / KIMSG9)

  • 12-inch: MCA / KIMT 9 (UK)
  1. "Never Trust a Stranger" (Julian Mendelsohn Extended Version) - 6:02
  2. "You Came" (Shep Pettibone remix) - 7:37
  3. "Wotcha Gonna Do" - 4:00

Note: Also available on CD (MCA / DKIM9)

  • 12-inch: MCA / KIMX 9 (UK)
  1. "Never Trust a Stranger" (The Sanjazz mix) - 5:45
  2. "Wotcha Gonna Do" - 4:00
  3. "Never Trust a Stranger" (Julian Mendelsohn extended version) - 6:02

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1988)Peak
position
Denmark (IFPI)[3]2
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[4]17
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[5]4
Luxembourg (Radio Luxembourg)[6]7

Year-end charts

Chart (1988)Position
Belgium (Ultratop)[7]97
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[8]80
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[9]80

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref(s).
United Kingdom19 September 19887-inch vinyl · 12-inch vinyl · CDMCA[10][11]
3 October 1988Limited-edition 7-inch vinyl · 12-inch remix vinyl[12]
Japan10 December 1988Mini-CD[13]

References

  1. ^ O' Brien, Jon (10 November 2025). "Kim Wilde – Album By Album". Classic Pop. Retrieved 20 December 2025. Never Trust A Stranger"...sounds like Blondie’s "Atomic" remixed for the Hi-NRG crowd.
  2. ^ Barron, Jack (24 September 1988). "Singles". NME. p. 16. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  3. ^ Danish Singles Chart. 4 November 1988.
  4. ^ "European Hot 100". Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 47. 19 November 1988. p. 22. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  5. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Kim Wilde". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 282. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  6. ^ Radio Luxembourg Singles. 17 October 1988.
  7. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1988" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  8. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1988" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  9. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1988" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  10. ^ Smith, Robin (17 September 1988). "News: Releases". Record Mirror. p. 6. ISSN 0144-5804
  11. ^ "New Singles". Music Week. 17 September 1988. p. 40.
  12. ^ "New Singles". Music Week. 1 October 1988. p. 31.
  13. ^ "キム・ワイルド | ネバー・トラスト・ア・ストレンジャー" [Kim Wilde | Never Trust a Stranger] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 10 August 2025.