🔘 Kiss and Tell – Single: Feb. 1988

Released: February 1, 1988 (UK)

Label: Virgin / E.G. Records

Catalogue Number: EG 26 / VSG 113

Format: 7" Vinyl Single

A sleek, late‑’80s Bryan Ferry classic, pairing sophisticated pop craft with cinematic cool.

Issued as the second single from Bête Noire, Kiss and Tell showcased Ferry’s suave vocal delivery and glossy production, becoming one of his most recognisable solo hits of the decade.

🔘 Overview

Marking Ferry’s twenty‑sixth single, Kiss and Tell blended smooth pop, atmospheric keyboards, and a rhythmic pulse that aligned perfectly with the late‑’80s aesthetic. Featured prominently in the 1988 film Bright Lights, Big City, the track gained additional cultural visibility. It reached No. 41 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 31 on the US Billboard Hot 100 — Ferry’s highest‑charting American single — cementing its status as a transatlantic success.

🔘 Track List (Common Configurations)

7" Vinyl — EG 26

A. Kiss and Tell

B. Zamba

12" Vinyl — VSG 113

A. Kiss and Tell (Extended Mix)

B1. Kiss and Tell (Dub Mix)

B2. Zamba

CD Single — CDEG 26

1. Kiss and Tell

2. Kiss and Tell (Extended Mix)

3. Zamba

Cassette Single — TCEG 26

Side A: Kiss and Tell

Side B: Zamba

Written by: Bryan Ferry

Produced by: Bryan Ferry & Patrick Leonard

🔘 Release Details

Label: Virgin / E.G. Records

Formats: 7" Vinyl / 12" Vinyl / CD Single / Cassette

Country: UK

Year: 1988

Notes:

- Second single from Bête Noire

- Featured in the film Bright Lights, Big City

- Ferry’s highest‑charting US single

- Multiple extended and dub mixes issued

🔘 Variants (Discogs‑Verified)

Variant 1

UK – E.G. – EG 26 (1988)

Format: 7" Vinyl

Variant 2

UK – Virgin – VSG 113 (1988)

Format: 12" Vinyl

Variant 3

UK – E.G. – CDEG 26 (1988)

Format: CD Single

Variant 4

UK – E.G. – TCEG 26 (1988)

Format: Cassette Single

🔘 Chart Data (BBC / Official Charts Company)

Peak Position: UK — No. 41

Weeks on Chart: 4

Chart Run (Official Charts):

07 Feb 1988 — No. 41

14 Feb 1988 — No. 53

21 Feb 1988 — No. 67

28 Feb 1988 — No. 75

🔘 Context & Notes

Recording Notes

Produced with Patrick Leonard, the track features layered synth textures, smooth bass lines, and Ferry’s trademark vocal phrasing.

Music Video

A stylish, narrative‑driven video aligned with the film’s themes, reinforcing the single’s cinematic profile.

Collector Notes

The 12" extended and dub mixes are highly sought after. Early CD singles remain desirable due to their crisp mastering and expanded tracklist.

Legacy

A defining moment of Ferry’s late‑’80s output, Kiss and Tell remains a staple of his solo catalogue and a key bridge between his art‑rock past and pop‑luxury persona.

🔘 Related Material

Previous Single

The Right Stuff (1987)

Next Single

Let’s Stick Together (Westside ’88 Remix) (1988)

🔘 Discography (Selected, Chronological)

Kiss and Tell — 1988

The Right Stuff — 1987

Let’s Stick Together (Westside ’88 Remix) — 1988

🔘 Mini‑Timeline

Feb. 1, 1988 — UK single released

1988 — Featured in Bright Lights, Big City

1988 — Peaks at UK No. 41

🔘 Glam Flashback

Velvet‑smooth seduction — Ferry at his most cinematic and effortlessly cool.

🔘 Sources

Virgin / E.G. Records

Discogs

Official Charts Company

Bryan Ferry archival documentation