Mel and Kim

Mel and Kim

Company type	Musical duo
Industry	Music
Founded	1986
Founder	Melanie Appleby, Kim Appleby
Defunct	1990
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Products	Pop music singles and albums

Mel and Kim (presented as MӗL & KIM) comprised English pop sisters Melanie and Kim Appleby, initially managed by Alan Whitehead. Their prominence spanned from 1986 to 1988, ending with Melanie’s death from cancer in January 1990 at just 23 years old.

Their 1987 track "Respectable" topped the UK Singles Chart and also reached number one on the US dance charts. Besides this, they secured three additional UK Top 10 singles: "Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)" (1986), "F.L.M." (1987), and "That's the Way It Is" (1988). In 1988, they earned a Brit Award nomination for Best British Breakthrough Act. Following Mel’s passing, Kim embarked on a solo path, achieving two UK Top 10 singles with "Don't Worry" (1990) and "G.L.A.D." (1991).

History

Born to parents of English and Jamaican descent, Mel began by recording solo demos under Alan Whitehead’s guidance in 1985. Shortly thereafter, Kim joined her, forming a duo that secured a deal with Supreme Records. Nick East, Supreme’s president, introduced them to producers Stock Aitken Waterman. After their debut single charted, management shifted from Whitehead.

Kim recounted her surprise upon meeting the production team, anticipating a renowned producer but instead encountering Stock Aitken Waterman. Their originally planned single, "System," was abandoned in favor of a more forceful Chicago house-inspired style that better reflected the sisters’ street-smart image. This change resulted in "Showing Out" reaching number three on UK charts in 1986 and topping the US Dance Chart.

Their subsequent release, "Respectable," sold over 800,000 copies in the UK and boosted their global recognition. Recognized for combining urban street fashion with high-end style—Mel had previously worked as a glamour model—they continued their streak of UK Top 10 hits with "F.L.M." (#7) and "That's the Way It Is" (#10). They received a Brit Award nomination for Best British Breakthrough Act in 1988.

Mel’s struggle with malignant paraganglioma cancer began prior to their commercial breakthrough, impacting promotional efforts from early 1987 onward. Her condition deteriorated during a trip to Japan in June 1987, necessitating withdrawal from live performances and public events. Despite media rumors about her health, the sisters denied these claims, attributing absences to a back injury. Nonetheless, production on their sophomore album was suspended due to Mel’s illness.

The "F.L.M." video sparked controversy; it was created using festival footage combined with marionettes standing in for the duo—both sisters expressed dissatisfaction with this approach. Nick East later described it as a "mistake."

In February 1988, they released "That's the Way It Is," marking their fourth consecutive UK Top 10 single; Mel recorded her vocals after leaving hospital against medical advice. The B-side track "You Changed My Life," co-written during Mel’s treatment period, was considered as a potential follow-up single. The pair made television appearances promoting cancer awareness before withdrawing from the spotlight to focus on songwriting for their second album—many of these compositions later appeared on Kim’s solo debut.

In a 2005 interview, Kim disclosed she realized by mid-1989 that Mel’s illness was terminal. Melanie passed away suddenly in January 1990 due to pneumonia, her immune system weakened by chemotherapy.

In January 2018, an unreleased demo called "Where Is Love" was revealed on their official website and subsequently released in February 2018.

Post Mel and Kim Careers

Supported by her then-partner and former Bros bassist Craig Logan, Kim embarked on a solo journey, utilizing tracks co-created with Mel that were initially meant for a new "Mel and Kim" project. Her first solo studio album, Kim Appleby, included the hit single "Don't Worry", which climbed to number two on the UK charts in November 1990. The subsequent single "G.L.A.D" also secured a spot within the UK Top 10. Additional singles such as "Mama" [No. 19] and "If You Cared" [No. 44] followed. Her sophomore album, Breakaway, saw a limited distribution and did not achieve commercial success. Later singles comprised "Light of the World" [No. 41, 1993], "Breakaway" [No. 56, 1993], and "Free Spirit" [No. 51, 1994]. In 2007, she released a digital-only single titled "High."

A deluxe double-disc edition of F.L.M. was issued in 2010, including extended bonus tracks, the single "That's The Way It Is," and remixed versions of their original hits.

In October 2019, Cherry Red Records released an extensive seven-disc CD box set featuring Mel & Kim's singles.

Studio albums

Album list with key details, chart rankings, and certifications

Album	Details	Highest chart positions								Certifications
		UK	AUS	GER	NLD	NOR	NZ	SWE	SWI
F.L.M.	Release date: 13 April 1987 Label: Supreme	3	2	16	12	7	2	20	4	BPI: Platinum

Compilation albums

• The Best of Mel & Kim (1996)
• That's the Way It Is – The Best of Mel & Kim/Kim Appleby (2001)
• F.L.M. – The Best of Mel & Kim/Kim Appleby (2002)

Remix albums

• Something Special (1989)

Box sets

• The Singles Box Set (2019)

Singles

Singles listing with selected chart data, certifications, release year, and associated album

Single	Year	Peak chart rankings											Certifications	Album
		UK	AUS	BEL (FLA)	FRA	GER	IRE	NED	NZ	SWI	US	US Dance
"Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)"	1986	3	12	1	18	1	—	1	8	1	78	1	BPI: Silver	F.L.M.
"Respectable"	1987	1	1	1	14	1	2	1	1	1	—	1	BPI: Gold
"F.L.M."		7	19	7	—	17	4	11	7	16	—	—
"I'm the One Who Really Loves You" (US only)		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	11
"That's the Way It Is"	1988	10	28	4	36	18	11	5	10	9	—	9
"More Than Words Can Say" (Scandinavia only)	1989
Something Special
"Megamix Ninety!" (Continental Europe only)	1990
"Where Is Love"	2018
"—" indicates no chart entry or release in that region.

External links

• Official Mel & Kim website
• Official site of Kim Appleby