Never Trust a Stranger

"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 the autumn of 1988 by MCA and KIM 9 following the best-selling hit "You Came" and several European tour dates supporting Michael Jackson. It became another big hit in Europe, peaking within the top 10 in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Switzerland and United Kingdom. An extended version of the single remix was released on the 12" and CD-single formats, and a different remix ('Sanjazz") was released in the UK on an alternative 12" single.

"Never Trust a Stranger"
Single by Kim Wilde
from the album Close
B-side	"Wotcha Gonna Do"
Released	19 September 1988[1]
Genre	Pop hi-NRG
Length	4:05
Label	MCA - KIM 9
Songwriter(s)	Kim Wilde Ricki Wilde
Producer(s)	Ricki Wilde
Kim Wilde singles chronology
"You Came" (1988) "Never Trust a Stranger" (1988) "Four Letter Word" (1988)
Music video
"Never Trust a Stranger" on YouTube

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] The Single sold out 100.000 copies in France.

Track listing

• 7": 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": 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": MCA / KIMX 9 (UK)

1. "Never Trust a Stranger" (The Sanjazz Mix)
2. "Wotcha Gonna Do" - 4:00
3. "Never Trust a Stranger" - 4:07

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1988) Peak position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[3] 7 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[4] 6 Denmark (IFPI)[5] 2 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[6] 4 France (SNEP)[7] 20 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[8] 4 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[9] 3 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[10] 12 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[11] 4 UK Singles (OCC)[12] 7 West Germany (GfK)[13] 11

Year-end charts Chart (1988) Position Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[14] 97 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[15] 80 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[16] 80

Covers

Spanish singer Mónica Naranjo released a Spanish language version titled "Hoy No (Never Trust a Stranger)" on her 2020 EP Mes Excentricités Vol. 2: Les Quatre Saisons.

References

1. Smith, Robin (17 September 1988). "News: Releases". Record Mirror. p. 6. ISSN 0144-5804.
2. Barron, Jack (24 September 1988). "Singles". NME. p. 16. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
3. "Kim Wilde – Never Trust a Stranger" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
4. "Kim Wilde – Never Trust a Stranger" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
5. Danish Singles Chart. 4 November 1988.
6. Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Kim Wilde". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 282. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
7. "Kim Wilde – Never Trust a Stranger" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
8. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 52, 1988" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
9. "Kim Wilde – Never Trust a Stranger" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
10. "Kim Wilde – Never Trust a Stranger". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
11. "Kim Wilde – Never Trust a Stranger". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
12. "Kim Wilde: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
13. "Offiziellecharts.de – Kim Wilde – Never Trust a Stranger" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
14. "Jaaroverzichten 1988". Ultratop. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
15. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1988". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
16. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1988". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 25 September 2021.