.
Search

Follow Us

Edit Content
  • News
  • Exclusives
  • New Music
  • Reviews
  • Caught Live
  • Future Pop
  • News
  • Exclusives
  • New Music
  • Reviews
  • Caught Live
  • Future Pop
Facebook Instagram Spotify Tiktok
RPM031 Menu-3
  • NEWS
    • All
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • 2000s
    • Pop
    • R&B / Hip-Hop
    • Dance
    • Rock
    • All
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • 2000s
    • Pop
    • R&B / Hip-Hop
    • Dance
    • Rock
    Beyoncé Act II Cowboy Carter-3 (1)

    Beyoncé breaks records with Cowboy Carter tour

    The Texas Hold ‘Em hitmaker’s latest stint surpassed $400 million in earnings, with the 32-stop stadium tour spanning the US and Europe.

    Midge Ure Press

    Midge Ure axes upcoming gigs to undergo ‘urgent’ medical treatment

    The Ultravox star shared a statement online confirming that, while he’ll play his planned shows in August, gigs in Australia and Europe scheduled for September onwards have been postponed to allow him time to recover.

    Take That Everything Changes Single RCA-4

    Stock Aitken Waterman turned down Take That collaboration

    The boy band – starring Robbie Williams, Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Jason Orange, and Howard Donald – went on to sell over 45 million records worldwide, scoring 12 UK No. 1 hits in the process.

    Lady Gaga Mayhem Disease Press Handout-4

    New Lady Gaga song Dead Dance to feature in Wednesday season two

    The Abracadabra hitmaker is confirmed to guest star in the show as Rosaline Rotwood, a Nevermore Academy teacher whose mysterious past is linked with Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday Addams.

  • EXCLUSIVES
    • All
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • 2000s
    • Pop
    • R&B / Hip-Hop
    • Dance
    • Rock
    • All
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • 2000s
    • Pop
    • R&B / Hip-Hop
    • Dance
    • Rock
    Cascada Studio 24 Handout-4

    Cascada on her Studio 54-inspired new album and 20 years of global hits [Exclusive]

    As they return with their fifth album, Cascada’s Natalie Horler looks back on 20 years of hits and reacts to her recent interview that went viral online.

    Nicki French Who, What, Where Handout Energise-4

    Nicki French considered Eurovision return with new album track: ‘Would they really go for a 60 year old singer… again?’ [Exclusive]

    As she returns with her new album, Nicki French reveals she almost submitted one track into the running for next year’s Eurovision.

    Pixie Lott Encino Press Handout-4

    Pixie Lott talks new album Encino: ‘When you fall into your authentic self, that’s when the magic happens’ [Exclusive]

    A decade after releasing her self-titled third album, Pixie Lott returns with a body of work that reflects the place she’s at in her life today.

    Betty Boo Rip Up The Rulebook Credit Sandro Hyams-4

    Betty Boo: ‘It’s a philosophy that I have to not let anybody tell you that you can’t be who you want to be!’ [Exclusive]

    As she returns with her epic new album ‘Rip Up The Rulebook’, Betty Boo opens up about creating her most diverse work to date.

  • NEW MUSIC
  • REVIEWS
    • All
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • 2000s
    • Pop
    • R&B / Hip-Hop
    • Dance
    • Rock
    • All
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • 2000s
    • Pop
    • R&B / Hip-Hop
    • Dance
    • Rock
    Tom Aspaul Cabin Fever Artwork

    Tom Aspaul – Cabin Fever

    Kim Wilde Closer Artwork Cherry Red

    Kim Wilde – Closer

    Gwen Stefani Bouquet

    Gwen Stefani – Bouquet

    Cascada Studio 24

    Cascada – Studio 24

  • CAUGHT LIVE
  • FUTUREPOP
  • RELEASE RADAR
Home Reissues

Marc Almond – The Stars We Are (2CD + DVD)

Connor Gotto by Connor Gotto
January 23, 2021
in Reissues
Marc Almond - The Stars We Are

SFE

22
SHARES
222
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Voice of Soft Cell, Marc Almond, returned to the limelight in 1988 with his fourth solo album, The Stars We Are – which would go on to become his highest-selling LP on both sides of the pond and one of the star’s most revered releases.

The conceptual collection spawned four hit singles, including Tears Run Rings, Bitter Sweet and Only the Moment, plus Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart – a duet with US singer Gene Pitney on the latter’s 1967 release.

Don't Miss...

Marc Almond on the ‘ongoing saga’ of Soft Cell: ‘It disappears for a while, comes back again, then disappears again…’ [Exclusive]

Marc Almond shares new single Gone With The Wind (Is My Love)

A UK No. 1 hit, the track is one of three collaborations from The Stars We Are era, along with Kept Boy, featuring Agnes Bernelle, and Your Kisses Burn with Nico. Tragically, it would be her final recording, before the star passed away in a cycling accident in Ibiza.

The Stars We Are marks the end of Almond’s ’80s experimentation and, before 1989’s Jacques – a more restrained tribute to the Belgian singer-songwriter Jacques Brel – the Tainted Love star lets loose for his most ‘pop’ album to date.

Although celebrating its 33rd birthday in 2021, the latest reissue, courtesy of SFE, is a testament to the vision of Almond and his production team – Willing Sinners members Annie Hogan and Billy McGee, and Bob Kraushaar – and avoids being tinged in the trademark sounds of ’80s nostalgia.

Hogan and McGee, along with Steve Humphreys, feature throughout the record as players in the star’s band, La Magia, with Hogan and McGee landing songwriting credits on a number of tracks, along with Almond.

[amazon box=”B08KQBYQQW” /]

Kicking off with title track The Stars We Are, the LP segues between a string of uncharacteristically upbeat and optimistic tracks, including single releases Bitter Sweet and Only The Moment, urging the listener to grasp your dreams before the moment is past.

Elsewhere on the standard LP, The Sensualist lives up to its name while original album closer She Took My Soul in Istanbul – a firm fan favourite – conjures images of the Blue Mosque and hashish and closes out the collection with a true musical journey.

One gripe with the new collection is the decision to replace Almond’s original album version, the solo cut of Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart, with the chart-topping duet version, while demoting the original edit to the second, Alternate Versions, disc. Not the end of the world, but an unnecessary switch-around when both are included anyway.

Also featured on CD 1 of the new release are the original CD-only bonus cuts The Frost Comes Tomorrow and Kept Boy, plus three B-sides – Everything I Wanted Love to Be, King of the Fools and Real Evil – while CD 2 collects several 12″ edits and remixes issued throughout the campaign.

Meanwhile, the DVD collects six promotional videos filmed for the album’s singles, including Almond and Pitney’s Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart and two cuts of Tears Run Rings, directed by Peter Christopherson and Tim Broad, respectively.

Housed in a neat slipcase, The Stars We Are also includes a glossy 35-page booklet with lyrics, photos and a foreword by acclaimed poet Jeremy Reed, who also wrote Marc’s biography, completing the set and tying together the music with its creation and creator, the mighty Marc Almond.

[amazon box=”B08KQBYQQX” /]

Tags: Marc Almond
Connor Gotto

Connor Gotto

Founder and editor of RETROPOP. Self-proclaimed pop aficionado. Usually seen with a wine in hand.

More Like This

Marc Almond I'm Not Anyone Credit Mark Wood-4
Exclusive

Marc Almond on the ‘ongoing saga’ of Soft Cell: ‘It disappears for a while, comes back again, then disappears again…’ [Exclusive]

by Simon Button
August 15, 2024
Marc Almond Press Handout-4
New Music

Marc Almond shares new single Gone With The Wind (Is My Love)

by Connor Gotto
May 31, 2024
Marc Almond Credit Nick Spanos-3
News

Marc Almond announces new solo album I’m Not Anyone, single Elusive Butterfly

by Connor Gotto
March 23, 2024
The Human League
News

Human League and Marc Almond announce massive outdoor show at Dreamland, Margate

by Connor Gotto
October 24, 2022
Marc Almond Press
News

Marc Almond announces rescheduled 2022 UK solo tour dates

by Connor Gotto
July 28, 2022

Follow Us

The RETROPOP Edit

Never miss a story - sign up to RETROPOP's Daily Edit newsletter for free!

Please wait...

You're in! Keep an eye on your inbox for all the latest!

The Latest

Beyoncé Act II Cowboy Carter-3 (1)

Beyoncé breaks records with Cowboy Carter tour

August 7, 2025
Midge Ure Press

Midge Ure axes upcoming gigs to undergo ‘urgent’ medical treatment

August 6, 2025
Take That Everything Changes Single RCA-4

Stock Aitken Waterman turned down Take That collaboration

August 5, 2025
RETROPOP No. 31 : Sept '24
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
Change privacy settings
MEDIA KIT

RETROPOP participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.

Copyright © 2025 Irresistible. All rights reserved.

  • Home
    • Home – Layout 1
    • Home – Layout 2
    • Home – Layout 3
  • News
  • Fashion

© 2025 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

CloseMenu

New issue out now

SHOP HERE