"Kiss and Tell" is a song by

Bryan Ferry Bryan Ferry CBE (born 26 September 1945) is an English singer and songwriter. His voice has been described as an "elegant, seductive croon". He also established a distinctive image and sartorial style: according to ''The Independent'', Ferry an ...

, the lead vocalist for

Roxy Music Roxy Music are an English rock band formed in 1970 by Bryan Ferry—who became the band's lead vocalist and principal songwriter—and bassist Graham Simpson. The other longtime members are Phil Manzanera (guitar), Andy Mackay (saxophone ...

. It was released as the second single from his seventh studio album '' Bête Noire'' in February 1988, being Ferry's twenty-sixth single. The song peaked at number 41 on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

and at number 31 on the US ''Billboard'' 100, becoming his highest charting single. It also appears in the film '' Bright Lights, Big City'' (1988), adapted from the

Jay McInerney John Barrett "Jay" McInerney Jr. (; born January 13, 1955) is an American novelist, screenwriter, editor, and columnist. His novels include ''Bright Lights, Big City (novel), Bright Lights, Big City'', ''Ransom'', ''Story of My Life (novel), Sto ...

novel.

Composition

Fans have often speculated that his song "Kiss and Tell", was Ferry's response to

Jerry Hall Jerry Faye Hall (born July 2, 1956) is an American model and actress. She began modelling in the 1970s and became one of the most sought after models in the world. She transitioned into acting, appearing in the 1989 film '' Batman''. Hall was t ...

's tell-all book about their relationship published a couple of years earlier.

Music video

The song's main promotional video featured Mandy Smith and model Denice Lewis, whose photograph also adorns the single's cover sleeve. The musicians

Chester Kamen Chester Kamen (born in Hackney, London) is an English session guitarist, whose work has included performing with Paul McCartney, Bryan Ferry, Bob Geldof, Madonna, Duran Duran, Robbie Williams, Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Seal, Massive Attack, Ki ...

( Nick Kamen's brother) and Guy Pratt also appear in the video. Also featured is Christine Keeler, whose earlier involvement with a British government minister triggered the

Profumo affair The Profumo affair was a major scandal in twentieth-century British politics. John Profumo, the Secretary of State for War in Harold Macmillan's Conservative government, had an extramarital affair with 19-year-old model Christine Keeler be ...

, which discredited elements of the

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...

government of Harold Macmillan, in 1963. This is in keeping with the song's subject matter.

Track listings and versions

UK 7" single # "Kiss and Tell" - 3:59 # "Zamba" - 3:00 US 7" single # "Kiss and Tell (Edit)" - 4:02 # "Zamba" - 3:00 US 12" single # "Kiss and Tell (Extended Mix)" - 7:06 # "Kiss and Tell (Dub Mix)" - 5:37 # "Kiss and Tell (Edit Mix)" - 4:02 # "Zamba" - 3:00 UK 12" single # "Kiss and Tell (Dance Mix)" - 7:02 # "Kiss and Tell (Dub Mix)" - 5:37 # "Zamba" - 3:00 US 12" single and

CD single A CD single (sometimes abbreviated to CDS) is a music single in the form of a compact disc. The standard in the Red Book for the term ''CD single'' is an 8 cm (3-inch) CD (or Mini CD). It now refers to any single recorded onto a CD of any si ...

# "Kiss and Tell (Edit Mix)" - 4:02 # "Kiss and Tell (LP Version)" - 4:57 UK CD single # "Kiss and Tell" (7" Version) - 3:59 # "Kiss and Tell (Dub Mix)" - 5:37 # "Zamba" - 3:00 # "Kiss and Tell (Dance Mix)" - 7:02

Chart performance

Weekly Charts

Year-end Charts

Notes

* The other versions of the song were edited by the Latin Rascals and mixed by Alan Meyerson.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kiss and Tell 1988 singles Bryan Ferry songs Songs written by Bryan Ferry Sophisti-pop songs British soft rock songs 1987 songs Virgin Records singles Reprise Records singles Songs about the media Songs about kissing