★★★ / ★★★ / ★★★ / ★★ / ★★
German duo Modern Talking bashed out songs by the yard reliant on future reality pop show judge Dieter Bohlen’s chintzy production and Thomas Anders’ androgynous, unapologetically histrionic vocals. These first five albums of the duo’s initial incarnation were all released between 1985-87, stuffed with call-andresponse Jim Steinman knock-offs that made Brother Louie a fabulous, knowingly kitsch classic.
That hit’s parent album Ready For Romance is the pick of these coloured vinyl reissues, Anders and Bohlen a winning mixture of heroically daft and imperiously windswept in a way that made it obvious Bohlen’s biggest international success as a producer later would be with Bonnie Tyler.