The Riddle
THE RIDDLE is Nik Kershaw's second solo album. It was released in 1984.
Three singles were taken from this album and some featured exclusive tracks as B-sides.
Hereafter, you'll find a list of all songs from the THE RIDDLE period, including their different known mixes, demos or official live versions.
Note that unofficial bootleg live versions or TV performances won't be mentioned in this list.
(*) More notes : Some songs appear on several collections CDs. Their sound quality may vary from one collection to another.
Some have very poor quality. Some have enhanced remastered versions. Even Bpm speed of a song may change on some collections.
Even more notes : Some songs have an important number of alternate versions (live, remixes, demos...).
Listing on these versions all together simply brings too much information on just one page.
Some songs (those having more than FIVE different versions) require to have their own specific pages to make every a lot clearer...
B02.01 Don Quixote
This song requires to have its own page.
Click HERE to discover all the official different versions.
Album version (4:52)
Available on the 1984 "The Riddle" album (vinyl LP, tape, CD and online digital file).
Also available as track 7 on the 2022 "Essential Nik Kershaw" collection.
A remastered version was released for the first time on the 2013 "The Riddle" double CD album and online digital file.
Live at the Hammersmith Odeon 1985 (Video version) (4:53)
This live version of the Hammersmith Odeon concert was released on VHS.
NOT AVAILABLE on CD.
Live at the Hammersmith Odeon 1985 (Re-recorded vocals version) (4:53)
Based on the live version from the Hammersmith Odeon concert that was broadcasted and released on VHS in 1985.
Most of the vocal parts were re-recorded for this version that can be found as track 3 on disc 2 of the 2013 The Riddle double CD album.
B02.03 You Might
Album version (3:16)
Available on the 1984 "The Riddle" album (vinyl LP, tape, CD and online digital file).
Also available as track 5 on the 1997 "Wouldn't It Be Good" collection (slightly different bmp speed).
A remastered version was released for the first time on the 2013 "The Riddle" double CD album and online digital file.
Live at the Hammersmith Odeon 1985 (Re-recorded vocals version) (3:28)
Based on the live version from the Hammersmith Odeon concert that was broadcasted in 1984/1985.
(Note : This track was NOT on the VHS release)
Most of the vocal parts were re-recorded for this version that can be found as track 9 on disc 2 of the 2013 "The Riddle" double CD album.
B02.04 Wild Horses
Album version (3:58) (= B-Side of the When A Heart Beats Single version)
Available on the 1984 "The Riddle" album (vinyl LP, tape, CD and online digital file) and on the B-side of 1985 NIK9 "When A Heart Beats" 7" single.
This version is also available on four collections.
bpm speed is slightly different on some collections.
1994 Wouldn't It Be Good (Track 3 - 4:00)
1995 Anthology (Track 14 - 3:59)
1997 Wouldn't It Be Good (Track 10 - 4:00)
2000 The Essential (Track 14 - 3:59)
A remastered version was released for the first time on the 2013 "The Riddle" double CD album and online digital file.
Extended 12" Remix (6:48)
This version was released as B-side of the 1985 NIKT9 and NIKTP9 "When A Heart Beats" 12" records.
NOT AVAILABLE on CD.
Also released as track 20 of the 2022 online only "Extended Versions" collection.
Live at the Hammersmith Odeon 1985 (Video version) (3:55)
This live version of the Hammersmith Odeon concert was released on VHS.
NOT AVAILABLE on CD.
Live at the Hammersmith Odeon 1985 (Re-recorded vocals version) (3:57)
Based on the live version from the Hammersmith Odeon concert that was broadcasted and released on VHS in 1985.
Most of the vocal parts were re-recorded for this version that can be found as track 7 of disc 2 of the 2013 "The Riddle" double CD album.
It is also available as track 9 on disc 2 of the 2022 "Essential Nik Kershaw" collection.
B02.05 Easy
Album version (4:12)
Available on the 1984 "The Riddle" album (vinyl LP, tape, CD and online digital file).
Also available as track 13 on the 1995 "Anthology" collection (slightly different bmp speed).
A remastered version was released for the first time on the 2013 "The Riddle" double CD album and online digital file.
B02.06 The Riddle
This song requires to have its own page.
Click HERE to discover all the official different versions.
B02.07 City Of Angels
Album version (3:55)
Available on the 1984 "The Riddle" album (vinyl LP, tape, CD and online digital file).
Also available as track 7 on the 1993 "Best Of NK" collection (slightly different bmp speed).
A remastered version was released for the first time on the 2013 "The Riddle" double CD album and online digital file.
Live at the Hammersmith Odeon 1985 (Remastered version) (3:57)
Based on the live version from the Hammersmith Odeon concert that was broadcasted.
(Note : This track was NOT on the VHS release)
This remastered version was released for the first time as track 5 on disc 2 of the 2013 "The Riddle" double CD album and online digital file.
It is also available as track 15 CD on disc 2 of the 2022 "Essential Nik Kershaw" collection.
B02.08 Roses
Album version (3:58)
Available on the 1984 "The Riddle" album (vinyl LP, tape, CD and online digital file).
Also available as track 5 on disc 2 of the 2022 "Essential Nik Kershaw" collection.
A remastered version was released for the first time on the 2013 "The Riddle" double CD album and online digital file.
Live at the Hammersmith Odeon 1985 (Video version) (4:02)
This live version of the Hammersmith Odeon concert was released on VHS.
NOT AVAILABLE on CD.
Live at the Hammersmith Odeon 1985 (Longer & Remastered version) (4:43)
Based on the live version from the Hammersmith Odeon concert that was broadcasted and released on VHS in 1985.
Remastered version was released for the first time as track 1 on disc 2 of the 2013 "The Riddle" double CD album and online digital file.
(Note that this version has the full introduction that was shortened on the VHS release).
Live at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire 2012 (4:36)
Another official live version of the song, recorded in Shepherd's Bush Empire in London (England) on September 28th 2012, can be found on the 2013 DVD release of the concert.
B02.09 Wide Boy
This song requires to have its own page.
Click HERE to discover all the official different versions.
B02.10 Save The Whale
Album version (6:04)
Available on the 1984 "The Riddle" album (vinyl LP, tape, CD and online digital file).
This version is also available on five collections.
bpm speed is slightly different on some collections.
1994 Wouldn't It Be Good (Track 12 - 6:00)
1995 Anthology (Track 15 - 5:56)
1997 Wouldn't It Be Good (Track 4 - 5:51 - Slightly shorter fade-out)
2000 The Essential (Track 18 - 6:00)
2022 Essential Nik Kershaw (Track 12 - Disc 1 - 6:00)
A remastered version was released for the first time on the 2013 "The Riddle" double CD album and online digital file.
Live at the Hammersmith Odeon 1985 (6:04)
This live version of the Hammersmith Odeon concert was broadcasted and released on VHS.
A remastered version was released for the first time as track 11 on disc 2 of the 2013 "The Riddle" double CD album and online digital file.
B02.11 Progress
Live version - B-Side of The Riddle Single (3:02)
Released as B-side of 1984 NIK6, NIKP6 and NIKT6 "The Riddle" 7" and 12"singles.
Also released as track 2 on the A side of the NIKC6 "The Riddle" limited cassette single.
Available on CD as track 9 on the 1993 "Best Of NK" collection.
Also released as track 9 of the 2022 online only "B-Sides" collection.
Demo - That's Progress (3:09)
A demo tape containing many demo versions of Nik Kershaw's early songs leaked in the early nineties. Copies were shared amongst fans.
Digital format transfers appeared on the Internet in the late nineties.
This recording is NOT an official release and can be found on bootleg CDs such as "NK Demos Part 2 - The Early Versions".
B02.12 So Quiet
B-Side of Wide Boy Single (3:12)
Released as B-side of Both 1985 NIK7 and NIKT7 "Wide Boy" 7" and 12"singles.
Available on CD as track 11 on the 1993 "Best Of NK" collection.
Also released as track 5 of the 2022 online only "B-Sides" collection.
A remastered version was released for the first time as track 6 on disc 2 of the 2013 "The Riddle" double CD album and online digital file.
B02.13 Don't Lie
B-Side of Don Quixote Single (3:52)
Released as B-side of 1985 NIK8, NIKP8 and NIKT8 "Don Quixote" 7" and 12"singles.
Also released as track 6 of the 2022 online only "B-Sides" collection.
A remastered version was released for the first time as track 10 on disc 10 of the 2013 "The Riddle" double CD album and online digital file.