Nik Kershaw – The Riddle

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Genre:	Pop
Style:	Synth-pop
Year:	1984

Tracklist

		The Riddle	3:52
		Progress	3:02

Credits (3)

JA*
Lacquer Cut By
Iain McKell
Photography, Art Direction
Nik Kershaw
Written-By

Versions

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37 versions

Image	,	–			In Your Collection, Wantlist, or Inventory	Version Details	Data Quality
	The Riddle 7", 45 RPM, Single	MCA Records – NIK 6	UK	1984	UK — 1984
	The Riddle 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo	MCA Records – 259 226-7	Europe	1984	Europe — 1984
	The Riddle 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo	MCA Records – 501012103	Portugal	1984	Portugal — 1984	Recently Edited
	The Riddle 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo	MCA Records – 259 225-0	Europe	1984	Europe — 1984
	The Riddle 12", 45 RPM, Single	MCA Records – NIKT 6	UK	1984	UK — 1984	Recently Edited
	The Riddle 7", Picture Disc, Single, 45 RPM	MCA Records – NIKP 6	UK	1984	UK — 1984	Recently Edited
	The Riddle 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo	MCA Records – 259 226-7		1984	— 1984	New Submission
	The Riddle 7", Single, 45 RPM	MCA Records – 25 9226-7	Italy	1984	Italy — 1984	Recently Edited
	The Riddle 12", 45 RPM	MCA Records – 25 9225-0	Italy	1984	Italy — 1984	New Submission
	The Riddle 12", White Label, Promo, 33 ⅓ RPM	MCA Records – L33-1280	US	1984	US — 1984	New Submission
	The Riddle 7", 45 RPM, Promo	MCA Records – MCA-52544	US	1984	US — 1984	New Submission
	The Riddle Cassette, Single, Limited Edition	MCA Records – NIKC 6	UK	1984	UK — 1984	New Submission
	The Riddle 7", Single	MCA Records – 52544	Canada	1984	Canada — 1984	New Submission
	The Riddle 12", Maxi-Single, 45 RPM	MCA Records – 25 9225 - 0	Spain	1984	Spain — 1984	New Submission
	The Riddle 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo	MCA Records – MCA-52544	US	1984	US — 1984	New Submission
	The Riddle 7", Single, Promo, Stereo	MCA Records – 25 9226-7	Spain	1984	Spain — 1984	New Submission
	The Riddle 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo	MCA Records – 259 226-7		1984	— 1984
	The Riddle 12", 45 RPM	MCA Records – 0-NIK 6	Australia	1984	Australia — 1984	Recently Edited
	The Riddle 7", 45 RPM, Single	MCA Records – NIK 6	Australia	1984	Australia — 1984	Recently Edited
	The Riddle 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo	MCA Records – 259 226-7		1984	— 1984	New Submission
	The Riddle 7", 45 RPM, Single	MCA Records – P-1932	Japan	1984	Japan — 1984	New Submission
	The Riddle 7", 45 RPM, Single	MCA Records – NIK 6	New Zealand	1984	New Zealand — 1984	New Submission
	The Riddle 7", 45 RPM, Single	MCA Records – NIK 6	UK	1984	UK — 1984	Recently Edited
	The Riddle 12", 45 RPM, Single, Poster	MCA Records – NIKT 6	UK	1984	UK — 1984	New Submission
	The Riddle 7", 45 RPM, Single	MCA Records – NIK 6	Ireland	1984	Ireland — 1984	New Submission
	The Riddle 12", 45 RPM	MCA Records – NIKT 6	UK	1984	UK — 1984	New Submission
	The Riddle 7", 45 RPM, Single	MCA Records – PD 2298	South Africa	1984	South Africa — 1984	New Submission
	The Riddle 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Promo	MCA Records – 25 9225 - 0	Spain	1984	Spain — 1984	New Submission
	The Riddle 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo	MCA Records – 25 9226-7	Spain	1984	Spain — 1984	New Submission
	The Riddle 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo	MCA Records – NIK 6	UK	1984	UK — 1984	New Submission
	The Riddle 7", 45 RPM, Single, Jukebox, Large Center	MCA Records – NIK 6	UK	1984	UK — 1984	New Submission
	The Riddle 7", 45 RPM, Single	MCA Records – NIK 6	UK	1984	UK — 1984	New Submission
	The Riddle 7", 45 RPM, Single	MCA Records – LMCS 6	South Africa	1984	South Africa — 1984	New Submission
	The Riddle 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo	MCA Records – 259 226-7		1984	— 1984	New Submission
	The Riddle 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo	MCA Records – P-1932	Japan	1985	Japan — 1985	Recently Edited
	The Riddle CDr, Maxi-Single, Promo	Universal – none	UK	2005	UK — 2005	New Submission
	The Riddle 7", 45 RPM, Single	MCA Records – NIK 6	Australia		Australia	New Submission

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Reviews

kacey101 Nov 2, 2024
referencing The Riddle (12", 45 RPM) 25 9225-0

My copy of this 12" has a blank MCA Records label on Side A . The Side B label is as above. There is a circular brown ink stamp (about 15mm) on to one side of the Side A label but it is faded and very difficult to read. Can anyone provide any information on what this might be?
alfonsino Sep 1, 2023
referencing The Riddle (7", Single, 45 RPM) 25 9226-7

Very successful track also remixed by Italian DJ Gigi D'Agostino.
Flambient Dec 21, 2020
Edited 4 years ago

referencing The Riddle (12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo) 259 225-0

To me, the best 12" version ever. It actually has three variations of the "I got time to kill" interlude: (1) an instrumental version after the first chorus, merging into the chorus once more via a short bridge (to great effect), then (2) a dubbed "drumapella" before the second verse, finally (3) the "original" vocal interlude after the third chorus. Also, it experiments with leaving out elements such as the whistling and going instrumental in the final chorus sequence, hence putting emphasis on other parts. Amazing version of an exceptional song.
LPWJ Sep 22, 2017
Edited 7 years ago

referencing The Riddle (7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo) 259 226-7

Maybe the best pop song out of 1984. Almost as good as, and reminding of, Jon English "6 Ribbons".

B-side is reminiscent of The Police' style pop and/or David Bowie's "Golden Years", but in an uptempo version.