The Music On CD reissue of E.G. Daily’s 1985 cult‑classic debut Wild Child finally gives collectors and ’80s pop‑rock devotees something they’ve been craving for decades. Long out of print and notoriously expensive on the second‑hand market — original CDs routinely fetch around $300 — this long‑overdue re‑release brings the album back into reach. And while it isn’t newly remastered, the sound remains crisp, vibrant, and full of that mid‑’80s punch.
At first glance Wild Child sits in the rock‑pop/dance lane, but there’s far more bite beneath the surface. Daily’s raspy, expressive voice has the grit of a frontwoman who could have easily fronted a Melodic Rock or AOR band of the era. Add to that the powerhouse production team of Harold Faltermeyer (of Top Gun fame) and Keith Forsey (Billy Idol, Glenn Frey, countless soundtracks), and you get a record that jumps out of the speakers with bold drums, glossy synths, and a cinematic sense of drama. No wonder one of its standout tracks, “Love in the Shadows,” found its way onto the Thief of Hearts soundtrack.
Sure, the label pushed for a Madonna‑style crossover with the hit single “Say It, Say It,” but the real magic lies elsewhere. Tracks like “Is Anybody Home?”, the swaggering title cut “Wild Child,” the infectious “Little Toy,” the soundtrack gem “Love in the Shadows,” and the Roxette‑before‑Roxette ballad “Don’t Let Them Take the Child Away” showcase everything that made mid‑’80s pop‑rock so irresistible: booming drums, neon‑lit synth textures, and Daily’s unmistakably sultry vocal presence.
This is pure, undiluted ’80s — and this reissue is a gift for anyone who loves that era’s sound.