After the two-tone band The Bodysnatchers broke up in 1980, guitarists Stella Barker and Sarah-Jane Owen, saxophonist Miranda Joyce, keyboardist Penny Leyton, and drummer Judy Parsons formed a new band, recruiting bass player Lesley Shone and lead vocalist Jennie Matthias (also known as Jennie Bellestar).
Black Sabbath keyboardist and noted heavy rock-progressive rock session musician, Gerald Woodroffe was also recruited.
[1] Within a short time, the group became well-known around London, notably appearing on the front cover of Sounds magazine early in 1981.
In January 1983, the Belle Stars released what would be their signature single, "Sign of the Times", peaking at number three, and a chart success throughout Europe.
The song's music video, showing the Belle Stars in dinner jackets, was also played frequently by MTV in the United States.
Under Horn's supervision, the three remaining members recorded a new Belle Stars album in New York City with the 4th & Broadway production team.
However, the only tracks to be released were those on the single "World Domination", which flopped in Britain but peaked at number two for two weeks on the Billboard Hot Dance/Disco chart in the US.
In September 2019, four previously unreleased Belle Stars songs from the Anne Dudley sessions for the second album, and a live concert from 1983, were included in a comprehensive box set, Turn Back the Clock from Edsel Records.