Communards (album)
Communards is the debut album by The Communards, released in 1986 (see 1986 in music) on London Records. The album was produced by Mike Thorne, who had previously produced Jimmy Somerville's earlier band, Bronski Beat. Although the singles released ahead of the album were only moderately successful, the first single to be lifted from it after release, "Don't Leave Me This Way", was number one in the UK for four weeks and was the top-selling single in the UK that year. During the single's four-week run at number one, the album itself reached a chart peak of number seven, going on to spend a total of 45 weeks in the UK Albums Chart.
Musically, the album contains tracks that largely fall into one of two styles, either Hi-NRG (all of the singles lifted from the album were in this style) or piano ballads showcasing the talents of Richard Coles, a classically trained pianist. The standard "Lover Man" is arranged as a straight jazz number, albeit with the unusual twist of being performed as a duet.
The front sleeve features a stark graphic design consisting of the group's name and logo against a black background. A photo of the duo appears on the back, while the inner sleeve features small photos of Coles, Somerville and Sarah Jane Morris, alongside the album credits and full lyrics for all the songs.
Two songs had dedications in the sleevenotes: "Don't Leave Me This Way" was dedicated to the GLC, and "Reprise" to Margaret Hilda Thatcher.[1]
Track listing
All tracks by Jimmy Somerville and Richard Coles unless otherwise indicated.
- "Don't Leave Me This Way" (Gamble/Huff/Gilbert) - 4:50
- "La Dolarosa" - 2:43
- "Disenchanted" - 4:13
- "Reprise" - 5:22
- "So Cold the Night" - 5:45
- "You Are My World" - 4:30
- "Lover Man" (Davis/Ramirez/Sherman) - 3:52
- "Don't Slip Away" - 2:58
- "Heavens Above" - 3:58
- "Forbidden Love" - 5:02
- "Breadline Britain" - 2:31 (CD and cassette only)
- "Disenchanted (Dance)" - 8:46 (CD and cassette only)
The original CD version featured longer versions of the four singles; however, subsequent reissues have used the basic vinyl LP versions. The four extended versions were:
- "Don't Leave Me This Way" - 6:26
- "Disenchanted" - 6:12
- "So Cold the Night" - 6:48 (length incorrectly given as 6:14 on CD)
- "You Are My World" - 8:01 (length incorrectly given as 8:38 on CD)
The 1997 remastered version of the album replaces "Disenchanted (Dance)" with "Don't Leave Me This Way (Mega Mixes)", a 22:55 version of the song which also incorporates the Communards song "Sanctified". This track was originally issued in 1986 as "The Gotham City Mix", when it was split across two sides of a 12" single.
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
Chart (1986) |
Peak position |
Italian Albums Chart[8] |
96 |
|
Singles
-
- AU 12" single (1987) 886 142-1
- "You Are My World" (New York 87 Remix) - 7:57
- "The Message" - 7:32
- "Judgement Day" - 5:10
- CA 12" single (1985) LDSX 224
- "You Are My World" (12" Version) - 8:03
- "Breadline Britain" - 2:30
- "Sentimental Journey" - 3:40
- CA 12" single (1987) LDSX 238
- "You Are My World" (New York 87 Remix) - 7:58
- "You Are My World" ('87 Single Version) - 4:15
- "Judgement Day" - 5:10
- "You Are My World" (7" Version) - 3:58
- "Breadline Britain" - 2:30
- FR 12" single (1985) 886 000-1
- "You Are My World" (12" Version) - 8:03
- "Breadline Britain" - 2:30
- "Sentimental Journey" - 3:40
- GE 7" single (1985) 886 000-7
- "You Are My World" (7" Version) - 3:58
- "Breadline Britain" - 2:30
- GE 7" single (1987) 886 132-7
- "You Are My World" ('87 Single Version) - 4:15
- "Judgement Day" (7" Version) - 4:44
- GE 12" single (1985) 886 000-1
- "You Are My World" (12" Version) - 8:03
- "Breadline Britain" - 2:30
- "Sentimental Journey" - 3:40
- GE 12" single (1987) 886 132-1
- "You Are My World" (New York 87 Remix) - 7:57
- "Judgement Day" - 5:10
- "Czardas" - 3:43
- GE CD single (1987) 886 132-2
- "You Are My World" (New York 87 Remix) - 7:57
- "Judgement Day" - 5:14
- "Czardas" - 3:46
- JP 7" promo (1985) S07P 1069
- "You Are My World" (7" Version) - 3:58
- "Breadline Britain" - 2:30
- MX 7" promo (1985) S/N-670
- "You Are My World" (7" Version) - 3:58
- "You Are My World" (7" mono Version) - 3:58
- NE 7" single (1987) 886 132-7
- "You Are My World" ('87 Single Version) - 4:15
- "Judgement Day" (7" Version) - 4:44
- NE 12" single (1987) 886 132-1
- "You Are My World" (New York 87 Remix) - 7:57
- "Judgement Day" - 5:10
- "Czardas" - 3:43
- SP 7" single (1985) 886 000-7
- "You Are My World" (7" Version) - 3:58
- "Breadline Britain" - 2:30
- UK 7" single (1985) LON 77
- "You Are My World" (7" Version) - 3:58
- "Breadline Britain" - 2:30
- UK 7" single (1987) LON 123
- "You Are My World" ('87 Single Version) - 4:15
- "Judgement Day" (7" Version) - 4:44
- UK 7" double (1985) LONDP 77
- "You Are My World" (7" Version) - 3:58
- "Breadline Britain" - 2:30
- "Sentimental Journey" - 3:40
- "Heavens Above" - 3:58
- UK 10" single (1985) LONT 77
- "You Are My World" (7" Version) - 3:58
- "Breadline Britain" - 2:30
- "Sentimental Journey" - 3:40
- "Heavens Above" - 3:58
- UK 12" single (1985) LONX 77
- "You Are My World" (12" Version) - 8:03
- "Breadline Britain" - 2:30
- "Sentimental Journey" - 3:40
- UK 12" single (1987) LONX 123/LONXP 123
- "You Are My World" (New York 87 Remix) - 7:57
- "Judgement Day" - 5:10
- "Czardas" - 3:43
- UK 12" single (1987) LONXR 123
- "You Are My World" (New York 87 Remix) - 7:57
- "The Message" - 7:32
- "Judgement Day" - 5:10
- UK 12" promo (1987) LONX 123DJ
- "You Are My World" (New York 87 Remix) - 7:57
- "You Are My World" ('87 Single Version) - 4:15
-
- FR 12" single (1986) 886 047-1
- "Disenchanted" (12" Version) - 6:08
- "Annie" - 1:43
- "Johnny Verso" - 3:47
- GE 12" single (1986) 886 047-1
- "Disenchanted" (12" Version) - 6:08
- "Annie" - 1:43
- "Johnny Verso" - 3:47
- IT 7" single (1986) 886 047-7
- "Disenchanted" (7" Version) - 4:08
- "Johnny Verso" - 3:47
- IT 12" single (1986) 886 047-1
- "Disenchanted" (12" Version) - 6:08
- "Annie" - 1:43
- "Johnny Verso" - 3:47
- NE 12" single (1986) 886 047-1
- "Disenchanted" (12" Version) - 6:08
- "Annie" - 1:43
- "Johnny Verso" - 3:47
- IT 12" single (1986) 886 047-1
- "Disenchanted" (12" Version) - 8:46
- "Annie" - 1:43
- "Johnny Verso" - 3:47
- UK 7" single (1986) LON 89
- "Disenchanted" (7" Version) - 4:08
- "Johnny Verso" - 3:47
- UK 12" single (1986) LONX 89
- "Disenchanted" (12" Version) - 6:08
- "Annie" - 1:43
- "Johnny Verso" - 3:47
- UK 12" single (1986) LONXR 89
- "Disenchanted" (Total Dance Remix)
- "Disenchanted" (Instrumental)
- "Johnny Verso"
*
"Don't Leave Me This Way"
-
- AU 12" single (1986) 886 078-1
- "Don't Leave Me This Way" (Gotham City Mix Part One) - 11:25
- "Don't Leave Me This Way" (Gotham City Mix Part Two) - 11:30
- BR 12" single (1986) 886 077-1
- "Don't Leave Me This Way"
- "Don't Leave Me This Way (Short Version)"
- "Sanctified"
- CA 12" single (1986) LDSX230
- "Don't Leave Me This Way" (12" Version) - 6:25
- "Don't Leave Me This Way" (Gotham City Mix Part One) - 11:30
- FR 7" single (1986) 886 077-7
- "Don't Leave Me This Way" (7" Version) - 4:32
- "Sanctified" (7" Version) - 2:30
- FR 12" single (1986) 886 077-1
- "Don't Leave Me This Way" (12" Version) - 6:25
- "Sanctified" - 3:00
- GE 7" single (1986) 886 077-7
- "Don't Leave Me This Way" (7" Version) - 4:32
- "Sanctified" (7" Version) - 2:30
- GE 12" single (1986) 886 077-1
- "Don't Leave Me This Way" (12" Version) - 6:25
- "Sanctified" - 3:00
- GE 12" single (1986) 886 084-1
- "Don't Leave Me This Way" (Son Of Gotham City Mix) - 13:30
- "Sanctified" - 3:00
- IT 12" single (1986) 886 077-1
- "Don't Leave Me This Way" (12" Version) - 6:25
- "Sanctified" - 3:00
- JP 7" single (1986) S07P 1084
- "Don't Leave Me This Way" (7" Version) - 4:32
- "Sanctified" (7" Version) - 2:30
- JP 12" single (1986) L13P 7118
- "Don't Leave Me This Way" (12" Version) - 6:25
- "Sanctified" - 3:00
- NE 7" single (1986) 886 077-7
- "Don't Leave Me This Way" (7" Version) - 4:32
- "Sanctified" (7" Version) - 2:30
- NE 12" single (1986) 886 077-1
- "Don't Leave Me This Way" (12" Version) - 6:25
- "Sanctified" - 3:00
- PO 7" single (1986) 886 077-7
- "Don't Leave Me This Way" (7" Version) - 4:32
- "Sanctified" (7" Version) - 2:30
- SP 12" single (1986) 886 077-1
- "Don't Leave Me This Way" (12" Version) - 6:25
- "Sanctified" - 3:00
- UK 7" single (1986) LON 103/LONPD 103
- "Don't Leave Me This Way" (7" Version) - 4:32
- "Sanctified" (7" Version) - 2:30
- UK 12" single (1986) LONX 103
- "Don't Leave Me This Way" (12" Version) - 6:25
- "Sanctified" - 3:00
- UK 12" single (1986) LOXRR 103
- "Don't Leave Me This Way" (Son of Gotham City) - 10:20
- "Sanctified" (Son of Gotham City) - 3:00
- UK 12" single (1986) LONXR 103
- "Don't Leave Me This Way" (Gotham City Mix Part One) - 11:25
- "Don't Leave Me This Way" (Gotham City Mix Part Two) - 11:30
- UK 12" promo (1986) LONX 103 DJ
- "Don't Leave Me This Way" (12" Version) - 6:25
- "Sanctified" - 3:00
- US 7" single (1986) MCA-52928
- "Don't Leave Me This Way" (7" Version) - 4:32
- "Sanctified" (7" Version) - 2:30
- US 12" single (1986) MCA-23665
- "Don't Leave Me This Way" (Mega Mix) - 11:00
- "Don't Leave Me This Way" (The Gotham City Mix) - 13:00
- "Don't Leave Me This Way" - 4:50
-
- CA 12" single (1986) LDSX 235
- "So Cold the Night" (Remixed Club Version) - 8:45
- "So Cold the Night" (7" Version) - 3:45
- "So Cold the Night" (Instrumental) - 9:45
- FR 7" single (1986) 886 105-7
- "So Cold the Night" (7" Version) - 4:39
- "When the Walls Come Tumbling Down" - 4:22
- FR 12" single (1986) 886 105-1
- "So Cold the Night" (12" Version) - 9:15
- "When the Walls Come Tumbling Down" - 4:22
- "Never No More" - 2:59
- GE 7" single (1986) 886 105-7
- "So Cold the Night" (7" Version) - 4:39
- "When the Walls Come Tumbling Down" - 4:20
- GE 12" single (1986) 886 105-1
- "So Cold the Night" (12" Version) - 9:15
- "When the Walls Come Tumbling Down" - 4:22
- "Never No More" - 2:59
- GE CD single (1986) 886 105-2
- "So Cold the Night" (12" Version) - 9:15
- "When the Walls Come Tumbling Down" - 4:22
- "Never No More" - 2:59
- NE 7" single (1986) 886 105-7
- "So Cold the Night" (7" Version) - 4:39
- "When the Walls Come Tumbling Down" - 4:22
- NE 12" single (1986) 886 105-1
- "So Cold the Night" (12" Version) - 9:15
- "When the Walls Come Tumbling Down" - 4:22
- "Never No More" - 2:59
- SP 12" single (1986) 886 105-1
- "So Cold the Night" (12" Version) - 9:15
- "When the Walls Come Tumbling Down" - 4:22
- "Never No More" - 2:59
- UK 7" single (1986) LON 110
- "So Cold the Night" (7" Version) - 4:39
- "When the Walls Come Tumbling Down" - 4:22
- UK 12" single (1986) LONX 110
- "So Cold the Night" (12" Version) - 9:15
- "When the Walls Come Tumbling Down" - 4:22
- "Never No More" - 2:59
- UK 12" single (1986) LONXR 110
- "So Cold the Night" (Remix)
- "The Multimix"
- "When the Walls Come Tumbling Down" - 4:22
- UK 12" promo (1986) LONXDJ 110
- "So Cold the Night" (12" Version) - 9:15
- "When the Walls Come Tumbling Down" - 4:22
- "Never No More" - 2:59
- US 12" single (1987) MCA-23715
- "So Cold the Night" (12" Version) - 9:15
- "When the Walls Come Tumbling Down" - 4:22
- "Never No More" - 2:59
References
|
---|
|
|
|
Studio albums | Bronski Beat | |
---|
| The Communards | |
---|
|
- Read My Lips (1989)
- Dare to Love (1995)
- Manage the Damage (1999)
- Home Again (2004)
- Suddenly Last Summer (2009)
- Homage (2015)
|
|
---|
|
Remix albums | |
---|
|
Live albums | |
---|
|
Compilations | The Communards |
- Heaven (1993)
- Het Beste Van The Communards (2005)
- The Platinum Collection (2006)
|
---|
| |
|
---|
|
Other albums | |
---|
|
Extended plays |
- Bright Thing (2010)
- Momentum (2011)
|
|
---|
|
Singles | Bronski Beat | |
---|
| The Communards | |
---|
| | | Other songs | |
---|
|
---|
|
Video albums | Bronski Beat | |
---|
| The Communards | |
---|
|
- The Video Collection 1984/1990 (1990)
|
|
---|
|
Filmography | |
---|
|
Related articles | |
---|
|
|