Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Scottish-born singer Jimmy Somerville became a surprise success in the mid-'80s. Instead of being Duran Duran-cute, Jimmy Somerville looked like the average boy next door. Instead of belting out his musical repertoire with a self-conscious urgency to prove himself as a singer (like Rick Astley or George Michael), Somerville possessed a dramatic, piercing falsetto that made the Associates' Billy Mackenzie sound like Tom Waits. But what really made Jimmy Somerville distinctive was his openness about his sexuality. The 1980s was the decade of androgyny, with artists like Annie Lennox, Boy George, and Poison emulating the gender-bending approach of 1970s-era David Bowie. Other performers such as Morrissey and the aforementioned George Michael kept their fans guessing about their sexual orientation. Jimmy Somerville, however, already answered the "is he or isn't he" question before anyone had a chance to ask, and he did so without a trace of mascara. Jimmy Somerville's career began as a member and co-founder of the dance-pop group Bronski Beat, and the here-goes-nothing frankness of the group's debut single, "Smalltown Boy," became an instant sensation, reaching the British Top Ten and becoming an MTV staple in America. The homosexual overtones of Bronski Beat's debut album, The Age of Consent, didn't stop it from becoming a major seller, and the follow-up single, "Why?," also secured a place in the upper reaches of the British pop chart and became an American danceclub favorite. After this initial success, however, Jimmy Somerville departed the group, forming the Communards in 1985 with keyboardist Richard Coles. The Communards' sound was basically a variation of Bronski Beat's disco-influenced dance-pop, and the duo recorded two albums (1986's Communards and 1987's Red) before disbanding, after which Somerville embarked on a sporadic solo career. His lyrical approach detailing the feelings of homosexual alienation are evident in several tracks, particularly the classic "Smalltown Boy" and the Communards' self-explanatory "There's More to Love Than Boy Meets Girl." Somerville can be a remarkably intelligent songwriter, but often his talent is wasted with misguided cover tunes. His faux reggae version of the Bee Gees' "To Love Somebody" is a bore, as is his watered-down Sylvester remake, "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)." His rendition of "Comment Te Dire Adieu" is the worst by far, as his campy take on the Serge Gainsbourg classic (previously recorded by Françoise Hardy) can provoke uncontrollable snickering. "Don't Leave Me This Way" and the similarly arranged "Never Can Say Goodbye" (both recorded by the Communards) are the best of the covers, updating the exuberance of the Thelma Houston and Gloria Gaynor disco classics while showcasing Somerville's amazing vocal range. Bronski Beat's pulsating version of Donna Summer's "I Feel Love" (featuring Soft Cell vocalist Marc Almond) is also effective. Despite Jimmy Somerville's popularity as a member of two different groups, his lackluster 1989 solo release, Read My Lips, failed to match the success of the Communards or Bronski Beat.[In 1990 London Records released the Singles Collection,, which featured the same seventeen tracks as the Very Best of Jimmy Somerville: Bronski Beat and the Communards, only in a different order.]
© William Cooper /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $16.65/month
Larry Steinbachek, Composer, Writer - Lawrence Cole, Composer - Mike Thorne, Producer - Steven Bronski, Composer, Writer - Jimmy Sommerville, Composer - Bronski Beat, Composer, MainArtist - Mixed By: Harvey Goldberg, Mixer, Remixer - Production: Mike Thorne, Production - Recorded By: Pete Griffiths, Recorded by - Jimmy Somerville, Composer, Writer - Steve Bronski, Composer - Harvey Goldberg, Mixer - Pete Griffiths, RecordingEngineer - Jimmy Somerville with Bronski Beat, Composer
© 2002 London Records Ltd ℗ 1984 London Music Stream Ltd. LC77554
Kenneth Gamble, Composer, Writer - Cary Gilbert, Writer - The Communards, MainArtist - LEON HUFF, Composer, Writer - Carl Beatty, Engineer - Fernando Kral, AssistantEngineer - Mike Thorne, Producer, Production - Communards, Performance - Sarah Jane Morris, FeaturedArtist, With Vocals
© 2002 London Records Ltd ℗ 1986 London Music Stream Ltd. LC77554
George Gershwin, Composer - Heyward, Composer - Mike Thorne, Production - Bronski Beat, Composer, MainArtist - Production: Mike Thorne, Production
© 2002 London Records Ltd ℗ 1984 London Music Stream Ltd. LC77554
The Communards, MainArtist - Clifton Davis, Composer, Writer
© 2002 London Records Ltd ℗ 1987 London Music Stream Ltd. LC77554
Coles, Composer - The Communards, Composer, MainArtist - Mike Thorne, Production - Somerville, Composer - Production: Mike Thorne, Production - Jimmy Somerville, Composer - Richard Coles, Composer
© 2002 London Records Ltd ℗ 1986 London Music Stream Ltd. LC77554
Coles, Composer - The Communards, Composer, MainArtist - Stephen Hague, Production - Somerville, Composer - Jimmy Somerville, Composer - Production: Stephen Hague, Production - Richard Coles, Composer
© 2002 London Records Ltd ℗ 1987 London Music Stream Ltd. LC77554
Larry Steinbachek, Composer, Writer - Mike Thorne, Production - Steven Bronski, Composer, Writer - Bronski Beat, Composer, MainArtist - Jimmy Somerville, Composer, Writer - Steve Bronski, Composer - Richard Coles, Composer - Jimmy Somerville with Bronski Beat, Composer
© 2002 London Records Ltd ℗ 1984 London Music Stream Ltd. LC77554
Mike Spike Drake, Engineer - Stephen Hague, Production - Dip Warrick, Composer - Jimmy Somerville, Composer, MainArtist - Sylvester James, Composer - James 'Dip' Wirrick, Composer
© 2002 London Records Ltd ℗ 1989 London Music Stream Ltd. LC77554
Pascal Gabriel, Producer - Stephen Hague, Additional Production & Mix, Produced & Mixed by - Stephen Taylor, Engineer - Jimmy Somerville, Composer, MainArtist
© 2002 London Records Ltd ℗ 1989 London Music Stream Ltd. LC77554
Mitchell, Composer - Stephen Hague, Production - Somerville, Composer - As Above, Composer - Philip Mitchell, Composer - Rowebottom, Composer - Stephen Hague And Mike "Spike" Drake, Engineer - Jimmy Somerville, Composer, MainArtist - Stannard, Composer
© 2002 London Records Ltd ℗ 1995 London Music Stream Ltd. LC77554
Arnold Goland, Composer, Writer - Jack Gold, Composer, Writer - Pascal Gabriel, Producer, Mixer, Production - Avril Mackintosh, Mixer - Serge Gainsbourg, Composer, Writer - Stephen Taylor, Engineer - Jimmy Somerville, Composer, Vocals, Featured Vocals, MainArtist - June Miles Kingston, Composer, FeaturedArtist, With Vocals
© 2002 London Records Ltd ℗ 1989 London Music Stream Ltd. LC77554
Steve Jolley, Producer - Tony Swain, Producer - Barry Gibb, Composer, Writer - Stephen Hague, Production - Robin Gibb, Composer, Writer - Jimmy Somerville, Composer, MainArtist - Production: Stephen Hague, Production
© 2002 London Records Ltd ℗ 1990 London Music Stream Ltd. LC77554
Coles, Composer - The Communards, MainArtist - Stephen Hague, Production - Somerville, Composer - Jimmy Somerville, Composer - Richard Coles, Composer
© 2002 London Records Ltd ℗ 1987 London Music Stream Ltd. LC77554
Mike Thorne, Production - Bronski Beat, Composer, MainArtist - Production: Mike Thorne, Production - Bellotte, Composer - Goddard, Composer - Moroder, Composer - summer, Composer
© 2002 London Records Ltd ℗ 1984 London Music Stream Ltd. LC77554
The Communards, MainArtist - Mike Thorne, Production - Production: Mike Thorne, Production - Jimmy Somerville, Composer - Richard Coles, Composer
© 2002 London Records Ltd ℗ 1986 London Music Stream Ltd. LC77554
Coles, Composer - The Communards, MainArtist - Stephen Hague, Production - Somerville, Composer - Jimmy Somerville, Composer - Richard Coles, Composer
© 2002 London Records Ltd ℗ 1986 London Music Stream Ltd. LC77554
Coles, Composer - The Communards, Composer, MainArtist - Mike Thorne, Production - Somerville, Composer - Production: Mike Thorne, Production - Jimmy Somerville, Composer - Richard Coles, Composer
© 2002 London Records Ltd ℗ 1986 London Music Stream Ltd. LC77554
DISC 2
Larry Steinbachek, Composer, Writer - Lawrence Cole, Composer - Mike Thorne, Production - Steven Bronski, Composer, Writer - Jimmy Sommerville, Composer - Bronski Beat, Composer, MainArtist - Jimmy Somerville, Composer, Writer - Steve Bronski, Composer - Jimmy Somerville with Bronski Beat, Composer
© 2002 London Records Ltd ℗ 2002 London Music Stream Ltd.
Coles, Composer - The Communards, Composer, MainArtist - Mike Thorne, Production - Somerville, Composer - Production: Mike Thorne, Production - Jimmy Somerville, Composer - Richard Coles, Composer
© 2002 London Records Ltd ℗ 2002 London Music Stream Ltd.
Kenneth Gamble, Composer, Writer - Cary Gilbert, Writer - The Communards, MainArtist - LEON HUFF, Composer, Writer - Production: Mike Thorne, Production - Sarah Jane Morris, FeaturedArtist - The Communards With Sarah Jane Morris, Composer
© 2002 London Records Ltd ℗ 2002 London Music Stream Ltd.
Coles, Composer - The Communards, Composer, MainArtist - Stephen Hague, Production - Somerville, Composer - Jimmy Somerville, Composer - Production: Stephen Hague, Production - Richard Coles, Composer
© 2002 London Records Ltd ℗ 2002 London Music Stream Ltd.
Larry Steinbachek, Composer, Writer - Mike Thorne, Production - Steven Bronski, Composer, Writer - Bronski Beat, Composer, MainArtist - Jimmy Somerville, Composer, Writer - Steve Bronski, Composer - Richard Coles, Composer - Jimmy Somerville with Bronski Beat, Composer
© 2002 London Records Ltd ℗ 2002 London Music Stream Ltd.
Coles, Composer - The Communards, MainArtist - Stephen Hague, Production - Somerville, Composer - Jimmy Somerville, Composer - Production: Stephen Hague, Production - Richard Coles, Composer
© 2002 London Records Ltd ℗ 2002 London Music Stream Ltd.
Arnold Goland, Composer, Writer - Jack Gold, Composer, Writer - Pascal Gabriel, Producer - Serge Gainsbourg, Composer, Writer - Jimmy Somerville, Composer, MainArtist - June Miles Kingston, Composer, FeaturedArtist, With Vocals - June Miles-Kingston, Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Madame Tata, Remixer - Production: Pascal Gabriel for Made In Heaven Productions, Production
© 2002 London Records Ltd ℗ 2002 London Music Stream Ltd.
Coles, Composer - The Communards, Composer, MainArtist - Mike Thorne, Production - Somerville, Composer - Production: Mike Thorne, Production - Jimmy Somerville, Composer - Richard Coles, Composer
© 2002 London Records Ltd ℗ 2002 London Music Stream Ltd.
Stephen Hague, Producer - Dip Warrick, Composer - Jimmy Somerville, Composer, MainArtist - Sylvester James, Composer - Willliam Orbit, Remixer - James 'Dip' Wirrick, Composer
© 2002 London Records Ltd ℗ 2002 London Music Stream Ltd.
Shep Pettibone, Remixer - The Communards, MainArtist - Clifton Davis, Composer, Writer
© 2002 London Records Ltd ℗ 2002 London Music Stream Ltd.
Album review
Scottish-born singer Jimmy Somerville became a surprise success in the mid-'80s. Instead of being Duran Duran-cute, Jimmy Somerville looked like the average boy next door. Instead of belting out his musical repertoire with a self-conscious urgency to prove himself as a singer (like Rick Astley or George Michael), Somerville possessed a dramatic, piercing falsetto that made the Associates' Billy Mackenzie sound like Tom Waits. But what really made Jimmy Somerville distinctive was his openness about his sexuality. The 1980s was the decade of androgyny, with artists like Annie Lennox, Boy George, and Poison emulating the gender-bending approach of 1970s-era David Bowie. Other performers such as Morrissey and the aforementioned George Michael kept their fans guessing about their sexual orientation. Jimmy Somerville, however, already answered the "is he or isn't he" question before anyone had a chance to ask, and he did so without a trace of mascara. Jimmy Somerville's career began as a member and co-founder of the dance-pop group Bronski Beat, and the here-goes-nothing frankness of the group's debut single, "Smalltown Boy," became an instant sensation, reaching the British Top Ten and becoming an MTV staple in America. The homosexual overtones of Bronski Beat's debut album, The Age of Consent, didn't stop it from becoming a major seller, and the follow-up single, "Why?," also secured a place in the upper reaches of the British pop chart and became an American danceclub favorite. After this initial success, however, Jimmy Somerville departed the group, forming the Communards in 1985 with keyboardist Richard Coles. The Communards' sound was basically a variation of Bronski Beat's disco-influenced dance-pop, and the duo recorded two albums (1986's Communards and 1987's Red) before disbanding, after which Somerville embarked on a sporadic solo career. His lyrical approach detailing the feelings of homosexual alienation are evident in several tracks, particularly the classic "Smalltown Boy" and the Communards' self-explanatory "There's More to Love Than Boy Meets Girl." Somerville can be a remarkably intelligent songwriter, but often his talent is wasted with misguided cover tunes. His faux reggae version of the Bee Gees' "To Love Somebody" is a bore, as is his watered-down Sylvester remake, "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)." His rendition of "Comment Te Dire Adieu" is the worst by far, as his campy take on the Serge Gainsbourg classic (previously recorded by Françoise Hardy) can provoke uncontrollable snickering. "Don't Leave Me This Way" and the similarly arranged "Never Can Say Goodbye" (both recorded by the Communards) are the best of the covers, updating the exuberance of the Thelma Houston and Gloria Gaynor disco classics while showcasing Somerville's amazing vocal range. Bronski Beat's pulsating version of Donna Summer's "I Feel Love" (featuring Soft Cell vocalist Marc Almond) is also effective. Despite Jimmy Somerville's popularity as a member of two different groups, his lackluster 1989 solo release, Read My Lips, failed to match the success of the Communards or Bronski Beat.[In 1990 London Records released the Singles Collection,, which featured the same seventeen tracks as the Very Best of Jimmy Somerville: Bronski Beat and the Communards, only in a different order.]
© William Cooper /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 27 track(s)
- Total length: 02:35:13
- Main artists: Jimmy Somerville Bronski Beat The Communards
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: London Music Stream
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2002 London Records Ltd ℗ 2002 London Records Ltd
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.