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Read My Lips is above all the work of an angry man. As an advocate for gay rights and member of Act Up New York, Jimmy Somerville took off from the realization that a certain number of musicians, labeled as progressive and often gay themselves, would give up on addressing politics as soon as they made a record. With Somerville, music is political. At the end of the 1980s, the former lead of Bronski Beat and The Communards, with his countertenor voice, decided to throw himself into a joyful protest with the danceable rhythms of Read My Lips. In the song that gives this first solo album its title, the Scottish singer implores the listener to take action and make their voice heard (“We’ll shout as loud as we can”). There’s also a passing wink to the disco hit “No More Tears” by Barbara Streisand and Diana Ross (“Enough is Enough”). The same battle cry rings on “And You Never Thought This Could Happen to You” (“There’s a power we command, if united we stand, fighting for our rights”). The album is also an homage to the pop music of the 60s and 70s: we’re reminded of the hits of Burt Bacharach in “Don’t Know What To Do”, while the covers of The Bee Gees’s “To Love Somebody” and Françoise Hardy’s “Comment te dire adieu” shine with their cheerful energy. Regarding the latter track – the real powerhouse of the album – it manages to keep a certain retro charm (strings and a jazz trumpet solo) all while harmonizing perfectly with its time. The second part of this double album Expanded consists of several remixes (including one of “You Make Me Feel” by William Orbit), as well as demo versions that will especially delight Jimmy Somerville fans. ©Nicolas Magenham/Qobuz
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Arnold Goland, Composer, Writer - Jack Gold, Composer, Writer - Pascal Gabriel, Producer - Serge Gainsbourg, Composer, Writer - Jimmy Somerville, Composer, MainArtist - June Miles Kingston, Composer
© 2023 London Records Ltd ℗ 2023 London Records Ltd
Stephen Hague, Producer - Jimmy Somerville, MainArtist - Sylvester James, Composer - James 'Dip' Wirrick, Composer
© 2023 London Records Ltd ℗ 2023 London Records Ltd
Avril Mackintosh, Producer - Jimmy Somerville, Composer, Writer, MainArtist - Jess-E, Producer
© 2023 London Records Ltd ℗ 2023 London Records Ltd
Stephen Hague, Producer - Jimmy Somerville, Composer, Writer, MainArtist
© 2023 London Records Ltd ℗ 2023 London Records Ltd
Pascal Gabriel, Producer - Jimmy Somerville, Composer, Writer, MainArtist
© 2023 London Records Ltd ℗ 2023 London Records Ltd
Arnold Goland, Composer, Writer - Jack Gold, Composer, Writer - Pascal Gabriel, Producer - Serge Gainsbourg, Composer, Writer - Jimmy Somerville, Composer, MainArtist - June Miles Kingston, Composer
© 2023 London Records Ltd ℗ 2023 London Records Ltd
Pascal Gabriel, Producer - Jimmy Somerville, Composer, Writer, MainArtist
© 2023 London Records Ltd ℗ 2023 London Records Ltd
Avril Mackintosh, Producer - Jimmy Somerville, Composer, Writer, MainArtist - Jess-E, Producer
© 2023 London Records Ltd ℗ 2023 London Records Ltd
Avril Mackintosh, Producer - Jimmy Somerville, Composer, Writer, MainArtist - Jess-E, Producer
© 2023 London Records Ltd ℗ 2023 London Records Ltd
Avril Mackintosh, Producer - Jimmy Somerville, Composer, Writer, MainArtist - Jess-E, Producer
© 2023 London Records Ltd ℗ 2023 London Records Ltd
Avril Mackintosh, Producer - Jimmy Somerville, Composer, Writer, MainArtist - Jess-E, Producer
© 2023 London Records Ltd ℗ 2023 London Records Ltd
Jimmy Somerville, Composer, Writer, MainArtist - Jess-E, Producer
© 2023 London Records Ltd ℗ 2023 London Records Ltd
Tom Bailey, Producer - Cole Porter, Composer - Steve Lillywhite, Producer - Jimmy Somerville, MainArtist - Keith Fernley, Producer
© 2023 London Records Ltd ℗ 2023 London Records Ltd
Avril Mackintosh, Producer - Jimmy Somerville, Composer, Writer, MainArtist - Jess-E, Producer
© 2023 London Records Ltd ℗ 2023 London Records Ltd
Jimmy Somerville, Composer, Writer, MainArtist - Philippe Sarde, Composer, Writer
© 2023 London Records Ltd ℗ 2023 London Records Ltd
DISC 2
Pascal Gabriel, Producer - Jimmy Somerville, Composer, Writer, MainArtist - AMYL, Remixer
© 2023 London Records Ltd ℗ 2023 London Records Ltd
Stephen Hague, Producer - Jimmy Somerville, MainArtist - Sylvester James, Composer - Gerd Janson, Remixer - James 'Dip' Wirrick, Composer
© 2023 London Records Ltd ℗ 2023 London Records Ltd
Arnold Goland, Composer, Writer - Jack Gold, Composer, Writer - Pascal Gabriel, Producer - Serge Gainsbourg, Composer, Writer - Jimmy Somerville, Composer, MainArtist - June Miles Kingston, Composer
© 2023 London Records Ltd ℗ 2023 London Records Ltd
Pascal Gabriel, Remixer - Avril Mackintosh, Producer - Jimmy Somerville, Composer, Writer, MainArtist - Jess-E, Producer
© 2023 London Records Ltd ℗ 2023 London Records Ltd
Jimmy Somerville, MainArtist - Sylvester James, Composer - James 'Dip' Wirrick, Composer - Arpeggius, Remixer
© 2023 London Records Ltd ℗ 2023 London Records Ltd
Larry Steinbachek, Composer - Pascal Gabriel, Producer - Steven Bronski, Composer - Jimmy Somerville, Composer, MainArtist - Claudia Brucken, Vocals, FeaturedArtist
© 2023 London Records Ltd ℗ 2023 London Records Ltd
Jimmy Somerville, Composer, Producer, MainArtist
© 2023 London Records Ltd ℗ 2023 London Records Ltd
Jimmy Somerville, Composer, MainArtist - Jess-E, Producer
© 2023 London Records Ltd ℗ 2023 London Records Ltd
Jimmy Somerville, Composer, Writer, MainArtist - Jess-E, Producer
© 2023 London Records Ltd ℗ 2023 London Records Ltd
Jimmy Somerville, Composer, Writer, MainArtist - Jess-E, Producer
© 2023 London Records Ltd ℗ 2023 London Records Ltd
WILLIAM ORBIT, Remixer - Stephen Hague, Producer - Jimmy Somerville, MainArtist - Sylvester James, Composer - James 'Dip' Wirrick, Composer
© 2023 London Records Ltd ℗ 2023 London Records Ltd
Album review
Read My Lips is above all the work of an angry man. As an advocate for gay rights and member of Act Up New York, Jimmy Somerville took off from the realization that a certain number of musicians, labeled as progressive and often gay themselves, would give up on addressing politics as soon as they made a record. With Somerville, music is political. At the end of the 1980s, the former lead of Bronski Beat and The Communards, with his countertenor voice, decided to throw himself into a joyful protest with the danceable rhythms of Read My Lips. In the song that gives this first solo album its title, the Scottish singer implores the listener to take action and make their voice heard (“We’ll shout as loud as we can”). There’s also a passing wink to the disco hit “No More Tears” by Barbara Streisand and Diana Ross (“Enough is Enough”). The same battle cry rings on “And You Never Thought This Could Happen to You” (“There’s a power we command, if united we stand, fighting for our rights”). The album is also an homage to the pop music of the 60s and 70s: we’re reminded of the hits of Burt Bacharach in “Don’t Know What To Do”, while the covers of The Bee Gees’s “To Love Somebody” and Françoise Hardy’s “Comment te dire adieu” shine with their cheerful energy. Regarding the latter track – the real powerhouse of the album – it manages to keep a certain retro charm (strings and a jazz trumpet solo) all while harmonizing perfectly with its time. The second part of this double album Expanded consists of several remixes (including one of “You Make Me Feel” by William Orbit), as well as demo versions that will especially delight Jimmy Somerville fans. ©Nicolas Magenham/Qobuz
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 26 track(s)
- Total length: 02:22:00
- Main artists: Jimmy Somerville
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: London Records (Because Ltd)
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2023 London Records Ltd ℗ 2023 London Records Ltd
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