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The Very Best Of Jimmy Somerville, Bronski Beat And The Communards
''The Very Best Of'' is a compilation album covering Scottish pop singer Jimmy Somerville's career in Bronski Beat, The Communards and as a solo artist. It was released in 2001 and reached number 29 in the UK Albums Chart. The album features mostly the same tracks, although in a different order, to the 1990 compilation '' The Singles Collection 1984/1990''. Only one track from that album, "Run from Love", isn't featured on ''The Very Best'' and is replaced with the newer track " Hurt So Good". Although Bronski Beat had three UK top 40 hits after Somerville's departure (" Hit That Perfect Beat", "C'mon C'mon" and "Cha Cha Heels") they are not included on the compilation as it is intended as a retrospective of Somerville's career. In 2002, the compilation was re-released as a limited edition double CD set. Track listing Charts and certifications Weekly charts Certifications iTunes charts performance In August 2015 the album debuted on the German iTunes ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jimmy Somerville
James William Somerville (born 22 June 1961) is a Scottish pop singer and songwriter. He sang in the 1980s with the pop groups Bronski Beat and The Communards, and has also had a solo career. He is known in particular for his powerful and soulful countertenor/falsetto singing voice. Many of his songs, such as "Smalltown Boy", contain political commentary on gay-related issues. Early life Born on 22 June, 1961, James William Somerville grew up in Ruchill, a neighbourhood of northern Glasgow. In 1980 he moved to London, where he lived in squats. He immersed himself in gay culture, and attended the London Gay Teenage Group. Career In 1983, Somerville co-founded the synthpop group Bronski Beat, which had several hits in the British charts. Their biggest hit was "Smalltown Boy", which reached No. 3 in the UK charts. In the music video Somerville plays the song's titular character, who leaves his hostile hometown for the friendlier city, reflecting Somerville's own experiences ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Smalltown Boy
"Smalltown Boy" is a song by British synth-pop band Bronski Beat, released in May 1984 as the first single from their debut album, ''The Age of Consent (album), The Age of Consent'' (1984). The song was a big commercial success, reaching number three in the band's native UK. It was also a number one hit in the Netherlands and Belgium, and hit the top 10 in Australia, Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland and West Germany. The track reached number 48 in the US pop chart and was a number one US dance hit. A remix by Stephen Hague was released as a single on 24 December 1990. The song was released again in December 2013 after featuring in a Christmas advertising campaign for Boots UK. "Smalltown Boy" was also re-recorded by Jimmy Somerville and released as "Smalltown Boy Reprise" (2014) for the 30th anniversary of its initial release. Music video An official music video made by Bernard Rose (director), Bernard Rose was shot and released later in 1984. The narrative video fea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Red (The Communards Album)
''Red'' is the second album by British synth-pop duo the Communards, released on 5 October 1987 by London Records in the United Kingdom and MCA Records in the United States. It reached number 4 on the UK Albums Chart and number 93 on the US ''Billboard'' 200 and has been certified platinum in the UK. ''Red'' features the singles "Never Can Say Goodbye", "Tomorrow", "There's More to Love Than Boy Meets Girl" and "For a Friend". Notable songs "Never Can Say Goodbye" The Clifton Davis-penned song was originally performed by the Jackson 5, but this rendition is similar to Gloria Gaynor's disco version. Jimmy Somerville's "straight ahead" vocals are a strength of the song, with Andy Kellman of AllMusic crediting him with producing a recording that "stands apart" from other versions. The single proved successful on both sides of the Atlantic; reaching number 4 in the UK and number 51 in the US, while being certified silver in the UK. The track was used in the ''Doctor Who'' episode ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Clifton Davis
Clifton Duncan Davis (born October 4, 1945) is an American actor, singer, songwriter, minister, and author. Davis wrote The Jackson 5's No. 2 hit "Never Can Say Goodbye" in 1971. He appeared on Broadway in the musicals '' Two Gentlemen of Verona'' and '' Aladdin''. Davis starred in the television shows ''That's My Mama, Amen,'' '' Madam Secretary'', and others. He has hosted the Stellar Gospel Music Awards, Gospel Superfest and Lifestyle Magazine. Davis has appeared on the game shows ''Match Game'' and ''Pyramid'' and appeared in many movies. Davis is a minister of a Baptist church and has also operated an interdenominational ministry for many years. He has been a guest on the Trinity Broadcasting Network many times. Davis wrote "A Mason-Dixon Memory", one of the chapters in the book '' Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul'', about the racism which he experienced while growing up. Early life Davis was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Thelma van Putten Langhorn, a nurse, and T ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Never Can Say Goodbye
"Never Can Say Goodbye" is a song written by Clifton Davis and originally recorded by The Jackson 5. The song was originally written and intended for the Supremes; however, Motown decided it would be better for the Jackson 5. It was the first single released from the group's 1971 album '' Maybe Tomorrow'', and was one of the group's most successful records. It has been covered numerous times, most notably in 1974 by Gloria Gaynor and in 1987 by British pop group The Communards. The Jackson 5 original version The recording features 12-year-old Michael Jackson singing a serious song about a love, with accompaniment from his brothers. Although such a record was unusual for a teenage group, "Never Can Say Goodbye" was a number-two hit for three consecutive weeks on the ''Billboard'' Pop Singles chart, stuck behind Three Dog Night's "Joy to the World" (May 8–22, 1971), and a number-one hit on the ''Billboard'' Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in the United States. In the United Kingdom ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Richard Coles
Richard Keith Robert Coles (born 26 March 1962) is an English writer, radio presenter and Church of England clergyman who was the vicar of Finedon in Northamptonshire from 2011 to 2022. He first came to prominence as the multi-instrumentalist who partnered Jimmy Somerville in the 1980s band the Communards. They achieved three top ten hits, including the No. 1 record and best-selling single of 1986, a dance version of "Don't Leave Me This Way". Coles frequently appears on radio and television as well as in newspapers and, in March 2011, became the host of BBC Radio 4's '' Saturday Live'' programme. He is a regular contributor to '' QI'', '' Would I Lie to You?'' and '' Have I Got News for You''. He is an author, Chancellor of the University of Northampton, Honorary Chaplain to the Worshipful Company of Leathersellers, and a patron of social housing project Greatwell Homes in Wellingborough. Personal life Coles was born in Northampton, England. His grandfather was a prosperous ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Read My Lips (Jimmy Somerville Album)
''Read My Lips'' is the 1989 debut solo album by Jimmy Somerville, former lead singer of the successful synthpop groups Bronski Beat and The Communards. The album was released through London Records and peaked at number 29 on the UK Albums Chart. It has been certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry for sales in excess of 100,000 copies. In July 2012, ''Read My Lips'' was released as a two disc CD set including the original album plus bonus tracks of B-sides and remixes. On 1 September 2023, ''Read My Lips'' was reissued by London Records as a two disc CD set including the original album plus bonus tracks of B-sides, Demos, New and Original remixes. In October 2020, the Deluxe Edition of the album's reissue debuted at number 47 on the Italian iTunes Albums Chart, while in January 2023 at number 30 on the Spanish equivalent. Track listing Original 1989 album ;LP :All LP tracks by Jimmy Somerville unless otherwise indicated #"Comment te dire adieu" featuring ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sylvester (singer)
Sylvester James Jr. (September 6, 1947December 16, 1988), known mononymously as Sylvester, was an American singer-songwriter. Primarily active in the genres of disco, rhythm and blues, and soul, he was known for his flamboyant and androgynous appearance, falsetto singing voice, and hit disco singles in the late 1970s and 1980s. Born in Watts, Los Angeles, to a middle-class African-American family, Sylvester developed a love of singing through the gospel choir of his Pentecostal church. Leaving the church after the congregation expressed disapproval of his homosexuality, he found friendship among a group of black cross-dressers and transgender women who called themselves the Disquotays. Moving to San Francisco in 1970 at the age of 22, Sylvester embraced the counterculture and joined the avant-garde drag troupe the Cockettes, producing solo segments of their shows which were heavily influenced by female blues and jazz singers such as Billie Holiday and Josephine Baker. During t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)
"You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" is a 1978 song by American disco/ R&B singer Sylvester. It was written by James Wirrick and Sylvester, and released as the second single from Sylvester's fourth album, ''Step II'' (1978). The song was already a largely popular dance club hit in late 1978, as the B-side of his previous single "Dance (Disco Heat)", before it was officially being released in December. Music critic Robert Christgau has said the song is "one of those surges of sustained, stylized energy that is disco's great gift to pop music". In 2003, ''Q Magazine'' included "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever". In 2019, the song was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". Origins The song was originally recorded as a mid-tempo piano-driven gospel song; however, after producer Patrick Cowley saw a rehearsal of the song at San Fra ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Communards (album)
''Communards'' is the debut studio album by British synth-pop duo the Communards, released on 12 July 1986 by London Records. The album was produced by Mike Thorne, who had previously produced lead singer 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", topped the UK Singles Chart for four weeks and became the best-selling single in the UK that year. During the single's four-week run at number one, the album itself peaked at 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 u ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cary Gilbert
Cary Gilbert (March 20, 1942 – February 15, 1993) was an American lyricist who wrote songs with Gamble and Huff, Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff at Philadelphia International Records in the 1970s. Among the songs he co-wrote are the international #1 hits "Me and Mrs. Jones" and "Don't Leave Me This Way." Gilbert, widely known as "Hippy," grew up in Camden, New Jersey, and became friends with Gamble and Huff when the two were members of Kenny Gamble & the Romeos. After holding several jobs and marrying, Gilbert turned to songwriting with Gamble and Huff and penned the lyrics for Billy Paul's hit "Me and Mrs. Jones" in 1972. He also wrote the lyrics for "Don't Leave Me This Way," originally a track on Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes' 1975 album ''Wake Up Everybody (Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes album), Wake Up Everybody'' and later an international hit for Thelma Houston, [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gamble And Huff
Kenneth Gamble (born August 11, 1943, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) and Leon A. Huff (born April 8, 1942, Camden, New Jersey) are an American songwriting and production team credited for developing the Philadelphia soul music genre (also known as Philly sound) of the 1970s. In addition to forming their own label, Philadelphia International Records, Gamble and Huff have written and produced 175 gold and platinum records, earning them an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the non-performer category in March 2008. History Early years Gamble's childhood in Philadelphia shaped his adult life: he recorded himself on various arcade recording machines, assisted the morning show DJs on WDAS, operated a record store, and sang with The Romeos. In 1964, before there was "Gamble & Huff" there was "Gamble & Ross". Gamble was discovered and managed by Jerry Ross when Gamble was only 17 years old and they collaborated for many years. Gamble teamed up with Leon Huff (keyboards) for ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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