The Communards
| Industry | Music |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1985 in London, England |
| Founder | Jimmy Somerville, Richard Coles |
| Defunct | 1988 |
| Headquarters | London , England |
| Products | Music recordings, singles, albums |
The Communards were a synth-pop duo originating from London in 1985, consisting of Scottish vocalist Jimmy Somerville and English instrumentalist Richard Coles. They achieved notable commercial acclaim with their renditions of "Don't Leave Me This Way", initially performed by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes featuring Teddy Pendergrass, as well as the Jackson 5 classic "Never Can Say Goodbye".
Their name, Communards, is derived from the revolutionaries involved in the 1871 Paris Commune.
Formation (1985)
The Communards came together in 1985 after Jimmy Somerville parted ways with Bronski Beat to join forces with Richard Coles, a classically trained musician. Somerville's unique falsetto and countertenor voice blended well with Coles, who was recognized for his clarinet performances on Bronski Beat's track "It Ain't Necessarily So". Bassist Dave Renwick, also formerly of Bronski Beat, completed their lineup.
Initial Success and Communards Era (1985–1987)
Their debut UK top 30 single arrived in 1985 with "You Are My World". The duo's most prominent hit emerged in 1986: a hi-NRG cover of Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes' soul anthem "Don't Leave Me This Way". This single dominated the UK charts for four consecutive weeks and became the highest-selling UK single of that year. It also secured a spot within the US top 40. Vocalist Sarah Jane Morris contributed as co-lead singer, her contralto voice providing a compelling contrast to Somerville’s falsetto.
Though not officially part of the band, Morris frequently supported with backing and co-lead vocals and appeared in promotional content as an informal third member. Later in 1986, the Communards landed another UK top 10 hit with "So Cold the Night", which peaked at number 8.
Red Album and Disbandment (1987–1988)
Their 1987 album Red, partly produced by Stephen Hague, featured a cover of the Jackson 5’s "Never Can Say Goodbye", inspired by Gloria Gaynor’s disco version. This single reached number 4 on UK charts. Their last release, "There's More to Love (Than Boy Meets Girl)" in 1988, attained number 20.
Red also contained tracks addressing social issues such as "Victims" and "For a Friend", the latter being a tribute to HIV/AIDS activist Mark Ashton.
The group dissolved in 1988, after which Somerville embarked on a solo career. Meanwhile, Coles was ordained as an Anglican priest in 2005 and served until his retirement in 2022.
Discography
- Communards (1986)
- Red (1987)
See also
- Banderas – A project linked to the Communards featuring backing musician Sally Herbert
- Jimmy Somerville discography
- June Miles-Kingston
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance Club Songs chart
- List of Billboard number-one dance club songs
References
- Articles with short description
- The Communards
- British hi-NRG groups
- British disco groups
- British pop music duos
- English synth-pop groups
- Dance-pop groups
- LGBTQ-themed musical groups
- British male musical duos
- Musical groups established in 1985
- Musical groups disestablished in 1988
- Pop music groups from London
- 1985 establishments in England
- London Records artists