Jimmy Somerville

Jimmy is vintage 1961 and best known for his 'falsetto' singing style. Born in Glasgow, he moved to London where he shared a flat with Steve Bronski & Larry Steinbachek in Brixton, South London, and in 1983 formed Bronski Beat. Bronski Beat signed a recording contract with London Records in 1984, releasing the album entitled 'The Age of Consent'. In the summer of the following year Jimmy left Bronski Beat amid tensions in the band, both personal and political, joining Richard Coles to form The Communards. *** n.b. In 1989, a vocalist joined the group, who should go on to become our very treasured RVT maestro, the 'Dame Edna Experience's Jonathan Hellyer :-) *** The group dissolved a year later.

THE BRONSKI BEAT YEARS

Bronski Beat - Smalltown Boy (1984)
US#1, NL#1, UK#3, IT#3, IRL#4, AUS#7



Bronski Beat - Why? (1984)
NL#2, UK#6, IRL#6, IT#18



Here, by the way, an extraordinary track which samples vocals of 'Why?' with sequences of Alison Moyet's 'Don't Go'. Released early 2008!

Blue Ray feat. Jimmy Somerville 'You & Me'




Bronski Beat - It Ain't Necessarily So (1984)
UK#16, IRL#26, IT#28, NL#32


Bronski Beat - It Ain't Necessarily So by jpdc11

Bronski Beat & Marc Almond - I Feel Love/Johnny Remember Me (1985)
UK #3, IRL#3, NL #17



Bronski Beat - Hit That Perfect Beat Boy (1985)
UK#3, IRL#5, IT#9, NL #16



The Communards formed in 1985 after Jimmy left Bronski Beat to team up with Richard Coles, whom played a number of instruments and had been seen previously performing the clarinet solos on the Bronski Beat hit 'It Ain't Necessarily So'. They were joined by bass player Dave Renwick who had also played with Bronski Beat. The band had their first hit with 'You Are My World'.
The following year they had their biggest hit with an energetic cover version of Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes' 'Don't Leave Me This Way' (in a version inspired by Thelma Houston's cover), which spent a whopping 4 weeks at #1 and became the UK's biggest selling single of 1986. In 1987, they released an album titled 'Red'. The Communards split in 1988. While Jimmy began his solo career, Richard followed his Christian leanings and was ordained in the Church of England. He is now the assistant priest at St Paul's Knightsbridge and Chaplain to the Royal College of Music.

THE COMMUNARDS YEARS

The Communards - You are My World (1985)
FR#16, UK#30



The Communards - Disenchanted (1986)
UK#29 NL#47



The Communards - Don't Leave Me This Way (1986)
UK#1, NL#1, CH#2, DE#5, FR#6, AT#19, US#40



The Communards - So Cold The Night (1986) - no video available
UK#8, NL#8, CH#10, AT#13, DE#14, FR#17, US#25



The Communards - Never Can Say Goodbye (1987)
US#2, NL#3, UK#4, DE#6



The Communards - Tomorrow (1987)
US#2, UK#23, CH#23, DE#25, NL#31, FR#32



The Communards - For A Friend (1988)
UK#28, DE#35



The Communards - There's More to Love than Boy Meets Girl (1988)
UK#20, DE#34



SOLO YEARS

Jimmy Somerville & June Miles-Kingston - Comment Te Dire Adieu (1989)
FR#3, UK#13, NL#26



Jimmy Somerville - You Make Me Feel (1989)
UK#5, FR#7, US#34, NL#49


Jimmy Somerville - You make me feel
Uploaded by djoik. - Watch more music videos, in HD!

Jimmy Somerville - Read My Lips (1989)
UK#26, FR#29



Jimmy Somerville - Run From Love (1991)
(originally penned for Bronski Beat, the track was never released by them and shelved in the run up of Jimmy leaving the band)
FR#27, UK#52



Jimmy Somerville - To Love Somebody (1991)
NL#4, AT#5, NZ#5, UK#8, FR#15



Jimmy Somerville - Heartbeat (1995)



Jimmy Somerville - Dark Sky (1999)