Dionne WordPress Banner

The Second Disc

Expanded and Remastered Music News

  • Home
  • News
    • Classic Rock
    • Rock
    • Pop
    • Jazz
    • Popular Standards/Vocal
    • R&B/Soul
    • Country
    • Folk
    • Cast Recordings
    • Soundtracks
    • Everything Else
      • Classical/Opera
      • Disco/Dance
      • Funk
      • Gospel
      • Rap/Hip-Hop
  • Features
    • Release Round-Up
    • The Weekend Stream
    • Giveaways!
    • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Classic Rock
    • Rock
    • Pop
    • Jazz
    • Popular Standards/Vocal
    • R&B/Soul
    • Country
    • Folk
    • Cast Recordings
    • Soundtracks
    • Everything Else
      • Classical/Opera
      • Disco/Dance
      • Funk
      • Gospel
      • Rap/Hip-Hop
  • Release Calendar
    • Coming Soon
    • Now Available
  • About
  • Second Disc Records
    • Full Catalog
  • Contact

/ News

Smalltown Boy Made Good: Edsel Preps Bronski Beat, Communards Expansions

June 4, 2012 By Mike Duquette Leave a Comment

Edsel continues populating a busy release schedule with recently-announced expansions of three albums from two bands featuring Scottish pop singer Jimmy Somerville.

British pop fans might know Somerville today as the falsetto-voiced singer who crooned several hits in the '80s and '90s (including a chart-topping dance track in the U.S., "Heartbeat," in 1995). But his first brushes with stardom happened with a pair of synthpop bands in the middle of the 1980s. First, there was his brief but notable tenure as lead singer of Bronski Beat from 1983 to 1985; Somerville and bandmates Steve Bronski and Larry Steinbachek all addressed the still-taboo topic of homosexuality in their music (all three were publicly out) but never sacrificed the music for the message. The catchy singles "Smalltown Boy" and "Why?" were Top 10 hits in 1984 and remain notable gay anthems to this day.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xuz94ZIPfJk]

Somerville departed Bronski Beat amid personal and professional tensions, forming The Communards with classically-trained musician Richard Coles. Though Somerville remained a prominent gay icon, The Communards' biggest hits were high-energy covers of soul classics. Their take on "Don't Leave Me This Way," performed by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes and Thelma Houston, was England's top-selling single of 1986, and a cover of The Jackson 5's "Never Can Say Goodbye" was a Top 5 hit, too.

Edsel's two-disc editions of Bronski Beat's The Age of Consent and The Communards' Communards and Red all come brimming with extras, including non-LP B-sides and single remixes, many of which are making their debuts on CD. The Age of Consent includes the remix album Hundreds & Thousands in its entirety, while Red features all of the live tracks from Storm Paris, a triple-12" set released in 1988. Somerville contributed new notes to all three sets (Coles contributed to the Communards packages).

Look for these in U.K. shops on July 2 and hit the jump for the full breakdowns!

Bronski Beat, The Age of Consent: Deluxe Edition (Edsel EDSK-7008, 2012)

Disc 1: The Age of Consent and bonus material

  1. Why?
  2. It Ain't Necessarily So
  3. Screaming
  4. No More War
  5. Love and Money
  6. Smalltown Boy
  7. Heatwave
  8. Junk
  9. Need-a-Man Blues
  10. I Feel Love/Johnny Remember Me
  11. Smalltown Boy (7" Edit)
  12. Why (Remix)
  13. I Feel Love Medley (Source Mix)
  14. It Ain't Necessarily So (12" Version)
  15. Red Dance

Disc 2: Hundreds & Thousands and bonus material

  1. Heatwave (Goldberg Remix)
  2. Why? (Goldberg Remix)
  3. Run from Love (Meita Remix)
  4. Hard Rain (Goldberg Remix)
  5. Smalltown Boy (Goldberg Remix)
  6. Junk (Goldberg Remix)
  7. I Feel Love (Fruit Mix)
  8. Hard Rain (Demo)
  9. Screaming (Demo)
  10. Signs (and Wonders)
  11. The Potatoe Fields
  12. Run from Love (Radio Version)
  13. Puit D'Amour
  14. Close to the Edge
  15. Cadillac Car

Disc 1, Tracks 1-10 released as Forbidden Fruit/London LP BITLP 1, 1984
Disc 1, Track 11 was Forbidden Fruit/London single A-side BITE1, 1984
Disc 1, Track 12 was Forbidden Fruit/London 12" A-side BITEX2, 1984
Disc 1, Track 13 was MCA 12" A-side 23550 (U.S.), 1984
Disc 1, Tracks 14-15 and Disc 2, Track 14 from Forbidden Fruit/London 12" BITEX3, 1984
Disc 2, Tracks 1-6 released as Forbidden Fruit/London LP BITLP 2, 1985
Disc 2, Track 7 from Forbidden Fruit/London 12" BITER4, 1985
Disc 2, Track 8 was the B-side to Forbidden Fruit/London single BITDJ5, 1985
Disc 2, Track 9 from Raging Spool cassette compilation - New Musical Express NME-014, 1984
Disc 2, Tracks 10-11 and 13 from Forbidden Fruit/London 12" BITEX4, 1985
Disc 2, Track 12 from Metronome 12" 886 009-1 (DE), 1985
Disc 2, Track 15 was the B-side to "Why?" - Forbidden Fruit/London single BITE2, 1984

The Communards, Communards: Deluxe Edition (Edsel ESDK-7009, 2012)

Disc 1: Original LP and bonus tracks

  1. Don't Leave Me This Way
  2. La Dolarosa
  3. Disenchanted
  4. Reprise
  5. So Cold the Night
  6. You Are My World
  7. Lover Man
  8. Don't Slip Away
  9. Heavens Above
  10. Forbidden Love
  11. Breadline Britain
  12. Disenchanted (Total Dance Remix)
  13. Judgement Day
  14. Don't Leave Me This Way (Son of Gotham City Mix Part 1)/Sanctified
  15. When the Walls Come Tumbling Down (Live in Oxford)

Disc 2: Bonus material

  1. You Are My World ('87 Single Version)
  2. Don't Leave Me This Way (Son of Gotham City Mix Part 2)
  3. So Cold the Night (Remixed Club Version)
  4. Heavens Above (10" Version)
  5. Johnny Verso
  6. Sentimental Journey
  7. The Message
  8. Disenchanted (Instrumental)
  9. So Cold the Night (Instrumental)
  10. Never No More
  11. Sanctified
  12. When the Walls Come Tumbling Down
  13. The Multimix (Don't Leave Me This Way, So Cold the Night, Disenchanted)
  14. Annie

Disc 1, Tracks 1-10 released as London Records LONLP 18, 1986
Disc 1, Track 11 and Disc 2, Tracks 4 and 6 from London Records 12" LONX77, 1985
Disc 1, Track 12 and Disc 2, Track 8 from London Records 12" LONXR89, 1986
Disc 1, Track 13 and Disc 2, Track 1 were London Records single LON123, 1987
Disc 1, Track 14 from London Records 12" LONRR103, 1986
Disc 1, Track 15 from London Records cassette LONFC110, 1987
Disc 2, Track 2 from London Records 12" LONX103, 1986
Disc 2, Tracks 3 and 13 were London Records 12" LONXP110, 1986
Disc 2, Tracks 5 and 14 from London Records 12" LONX89, 1986
Disc 2, Track 7 from London Records 12" LONXR123, 1987
Disc 2, Track 9 from London Records 12" promo LONXDJ110, 1986
Disc 2, Tracks 10 and 12 from London Records 12" LONX110, 1986
Disc 2, Track 11 from London Records single LON103, 1986

The Communards, Red: Deluxe Edition (Edsel EDSK-7010, 2012)

Disc 1: Red and bonus tracks

  1. Tomorrow
  2. T.M.T. ♥ T.B.M.G.
  3. Matter of Opinion
  4. Victims
  5. For a Friend
  6. Never Can Say Goodbye
  7. Lovers and Friends
  8. Hold On Tight
  9. If I Could Tell You
  10. C Minor
  11. For a Friend (Unplugged)
  12. Never Can Say Goodbye (San Paulo Mix)
  13. Romanze for Violin, Piano & Hedgehog
  14. There's More to Love (Jalapeño Mix)
  15. Tomorrow (Extended 12" Version)
  16. Zing Went the Strings of My Heart

Disc 2: Bonus material

  1. Never Can Say Goodbye (Shep Pettibone Extended Mix)
  2. When the Boy in Your Heart is the Boy in Your Arms
  3. I Just Want to Let You Know
  4. Scat
  5. Piece of Saxophone
  6. Never Can Say Goodbye (San Paulo Dub Mix)
  7. For a Friend (Remix)
  8. Victims (Live)
  9. Don't Leave Me This Way (Live)
  10. Heavens Above (Live)
  11. You Are My World (Live)
  12. So Cold the Night (Live)
  13. For a Friend (Live)
  14. Never Can Say Goodbye (Live)
  15. Hold On Tight (Live)
  16. Spanish Rap (El Amor No Es Solo Un Hombre Y Una Mujer)
  17. Never Can Say Goodbye (Instrumental Mix)

Disc 1, Tracks 1-10 released as London Records LONLP39, 1987
Disc 1, Track 11 exact origin undetermined
Disc 1, Track 12 and Disc 2, Track 6 from London Records 12" LONXR158, 1987
Disc 1, Tracks 13 and 15 and Disc 2, Tracks 3-4 were London Records 12" LONX143, 1987
Disc 1, Tracks 14 and 16 and Disc 2, Tracks 2 and 16 were London Records 12" LONX173, 1988
Disc 2, Tracks 1 and 5 from London Records 12" LONX158, 1987
Disc 2, Tracks 7-15 from Storm Paris - London Records LONZ166, 1988
Disc 2, Track 17 from MCA 12" promo L33-17469 (U.S.), 1987

Categories: News Tags: Bronski Beat, The Communards

Avatar photo

Mike Duquette

Mike Duquette (Founder) was fascinated with catalog music ever since he was a teenager. A 2009 graduate of Seton Hall University with a B.A. in journalism, Mike paired his profession with his passion through The Second Disc, one of the first sites to focus on all reissue labels great and small. His passion for reissues turned into a career, holding positions at Legacy Recordings and Rhino Records and contributing to Allmusic, Discogs, City Pages, Ultimate Classic Rock and Mondo Records, for whom he penned liner notes for his favorite piece of music: John Williams' Oscar-winning score to 'E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.' Born and raised in New Jersey, Mike lives in Astoria, Queens with his wife, a cat named Ravioli, twin daughters and a large yet tasteful collection of music.

Connect With Mike:

You Might Also Like

  • Bronski packshotSmalltown Boy: Bronski Beat's Debut Goes Deluxe for 40th Anniversary
  • Disco Discharge Box of SinLove Will Save the Day: Edsel's "Disco Discharge Presents Box of Sin" Chronicles '80s Gay Club Scene
  • Eartha Kitt Im Still Here ExpandedThree Cheers and Dammit, C'est La Vie: Eartha Kitt's "I'm Still Here" and "Live in London" Reissued by Cherry Red
  • somerville fb bannerWE HAVE A WINNER! One Complete Set of Deluxe Reissues from BRONSKI BEAT, THE COMMUNARDS and JIMMY SOMERVILLE!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Upcoming Releases

  • Backstreet Boys Millennium 2 0
    Millennium 2.0
    Backstreet Boys
    July 11, 2025
    US UK
  • Kinks The Journey Part 3 Cover
    The Journey: Part 3
    The Kinks
    July 11, 2025
    US UK
  • Jethro Tull Still Living in the Past
    Still Living in the Past
    Jethro Tull
    July 11, 2025
    US UK
See Full Calendar

Connect

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 4,681 other subscribers

Popular Posts

  • Most Commented
  • Most Viewed
  • Rod Stewart Ultimate Hits Amazon exclusiveHe Wears It Well: Rod Stewart's 'Ultimate Hits' Due in June
  • Brian Wilson At My Piano Promo ShotIn Memoriam: Brian Wilson (1942-2025)
  • McCartney SHM splashPaul is Live (on SHM-CD): Five New McCartney Titles Follow Nearly a Year of Additional Discs
  • record store day logoThe Second Disc's Guide to Record Store Day 2025: Our Favorite Picks
  • John Williams Anthology 1Mondo Maestro: New John Williams Box Set Series Announced, Plus 'Star Wars' Re-Recordings on Vinyl
  • Frank Zappa Cheaper Than CheepWowie Zowie: Frank Zappa's "Cheaper Than Cheep" Premieres Lost Concert Film, Soundtrack

Music Resources

  • Addicted to Vinyl
  • Crap from the Past
  • Discogs
  • Film Score Monthly
  • IMWAN Forum – From the Vaults
  • MusicTAP
  • Musoscribe
  • Pause & Play
  • Popdose
  • Slicing Up Eyeballs
  • Steve Hoffman Music Forums
  • Ultimate Classic Rock
  • Vintage Vinyl News
  • Wolfgang's Vault

Labels of Note

  • Ace Records
  • Analog Spark
  • Bear Family
  • BGO Records
  • Big Break Records
  • Blixa Sounds
  • Cherry Red Label Group
  • Craft Recordings
  • Demon Music Group
  • Friday Music
  • Funky Town Grooves
  • Iconoclassic Records
  • Intervention Records
  • Intrada
  • Kritzerland
  • La La Land Records
  • Legacy Recordings
  • Light in the Attic
  • Masterworks Broadway
  • Now Sounds
  • Omnivore Recordings
  • Real Gone Music
  • Rhino Entertainment
  • Rock Candy Records
  • SoulMusic Records
  • Sunset Blvd. Records
  • Supermegabot
  • Varese Sarabande
  • Vinyl Me, Please
  • Wounded Bird
Copyright © 2025 The Second Disc. All rights reserved. · Site by Metaglyphics

The Second Disc is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.ca and amazon.co.uk.

Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy