Red is the second album from the British pop duo The Communards. The Stephen Hague produced album was released in 1987 on London Records in the UK and MCA in the US. It reached number 4 in the UK and 93 in the US and was certified platinum in the UK. Red features the hits "Never Can Say Goodbye", "Tomorrow", "There's More To Love Than Boy Meets Girl" and "For a Friend".
Notable songs
"Never Can Say Goodbye"
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This Clifton Davis penned song was originally performed by The Jackson 5[1] but this version is more of a remake of Gloria Gaynor's disco version.[2][3][4] Jimmy Somerville's "straight ahead"[3] vocals are a strength of the song, with Andy Kellman of Allmusic crediting him with producing a recording that "stands apart" from other versions.[2] The single proved to be a hit on both sides of the Atlantic; reaching number 4 in the UK[1] and 51 in the US[5] while being certified silver in the UK.[6] The track was used in the Doctor Who episode "Father's Day".[7]
"For a Friend"
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The last cut on the original vinyl side one is an emotional ballad. It was written in memory of Mark Ashton[4] a friend of Somerville and Richard Coles [2] who died of HIV/AIDS.[2][4] Mark Hooper of The Rough Guide to Rock writes that this cut may be Somerville's "most impassioned moment".[4] It was among the first pop songs to address AIDS.[8] "For a Friend" reached number 28 on the British charts.[1] It was featured in the soundtrack of the 2014 film Pride.[9]
Album cover and title
The album cover is white with a gray five pointed star containing two faces in profile (the group's logo). Directly above the star is the band's name in plain all capital letter. Above the band's name in red flowing script is the album title 'Red'. The title is a nod to the duo's socialist leanings. The US issue features the cover in red.[3]
Reception
Professional ratings |
Review scores |
Source |
Rating |
Allmusic |
![4.5/5 stars 4.5/5 stars](/w/images/thumb/5/51/Star_full.svg/11px-Star_full.svg.png) ![](/w/images/thumb/5/51/Star_full.svg/11px-Star_full.svg.png) ![](/w/images/thumb/5/51/Star_full.svg/11px-Star_full.svg.png) ![](/w/images/thumb/5/51/Star_full.svg/11px-Star_full.svg.png) ![](/w/images/thumb/8/81/Star_half.svg/11px-Star_half.svg.png) |
Opinions vary as to where this album stands next to its predecessor, Communards. Andy Kellman of Allmusic's retrospective review feels it "tops their respectable debut in nearly every aspect" and that the singles "Tomorrow" and "There's More to Love Than Boy Meets Girl" are "stronger than anything on the debut".[2] On the other hand, Kate Walter of Spin said it is "weaker than [their] sizzling debut album".[3] Balancing these opinions was Mark Hooper of The Rough Guide to Rock who wrote that the album is "every bit as accomplished as its predecessor".[4]
Kellman's review praises the production work of Stephen Hague and calls the album "a defining Euro-dance record of the latter half of the '80s".[2] Walter credits Cole's "rickety–tickety synthesizers" and "tingly keyboards" along with Somerville's "squeals" and "whoops" as strengths of the album but bemoans the cohesiveness of the album's side two.[3]
Track list
All songs written and composed by Richard Coles/Jimmy Somerville unless noted.
1. |
"Tomorrow" |
|
4:52 |
2. |
"There's More to Love Than Boy Meets Girl" |
|
4:38 |
3. |
"Matter of Opinion" |
|
4:27 |
4. |
"Victims" |
|
4:32 |
5. |
"For a Friend" |
|
5:03 |
6. |
"Never Can Say Goodbye" |
Clifton Davis |
4:53 |
7. |
"Lovers and Friends" |
Coles |
4:16 |
8. |
"Hold on Tight" |
|
4:49 |
9. |
"If I Could Tell You" |
W. H. Auden/Somerville |
4:17 |
10. |
"C Minor" |
|
5:10 |
Total length:
|
45:11 |
Singles
1. |
"Never Can Say Goodbye" |
7:50 |
2. |
"Tomorrow" (Extended Version) |
7:15 |
1. |
"Never Can Say Goodbye" |
11:14 |
2. |
"Never Can Say Goodbye" (Dub Mix) |
5:45 |
3. |
"Never Can Say Goodbye" (Instrumental Mix) |
5:42 |
1. |
"Tomorrow" (Extended Version) |
|
2. |
"I Just Want to Let You Know" |
|
3. |
"Romanze For Violin, Piano And Hedgehog" |
|
4. |
"Scat" |
|
1. |
"There's More to Love" (Extended) |
|
2. |
"Zing Went the Strings of my Heart" |
|
3. |
"Spanish Rap (El Amor No Es Solo Un Hombre Y Und Mujer)" |
|
4. |
"When the Boy in Your Heart is the Boy in Your Arms" |
|
1. |
"For a Friend" |
|
2. |
"Victims (Live)" |
|
3. |
"Don't Leave Me This Way (Live)" |
|
4. |
"Heavens Above" |
|
1. |
"For a Friend (Remix)" |
|
2. |
"You Are My World (Live)" |
|
3. |
"So Cold The Night (Live)" |
|
4. |
"Victims (Live)" |
|
1. |
"For a Friend" |
|
2. |
"Megamix" |
|
3. |
"Never Can Say Goodbye" |
|
4. |
"Don't Leave Me This Way" |
|
5. |
"Disenchanted" |
|
6. |
"You Are My World" |
|
7. |
"Heaven Above" |
|
8. |
"You Are My World" |
|
Personnel
Additional musicians
Production
- Alvin Clark – assistant producer, engineer, producer
- Stephen Hague – producer
- David Jacob – engineer, mixing
- Avril MacKintosh – assistant engineer
Charts
Peak positions
|
Year-end charts
End of Year Chart (1987) |
Peak
position |
Italian Albums Chart[12] |
96 |
|
Certifications
Country |
Format |
Title |
Certification |
Date |
United Kingdom (BPI) |
single |
"Never Can Say Goodbye" |
Silver |
1 December 1987[6] |
United Kingdom (BPI) |
album |
Red |
Platinum |
8 January 1988[6] |
Singles
UK
Year |
Single |
Peak |
1987 |
"Tomorrow" |
23[1] |
1987 |
"Never Can Say Goodbye" |
4[1] |
1988 |
"For a Friend" |
28[1] |
1988 |
"There's More to Love" |
20[1] |
US
Year |
Single |
Peak |
1988 |
"Never Can Say Goodbye" |
51[5] |
References
|
|
Studio albums |
|
Remix albums |
|
Live albums |
|
Compilations |
The Communards |
- Heaven (1993)
- Het Beste Van The Communards (2005)
- The Platinum Collection (2006)
|
|
|
Other albums |
|
Extended plays |
- Bright Thing (2010)
- Momentum (2011)
|
|
Singles |
|
Video albums |
Bronski Beat |
|
The Communards |
|
- The Video Collection 1984/1990 (1990)
|
|
Filmography |
|
Related articles |
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