Red
Studio album by
the Communards
Released5 October 1987[1]
RecordedJune–August 1987
StudioAdvision (London)
Genre
Length45:11
LabelLondon
Producer
The Communards chronology
Communards
(1986)		 Red
(1987)		 Heaven
(1994)

Red is the second album by British synth-pop duo the Communards, released on 5 October 1987[4] 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,[5] but this rendition is similar to Gloria Gaynor's disco version.[2][6][7] Jimmy Somerville's "straight ahead"[6] 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 successful on both sides of the Atlantic; reaching number 4 in the UK and number 51 in the US,[5][8] while being certified silver in the UK.[9] The track was used in the Doctor Who episode "Father's Day".[10]

"For a Friend"

The last cut on the original vinyl side one is an emotional ballad. It was written in memory of Mark Ashton, a friend of Somerville and Richard Coles who died of HIV/AIDS.[2][7] Mark Hooper of The Rough Guide to Rock writes that this cut may be Somerville's "most impassioned moment".[7] It was among the first pop songs to address AIDS.[11] "For a Friend" reached number 28 on the British charts.[5] It was featured in the soundtrack of the 2014 film Pride.[12] It was also one of the songs played at Burberry’s February 2018 show, marking Christopher Bailey’s final outing for the brand.[13]

Artwork and title

The album cover is white with a grey 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 letters. 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 at the time. The US issue features the cover in red.[6]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Record Mirror[14]
Smash Hits8/10[15]

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".[6] 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".[7]

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 lack of cohesion of the album's side two compared to its first half.[6]

Track listing

Written by Richard Coles and Jimmy Somerville, except where noted

LP

Side one
No.TitleLength
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
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Never Can Say Goodbye"Clifton Davis4:53
7."Lovers and Friends"Coles4:16
8."Hold on Tight" 4:49
9."If I Could Tell You"
4:17
10."C Minor" 5:10
Total length:45:11

CD

CD1
No.TitleLength
1."Tomorrow"4:52
2."T.M.T.♥.T.B.M.G."4:38
3."Matter Of Opinion"4:27
4."Victims"4.32
5."For A Friend"5.03
6."Never Can Say Goodbye"4:53
7."Lovers And Friends"4:16
8."Hold On Tight"4:49
9."If I Could Tell You"4:17
10."C Minor"5:10
Total length:45:11

2012 Re-issue[16]

CD1 Bonus Tracks
No.TitleLength
11."For A Friend (BBC Unplugged Live)"3:50
12."Never Can Say Goodbye (San Paulo Mix)"7:03
13."Romanze For Violin, Piano & Hedgehog"4:29
14."There's More To Love (Jalapeno Mix)"7:47
15."Tomorrow (Extended 12" Version)"7:15
16."Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart"2:48
Total length:78:23
CD2
No.TitleLength
1."Never Can Say Goodbye (Shep Pettibone Extended Mix)"11:14
2."When The Boy In Your Heart Is The Boy In Your Arms"2:26
3."I Just Want To Let You Know"3:25
4."Scat"3:32
5."Piece Of Saxophone"3:28
6."Never Can Say Goodbye (San Paulo Dub Mix)"6:24
7."For A Friend (Remix)"5:02
Total length:35:31 113:54
Storm Paris
No.TitleLength
Bonus Tracks
No.TitleLength
16."Spanish Rap (El Amor No Es Solo Un Hombre Y Una Mujer)"1:08
17."Never Can Say Goodbye (Instrumental Mix)"5:48

2022 Re-issue[17]

CD1 Bonus Tracks
No.TitleLength
11."I Just Want To Let You Know"3:25
12."Scat"3.29
13."'77 The Great Escape"2:17
14."I Do It All For You"5:07
15."Romanze For Violin, Piano And Hedgehog"4:26
16."Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart"2:45
17."When The Boy In Your Heart Is The Boy In Your Arms"2:24
18."Never Can Say Goodbye (Spanish Vocal)"4:50
19."Piece Of Saxophone"3:29
Total length:77:23
CD2
No.TitleLength
1."Never Can Say Goodbye (The 2 Bears Remix)"9:59
2."There's More To Love (Jalapeño Mix)"7:47
3."Tomorrow (Overnight Mix)"5:27
4."For A Friend (Remix)"5:02
5."Never Can Say Goodbye (Shep Pettibone Extended Mix)"11:14
6."C Minor (Live)"3:36
7."Victims (Storm Paris)"5:16
8."Hold On Tight (Storm Paris)"3:48
9."There's More To Love (Percapella)"5:07
10."Tomorrow (Demo)"4:54
11."Never Can Say Goodbye (Rough Mix)"4:54
12."For A Friend (Rough Mix)"4:34
13."Hold On Tight (Demo)"4:40
Total length:76:18 153:41

Personnel

The Communards

Additional musicians

  • Rob Fisher – synthesizer and sequencer
  • Dave Renwick – bass
  • Gary Barnacle – soprano saxophone
  • Simon Clarke – alto saxophone and baritone saxophone
  • Pandit Dinesh – percussions
  • Sally Herbert – violin
  • Judd Lander – harmonica
  • Roddy Lorimer – trumpet
  • June Miles-Kingston – drums and backing vocals
  • Audrey Riley – cello
  • Jocelyn Pook – viola
  • Tim Sanders – tenor saxophone
  • Steve Sidwell – trumpet
  • Anne Stephenson – violin
  • Annie Whitehead – trombone
  • Jo Pretzel – synthesizers
  • Zita Wadwa – additional vocals
  • Caroline Buckley – backing vocals

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for Red
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
France (SNEP)[32] 2× Gold 200,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[33] Platinum 100,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[34] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[35] Platinum 300,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ "Red [35 Year Anniversary Edition]". Allmusic. RhythmOne. Archived from the original on 19 July 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023. Release Date | October 5, 1987 (However, the title refers to a music download, at that time the digital transfer service was not yet established. It is therefore to assumed that the published date relates to the original release.)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Kellman, Andy. "Review: Red". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 13 November 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  3. ↑ Robbins, Ira; Rompers, Terry. "Bronski Beat". Trouser Press. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  4. ↑ "New Albums" (PDF). Music Week. 3 October 1987. p. 38. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
  5. 1 2 3 Warwick, Neil; Kutner, Jon; Brown, Tony (2004). The Complete Book of the British charts: Singles & Albums. Omnibus Press. p. 256. ISBN 978-1-84449-058-5. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Walter, Kate (April 1988). "The Communards Red MCA". Spin. p. 20. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Hooper, Mark (2003). Buckley, Peter (ed.). The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides. pp. 221–222. ISBN 978-1-84353-105-0. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
  8. ↑ "The Communards Chart History (The Hot 100)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 8 February 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  9. ↑ "British certifications – Communards – Never Can Say Goodbye". British Phonographic Industry. 1 December 1987. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  10. ↑ "Doctor Who – "Father's Day" – Episode Guide". BBC. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  11. ↑ Theophano, Teresa (2004). Queer Quotes: On Coming Out and Culture, Love and Lust, Politics and Pride, and Much More. Beacon Press. p. 177. ISBN 9780807079065. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  12. ↑ Brightmore, Dan (12 September 2014). "The Story Behind the Making of Pride – Producer and Cast Q&A". NME. Archived from the original on 9 November 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  13. ↑ Laura, Hawkins. "United Visual Artists lights up Christopher Bailey's final Burberry show". Wallpaper*. Archived from the original on 18 February 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  14. ↑ Strickland, Andy (10 October 1987). "Albums". Record Mirror. p. 20. ISSN 0144-5804.
  15. ↑ Cranna, Ian (7–20 October 1987). "Albums: The Communards — Red (London)" (PDF). Smash Hits. Vol. 9, no. 19. Peterborough: EMAP National Publications, Ltd. p. 60. ISSN 0260-3004. Archived from the original on 6 August 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2023 – via World Radio History.
  16. ↑ The Communards - Red, 2 July 2012, archived from the original on 20 June 2023, retrieved 20 June 2023
  17. ↑ The Communards - Red, 28 October 2022, archived from the original on 20 June 2023, retrieved 20 June 2023
  18. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 71. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  19. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Communards – Red" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  20. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Communards – Red" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  21. ↑ "European Hot 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 48. 5 December 1987. p. 18. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  22. ↑ "Le Détail des Albums de chaque Artiste". InfoDisc (in French). Archived from the original on 5 August 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2022. Select "COMMUNARDS" from the drop-down menu and click "OK".
  23. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Communards – Red" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  24. ↑ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Archived from the original on 1 December 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2023. Set "Album" for option "Tipo", then write the name of a wanted album in the "Titolo" field and search for the artist.
  25. ↑ "Charts.nz – Communards – Red". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  26. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Communards – Red". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  27. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  28. ↑ "The Communards Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  29. ↑ "Red". Official Charts Company. OCC. Archived from the original on 12 November 2022. #52
  30. ↑ "Gallup Year End Charts 1987 – Albums" (PDF). Record Mirror. 23 January 1988. p. 37. ISSN 0144-5804. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 May 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2022 – via World Radio History.
  31. ↑ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 1988" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  32. ↑ "French album certifications – Communards – Red" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 8 February 2022. Select COMMUNARDS and click OK. 
  33. ↑ Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (PDF) (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. p. 922. ISBN 84-8048-639-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  34. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Red')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  35. ↑ "British album certifications – Communards – Red". British Phonographic Industry. 8 January 1988. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
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