This page will contain wikis about The Communards, as they become available.The CommunardsThis article is about the pop group The Communards. For the French political activists, see communards. Communars 08.jpg The Communards were a British pop duo of the 1980s. They formed in 1985 after singer Jimmy Somerville left his earlier band Bronski Beat to team up with classically-trained musician Richard Coles. Though mainly a pianist, Coles played a number of instruments and had been seen previously performiong the clarinet solos on the Bronski Beat hit It Ain't Necessarily So. Jimmy was renowned for his falsetto (high pitched) singing style, and the fact that he was openly gay. The band had their first UK Top 20 hit in 1985 with the piano-based single You Are My World. The following year they had their biggest hit with an energetic cover version of Thelma Houston's soul classic Don't Leave Me This Way which spent four weeks at number one and became the UK's biggest selling single of 1986. It featured Sarah-Jane Morris as a co-vocalist. Later that year The Communards had another Top 10 hit with the single So Cold the Night. In 1987 they released an album called Red which featured a cover version of Gloria Gaynor's hit Never Can Say Goodbye, which the Communards took to Number 4. They split in 1988 and Somerville began a solo career. Coles became a journalist for the Times Literary Supplement and Catholic Herald. This page about The Communards includes information from a Wikipedia article. Additional articles about The Communards News stories about The Communards External links for The Communards Videos for The Communards Wikis about The Communards Discussion Groups about The Communards Blogs about The Communards Images of The Communards |
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Coles became a journalist for the Times Literary Supplement and Catholic Herald. A version of "When You Walk in the Room" by Pam Tillis in 1994 topped the country charts. They split in 1988 and Somerville began a solo career. The songs "Breakaway" recorded by Tracey Ullman in 1983 and "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" recorded by Annie Lennox and Al Green in 1988 also became huge hits. In 1987 they released an album called Red which featured a cover version of Gloria Gaynor's hit Never Can Say Goodbye, which the Communards took to Number 4. It earned DeShannon the 1982 Grammy Award for Song of the Year. Later that year The Communards had another Top 10 hit with the single So Cold the Night. In 1975 with Donna Weiss, she composed "Queen of the Rodeo" and "Bette Davis Eyes" for her album New Arrangement. The song "Bette Davis Eyes" later became a worldwide Number 1 single for singer Kim Carnes in 1981. It featured Sarah-Jane Morris as a co-vocalist. While DeShannon hasn't produced any further Top Ten singles of her own, her songs have been covered by other artists who have in turn converted them into hits. The following year they had their biggest hit with an energetic cover version of Thelma Houston's soul classic Don't Leave Me This Way which spent four weeks at number one and became the UK's biggest selling single of 1986. In 1973 she was invited by Van Morrison to sing on his Hard Nose the Highway album. The band had their first UK Top 20 hit in 1985 with the piano-based single You Are My World. Switching to Atlantic Records in 1970 and moving to Los Angeles, DeShannon recorded the critically acclaimed albums Jackie and Your Baby Is a Lady but they failed to produce the same commercial successes of previous releases. Jimmy was renowned for his falsetto (high pitched) singing style, and the fact that he was openly gay. The single "Love Will Find a Way" off the same album was also a moderate hit. Though mainly a pianist, Coles played a number of instruments and had been seen previously performiong the clarinet solos on the Bronski Beat hit It Ain't Necessarily So. DeShannon continued writing and recording but it wasn't until 1968 when she scored her next biggest smash single and album, both entitled Put a Little Love in Your Heart. They formed in 1985 after singer Jimmy Somerville left his earlier band Bronski Beat to team up with classically-trained musician Richard Coles. She appeared in the 1967 film C'mon Let's Live a Little with Bobby Vee, as a folk singer. The Communards were a British pop duo of the 1980s. In late 1965, DeShannon recorded Bacharach and David's "What the World Needs Now Is Love" and it provided her first Number 1 hit and regular appearances on television shows and club tours. Communars 08.jpg. Moving to New York, DeShannon co-wrote with Randy Newman producing such songs as "She Don't Understand Him" and "Did He Call Today Mama" as well as writing "You Have No Choice" for Delaney Bramblett. For the French political activists, see communards.. When Jimmy Page recorded his first solo single for Fontana Records, DeShannon sang vocals on "Keep Moving", the B-side of "She Just Satisfies". This article is about the pop group The Communards. DeShannon also appeared on the television show Ready Steady Go!. Both Page and DeShannon also wrote material for singer Marianne Faithfull including her Top Ten UK and US hit "Come and Stay with Me". Staying briefly in England in 1965, DeShannon formed a songwriting partnership with Jimmy Page, which resulted in hit singles "Dream Boy" and "Don't Turn Your Back on Me". Her music at this stage was heavily influenced by the American West Coast sounds and folk music. DeShannon also wrote "Don' Doubt Yourself Babe" for The Byrds debut album. DeShannon's biggest break came in February, 1964 when she supported The Beatles on their first US tour, and formed a touring band with guitarist Ry Cooder. She also co-starred and sang with Bobby Vinton in the teen surf movie Surf Party. DeShannon dated Elvis Presley and formed friendships with The Everly Brothers and Ricky Nelson. During these years it was her songwriting and public profile, rather than her singing, which kept her contracted to Liberty Records. She recorded many other singles that encompassed teen pop, country ballads, rockabilly, gospel and Ray Charles style soul that didn't fare as well on the charts. English group The Searchers later covered both songs in 1963 for success on the UK charts. In 1962, DeShannon signed with Liberty Records and recorded "Needles and Pins" and "When You Walk in the Room", with both resulting in major American hits. The partnership produced hits such as "Dum Dum" and "He's the Great Imposter" for Brenda Lee and The Fleetwoods respectively. DeShannon was then commissioned to write the soundtrack for the 1961 film Splendor in the Grass. Recording under various names such as Sherry Lee, Jackie Dee, and Jackie Shannon, she had little success however her interpretations of country songs, "Buddy" and "Trouble", gained the attention of Eddie Cochran who arranged for her to travel to California and meet singer songwriter Sharon Sheeley, who formed a writing partnership with DeShannon in 1960. By the age of eleven, DeShannon was already hosting her own radio program. The daughter of showbusiness parents, Sandra Jean and James Erwin Myers, DeShannon was introduced to singing country tunes on a local radio show at the age of six. Jackie DeShannon was born in Hazel, Kentucky. Record company executives at Liberty Records thought the name Sharon Myers wouldn't sell records. Sharon Myers adopted the name Jackie DeShannon, believed to be an Irish ancestor. She is one of the first female singer songwriters of the rock 'n' roll period. Jackie DeShannon, real name Sharon Lee Myers, (born August 21, 1944) is an American singer/songwriter with a string of hit song credits from the 1960s onwards. The Catcher (1972) (television series). C'mon Let's Live a Little (1967). Intimacy (1966). Surf Party (1964). You Know Me (2000). Come and Get Me: Best of 1958-1980 (2000) (compilation). The Early Years (1998) (compilation). Trouble with Jackie Dee (1991). The Best of Jackie DeShannon (1991) (compilation). Good as Gold! (1990) (compilation). What the World Needs Now Is ...: The Definitive Collection (1987) (compilation). Jackie DeShannon (1985) (compilation). Pop Princess (1981) (compilation). Together (1980) (soundtrack). Quick Touches (1978). You're the Only Dancer (1977). The Very Best of Jackie DeShannon (1975) (compilation). New Arrangement (1975). Your Baby Is a Lady (1974). Jackie (1972). Songs (1971). To Be Free (1970). Put a Little Love In Your Heart (1969). Laurel Canyon (1969). Lonely Girl (1968) (compilation). What the World Needs Now Is Love (1968). Me About You (1968). For You (1967). New Image (1967). Are You Ready for This? (1967). C'Mon Let's Live a Little (1966) (soundtrack). You Won't Forget Me (1965) (compilation). In the Wind (1965). This Is Jackie DeShannon (1965). Surf Party (1964) (soundtrack). Don't Turn Your Back On Me (1964). Breakin' It Up On the Beatles Tour (1964). Jackie DeShannon (1963). |