Released October 1987 | Length 45:11 Release date October 1987 Genre Electropop | |
Recorded June 1987 – August 1987 Electropop albums Communards, Read My Lips, Dare to Love, Hundreds & Thousands, Manage the Damage | ||
The communards red full album
Red is the second album from 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 Albums Chart and number 93 on the US Billboard 200 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".
Contents
The communards red 1987 vinyl rip
"Never Can Say Goodbye"
This Clifton Davis penned song was originally performed by The Jackson 5 but this version is more of a remake of Gloria Gaynor's disco version. Jimmy Somerville's "straight ahead" vocals are a strength of the song, with Andy Kellman of AllMusic crediting him with producing a recording that "stands apart" from other versions. The single proved to be a hit on both sides of the Atlantic; reaching number 4 in the UK and 51 in the US while being certified silver in the UK. The track was used in the Doctor Who episode "Father's Day".
"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. Mark Hooper of The Rough Guide to Rock writes that this cut may be Somerville's "most impassioned moment". It was among the first pop songs to address AIDS. "For a Friend" reached number 28 on the British charts. It was featured in the soundtrack of the 2014 film Pride.
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 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.
Reception
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". On the other hand, Kate Walter of Spin said it is "weaker than [their] sizzling debut album". 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".
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". 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.
Track listing
All tracks written by Richard Coles and Jimmy Somerville except where noted.
Personnel
Additional musicians
Production
Singles
UK
US
Songs
1Tomorrow4:53
2TMT ♥ TBMG4:38
3Matter of Opinion4:27