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Don't Leave Me This Way

by

The Communards with Sarah Jane Morris



Album: The Communards      Released: 1986
US Chart: 40     UK Chart: 1
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This originally was a 1977 American #1 hit for Thelma Houston. In the UK her version reached #13, while a more soulful version by Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes did better peaking at #5. The Communards decided to cover this as Jimmy Somerville loved Houston's Disco version, while Richard Coles liked the Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes one.

This was dedicated to the Greater London Council (GLC), London's top administrative body, which was about to be abolished by Margaret Thatcher, a move that was drawing much criticism from left wing quarters.

In the UK this was the biggest-selling single of 1986, helped by the inclusion of an innovative 22:55 extended version.

The Communards were a UK duo formed in 1985 by ex Bronski Beat singer Jimmy Somerville and classically trained pianist Richard Coles. They named themselves The Communards after a group of 19th century French revolutionaries. They disbanded in 1988.

The backing vocalist Sarah Jane Morris, is also a Jazz vocalist and actress. In 1992 she had a #1 hit in Italy with a cover of Barry White's "Never Never Gonna Give You Up." (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England, for all above)

The Communards version both added and omitted some parts. Jimmy Sommerville's verse, from "I can't survive, I can't stay alive" to "I'll surely miss you're tender kiss" and Sara Jane Morris' verse, "I Don't Understand" had a few other verses between them ("A broken man with empty hands," "It would be wrong to string along a love so true") and the parts "Believe" and "Don't satisfy me" were nonexistent. (thanks, Mjn Seifer - England)

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Comments:

When I first heard Thelma Houston sing this song I thought it was NOTHING.But this song just kept on going and going slowly to number one.This song was at number 10 in 1976 it went to number 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-and amazingly to the top position,most deservedly.
- john, Brisbane, United States

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