Jimmy Somerville discography Singer performing during the 10th anniversaryof Here and Now Tour, held on 25 June 2011 at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, England. Releases: Studio albums 9 Remix albums 3 Live albums 5 Compilation albums 10 EPs 4 Singles 39 Download singles 15 Promotional singles 4 Other songs 61 Video albums/EPs 5 Music videos 38
Scottish recording artist Jimmy Somerville entered the music industry as the frontman of the synth-pop act Bronski Beat. Alongside, he would score an early international success with a series of top-ten hits, such as "Smalltown Boy", "Why?" and "I Feel Love Medley"; all taken from the trio's debut album, The Age of Consent (1984), as well the remix equivalent, Hundreds & Thousands (1985). A similar status enjoyed the follow-up hit singles: "Don't Leave Me This Way", "So Cold the Night" and "Never Can Say Goodbye"; these though, were recorded for the eponymous set of his later duo Communards (1986), or its Red successor (1987) yet. The singer's own full-length debut would see its eventual results at the very end of the 1980s, marking the ending of his former bands' years, or rather the beginning of his solo era since.
Until now, Somerville has released nine studio albums; mostly on London Recordings, the latters through various independent labels. One conceptual work has initially been published by himself, for a change. In addition to three remixed collections, five live albums and ten retrospective compilations, two of which are double sets, he has also delivered four extended plays (EP); these more or less self-published again. His singles discography counts to thirty-nine physical releases—excluding four promotional-only—fifteen digital and over sixty other appearances; regardless of their format. Apart from that, he has been included on three video albums, two video EPs, and has made thirty-five music videos; with three further being "captured" in just vocally.
His principal debut arrived on 27 November 1989 under title Read My Lips. The outcome spawned two top-ten compositions, namely "Comment te dire adieu", performed as a duet with June Miles-Kingston, and "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)", another revival. While the lead cover went on to be certified Silver by the Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique (SNEP), the album itself Gold by the SNEP and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI); breaking into the top-forty of the music charts in France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. The titular track, written solely by musician, received a short-running but decent response on a single of its own.
By the time The Singles Collection 1984/1990 was issued for the next Christmas season, the combining sales of all his records were estimated by Music & Media for more than six million units, (p. 16) with France becoming the singer's most successful territory then. (p. 10) Upon its release on 12 November 1990, his first best-of set continued selling streak across the European continent, earning both Platinum and Gold certifications; each twice and respectively. The first two from the French SNEP and the Swiss IFPI, the latters from the Dutch NVPI and the German BVMI. Having reached the additional top-ten spots in Austria, Belgium, Ireland and the UK, the compilation recycled for its opening single also one of the Bee Gees' songs, "To Love Somebody", and likewise the remaining "Run from Love", previously not promoted commercially.
Even though, the management had expected their artist publishing a new material already the upcoming year, Somerville semi-retired from the business for four years. His one-off projects involved him only in recording themed tunes for the feature film Orlando (1992), or a short called The Attendant (1993). Simultaneously, he contributed for a charitable EP of duets, Gimme Shelter (1993).
The singer's second studio effort, Dare to Love, was launched on 12 June 1995. Despite its favorable reviews, the album somewhat failed to match the sales of its predecessors. Having missed the top-forty, except for the UK, it ultimately became his closing release on London Recordings. The lead-off singles, however, they did make an impact, either in the dance or airplay field. While "Heartbeat" received club play on both sides of the Atlantic, topping the US Dance eventually, "Hurt So Good" cracked into the mainstream top-ten in his homeland, and turned into a radio favorite in England, too. Besides in July 1997, Somerville experienced a late comeback, after "Safe in These Arms" had been reproduced for the dancefloor via German-based SPV GmbH. Altered as "Safe", it climbed to the number-one on the Spanish singles chart, and gained him club following in the United States.
Subsequently, musician managed to secure a record deal with Gut Records, (p. 6) and to release a number of singles, some of which would garner attention within their genre. Among those were "Dark Sky", "Lay Down" and "Something to Live for". On 14 June 1999, his third solo album came, backed up in the U.S. later with a remix companion, Root Beer (2000). Nevertheless, unlike its supporting cuts, Manage the Damage suffered from a short-lived potential in general, and the label parted ways with their protégé. Shortly though, his rendition of "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" appeared on the spare soundtrack to the TV series Queer as Folk (2000), roofed by Almighty Records. In March 2001, the song resulted in his first chart entry in almost a decade in France.
Following another four-year hiatus, Somerville—no longer part of the pop culture that brought him once a global recognition—pursued local options instead. Upon signing to Jinx Musix, he would present several further singles, particularly towards the German audience, and sealed them by introducing his fourth studio set. These included "It's So Good", "Come On" and the only charting "Ain't No Mountain High Enough". Distributed through BMG in few other countries, Home Again was issued on 8 November 2004 to friendly reviews, but a limited commercial performance.
For the next years to come, much of his own output was showcased to his fanbase, primarily, in a virtual format. Apart from an acoustic collection of cover versions named Suddenly Last Summer (2009), artist also gradually published a trilogy of electronic EPs, such as Bright Thing (2010), Momentum (2011) and Solent (2012); all marketed via The Orchard online music distribution. Many of the compositions featured on those, would serve instrumental for the singer's most recent album entitled Homage, which was co-released on 6 March 2015 by German Membran and British Strike Force Entertainment to positive feedback from music critics, yet again moderate sales.
Albums Studio albums Title details Peak chart positions Certifications Sales SCO Peak chart positions for albums in Scotland:
Note: For early studio albums only latter peak positions are available which reflect their delayed sale, based on the commercial performance of their reissues, not original releases. AUS Peak chart positions for albums in Australia: Up to 1988:
FRA For peak chart positions of albums in France, a manual search is required using the link: GER Peak chart positions for albums/singles in Germany: as as as
ITA For peak chart positions of albums/singles in Italy, a manual search is required using the link:
Note: The Singles Collection 1984/1990 was sold in Italy under its local alias as 1984/1990 Greatest Hits. NLD Peak chart positions for albums/singles in the Netherlands: as as as
NZD Peak chart positions for albums/singles in New Zealand: as as as
SWI Peak chart positions for albums/singles in Switzerland: as as as UK Peak chart positions for albums/singles in the UK: as as as
US Peak chart positions for albums in the States: as as as As featured artist The Age of Consent Released: October 1984 (p. 3) Label: FF • London • MCA Format: LP • CD • MC 45 12 14 10 14 4 5 7 4 36 CAN: Platinum (certified sales valid for titles released before May 2008) FRA: GoldCertified albums in France:
GER: Gold NLD: Gold (a manual search is required) NZD: Platinum UK: Platinum CAN: 100,000 FRA: 243,900 GER: 250,000 (certified sales valid for titles released before 24 September 1999) NLD: 50,000 (certified sales valid as of January 1, 1984) NZD: 15,000 UK: 300,000 Communards Released: July 1986 (p. 31) Label: London • MCA Format: LP • CD • MC 63 20 8 15 18 5 26 10 7 90 FRA: Gold SPA:2×Platinum UK: Platinum FRA: 256,400 SPA: 200,000 UK: 300,000 Red Released: October 1987 (p. 38) Label: London • MCA Format: LP • CD • MC 52 97 3 22 19 32 29 20 4 93 FRA: 2×Gold SPA: Platinum SWI: Gold UK: Platinum FRA: 336,100 SPA: 100,000 SWI: 25,000 UK: 300,000 As lead artist Read My Lips Released: 27 November 1989 (see both pages split for 1-2) Label: London • PolyGram Format: LP • CD • MC 19 114 6 29 25 — — — 29 192 FRA: Gold UK: Gold FRA: 249,600 UK: 100,000 Dare to Love Released: 12 June 1995 (p. 27) Label: London Format: LP • CD • MC 43 — — 79 — — — 45 38 Manage the Damage Released: 14 June 1999 Label: Gut • Instinct Format: CD • MC — — — — — — — — — Home Again Released: 8 November 2004 Label: Jinx Musix • BMG Format: CD • MC — — — 48 — — — — — Suddenly Last Summer Released: 18 May 2009 Label: S/P Format: download — — — — — — — — — — Homage Released: 6 March 2015 Label: Membran • SFE Format: CD • download • 2×LP — — 60 — — — — — Keys: as Bronski Beat • as The Communards "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in the region
Remix albums Title details Notes As featured artist Hundreds & Thousands Released: September 1985 (p. 21) (p. 21) Label: FF • London • MCA Format: LP • CD • MC The closing release with Bronski Beat, combining remixes of four songs and two new tracks ("Run from Love"/"Hard Rain"). CD and MC versions included also a mix of "I Feel Love", plus three B-sides of earlier singles. The set charted in the UK at number 24, receiving a Silver certificate for the sale of 60,000 units, while on US Dance at number 18, being classified as an EP. As lead artist Root Beer Released: 8 August 2000 Label: Instinct • Gut Format: CD Ten track US release, featuring six remixes of his four solo singles since the post-Dare To Love era, such as "Safe", "Dark Sky", "Something to Live for" and "Lay Down", as well four B-sides from the Manage the Damage recording sessions: "Tear Fool", "Blame", "I Believe" and "Moving On". (The album did not chart.) Club Homage Released: 29 April 2016 Label: Membran • SFE Format: LP • CD / download Eleven track release featuring six remixed songs, all taken from the corresponding "disco" album. A limited LP equivalent called 12" of Homage, for a change, was issued on double vinyl for the Record Store Day 2015 with eight mixes of four tracks; two of each. (In May 2019, a digital version of the CD edition debuted on the Brazilian iTunes Albums Chart at number 19.) Keys: as Bronski Beat
Live albums Title details Notes As featured artist Storm Paris Released: 1988 Label: London Format: LP (3×12") Triple UK single set, also known as A six part souvenir of the Red Tour, combining three 12-inch singles of "For a Friend", each with four tracks (two of them repeatedly). Recorded in December 1987 at the Olympia in Paris, France. (In 2012, released also on CD as part of the Red double disc reissue.) Evolution Released: March 2007 Label: MGLC