For a Friend: The Best of Bronski Beat, The Communards & Jimmy Somerville is a 34-track, 2-CD greatest hits compilation and career retrospective by Jimmy Somerville

Jimmy Somerville

James William Somerville is a Scottish pop singer and songwriter. He had considerable success in the 1980s with the pop groups Bronski Beat and The Communards, and has also had a successful solo career. He is known in particular for his falsetto singing voice...

, featuring his work as a solo artist, as well as with Bronski Beat

Bronski Beat

Bronski Beat were a popular British synthpop trio who achieved success in the mid 1980s, particularly with the 1984 chart hit "Smalltown Boy". All members of the group were openly homosexual and their songs reflected this, often containing political commentary on gay-related issues...

 and The Communards

The Communards

The Communards were a British pop duo active from 1985 to 1988. They are most famous for their cover of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes' song, "Don't Leave Me This Way" as well as "Never Can Say Goodbye".-History:...

. It is also known as Small Town Boy: The Best of Bronski Beat, The Communards & Jimmy Somerville.

The compilation was released in 2009, and spans twenty five years of Somerville's career. It begins with Bronski Beat's 1984 hit "Smalltown Boy

Smalltown Boy

"Smalltown Boy" is the debut single of the British synthpop group Bronski Beat, released in June 1984. It would also appear on the band's debut album The Age of Consent, released in December 1984....

", and concludes with tracks from Somerville's 2009 album Suddenly Last Summer, which features stripped down covers of songs Somerville considered formative. It includes ten UK top twenty hits including "Smalltown Boy" (Bronski Beat: UK #3, 1984), "Don't Leave Me This Way" (The Commundards: UK #1, 1986), and "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" (Jimmy Somerville: UK #5, 1989).

Disc 1

	Title	Performer	Writers	Original Artist
1.	"Smalltown Boy Smalltown Boy "Smalltown Boy" is the debut single of the British synthpop group Bronski Beat, released in June 1984. It would also appear on the band's debut album The Age of Consent, released in December 1984.... "	Bronski Beat Bronski Beat Bronski Beat were a popular British synthpop trio who achieved success in the mid 1980s, particularly with the 1984 chart hit "Smalltown Boy". All members of the group were openly homosexual and their songs reflected this, often containing political commentary on gay-related issues...	Steve Bronski, Larry Steinbachek, Jimmy Sommerville
2.	"Why? Why? (Bronski Beat song) "Why?" is a single from the British synthpop trio Bronski Beat and appeared on their 1984 album The Age of Consent.The song, recorded at RPM Studios, NYC and mixed at Townhouse Studio, London, pursued an energetic musical formula, while the lyrics focused more centrally on anti-gay prejudice... "	Bronski Beat	Bronski, Steinbachek, Somerville
3.	"It Ain't Necessarily So It Ain't Necessarily So "It Ain't Necessarily So" is a popular song with music by George Gershwin and lyrics by Ira Gershwin. The song comes from the Gershwins' opera Porgy and Bess where it is sung by the character Sportin' Life, a drug dealer, who expresses his doubt about several statements in the Bible.The role of... "	Bronski Beat	George Gershwin George Gershwin George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known... , Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs of the 20th century.... , Dorothy Heyward Dorothy Heyward Dorothy Heyward Dorothy Heyward Dorothy Heyward (née Kuhns, (June 6, 1890 – November 19, 1961) was an American playwright.Born in Wooster, Ohio, she was married to the author DuBose Heyward, and adapted several of his scripts for the stage, including Porgy.-External links:... , DuBose Heyward DuBose Heyward Edwin DuBose Heyward was a white American author best known for his 1925 novel Porgy. This novel was the basis for the play by the same name and, in turn, the opera Porgy and Bess with music by George Gershwin.-Life and career:Heyward was born in 1885 in Charleston, South Carolina and was a...	From Porgy and Bess Porgy and Bess Porgy and Bess is an opera, first performed in 1935, with music by George Gershwin, libretto by DuBose Heyward, and lyrics by Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward. It was based on DuBose Heyward's novel Porgy and subsequent play of the same title, which he co-wrote with his wife Dorothy Heyward...
4.	"I Feel Love I Feel Love "I Feel Love" is a song by Donna Summer, taken from her 1977 concept album I Remember Yesterday.The song constituted the "future" segment of the album, which represented a stylistic progress through time... /Johnny Remember Me Johnny Remember Me "Johnny Remember Me" is a song which became a 1961 UK #1 hit single for John Leyton, backed by The Outlaws. It was producer Joe Meek's first #1 production. Recounting the haunting - real or imagined - of a young man by his dead lover, the song is one of the most noted of the 'death ditties' that...  (Medley)"	Bronski Beat Featuring Marc Almond Marc Almond Marc Almond is an English singer-songwriter and musician, who originally found fame as half of the seminal synthpop/New Wave duo Soft Cell...	Geoff Goddard Geoff Goddard Geoff Goddard was an English songwriter. Working for Joe Meek in the early 1960s, he wrote songs for Heinz, Mike Berry, Gerry Temple, The Tornados, Kenny Hollywood, The Outlaws, Freddie Starr, Screaming Lord Sutch, Gunilla Thorne, The Ramblers, Carter-Lewis and the Southerners and John... , Giorgio Moroder Giorgio Moroder Hansjörg "Giorgio" Moroder is an Italian record producer, songwriter and performer based in Los Angeles. When in Munich in the 1970s, he started his own record label called Oasis Records, which several years later became a subdivision of Casablanca Records... , Pete Bellotte Pete Bellotte Peter J. Bellotte is a British songwriter and record producer, most famous for hismain body of work with Donna Summer alongside his partner Giorgio Moroder... , Donna Summer Donna Summer LaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach...	Donna Summer ("I Feel Love") John Leyton John Leyton John Leyton is an English actor and singer. As a singer he is best known for his hit song, "Johnny Remember Me" , which reached Number 1 in the UK Singles Chart in August 1961.-Career:Leyton went to Highgate School and after completing his national service, he...  and The Outlaws The Outlaws (UK band) The Outlaws were an English instrumental band that recorded in the early 1960s. One time members included Ritchie Blackmore, Chas Hodges, Bobby Graham, Ken Lundgren, Mick Underwood, Reg Hawkins , Billy Kuy and others.... ("Johnny Remember Me")
5.	"Screaming"	Bronski Beat	Bronski, Steinbachek, Somerville
6.	"Run from Love" (Remix version from Hundreds & Thousands Hundreds & Thousands (album) Hundreds & Thousands is a remix album by Bronski Beat , released in 1985... )	Bronski Beat	Bronski, Steinbachek, Somerville
7.	"Hard Rain" (Remix version from Hundreds & Thousands)	Bronski Beat	Bronski, Steinbachek, Somerville
8.	"Don't Leave Me This Way Don't Leave Me This Way "Don't Leave Me This Way" is an R&B/soul/disco song written by Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff, and Cary Gilbert. First charting as a hit for Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, an act on Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International label in 1975, "Don't Leave Me This Way" was later a hit single for both... "	The Communards The Communards The Communards were a British pop duo active from 1985 to 1988. They are most famous for their cover of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes' song, "Don't Leave Me This Way" as well as "Never Can Say Goodbye".-History:... Featuring Sarah Jane Morris Sarah Jane Morris (singer) Sarah Jane Morris , is a pop music, jazz, rock and R&B singer and songwriter.In 1982, Morris joined The Republic as lead singer. A London-based Afro-Caribbean-Latin band with leftish tendencies, they received enormous publicity from the music press including cover stories with NME and City Limits...	Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff, Cary Gilbert	Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes were an American singing group, one of the most popular Philadelphia soul groups of the 1970s. The group's repertoire included soul, R&B, doo-wop, and disco... (1975) Thelma Houston Thelma Houston Thelma Houston is an American singer-songwriter and actress. She scored a number-one hit in 1976 with her cover version of the song "Don't Leave Me This Way", which won the 1978 Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.-Early life & career:Houston is the daughter of a cotton picking mother... (1976)
9.	"La Dolorosa"	The Communards	Richard Coles Richard Coles Richard Coles is a musician, journalist and Church of England priest. He is known for having been the multi-instrumentalist who partnered Jimmy Somerville in the 1980s band The Communards, who achieved three Top Ten hits, including the Number 1 record and best-selling single of 1986, a Hi-NRG... , Somerville
10.	"Disenchanted"	The Communards	Coles, Somerville
11.	"So Cold the Night"	The Communards	Coles, Somerville
12.	"You Are My World"	The Communards	Coles, Somerville
13.	"Forbidden Love"	The Communards	Coles, Somerville
14.	"Breadline Britain"	The Communards	Coles, Somerville
15.	"Tomorrow"	The Communards	Coles, Somerville
16.	"There's More to Love (Than Boy Meets Girl)"	The Communards	Coles, Somerville

Disc 2

	Title	Performer	Writers	Original Artist
1.	"Victims"	The Communards	Coles, Somerville
2.	"For A Friend"	The Communards	Coles, Somerville
3.	"Never Can Say Goodbye Never Can Say Goodbye "Never Can Say Goodbye" is a song written by Clifton Davis and originally recorded by The Jackson 5. Released as a single in 1971, it was one of the group's most successful songs... "	The Communards	Clifton Davis Clifton Davis Clifton Duncan Davis is an American actor, songwriter and minister. He has appeared on the television shows as A World Apart, That's My Mama and Amen...	The Jackson 5 The Jackson 5 The Jackson 5 , later known as The Jacksons, were an American popular music family group from Gary, Indiana... (1971) Gloria Gaynor Gloria Gaynor Gloria Gaynor is an American singer, best known for the disco era hits; "I Will Survive" , "Never Can Say Goodbye" , "Let Me Know " and "I Am What I Am" .-Early career:Gaynor was a singer with the Soul... (1974)
4.	"Comment te dire adieu?"	Jimmy Somerville Featuring June Miles-Kingston June Miles-Kingston June Miles-Kingston is a singer and drummer.-Career:Miles-Kingston was an art student who studied at the National Film School. She helped Julien Temple make the Sex Pistols' film The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle...	Serge Gainsbourg Serge Gainsbourg Serge Gainsbourg, born Lucien Ginsburg was a French singer-songwriter, actor and director. Gainsbourg's extremely varied musical style and individuality make him difficult to categorize... , Arnold Goland, Jack Gold	Serge Gainsbourg
5.	"You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) "You Make Me Feel " is the title of a 1978 single by American disco singer Sylvester James, who performed using just his first name, Sylvester... "	Jimmy Somerville	James Wirrick, Sylvester James Sylvester James -Studio albums:-Live albums:-Compilation albums:* Mighty Real UK #62* 12 By 12 * Immortal -Singles:-Additional recordings:*Lights Out San Francisco...	Sylvester (Sylvester James)
6.	"Read My Lips (Enough Is Enough)	Jimmy Somerville	Somerville
7.	"Heartbeat Heartbeat (Jimmy Somerville song) "Heartbeat" is the title of a 1995 song by British pop singer Jimmy Somerville, former lead singer of the bands Bronski Beat and Communards. Released as a single from his 1995 solo album, Dare to Love, "Heartbeat" peaked at #24 on the UK singles chart in February of that year... "	Jimmy Somerville	Matt Rowe, Somerville, Richard Stannard
8.	"By Your Side"	Jimmy Somerville	Rowe, Somerville, Stannard
9.	"Safe" (Todd Terry Todd Terry Todd N. Terry is an American DJ, producer, and remixer.-Career:Terry's productions extensively used samples blending the sounds of classic disco, the Chicago sound, and elements of hip-hop....  Short Session)	Jimmy Somerville	Gary Butcher, Somerville
10.	"To Love Somebody To Love Somebody (song) "To Love Somebody" is the second single released by the Bee Gees from their third LP, Bee Gees 1st.The band's manager Robert Stigwood wanted Barry Gibb to write a soul song for Otis Redding. Barry, along with Robin wrote "To Love Somebody," a soulful ballad in the style of Sam & Dave or The Rascals... "	Jimmy Somerville	Barry Gibb Barry Gibb Barry Alan Crompton Gibb, CBE , is a singer, songwriter and producer. He was born in the Isle of Man to English parents. With his brothers Robin and Maurice, he formed The Bee Gees, one of the most successful pop groups of all time. The trio got their start in Australia, and found their major... , Robin Gibb Robin Gibb Robin Hugh Gibb, CBE is a British singer and songwriter. He is best known as a member of the Bee Gees, co-founded with his twin brother Maurice , and elder brother Barry....	Bee Gees Bee Gees The Bee Gees are a musical group that originally comprised three brothers: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was successful for most of their 40-plus years of recording music, but they had two distinct periods of exceptional success: as a pop act in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and as a...
11.	"Lay Down"	Jimmy Somerville	Gainsbourg, Sally Herbert, Somerville	Samples Serge Gainsbourg's "Contact"
12.	"Dark Sky"	Jimmy Somerville	Herbert, Somerville
13.	"Something To Live For" (Sounds of Life Mix)	Jimmy Somerville	Herbert, Ed Monaghan, Somerville
14.	"Can't Take My Eyes Off You Can't Take My Eyes off You "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" is a 1967 single by Frankie Valli. The song was among Valli's biggest hits, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning a gold record. It was Valli's biggest "solo" hit until he hit #1 in 1975 with "My Eyes Adored You"... "	Jimmy Somerville	Bob Crewe Bob Crewe Bob Crewe is an American songwriter, dancer, singer, manager, record producer and fine artist. He is known for producing, and co-writing with Bob Gaudio, a string of Top 10 singles for The Four Seasons... , Bob Gaudio Bob Gaudio Robert John "Bob" Gaudio is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer, and the keyboardist/backing vocalist for The Four Seasons.-Early career:...	Frankie Valli Frankie Valli Frankie Valli is an American musician, most famous as frontman of The Four Seasons. He is well-known for his unusually powerful falsetto singing voice...
15.	"Come On"	Jimmy Somerville	Sunniva Greeve, Peter Plate Rosenstolz Rosenstolz is a German music band from Berlin. Their music combines several styles including rock, pop and ballads. AnNa R. and Peter Plate form the duo. They had their breakthrough in 1998 with the song Herzensschöner... , Somerville, Ulf Leo Sommer
16.	"Could It Be Love?"	Jimmy Somerville	Felix Gauder, Milan Sajé, Somerville
17.	"Sweet Unknown"	Jimmy Somerville	Alison Shaw, Jim Shaw	Cranes Cranes (band) Cranes are a British music group formed in 1986, whose style has been described as "gothic minimalism".-History:Formed in 1986 in Portsmouth, England by siblings Alison and Jim Shaw, and named after the many mechanical cranes around the city's docks, Cranes are best known for the childlike,...
18.	"People Are Strange People Are Strange "People Are Strange" is a single released by The Doors in September 1967 from their second album Strange Days which was also released in September 1967. The single peaked at the #12 position of the U.S. Hot 100 chart and made it to the top ten in the Cash Box charts... "	Jimmy Somerville	John Paul Densmore, Robbie Krieger, Ray Manzarek Ray Manzarek Raymond Daniel Manzarek, Jr., better known as Ray Manzarek , is an American musician, singer, producer, film director, writer, co-founder and keyboardist of The Doors from 1965 to 1973, Nite City from 1977–1978 and Manzarek-Krieger since 2001.Manzarek is listed #4 on Digital Dreamdoor's "100... , Jim Morrison Jim Morrison James Douglas "Jim" Morrison was an American musician, singer, and poet, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band The Doors...	The Doors The Doors The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...