WAIST HIGH: Smalltown Boy.

6/19/2009

Smalltown Boy.

Music Club Deluxe, a division of Demon Music Group, has just released For A Friend: The Best Of Bronski Beat, The Communards and Jimmy Somerville, a comprehensive music collection spanning the 25+ year career of the great Jimmy Somerville. The 2-CD set contains ten Top-20 singles, popular album tracks, and remixes.

A staff favorite here at Waist High, Jimmy Somerville co-founded Bronski Beat in 1983. Bronski Beat's groundbreaking debut single, "Smalltown Boy," went to #3 in the UK and "was one of the first songs to bring the issue of homophobia into the mainstream. The song is the tale of a boy who is cast away from home for being gay. The video shows Jimmy Somerville running away from home, trying to make friends at a swimming pool, and being attacked by a homophobic gang."

Although many groups "in the early to mid '80s had an openly gay image, Bronski Beat were one of the first groups to openly address the gross inequality experienced by gay people in society."

The follow-up single to "Smalltown Boy," "Why?," went to #6 in the UK, and the band's third single, "It Ain't Necessarily So," made it into the UK Top-20 as well.

In 1985 Jimmy Somerville left Bronski Beat and formed The Communards with classically trained pianist Richard Coles. Later in the year he contributed his signature voice to the Fine Young Cannibals' version of "Suspicious Minds," which made it to #8 in the United Kingdom.

The Communards first single was "You Are My World," and was followed by a cover of "Don't Leave Me This Way," which spent four weeks at #1 in the UK and was the country's biggest selling single of 1986. The album Communards spent 45 weeks in the UK album charts.

From the album Red, The Communards took the Jackson 5's' "Never Can Say Goodbye" to #4 in 1987.

Somerville launched his solo career in 1988, released some singles, and then "left the limelight and was absent from recording for a number of years."

In 1995, his song "Heartbeat" went to #1 on the U.S. dance charts.

For A Friend: The Best Of Bronski Beat, The Communards and Jimmy Somerville track list:
CD 1
1. Smalltown Boy
2. Why?
3. It Ain't Necessarily So
4. I Feel Love (Medley With Marc Almond)
5. Screaming
6. Run From Love
7. Hard Rain
8. Don't Leave Me This Way
9. La Dolarosa
10. Disenchanted
11. So Cold The Night
12. You Are My World
13. Forbidden Love
14. Breadline Britain
15. Tomorrow
16. There's More To Love (Than Boy Meets Girl)
CD 2
1. Victims
2. For A Friend
3. Never Can Say Goodbye (Freddie Bastone's San Paulo Remix)
4. Comment Te Adieu
5. You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)
6. Read My Lips (Enough Is Enough)
7. Heartbeat
8. By Your Side
9. Safe (Safe Sex Todd Terry Short Session)
10. To Love Somebody
11. Lay Down
12. Dark Sky
13. Something To Live For (Sounds Of Live Remix)
14. Can't Take My Eyes Off You
15. Come On
16. Could It Be Love
17. Sweet Unknown
18. People Are Strange

Material: The great Richard Evans via remembertheeighties.com, waisthigh.net, wikipedia.org via waisthigh.net, wikipedia.org, and demonmusicgroup.co.uk

CAST OF CHARACTERS

THE KERN COUNTY DRUNKARD
Everything at Waist High is a long story, and the story of The KCD is no exception. After this individual told Waist High in December of 2003 that she was going to kill her, "Waist High" the blog was born. Please do not tell Waist High the person that you are going to kill her or she will create "Waist High" the blog and write nasty things about you! Including the time you stunk up the bathroom at The Alley Cat. The "Kern County Drunkard Watch" detailed the drunken comings and goings of the live-in love interest of one of Waist High's most cherished male friends. Never has Waist High met anyone who drank as much as or as often as The KCD. The KCD, because she was an insecure drunk, hated Waist High for most of her decade long relationship with Waist High's most cherished male friend. She hated Waist High for the obvious reason: Waist High is hot. A one time source of much of the material for Waist High the blog, The "Kern County Drunkard Watch" was permanently retired in March 2005 when Waist High's most cherished male friend finally came to his senses and kicked her ass to the curb.

RAMPART
Rampart is the first ex-husband of Waist High. She refers to him as her first ex-husband because she knows there will eventually be a second. Rampart grew up on the mean streets of Bakersfield and claims to have been the co-discoverer of the well known 1980s dirt field party spot known as "The Place." Rampart's 1987 directive to Waist High, "Drink this six pack before I get back!" made both Waist High and Rampart parents at age 20. Rampart currently resides 4.5 miles from Waist High in the wilds of Oregon and is an enduring fixture at their local Cigs For Less shop. Once a Bakersfield Del Taco associate, Sail Thru Hamburgers drive up dude, and Wible Road AM/PM graveyard worker, Rampart claims to now net $49,000 per month. But only to impress people, not when required.

(THE FORMER) LOVELY TEENAGED DAUGHTER
Not your average 35 year old. Born to Waist High as a "Miracle on 34th Street" in Bakersfield Memorial Hospital on 34th Street, LTD is on the board of MAC cosmetics. Not really, but she swears allegiance only to them. When LTD's mother once purchased LTD some eye shadow from Target, LTD threatened to call the police. Sweeter than Tupelo Honey, with the attitude of a feral cat, LTD is disgusted with most things. Including being forced to live with Waist High from 1988-2005. The child at one time even had her own blog, "Living With Waist High," which detailed her misery. A graduate of the oldest institution in the Oregon University System, LTD kept her promise of not getting knocked up at age 20 like Waist High did.

THE STRANGER
Oh God bless The Stranger. The Stranger was one of Waist High's most loyal confidants during some of the darker periods of the blog. Although his fierce allegiance to really bad music was a great source of aggravation for Waist High, The Stranger gave her a much needed look at life. Through the eyes of someone not yet bitter. The Stranger was almost pushed out of a moving vehicle when he revealed to Waist High that not only did he not know who Barry Manilow, Captain & Tenille, or Spandau Ballet were, but that he literally had no clue what Trail Mix was.

"TRI-TIP"
Special Correspondent to Waist High, and one of Waist High's most cherished friends. Used to live with The Kern County Drunkard. Was a Special Correspondent to Waist High for 9 months before knowing it. Long story. This individual coined the ultimate mid '80s Bakersfield drinking phrase, "Lock hubs. Party!"

DESI
Waist High's former work spouse. Cares about Waist High so much that he once took Waist High with him on a smoke break the very next day after she spent $250 for hypnotherapy TO QUIT SMOKING. Was the first person in conversation to introduce Waist High to concepts like "The Dirty Sanchez," "Dog In A Bathtub," "Tea Bagging," and "The Shocker." Reminds Waist High as often as possible that if women "neglect the balls," their men will leave them.