The Very Best Of is a compilation album covering Scottish pop singer Jimmy Somerville's career in Bronski Beat, The Communards and as a solo artist. It was released in 2001 and reached number 29 in the UK Albums Chart.

The Very Best Of
Greatest hits album by
Released10 September 2001
Recorded1984–1995
Genre
Length74:54
LabelLondon
Producer
Jimmy Somerville featuring Bronski Beat and The Communards chronology
Manage the Damage
(1999)
The Very Best Of
(2001)
The Essentials
(2002)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

The album features mostly the same tracks, although in a different order, to the 1990 compilation The Singles Collection 1984/1990. Only one track from that album, "Run from Love", isn't featured on The Very Best and is replaced with the newer track "Hurt So Good".

Although Bronski Beat had three UK top 40 hits after Somerville's departure ("Hit That Perfect Beat", "C'mon C'mon" and "Cha Cha Heels")[2] they are not included on the compilation as it is intended as a retrospective of Somerville's career.

In 2002, the compilation was re-released as a limited edition double CD set.

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)From albumLength
1."Smalltown Boy" (Bronski Beat)
The Age of Consent5:00
2."Don't Leave Me This Way" (The Communards with Sarah Jane Morris)Communards4:33
3."Why?" (Bronski Beat)
  • Somerville
  • Steinbachek
  • Bronski
The Age of Consent3:58
4."You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" (Jimmy Somerville)
Read My Lips3:58
5."Disenchanted" (The Communards)
Communards4:11
6."Never Can Say Goodbye" (The Communards)Clifton DavisRed4:28
7."So Cold the Night" (The Communards)
  • Somerville
  • Coles
Communards4:41
8."To Love Somebody" (Jimmy Somerville)The Singles Collection 1984/19904:17
9."There's More to Love (Than Boy Meets Girl)" (The Communards)
  • Somerville
  • Coles
Red3:51
10."Comment te dire adieu" (Jimmy Somerville featuring June Miles-Kingston)
Read My Lips3:38
11."You Are My World" (The Communards)
  • Somerville
  • Coles
Communards4:31
12."I Feel Love/Johnny Remember Me" (Bronski Beat with Marc Almond)Hundreds & Thousands5:48
13."Tomorrow" (The Communards)
  • Somerville
  • Coles
Red4:49
14."Hurt So Good" (Jimmy Somerville)Phillip MitchellDare to Love3:52
15."Read My Lips (Enough Is Enough)" (Jimmy Somerville)SomervilleRead My Lips4:49
16."For a Friend" (The Communards)
  • Somerville
  • Coles
Red4:38
17."It Ain't Necessarily So" (Bronski Beat)The Age of Consent4:06

Charts and certifications

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iTunes charts performance

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In August 2015 the album debuted on the German iTunes chart at number 12, while in August 2017 on the French equivalent it reached number 85.[8]

The Collector's Edition of the set would make entries first in Brazil, reaching number 17 in May 2019, and later in France at number 41 as well at number 43 in Spain, both in May 2020. In the UK, the enhanced version peaked at number 48 in July 2021, in Italy at number 40 in April 2022, and in Germany at number 50 in June 2022.[9]}

References

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  1. ^ "Very Best of Jimmy Somerville: Bronski Beat and the Communards - Jimmy Somerville - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  2. ^ "BRONSKI BEAT - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  3. ^ Germany - Media Control Charts - The Very Best Of[dead link]
  4. ^ "The Very Best Of". Official Charts Company. OCC. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. #26
  5. ^ UK - Albums Chart - The Very Best Of
  6. ^ "Chart Log UK (1994–2010) – Jimmy Somerville". Zobbel. Dipl.-Bibl.(FH) Tobias Zywietz. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. ¥THE VERY BEST OF ... [ri] (28.02.2009): 17 (-/4)
  7. ^ "British album certifications – Jimmy Somerville – The Very Best Of". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 October 2018. Select albums in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type The Very Best Of in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  8. ^ "The Very Best of Jimmy Somerville, Bronski Beat & The Communards – International iTunes Chart Performance". iTunes Charts. Retrieved 25 June 2023. GER #12 | FRA #85
  9. ^ "The Very Best of Jimmy Somerville, Bronski Beat & The Communards (Collector's Edition) – International iTunes Chart Performance". iTunes Charts. Retrieved 25 June 2023. UK #48 | BRA #17 | GER #50 | ITA #40 | ESP #43 | FRA #41