The Communards, Don’t Leave Me This Way | COVERS

In the 31^st edition of COVERS (2025), The Communards deliver a compelling rendition of “Don’t Leave Me This Way,” popularized by Thelma Houston.

Ah, it’s time to get cozy and cover up! In COVERS, we highlight a musician or band covering songs by another musician (likely a popular musician). COVERS focuses solely on the musician who covers.  It is open to established musicians and musicians who may not be as well-known. In the 31^st  edition of COVERS (2025), The Communards deliver a compelling rendition of “Don’t Leave Me This Way”, popularized by Thelma Houston.

“Don’t leave me this way / I can’t survive, I can’t stay alive / Without your love, oh baby.” Those iconic lyrics hail from the beloved classic record, “Don’t Leave Me This Way”, originally recorded by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes. Iconic songwriting and production duo Kenneth Gamble and  Leon Huff penned this classic alongside Cary Gilbert. However, it was Thelma Houston (b. 1946) who transformed the song into a Grammy-winning, number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100.  Notably, Houston’s version became an anthem during the devastating AIDS crisis.  In 1986, the British synth-pop duo, The Communards (singer Jimmy Somerville 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿, b. 1961, and multi-instrumentalist Richard Coles 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, b. 1962), would cover “Don’t Leave Me This Way”, assisted by Sara Jane Morris.  “Don’t Leave Me This Way” is the opener from their 1986 album, Communards.

With a tough act to follow, The Communards put in serious work on their rendition of “Don’t Leave Me This Way.” It begins with a quicker tempo compared to Houston’s take. The groove at the beginning is everything; it establishes dance vibes.  Those dance vibes are distinctly different than the disco of Houston, too. The intro is marvelous with chilling, striking choral-style vocals.  Somerville eats, serving beautiful lead vocals throughout.  He refreshes our memories of how tuneful the melodies of this gem are, as well as the memorable, thoughtful lyrics.

“Don’t leave me this way

I can’t exist

I will surely miss your tender kiss

So don’t leave me this way.”

In Communards’ hands, there are more electronic vibes: keyboards and synths, which are characteristic of the ‘80s sound palette.  It doesn’t totally shy away from disco, however.  Horns appear during the unforgettable chorus, blending seamlessly with the keys and synths.  The energetic chorus remains intact, only at a faster pace (“Aww, baby, my heart is full of love and desire for you / So come on down and do what you’ve got to do / You started this fire down in my soul”). A few additional notes. There are glorious vocal harmonies between Somerville and Morris between the 2:10 and 2:25 mark. The piano sounds epic at the 2:25 mark. The vocal layers and arrangements show off tremendous musicianship. Also, there is an awesome key modulation near the three-and-a-half-minute mark. A fabulous remake, it should come as no surprise that The Communards took “Don’t Leave Me This Way” to number one in the UK, among other countries. It is another epic recording of a meaningful and timeless song.

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The Communards » Communards » London Records Ltd » 1986

The Communards, Don’t Leave Me This Way: Covers No. 31 (2025) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; London Records Ltd; Alan Cordero, Flávia Vicentini from Pexels; AcatXIo, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]

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