Thirty years on from its original release, Jimmy Somerville is revisiting his second solo album, ‘Dare To Love’, for an expanded anniversary reissue.
Originally released in June 1995, the LP reunites the former Bronski Beat and Communards frontman with regular collaborator Stephen Hague, along with producers Chuck Norman and Gary Wilkinson, and delivered the UK Top 30 hits, Hurt So Good and Safe In These Arms.
Available on double vinyl, plus double CD and digital formats, the release features previously unreleased B-sides, rarities and remixes, plus alternate artwork of the singer, depicting a silhouette of a male figure across his torso, which is absent from the original sleeve.
On the new image, he says: “This is the 30th anniversary of ‘Dare To Love’ and it’s just so exciting that we finally have a sleeve that is as it should have been. I always had to compromise with London Records over something, and this was one I deeply regretted.
“The irony is that London Records thought this photo was too gay, but I now chuckle to myself as I can see their point of view – it’s homoerotic and not nice, non-controversial gay… which I have never been!”
On the circumstances surrounding the LP, he adds: “By the time of ‘Dare To Love’, I was falling madly in love with Robert. At the same time my best friend Hugo, who I had lived with for so many years, was in the process of dying from various AIDS-related illnesses. He had made a conscious choice that rather than going with AZT and all of that hardcore toxic medication, he wanted to maintain his quality of life and be able to do the things he wanted, knowing he would die in the process.
“So I was dealing with that. I was part of this process of death, but at the same time I was falling madly in love. So Dare To Love is a crossover of emotions, of life and death and the two extremes of love.”
‘Dare To Love’ is released on December 30 and available to pre-order from Amazon, HMV, Rough Trade, Townsend and more.
Tracklist: Jimmy Somerville – Dare To Love
CD1
1. Heartbeat (2025 Remaster)
2. Hurt So Good (2025 Remaster)
3. Cry (2025 Remaster)
4. Lovething (2025 Remaster)
5. By Your Side (2025 Remaster)
6. Dare To Love (2025 Remaster)
7. Someday We’ll Be Together (2025 Remaster)
8. Alright (2025 Remaster)
9. Too Much Of A Good Thing (2025 Remaster)
10. A Dream Gone Wrong (2025 Remaster)
11. Come Lately (2025 Remaster)
12. Safe In These Arms (2025 Remaster)
13. Because Of Him (2025 Remaster)
14. Nature Boy
15. Up And Away
16. Telling Lies
17. Step Inside
18. Nothing Said, Nothing Done
19. Been So Long (Remix)
CD2
1. Do You Wanna Funk? (Original Full Length Mix)
2. Heartbeat (Biff 12″ Remix)
3. Safe (DJ Tonka 12″)
4. By Your Side (Miss You Like Crazy Mix)
5. Heartbeat (E-Smoove Downtown Underground)
6. Hurt So Good (12″ Beatmasters Lovers Mix)
7. Love You Forever (Remix)
8. Heartbeat II
9. Safe (Todd Terry 7″)
10. Hurt So Good (Sly & Robbie Remix)
11. By Your Side (Stripped Mix)
12. Because Of Him (Celtic Version)
