"Communards" is indeed the debut studio album by the British synth-pop duo The Communards, released on July 14, 1986, by London Records. Produced by Mike Thorne, who had previously worked with lead singer Jimmy Somerville in Bronski Beat, the album featured a mix of Hi-NRG tracks and piano ballads showcasing Richard Coles' piano skills.
The album achieved notable success in the UK, propelled by the chart-topping single "Don't Leave Me This Way," which became the best-selling single of the year in the UK. The album itself peaked at number seven on the UK Albums Chart and spent a total of 45 weeks on the chart.
Visually, the album's front sleeve is characterized by a stark graphic design against a black background, featuring the group's name and logo. The inner sleeve includes small photos of Coles, Somerville, and Sarah Jane Morris, along with song lyrics and album credits. Notably, two songs on the album, "Don't Leave Me This Way" and "Reprise," had dedications in the sleevenotes: the former to the GLC (Greater London Council) and the latter to Margaret Hilda Thatcher.
