"So Cold the Night" is a song by British synth-pop duo the Communards released in November 1986 as the final single from their debut album Communards. It was their second top-ten hit, peaking at number 8 on the UK Singles Chart.[2]
| "So Cold the Night" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by the Communards | ||||
| from the album Communards | ||||
| B-side | "When the Walls Come Tumbling Down" | |||
| Released | 17 November 1986[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1986 | |||
| Studio | Milo Studios, London | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length |
| |||
| Label | London | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Mike Thorne | |||
| The Communards singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Release and reception
"So Cold the Night" was released with the B-side "When the Walls Come Tumbling Down", also written by the duo, and was dedicated to Nelson Mandela.[3] The 12-inch single was released with the additional B-side "Never No More".[4] A remix of "So Cold the Night" was released as a 12-inch single in December 1986.[5] It was a double A-side single with "When the Walls Come Tumbling Down" and "The Multimix", a medley remix of "Don't Leave Me This Way", "So Cold the Night" and "Disenchanted".[6]
Reviewing for Record Mirror, Jane Wilkes wrote "clandestine meetings and hi-NRG Balkan folk music engage for this Somerville/Coles composition. Their cover versions have always maintained an ambiguity, whereas their own songs place you right in the picture regarding their sexual/political stance".[7]
Track listing
7": London / LON 110
- "So Cold the Night" – 4:39
- "When the Walls Come Tumbling Down" – 4:20
7": London / LONDJ 110 (promo)
- "So Cold the Night" – 3:45
- "So Cold the Night" (Full Length) – 4:40
12": London / LONX 110
- "So Cold the Night" – 9:12
- "When the Walls Come Tumbling Down" – 4:22
- "Never No More" – 2:58
12": London / LONXR 110
- "So Cold the Night" – 8:34
- "The Multimix" – 8:00
- "When the Walls Come Tumbling Down" – 4:21
12": London / LONX 110 (promo)
- "So Cold the Night" – 9:12
- "So Cold the Night" (Instrumental) – 9:12
12": London / LDSX 235 (Canada)
- "So Cold the Night" (Remixed Club Version) – 8:45
- "So Cold the Night" (7" Version) – 3:45
- "So Cold the Night" (Instrumental) – 9:45
Cassette: London / LONCS 110
- "So Cold the Night"
- "When the Walls Come Tumbling Down"
- "Never No More"
- "Don't Leave Me This Way" (Son of Gotham City)
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (1986–1987) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[8] | 90 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[9] | 13 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10] | 7 |
| Europe (Hot 100 Singles)[11] | 13 |
| France (SNEP)[12] | 17 |
| Germany (Official German Charts)[13] | 14 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[14] | 4 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[15] | 11 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[16] | 8 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[17] | 44 |
| Spain (Promusicae)[18] | 4 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[19] | 10 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[2] | 8 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1987) | Position |
|---|---|
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[20] | 82 |
| Europe (Hot 100 Singles)[21] | 57 |
| France[22] | 77 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[23] | 99 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[24] | 91 |
Certifications and sales
In France, the single reportedly sold at least 150,000 copies.[22]