So Cold the Night explained

So Cold the Night
Cover:	The Communards So Cold the Night.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	the Communards
Album:	Communards
B-Side:	When the Walls Come Tumbling Down
Released:	^[1]
Recorded:	1986
Studio:	Milo Studios, London
Genre:	Synth-pop dance
Length:	(single version) (album version)
Label:	London
Producer:	Mike Thorne
Prev Title:	Don't Leave Me This Way
Prev Year:	1986
Next Title:	You Are My World '87
Next Year:	1987

"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.

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. The 12-inch single was released with the additional B-side "Never No More". A remix of "So Cold the Night" was released as a 12-inch single in December 1986.^[2] 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".

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".^[3]

Track listing

7": London / LON 110

1. "So Cold the Night" – 4:39
2. "When the Walls Come Tumbling Down" – 4:20

7": London / LONDJ 110 (promo)

1. "So Cold the Night" – 3:45
2. "So Cold the Night" (Full Length) – 4:40

12": London / LONX 110

1. "So Cold the Night" – 9:12
2. "When the Walls Come Tumbling Down" – 4:22
3. "Never No More" – 2:58

12": London / LONXR 110

1. "So Cold the Night" – 8:34
2. "The Multimix" – 8:00
3. "When the Walls Come Tumbling Down" – 4:21

12": London / LONX 110 (promo)

1. "So Cold the Night" – 9:12
2. "So Cold the Night" (Instrumental) – 9:12

12": London / LDSX 235 (Canada)

1. "So Cold the Night" (Remixed Club Version) – 8:45
2. "So Cold the Night" (7" Version) – 3:45
3. "So Cold the Night" (Instrumental) – 9:45

Cassette: London / LONCS 110

1. "So Cold the Night"
2. "When the Walls Come Tumbling Down"
3. "Never No More"
4. "Don't Leave Me This Way" (Son of Gotham City)

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "So Cold the Night"!Chart (1986–1987)!Peak
position

Australia (Kent Music Report)^[4]	90
Europe (Hot 100 Singles)^[5]	13
Spain (Promusicae)^[6]	4

Year-end charts

Chart (1987)!scope="col"

Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[7]	82
Europe (Hot 100 Singles)^[8]	57
France^[9]	77
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[10]	99
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[11]	91

Certifications and sales

In France, the single reportedly sold at least 150,000 copies.^[9]

Notes and References

1. 19 November – 2 December 1986. Communards. Smash Hits. 56. 17 February 2022. Flickr.
2. 20 December 1986. New Singles. Music Week. 29. 17 February 2022.
3. 22 November 1986. Singles. Record Mirror. 10. 17 February 2022.
4. Book: Kent, David. Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. illustrated. St Ives, N.S.W.. 72. David Kent (historian).
5. https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/80s/87/M&M-1987-01-24-OCR-Page-0009.pdf European Hot 100 Singles
6. Book: Salaverri, Fernando. Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002. 2005. Fundación Autor-SGAE. 84-8048-639-2. 1st. Spain.
7. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1987 . Ultratop. Hung Medien . 9 April 2022 . nl.
8. European Charts of the Year 1987 > Singles . . 4 . 51/52 . 34 . 26 December 1987 . 9 April 2022 .
9. Web site: TOP – 1987 . Top-france.fr . 3 July 2023 . fr.
10. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1987 . . 9 April 2022 . nl.
11. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1987 . Single Top 100. Hung Medien . 9 April 2022 . nl.