Comment te dire adieu - Jimmy Somerville featuring June Miles-Kingston

Back in 1990, I bought 'Comment te dire adieu' cheaply, without a picture sleeve. I wouldn't be at all surprised if that copy had originally been inside a limited edition gatefold sleeve, because the exact same sort of black sleeve appears within this rather more attractive packaging. The inside of the gatefold sleeve shows the full lyrics of the song alongside another picture of the duo singing it.

June Miles-Kingston was a founding member of the Mo-dettes, which lasted from 1979 to 1982. She later became a session drummer and backing vocalist for a variety of British post-punk, new wave, and pop artists. In the Nineties she studied fine art at St. Martin's and filmmaking at the University of Sussex. Her film Dear Miss Bassey was awarded a prize at the London 'Shorts' Film Festival.

My collection: 7" single no. 7826
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, 29 October 2025
Tracks: 'Comment te dire adieu' / 'Tell the world' 

To love somebody - Jimmy Somerville

'To love somebody' was originally recorded and released by the Bee Gees in 1967, back when they were still a quintet. The song was written on a boat in Monte Carlo the day the Beatles manager, Brian Epstein was found dead (August 1967) after manager Robert Stigwood encouraged Barry Gibb to write a soul song for Otis Redding. Redding, however, died in an airplane crash before he could record the song.

In 1990, Jimmy Somerville released a reggaefied cover version of the track. Released as a single in November of that year, it reached number 8 in the UK singles chart, his last top 10 hit until now.

My collection: 7" single no. 5043
Found: Kringloop, Haarlem, March 11, 2011
Cost: 0,25 euro
Tracks: 'To love somebody' / 'Rain'

Comment te dire adieu - Jimmy Somerville and June Miles Kingston

'Comment te dire adieu' was first performed by American singer Margaret Whiting in 1966 as 'It hurts to say goodbye'. In 1968, the song was adapted in French by legendary songwriter Serge Gainsbourg. Scottish pop singer Jimmy Somerville recorded a cover version of the French version in 1989, together with June Miles Kingston for his debut solo album 'Read my lips'.

The track was released in November 1989 as Somerville's first solo single. It reached number 14 in the UK singles chart and number 30 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1266
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, July 14, 1990
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Comment te dire adieu' / 'Tell the world'