Simple Minds "Once Upon a Time" (1985)

Once Upon a Time
release date: Oct. 21, 1985
format: cd (2003 remaster)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,48]
producer: Jimmy Iovine & Bob Clearmountain
label: Virgin Records - nationality: Scotland, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Once Upon a Time" - 2. "All the Things She Said" - 4. "Alive and Kicking" (4 / 5) - 6. "I Wish You Were Here" - 7. "Sanctify Yourself" - 8. "Come a Long Way"

7th studio album by Simple Minds released more than 1½ years after Sparkle in the Rain is produced by the two American producers Iovine and Clearmountain. The album is the first to feature new bassist John Giblin, and then it also features Robin Clark as guest vocalist singing backing vocals on most of the tracks [also feature on several of the official videos - e.g. see above links tracks #2, #4, #7].
The album was well-received by critics and fans and it has to date status as the best-selling album by Simple Minds selling three times platinum in the UK, topping the national albums chart list as it did in several other countries world-wide. Peaking at number #10 on the Billboard 200 list, it also made the highest chart position of all albums by the band in the US. Four singles were released as singles: tracks #4 (only single preceding the album release), #7, #2, and #3, respectively. "Alive and Kicking" peaked at number #7 in the UK and made other top-10 entries world-wide, but also the three other singles fared rather well with two other top-10 entries - only the last single, "Ghost Dancing" peaked just outside at #13, which without comparison ensured the band its most successful album release.
I find it slightly bettering the '84 album by being a more coherent release, but I simply find it an over-arranged and over-produced album that stays too safely in the middle of the road, which to me, showcases a band that has found its golden formula, and here just repeats what has worked before. I'm not too happy about the heavy keyboard arrangements, but I admit that they with this were on top of their career and easily filled stadiums world-wide - if that's a parameter of success.

Simple Minds "Don't You (Forget About Me)" (1985) (single)

Don't You (Forget About Me), 12'' single
release date: Apr. 8, 1985
format: vinyl (VS 749-12)
[single rate: 4 / 5] [3,88]
producer: Keith Forsey (A); Steve Lillywhite (B)
label: Virgin Records - nationality: Scotland, UK

Tracklist: A) "Don't You (Forget About Me)" (movie part) - - B) "A Brass Band in African Chimes"

Single release by Simple Minds as noted on the back cover: "From the original motion picture soundtrack The Breakfast Club". The song is actually a song composed and written by producer Keith Forsey, who already had the band in mind as he wrote the song and only after several attempts, he finally managed to persuade the band members to record and arrange the song, which afterwards turned out to be a perfect song for the band. Peaking at number #5, the single became the band's so far best faring single on the UK singles chart list, and it topped the US Billboard Hot 100 list.

Simple Minds "Up on the Catwalk" (1984) (single)

Up on the Catwalk, 7'' single
release date: Mar. 18, 1984
format: vinyl (106 263)
[single rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,62]
producer: Steve Lillywhite
label: Virgin Records - nationality: Scotland, UK

Tracklist: A) "Up on the Catwalk" - - B) "A Brass Band in Africa"

Single release by Simple Minds is the third and final single from the album Sparkle in the Rain (Feb. '84). The B-side is a non-album track.

Simple Minds "Sparkle in the Rain" (1984)

Sparkle in the Rain
release date: Feb. 6, 1984
format: cd (2003 remaster)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,42]
producer: Steve Lillywhite
label: Virgin Records - nationality: Scotland, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Up on the Catwalk" - 3. "Speed Your Love to Me" - 4. "Waterfront" - 6. "Street Hassle" - 7. "White Hot Day"

6th studio album by Simple Minds follows the band's so far biggest album success, New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) and it's the first and only album with producer Steve Lillywhite.
The album follows the same stylistic recipe as its predecessor, and it became the band's first to top the UK albums chart list - it also topped the list in New Zealand, scored high in the Scandinavian countries but peaked at number #64 on Billboard 200 in the US. The album spawned three singles with the first, "Waterfront" faring best, peaking just outside top-10 on the singles chart list; however, it became the band's first #1 single hit as it topped the charts in New Zealand. On previous albums, Jim Kerr was credited exclusively as lyricist and the band as composer of the music, but here all tracks, except a cover by Lou Reed (#6), are credited the band.
The album became an even greater success than New Gold Dream by its stronger mainstream appeal. Imho, the album isn't the strong original release but more of a 'safe' album that doesn't stir up anything, and despite containing several fine songs, it doesn't really contain true greatness. It's solid workmanship and nicely produced, but it's not one of my favourites.

Simple Minds "Speed Your Love to Me" (1984) (single)

Speed Your Love to Me, 7'' single
release date: Jan. 22, 1984
format: vinyl (VS 649)
[single rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,66]
producer: Steve Lillywhite
label: Virgin Records - nationality: Scotland, UK

Tracklist: A) "Speed Your Love to Me" - - B) "Bass Line"

Single release by Simple Minds is the second single from the album Sparkle in the Rain (Feb. '84). The B-side is a non-album track.

Simple Minds "Waterfront" (1983) (single)

Waterfront, 12'' single
release date: Nov. 4, 1983
format: vinyl (601 064-213)
[single rate: 4 / 5] [3,86]
producer: Steve Lillywhite
label: Virgin Records - nationality: Scotland, UK

Tracklist: A) "On the Waterfront" - - B) "Hunter and the Hunted" (Live)

Single release by Simple Minds is the first of three single releases from the forthcoming album Sparkle in the Rain (Feb. '84). The A-side is an extended version running at 5:50 mins, whereas the 7'' single runs at 4:40 mins, thus the change of song title (the album version is simply titled 'Waterfront' as the single's title). The live track is recorded at the City Hall, Newcastle, Nov. 20, 1982. "Waterfront" was the best faring single from the album, peaking at number #13 on the UK singles chart list (but topping the charts in New Zealand).

Simple Minds "New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)" (1982)

org. cover

New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)
release date: Sep. 12, 1982
format: cd (1983 reissue)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,86]
producer: Peter Walsh
label: Virgin Records - nationality: Scotland, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Someone Somewhere in Summertime" - 3. "Promised You a Miracle" (4 / 5) - 4. "Big Sleep" - 5. "Somebody Up There Likes You" - 6. "New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)" - 7. "Glittering Prize" (5 / 5) - 8. "Hunter and the Hunted"

5th studio album by Simple Minds and the band's second studio album on Virgin. Musically, the band has made a more distinct turn into mainstream pop / rock and composed a collection of pompous melodic synthpop anthems. Tracks #1, #3, #7, and #8 have all become Simple Minds staples at live concerts and the album became the band's international break-through album. It peaked at number #3 on the UK albums chart list and became the band's first multi-platinum selling album. None of the album's three singles (tracks #3, #7 and #1 - release order) became top-10 singles with "Promised You a Miracle" as the highest faring single at number #13 on the national singles chart list.
The album is the only by Simple Minds to be enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die". Overall, I find it Simple Minds' most cohesive and best album with a fine balance of synthpop artistry, new wave roots and original pop / rock, and "Glittering Prize" is the band's best single track - if forces to pick just one.

Simple minds "Celebration" (1982)

Celebration (compilation)
release date: Feb. 1, 1982
format: cd (1989 reissue)
[album rate: 3 / 5]
producer: John Leckie
label: Virgin Records - nationality: Scotland, UK

Compilation album promoted as the best of Simple Minds originally released by Arista just after the band had signed with Virgin, hence the profitable idea to select songs from the band's first three albums and release it as their best songs. It contains ten compositions, two from Life in a Day, three from Real to Real Cacophony and three from Empires and Dance plus a B-side single track.
The album really shows how little the band was a singles band at the early stage. The album is almost remarkable for the lack of great compositions that could promote the sales. A sticker on the vinyl album read 'The Very Best of Simple Minds - includes "I Travel", "Chelsea Girl", "Life in a Day",' songs that in retrospect aren't among their very best.

Simple Minds "Sons and Fascination" / "Sister Feelings Call" (1981)

Sons and Fascination / Sister Feelings Call
release date: Sep. 12, 1981
format: cd (2003 remaster)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,68]
producer: Steve Hillage
label: Virgin Records - nationality: Scotland, UK

Track highlights: 2. "Sweat in Bullet" (4 / 5) - 3. "70 Cities as Love Brings the Fall" - 4. "Boys From Brazil" - 5. "Love Song" - 7. "Sons and Fascination" - 8. "Seeing out the Angel" - 10. "The American" - 15. "Sound in 70 Cities"

4th studio album by Simple Minds, or in reality: the fourth and fifth, although, the recordings stem from the same sessions and the two albums were released separately but also together. Generally, it's considered a double release 'cause the first issues were released as a double album where Sons and Fascination was the main issue and Sister Feelings Call was included as a bonus lp, which is why the 2003 remaster is released as one cd containing both albums on one disc. The album is the band's first after signing with major label, Virgin Records. Tracks #1-8 are similar to the original single lp versions of Sons and Fascination and tracks #9-15 make up the original single issue of Sister Feelings Call. Mind you, earlier cd issues of the combo leaves some tracks out due to limitations in running time.
Musically, the band has made a noticeable progression toward more melodic compositions, although, they still hang on to a highly original synthpop with new wave / post-punk influences, which also places the band close to Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, but the album may also be seen as their stepping stone towards mainstream pop / rock - which would be more accentuated on the successive album.
The album is the last with the original line-up with Jim Kerr on vocals, Charlie Burchill on guitars, Derek Forbes on bass, Mick MacNeil on keyboards, and Brian McGee on drums. Drummer McGee left the band just after finishing the recordings and was subsequently replaced by Kenny Hyslop, who also feature on two of the videos recorded after the album release.
The album was met by critical acclaim and went as high as to #11 on the UK albums chart list.
Imho, this is one of the best albums by Simple Minds, although, it really is the first half of the combo release that shines, and viewed as original sound and an artistic progression of a band, the album may be the most important release by Simple Minds.

Simple Minds "Empires and Dance" (1980)

Empires and Dance
release date: Sep. 12, 1980
format: vinyl (1982 reissue - VG 50033) / cd (1982 reissue)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,48]
producer: John Leckie
label: Virgin Records - nationality: Scotland, UK

Track highlights: 1. "I Travel" - 5. "Capital City" - 8. "Thirty Frames a Second"

3rd studio album by Scottish band Simple Minds originally released on Zoom Records succeeding Real to Real Cacophony (Nov. '79) marks a big change of style with emphasis on bolder use of bass and keyboard to draw a more simplistic output. Also, Jim Kerr's vocal performance has changed drastically. He no longer sounds like a Howard Devoto copycat, and he exhibits a clearly darker vocal. The kraut-rock style of the first two albums has been turned much more down and it has been replaced by a distinct synthpop with rhythm at its core, and here and there resembles the initial music by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, which is both a good thing and also a negative one, as they still appear a bit unoriginal.
It's not a great album but it points in a much more original direction, and where Real to Real could easily have been the last by the band this one seems much more like a new beginning. It may not be great, as it simply lacks more fine compositions, but it has a nice tone of melancholy and what appears as delicate darkness.

Simple Minds "Real to Real Cacophony" (1979)

Real to Real Cacophony
release date: Nov. 1979
format: cd (2003 remaster)
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,45]
producer: John Leckie
label: Virgin Records - nationality: Scotland, UK

2nd studio album by Simple Minds following only seven months after the debut album is originally released on Zoom Records. Stylistically, the album follows closely on the path laid out on the first album with this being more experimental and less energetic.
It still sounds like a conglomerate of other artists' works - Magazine, XTC, Veto, Talking Heads and German kraut-rock band, Can are difficult not to forget when listening to this.
This is undoubtedly the band's least favourable album. It simply doesn't contain any noteworthy compositions.

Simple Minds "Life in a Day" (1979)

Life in a Day [debut]
release date: Apr. 1, 1979
format: cd (1993 reissue)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,78]
producer: John Leckie
label: Disky - nationality: Scotland, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Someone" - 3. "Sad Affair" - 4. "All for You"

Studio album debut by Scottish quintet Simple Minds originally released on Zoom Records. The band consists of lead vocalist Jim Kerr, guitarist & violinist Charles Burchill, bassist Derek Forbes, keyboardist Michael MacNeil and drummer and percussionist Brian McGee. All tracks are credited Kerr and Burchill and the initial musical style is quite different from the style that later came to be associated with this band. Here at their earliest stage they play a simple power pop new wave style with focus on guitar. Some of the tracks makes me think of XTC and especially Magazine both in melody and the singing style of Jim Kerr, which bears much of the characteristics of Howard Devoto.