Thursday, December 30, 2010
Simple Minds Albums (2009 - Present)
Reverting to the Burchill/Kerr/Gaynor/Duffy line-up, Simple Minds recorded a new studio album, Graffiti Soul, which was released on 25 May 2009.On Sunday, 31 May 2009, the album entered the UK Album chart at #10, becoming Simple Minds first album in 14 years to enter the UK Top 10. The album also entered European Top 100 Album chart at #9. The band was expected to play a handful of gigs between October and December 2010[18] but gave only two shows: a mini-concert on 2 October 2010 at the Cash For Kids Ball organised by Radio Clyde at the Hilton in Glasgow, UK and a full-length concert on 10 December, 2010 at the Festhalle in Bern, Switzerland. In early October 2010 Simple Minds completed four weeks in London's Sphere Recording studios during which four songs were recorded and mixed. According to Simple Minds' official web site, two of the tracks might feature in an extensive compilation to be released in early 2011. The two others might be the first tracks for what will eventually become the Simple Minds 16th studio album of original compositions due to be released in 2012.Simple Minds Tickets are available at Sold Out Ticket Market
Simple Minds Albums (2001 - 2008)
In 2001, Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill began working with ex-Primevals multi-instrumentalist Gordon Goudie on a brand new Simple Minds album to be called Cry.In parallel to Cry, Simple Minds also recorded an album of covers called Neon Lights, featuring Simple Minds reinventions of songs from artists including Patti Smith, Roxy Music and Kraftwerk. Of these projects, Neon Lights was the first to be completed and released (later in 2001) to help to build awareness of the returning band.A 2-CD compilation, The Best of Simple Minds, was released soon afterwards to continue to build commercial momentum. Cry itself was eventually released in 2002. Simple Minds once again mended their relationship with Mel Gaynor, recruiting him as tour drummer. In 2004, Simple Minds released a five-CD compilation entitled Silver Box. This mostly comprised previously-unreleased demos, radio & TV sessions and various live recordings from 1979 to 1995, but also included the long-delayed Our Secrets Are the Same.
In 2005, Simple Minds released their fourteenth studio album, Black & White 050505, which generated some of the most positive reviews for a Simple Minds record in many years. Despite the response from some website sources and a few UK tabloid papers the album failed to reignite the chart success. 2007 saw the band's 30th anniversary, and a brief tour of Australia & New Zealand as guests of INXS. Simple Minds played the 90th birthday tribute to Nelson Mandela on 27 June 2008 in London's Hyde Park. The band then undertook a short tour throughout the UK to celebrate their 30th anniversary. During these concerts, the band performed the entire New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) album and showcased songs from their other albums in a two-part concert performance. The original members of Simple Minds worked together for the first time in 27 years when they entered a recording studio in the middle of June 2008.Simple Minds Tickets are available at Sold Out Ticket Market
Simple Minds - Reimagining & Reorganisations (1996-2000)
Having being released from their contract with Virgin Records, Simple Minds decided to musically reinvent themselves once again, this time reaching back to their Kraftwerk-inspired, early electronic pop days. During the lengthy writing and demoing sessons for the next album, Kerr and Burchill made use of the skills of their original rhythm section, Derek Forbes and Brian McGee, Forbes formally rejoined Simple Minds in July 1996. The band then reunited with Mel Gaynor for studio session in spring 1997. The new album, Neapolis - turned out to be less of a "band" album than expected. The album ultimately charted poorly and received mixed reviews. Kerr and Burchill had continued to demo and originate material by themselves. For the latest sessions, they had shared studio space with a band called Sly Silver Sly. The two writing and recording projects merged to become the sessions for the next Simple Minds album, Our Secrets Are the Same. Having delivered Our Secrets Are the Same to Chrysalis, Simple Minds then found themselves caught up in record company politics while Chrysalis, EMI and other companies attempted to merge with each other. Originally slated for release in late 1999, the album remained unreleased. In 2000, the situation became even more complicated when Our Secrets Are the Same was leaked on the internet.Simple Minds Tickets are available at Sold Out Ticket Market
Simple Minds Albums (1989-1995)
Simple Minds album Street Fighting Years maintained the band's growing sense of scale but moved away from the American soul and gospel influences of Once Upon a Time in favour of soundtrack atmospherics and a new incorporation of acoustic and folk music-related ingredients. Released in 1989, the album rose to #1 in the UK charts and received glowing praise, including a rare five-star review from Q magazine. However, it received a less positive review in Rolling Stone which criticised the band for what the reviewer considered to be political vacuity.
The band underwent further lineup changes during the recording of Street Fighting Years. Mel Gaynor and John Giblin both contributed to the recording (and, in Giblin's case, to some of the writing) but both men had left the band by the time of the album's release. Reunited with Mel Gaynor, Simple Minds hired Malcolm Foster as the new bass player and expanded the live band again by recruiting three additional touring members. Just before the end of the tour, keyboardist Michael MacNeil announced to the band that he would not be joining them as he needed a break.
Despite opting not to replace MacNeil, Simple Minds continued to record, hiring keyboard players as and where required. In 1991, Simple Minds returned with a much more radio-friendly collection of their political concerns, Real Life. The album reached #2 in the UK, where it also spawned four Top 40 singles. Mel Gaynor left the band in 1992 to pursue session work and other projects. Simple Minds returned again later in 1994. By now the band was officially a duo of Kerr and Burchill. Good News from the Next World was released in 1995 to positive reviews, but weak sales in the U.S. In the UK and Europe, however, the response was much more positive, with the album reaching #2 in the UK and producing the two Top 20 hits "She's a River" and "Hypnotised".Simple Minds Tickets are available at Sold Out Ticket Market
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Simple Minds - Worldwide Success (1985 - 1987)
Taking advantage of their new-found popularity, Simple Minds recorded what has been considered to be their most unashamedly commercial album. On its release in November, Once Upon a Time appeared to be tailored specifically to appeal to the stadium rock sensibilities of American audiences[citation needed] This overlooked the fact that it was not only a continuation of the stylistic changes introduced on Sparkle in the Rain, but was heavily influenced by the celebratory aspects of soul, disco and gospel music. This was reinforced by the strong contributions of former Chic singer Robin Clark, who performed call-and-response vocals with Kerr throughout the album. Once Upon a Time was reviled by some long-time fans, but was embraced by millions of new listeners and was critically well-received. The record reached #1 in the UK and #10 in the US, despite the fact that their major-league breakthrough single "Don't You (Forget About Me)" was not included.
Because of Simple Minds' powerful stage presence and lyrics that trafficked in Christian symbolism, the band was criticised by some in the music press as a lesser version of U2, despite the fact that both bands were now heading in different musical directions. However, the two groups were well-acquainted with one another, and Bono joined Simple Minds on-stage at the Barrowlands in Glasgow in 1985 for a live version of "New Gold Dream". To document their successful worldwide Once Upon a Time Tour, Simple Minds released the double-live set Live in the City of Light in 1987, which was recorded primarily over two nights in Paris in 1986.Simple Minds Tickets are available at Sold Out Ticket Market
Simple Minds - Sparkle in the Rain (1984) & US Breakthrough (1985)
Simple Minds next record, Sparkle in the Rain, was a complete departure. Produced by Steve Lillywhite and released in February 1984, the album foregrounded Jim Kerr (now singing in a much more muscular and forthright fashion) and the rhythm section of Mel Gaynor and Derek Forbes, who were by now demonstrating an aggressive and fluent merging of hard rock and heavy funk stylings. The eventual result of this shift in musical direction gave rise to hugely successful singles like "Waterfront" (which hit #1 in a few European countries). Sparkle in the Rain topped the charts in the UK and hit the Top 20 in several other countries.
Despite the band's new-found popularity in the UK and Europe, Simple Minds remained essentially unknown in the U.S. The movie The Breakfast Club changed all that. Released in early 1985, this Brat Pack drama from writer/director John Hughes was a box-office smash. It also broke Simple Minds into the US market almost overnight, when the band achieved their only #1 U.S. pop hit in April 1985 with the film's opening track, "Don't You (Forget About Me)". Derek Forbes left the band and was replaced by former Brand X bass player John Giblin. Giblin made his debut with Simple Minds at Live Aid in Philadelphia, where the band performed "Don't You (Forget About Me)" and a new track called "Ghostdancing"Simple Minds Tickets are available at Sold Out Ticket Market
Simple Minds Albums (1982 - 1983)
McGee’s initial replacement as Simple Minds' drummer was Kenny Hyslop (ex-Skids, Zones), who joined the band in October 1981 in time to play the first leg of the Sons & Fascination tour. Unfortunately, Hyslop “didn’t fit in” with the band or their management (a situation further strained by his apparent suspicion of record companies) and in February 1982 he left the band after a mere five months. Hyslop was replaced by the Kilmarnock-born percussionist Mike Ogletree. Ogletree also performed with the band on TV and to close out the second leg of the 'Sons and Fascination Tour'. The band moved to Townhouse Studios for recording sessions with producer Peter Walsh, who introduced them to a London-born drummer called Mel Gaynor, a 22-year old session musician with plenty of experience .Working closely with Ogletree in order to capture and maintain the beats and grooves from the Perthshire sessions, Gaynor played drums on the majority of the record.
New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84) was released in September 1982, combining the results of the Walsh sessions along with 'Promised You A Miracle'. The album proved to be a significant turning point for the band, becoming a commercial breakthrough and generating a handful of charting singles including 'Glittering Prize"' (which reached the UK Top 20 and Australian Top 10). Mike Ogletree played on the first leg of the New Gold Dream tour, but left the band immediately afterwards in November 1982 to join Fiction Factory. Mel Gaynor was recruited (as a full member of the band) for the remaining dates.Simple Minds Tickets are available at Sold Out Ticket Market
Simple Minds - Albums (1980 - 1981)
Simple Minds next album, Empires and Dance, was another stylistic departure, and signalled the influence of Kraftwerk, Neu! and similar European artists on the band. During this period of their career Simple Minds promoted themselves as being a European band, rather than Scottish or British. Many of the tracks on Empires and Dance were extremely minimal and featured a significant use of sequencing. McNeil's keyboards and Forbes' bass became the main melodic elements in the band's sound, with Burchill's heavily-processed guitar becoming more of a textural element. With this album, Kerr began to experiment with non-narrative lyrics based on observations he'd made as the band travelled across Europe on tour. While not consciously so, Empires and Dance was essentially industrial in its aesthetic. in 1981 Simple Minds switched from Arista to Virgin. The following year, Arista put out a compilation album, Celebration, featuring tracks from the three previous records.
Simple Minds' first release on Virgin was actually two albums: the Steve Hillage-produced Sons and Fascination and Sister Feelings Call. Sons and Fascination perfected the formula that began with Empires and Dance, and showcased the band’s musicianship during their most prolific period. The band’s comparative musical virtuosity aligned them with the more streamlined end of progressive rock rather than the flippancy of many other New Wave musicians. One significant progressive rock musician - Peter Gabriel - selected Simple Minds as the opening act on several dates of his European tour. Further increasing the band's visibility, the single "Love Song" was an international hit (reaching the Top 20 in Canada and Australia) and the instrumental "Theme for Great Cities" proved so enduring a composition that it was later re-recorded in 1991 as a B-side to the single "See the Lights". However, this period would also see the end of the first "classic" Simple Minds lineup when drummer Brian McGee left the band at the end of the Sons and Fascination sessions.Monday, December 27, 2010
Simple Minds - Albums (1979)
The first Simple Minds album, Life in a Day, was produced by John Leckie and released by Arista in April 1979. The album took a cue from fellow post-punk forebears Magazine, and was somewhat self-consciously derivative of the late-70s punk boom. The album's title track was released as Simple Minds' first single and reached #62 in the UK Gallop charts, with the album itself putting in a more respectable performance at #30 in the LP charts. While Arista were disappointed with this failure, the band themselves had rapidly become dissatisfied with the album, which they considered too derivative. While preparing ideas for the next record, they enjoyed a well-received support slot for Magazine, following which they went straight back into the studio with Leckie to work on new material.
While still categorised as 'rock', Simple Minds' second release, Real to Real Cacophony was a significant departure from the pop tunes of Life In A Day. The album had a darker and far more experimental atmosphere, announcing some of the New Wave experimentation that would become the band’s trademark sound over the next two albums. Innovations which the band displayed on Real to Real Cacophony included minimalist structures based around the rhythm section of Forbes and McGee, plus the occasional use of unconventional time signatures. The album also generated an acclaimed (but again, non-charting) single - "Changeling".Simple Minds Tickets are available at Sold Out Ticket Market
Simple Minds - Original Lineup (1977 - 1978)
Simple Minds produced a handful of critically acclaimed albums in the early 1980s and best known for their #1 worldwide hit single "Don't You (Forget About Me)", from the soundtrack of the John Hughes movie The Breakfast Club and #3 worldwide hit single "Alive and Kicking". In January 1978 Simple Minds recruited Duncan Barnwell as a second guitarist. The band rapidly established a reputation as an exciting live act (usually performing in full makeup) and gained a management deal with Bruce Findlay, owner of the Bruce’s Records chain of record shops. Findlay also owned Zoom Records (a subsidiary of the Arista Records label), and used his position to get Simple Minds signed to Arista. The band’s lineup did not settle until the end of 1978. Tony Donald quit in April, before the first Simple Minds demo tape was recorded (he would later become Burchill’s guitar technician). He was replaced by Duncan Barnwell’s friend Derek Forbes. The remaining quintet of Kerr, Burchill, MacNeil, Forbes and McGee - generally considered as the first serious lineup of Simple Minds.Simple Minds - Introduction & Roots
Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band that achieved worldwide popularity from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The roots of Simple Minds were in the punk band Johnny & The Self-Abusers, dreamed up by would-be Glasgow scenemaker Alan Cairnduff in 1977. At Cairnduff’s suggestion, Milarky teamed up with two musicians he’d never worked with before - budding singer and lyricist Jim Kerr and guitarist Charlie Burchill. Kerr and Burchill, who had known each other since the age of eight, were longstanding allies. After joining Johnny & The Self-Abusers, they brought in two of their school friends, Brian McGee on drums and Tony Donald on bass. With Milarky established as singer, guitarist and saxophonist, the lineup was completed by Milarky’s friend Alan McNeil as third guitarist. To expand the band's potential sound, Kerr and Burchill also doubled on keyboards and violin respectively.Johnny & The Self-Abusers played its first gig on Easter Monday, 1977 at the Dourne Castle pub in Glasgow. The band played support to rising punk stars Generation X in Edinburgh a scant two weeks later. The band soon split into two factions, with Milarky and McNeil on one side and Kerr, Donald, Burchill and McGee on the other. In November 1977, Johnny & The Self-Abusers released its only single, "Saints And Sinners", on Chiswick Records (which was labelled “rank and file” in a Melody Maker review.) The band split on the same day that the single was released, with Milarky and McNeil going on to form The Cuban Heels. Ditching the stage names and the overt punkiness, the remaining members continued together as Simple Minds.
Simple Minds Tickets are available at Sold Out Ticket Market
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