I LOVE, do you hear me, LOVE Simple Minds.
Their publicist sent me a press release yesterday asking me to cover it and so I will be writing a review for ''American Songwriter Magazine''.
Simple Minds just signed to Sanctuary Records and I am happy for them.
The CD is called ''Black & White 050505'' and will be released here in the USA 9/13/05 ( don't know when it's coming out in the UK but I would think...in their case...Sooner in the UK, than in the USA)
Reason is, Simple Minds put out a wonderful box set called ''Silver Box'' which (take NOTE QOL), contained outtakes, demos, never before released songs, concerts, etc), in the UK in October 2004,...
...but we in the USA NEVER, ever got a regular USA release, and only SOME stores got some IMPORT copies from the UK around like February 2005!
Hope the CD is good. I LOVE Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill!
I think..not sure til I get the press kit if Mel Gaynor is still on drums, hope so cuz I adore him too. I think I recently read in Rhythm's 20th Anniversary July 2005 edition that he does play on this CD.
I have no clue until I hear the new record. According to the press release they are trying to recapture their classic 1980's sound, so I hope so.
What killed their career was in the 1990's they tried to go for of all things, a nu-metal sound and image (you should have seen their morose, videos) trying to sound like, of all bands...9 Inch Nails and Tool. GOD F**King awful.
I guess they felt the 80's sound wasn't popular anymore in the 90's and tried to jump on the nu-metal bandwagon but I HATE nu-metal for one, and even if I loved it, it did NOT work for Simple Minds AT ALL.
You should listen to all their 1980's albums. ''Sparkle In The Rain'', ''New Gold Dream 81-82-83-84'', ''Once Upon A Time'', ''Street Fighting Years'', and yes ''Glittering Prize''. Their last decent record was 1991's ''Real Life''.
They also were outstanding LIVE. I never saw them in concert, but I have seen and heard tons of concert footage. (Hey they were at the original Live Aid too,) and thet put out a bunch of 12 inch single records in the 1980's with live songs, now out of print that I loved, many recorded at venues in England and Scotland.
...Oh as for ''American Songwriter Magazine'', I do NOT know if it's available in the UK.
Most the UK publications do not say quote unquote, if they are avaialable in the USA, and MOST USA stores here do NOT carry them.
But....if I drive to Rockville, Maryland right on the outskirts of Washington DC each week and go to Tower Records, or ONLY the Borders Books IN Rockville which....are stores that cater to a more cosmopolitan crowd being near an International news city(Washington DC),...
... I can find ALL of the UK magazines, and even newspapers, music, entertainment, mens, sports, lifestyle, whatever.
...So if you go to a UK store that caters to carrying USA newspapers and magazines because they know the people in the area read International publications...that's the best advice I can give you.
It doesn't go by the store, but by the demographics of the reading audience in the area around a store. The Borders Books in Baltimore do NOT carry UK publications because they correctly determine there is no audience to read International stuff, so they don't carry it.
But I can go to any store near washington DC and find anything. I especially love reading the Sunday London Times newspaper with their excellent entertainment booklet/magazine, ''The Knowlege'' (formerly ''The Eye'').
P.S. If you think ''Glittering Prize'' their 1st greatest hits CD is good, see review... link
2002's DOUBLE CD Anthology ''The Best Of Simple Minds'' is 100 times better...and they do NOT edit ''Alive & Kicking''which is 5:26.
The version on ''Glittering Prize'' is only 4:47, and is edited shorter and cuts the outstanding solo sung by Robin Clark with drummer Mel Gaynor kicking ass on drums accompanying her.
In fact all the cuts are FULL LENGTH, where they were all edited on ''Glittering Prize'' shorter, or no fade outs, intros. etc.
See review... link
"Don't You... Forget About Me... Don't, Don't..."
Simple Minds, forgotten since 1985. Great song, though, and a couple of other good ones as well. I just wouldn't want to be remember as "the band who sings that song from 'The Breakfast Club"
Mr.Jingles wrote: "Don't You... Forget About Me... Don't, Don't..."
Simple Minds, forgotten since 1985. Great song, though, and a couple of other good ones as well. I just wouldn't want to be remember as "the band who sings that song from 'The Breakfast Club"
Actually, Jim Kerr and the band HATE that song and being pigeonholed by it (even though I DO love it, but then I also love all their music and didn't let that ONE song keep me from learning about and appreciating all of their music).
The song was intended for Bryan Ferry who passed as he was busy (Ferry went on to record ''Is Your Love Strong Enough'' the SAME year 1985 for the film ''Legend''-I love the song and the film).
Anyways, they were already respected in the UK for their more rock oriented material, but decided to do the song. Even after it became their biggest hit in the USA, and broke them in the USA, to THIS day, the song was NEVER released (by their decision), on any of their regular records (only their greatest hits albums).
They released an album, ''Once Upon A Time'' in 1985, but refused to be seen as commercial and refused to allow the song on their album. At that current time 1985, when the song was released, you could only buy it on the movie soundtrack, or on a single.
Simple Minds still consider that song both a blessing and a curse.
Like I said I love it..but being openminded about music, I never let it deter me from learning about and appreciating ALL of their music.
That is why I am as you see, excited about this new record, and more than willing to give it a listen on its own merits.
Barry, I got the advance CD and press kit Saturday, listened to it yesterday, and wrote up the review today.
(Just my opinion)..best thing they have done since 1985's album ''Once Upon A Time''. The 2 main original founding members, lead vocalist Jim Kerr and Lead Guitarist Charlie Burchill co-wrote all the songs which retained and went back to their classic 80's sound and ditched their crappy 90's nu-metal exercise.
Some of the songs are filler, but overall, it's a wonderful record and 2 songs (can't say which 2 til my review is published) are outstanding (again just my opinion) :-)
I saw Simple Minds At The SECC, Glasgow way back in 1985 and was pleasantly surprised at just how good they were. Excellent concert. As for how they sound today, (judging by the small clips I've heard) all I can say is there is hardly any change other than Jim Kerr's vocal timbre has changed slightly and for the better imho.