Early Gold
Simple Minds
(Virgin)
Reported Thursday, June 26 2003
Courtesy of Jonty_Adderley @ www.skrufff.com
Though nowadays best known for their decidedly cheesy 80s radio anthems 'Don't You Forget About Me' and 'Alive & Kicking', Simple Minds formed from the ashes of Glaswegian punk band Johnny and the Self Abusers and spent the first four years of their career, relentless failing.
Avant-garde, experimental and clearly light years ahead of their time, the band incorporated electronic soundscapes and rhythms with traditional rock songs and vocals, in the process producing four largely unsuccessful albums and numerous singles. Dropped by Arista and seemingly doomed to obscurity, the band's breakthrough came in 1982, when Virgin released their album New Gold Dream, and it's this album, plus the four earlier ones, which provide the tracks for Early Gold. All four singles from the album (New Gold Dream, Glittering Prize, Someone Somewhere and Promised You A Miracle) are included as are the three best known tracks from Sons & Fascination and Sisters Feelings Call (The American, Love Song and Sweat In Bullet). Ambient electronic guru Steve Hillage (nowadays recording as System 7) produced all three gems, while earlier cuts are worked by Magazine guru John Leckie (Life In a Day and Chelsea Girl)
Early Gold is an excellent collection of electronic rock songs culled from Simple Mind's best, truly innovative period, which is only marred by the absence of Theme From Great Cities (which became a Balearic anthem, when acid house kicked off...). The album comes out on Virgin on June 30.
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