I can’t say that I’ve ever been a fan of Simple Minds. Their cover of “Don’t You (Forget About Me )” was a big hit on “The Breakfast Club” soundtrack, topping the chart in the U.S. I wasn’t a fan of the film so I paid little attention to the song.
So, why should I care now?
I saw the band’s greatest hits collection (40: The Best of 1979–2019) at the public library and got curious. Putting in the CD machine for a spin, I have to admit a bit of surprise. The version I’m listening to is the single-disc version, it also comes in a 3-disc set.
In 2027, Simple Minds releases a new album and embarks on a world tour. Marking 50 years as a band, these guys have endured.
The mainstays of Simple Minds are singer Jim Kerr and guitarist Charles Burchill, who were school chums back in Glasgow, Scotland and were in a punk band named Johnny & The Self-Abusers. By the time they signed to Arista Records in 1979, the band was now Simple Minds. Much better title.
Sixty million records later, Kerr and Burchill are still at it. To date, they have released 19 studio albums, the last being Direction of the Heart (2022) to generally favorable reviews. Fifty years in, the band still tours, has a major record level deal, and sells a lot of albums in the UK and Europe. Who about America? Well, they make a respectable showing in America, but they were never big here with just five top forty charting songs.
Stylistically, Simple Minds leaned into Bowie and Roxy Music, more glam and art-rock, and Kerr has the Bryan Ferry bend in his voice. Today, they have a harder electro-rock, stadium rock sound. Their songs are noisy, with layers of sound and hooks.
Listening to this disk, I first thought that I only recognized two of these songs. After several listens, four or five were familiar. It’s been years since years since I’ve heard any of these songs.
The songs
“Waterfront” – (1983) from their sixth album, written about the decline of the shipping industry. Produced by Steve Lillywhite, also the U2 producer.
“Love Song” (1982) from the fourth album. A sizable hit around the world.
“I Travel” (1980) from the third album. The song is like a combination of Roxy Music and early U2, a pounding dance beat.
“Glittering Prize” (1982) from the fifth album. Daring bass line and bouncy synth rhythm. Another hit around the world.
“Sense of Discovery” (2018) from their 18th album. Is it Simple Minds or U2? The sound is so close. Great song.
“Someone Somewhere in Summertime (1982) from the fifth album. Synth pop, dark and erotic. Very Roxy Music.
“See the Lights” (1991) from the ninth album. Top 40 in the U.S.
“Belfast Child” (1989) from the fifth album. A massive hit in Europe. Produced by Trevor Horn and Stephen Lipson.
“Promised You A Miracle” (1982) from their sixth album fifth album. Very beat heavy and guitar riffy tune.
“Honest Town” (2014) from the sixteenth album. Another finely crafted song.
“Don’t You (Forget About Me)” (1985)
“Chelsea Girl” (1979) from their debut album, their second single. Sounds very much of the times.
“Hypnotized” (1995) from the tenth album. One of my favorites. Rocking song.
“Stars Will Lead the Way” (2009) from the fifteenth album. Still sounds fresh. Rocking song.
“For One Night Only” (2019) A new song for this collection. Upbeat, unfortunately, very derivative.
“Sanctify Yourself”(1985) from their seventh album. A big hit everywhere including the U.S. I like it better than “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”.
“Mandela Day” (1989) from their eighth album written for Nelson Mandela’s 70th birthday.
“Alive and Kicking” (1985) from their seventh album. A big hit, especially in the U.S., number three. Produced by Jimmy Iovine and Bob Clearmountain. An overplayed song at the time.
Final thoughts
Simple Minds only had mild success in the U.S., and that was over 40 years ago. They’ve always been well-received in the U.K. and Europe. Does the band sound too Scottish for American tastes? U2 is a band from Ireland, too Irish? Oasis is English, too Manchester? Céline Dion is Canadian, too French sounding?
Musical tastes are fickle and most bands have a shelf life that may have little to do with their sound or quality of their music, but many factors conspire to impact popularity.
The comparison to U2 is inevitable. The sound, same producers, they arrived about the same time, Kerr and Bono have vocal similarities, etc.
I’m glad to revisit Simple Minds. I bet that I still have a couple of LPs down in the basement that I’ve lugged around these past decades. Wish me luck sorting through the vinyl.
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