Simple Minds Album by Album Thread

Celebrate 2013

Given the kind of renaissance the music world experienced with Simple Minds, it would only make sense to release a comprehensive accounting of the band's long and storied career. The timing for this release was very fortunate as it helped new fans gain some familiarity with the band's entire catalogue while also setting the stage for nearly 2 years of solid touring which highlighted the band's "greatest hits" package with some highlights from the 5x5 Live tour tossed in. For any fan that owns every record, 12" single and previous collection there still is a good reason for picking this collection up in that the singles "Stagefright", "Blood Diamonds" and especially the excellent "Broken Glass Park" are included and sound very nice on this new set of discs.

Even though there are 1, 2 and 3 disc versions, I would definitely steer prospective buyers towards the 3 disc set as it comes in a nicer package and obviously does a better job of capturing each era of the band's career that might be categorized as "The Early Years" which spans from "Life in a Day" up through "Sparkle in the Rain", followed by "The Arena Years" that includes the era from "Don't You(Forget About Me) through "Real Life" while disc 3 contains all great tracks, it spans a time where the band almost chucked it all and called it a day but was able to catch a terrific second wind so I'd call disc 3 the "Stayin' Alive" era. It has great to brilliant music on it and sets the listener up for the potentially great things to come is songs like "Blindfolded" are any indication.

The package is nicely done with the 3 disc set contained in a nice clam-shell box with the alternate grey cover while the other sets are the standard jewel cases with the red cover. Most of the tracks are the shorter radio edits which are hit and miss when compared to their album counterparts but the sound quality is mostly great as they are mostly the Simon Heyworth masters. Although I firmly believe that Simple Minds career is in dire need of a proper box set or multiple deluxe versions of their more important albums if not all of them as there is plenty of alternative material available in the form of great live recordings and demos, "Celebrate" does the job of setting the band up to go out and.........well, celebrate the fact that it has a career most would kill for and that they are still churning out great music and have definitely shown the world that they are good enough to keep around, some of us might say they're good enough to deserve this new chapter that I hope will last for a while.

From Wikipedia:


Alternate 3-disc version cover

Three disc version[edit]
Disc 1[edit]

1. Life In A Day (4:00)
2. Chelsea Girl [Edit] (3:59)
3. Changeling [Edit] (3:26)
4. I Travel [Edit] (3:09)
5. Celebrate [Edit] (2:53)
6. The American [Edit] (3:32)
7. Love Song [Edit] (3:54)
8. Sweat In Bullet [Remix] (3:00)
9. Theme For Great Cities (5:50)
10. Promised You A Miracle [Edit] (4:00)
11. Glittering Prize [Edit] (3:58)
12. Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) (4:38)
13. New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84)[Edit] (4:46)
14. Waterfront [Edit] (4:38)
15. Speed Your Love To Me [Edit] (3:59)
16. Up On The Catwalk [Edit] (4:04)

Disc 2[edit]

1. Don't You (Forget About Me) [Single Version] (4:20)
2. Alive And Kicking [Edit] (4:45)
3. Sanctify Yourself [Edit] (3:55)
4. All The Things She Said (4:16)
5. Ghostdancing (4:46)
6. Promised You A Miracle [Live] (4:54)
7. Belfast Child [Edit] (5:11)
8. Mandela Day (5:41)
9. Biko (7:32)
10. This Is Your Land [Edit] (4:48)
11. Kick It In [Edit] (4:20)
12. Let It All Come Down [Edit] (3:37)
13. Let There Be Love [7" Mix] (4:44)
14. See The Lights [7" Version Edit] (3:55)
15. Stand By Love (4:04)
16. Real Life [Edit] (3:54)

Disc 3[edit]

1. She's A River [Edit] (4:29)
2. Hypnotised [TLA Edit] (4:34)
3. Glitterball [Edit] (4:25)
4. War Babies [Bascombe Mix Single Version] (4:19)
5. Space [Single Version] (5:28)
6. Jeweller To The Stars [Single Version] (3:34)
7. Dancing Barefoot (3:48)
8. Cry (3:55)
9. Spaceface (3:52)
10. One Step Closer (6:06)
11. Home (4:22)
12. Stranger (4:07)
13. Stay Visible (5:17)
14. Rockets [Radio Edit] (3:24)
15. Stars Will Lead The Way (3:26)
16. Stagefright (4:20)
17. Blood Diamonds (3:55)
18. Broken Glass Park (4:12)

 

Wait a minute.....we're foes? Where are we foes and if we are, why haven't I stolen a bomber from the boneyard and paid you a visit?

 

I'm thoroughly impressed at the band's ability to bring in such great musicians to fill some extremely huge shoes. Stylistically it will never be the same but Andy and Ged are helping this band pump out some great modern sounding tunes that also pay some homage to their earlier and innovative era.

 

This is what I love about Celebrate! Each of the three discs perfectly captures an era (although some might argue that the Sparkle in the Rain material works better on Disc 2). Each disc is amazingly cohesive and could work as a single-disc "greatest hits" for the respective era. And like the second disc of a-ha's 25, the third disc of this set is actually a solid listen despite the fact that it is comprised of tracks that were done long after the band's "prime." The second disc of 25 is actually much stronger in this regard, but Disc 3 of Celebrate is pretty engaging in its own right.

Also, one of the things I felt was missing from 25 is present here... a great representation of all the single artwork on the back of the poster. Love it!

 

I just got this a few weeks back. I wanted the extra tracks and my 5 yr old is becoming a Simple Minds fan, so its his now.

 

On this forum I haven't seen enough updating of these types of threads - somebody else just starts a new one in the future. Havoc will need to be disciplined and bring this one to life every so often.

 

Off topic, but since we discussed TFF earlier, did you guys see that there's a SIX DISC (4CD, 2DVD) deluxe edition of Songs for the Big Chair coming in November? Might be an excuse to resurrect the TFF album thread. Ok, now back to Simple Minds...

 

The most accomplished package so far, easily trumping 2001's 2CD Best Of and Glittering Prize 81/92. Albeit the latter compilation stills holds its own artwork-wise. The inclusion of new songs to a collection of (supposedly) greatest hits is always a matter of taste, and the three new tracks sits somewhat uncomfortable with the rest. Best of the bunch is arguably lead single Broken Glass Park, a throwback to electronica, and awash in high pitched synths. Despite (or perhaps because) its retro stylings and sentimental theme, the unmistakable idiosyncrasy of the band is evident. The two remaining new songs, Stagefright and second single Blood Diamonds seems out of place, and more akin to b-side fodder. Facebook freebee Stagefright in particular goes nowhere, even if Burchills riff calls out MacNeil's frantic keys on Here Comes The Fool, it comes across as an afterthought. A sketch of a song. The gestures of pathos and sense of history on Broken Glass Park gets sucked into emotionel porn on Blood Diamonds; turning gentle notions of nostalgia into bombastic statements and navel-gazing solipsism.

Elsewhere there's much to enjoy for the hardcore fan: finally appearing on digital format is the 7" single remixes of Sweat In Bullet (a dynamic distillation of Pete Walsh' propulsive 12" remix)
Celebrate (essentially a very early album fadeout)
I Travel (being the short edit at 3:06, omitting the intro and second half of the first verse, a slightly longer 7" edit exists at 3:19 [the album version clocks in at 3:56])
Chelsea Girl (editing down Burchills solo iirc)
Changeling (tightening the structure with great results), and the infamous count-in to Waterfront.

Then there's the genuine scoops.
The cancelled single mixes of Space and Jeweller To The Stars finally sees the light of day, the former thoroughly remixed by Gary Wilkinson, expanding the claustrophobic sounding album version with an (overly) protracted coda. While the latter gets a forgettable treatment by Paul Bodger.

Now since this compilation is all about 7" single versions and radio edits, (and a highly commendable attempt courtesy of Minds maestro Simon Cornwell), the petty faultfinding nitpickernazi within should still lament the glaring absence of...

• The Johnson Somerset remixes of Space: the so-called "Mercury mix" extends the album version's "closet" vibe, while the "Moscow mix" is a radical reworking. NB. Somerset did once upload the Moscow version on Youtube, though it seems to be unavailable at the moment.
• The single edit of Stay Visible, only issued on an Australian cd promo.
• The US promo edit/fade of Mandela Day
• The radio edit of One Step Closer
• The radio edit of Home
• The 7" full length Bascombe mix of War Babies. Incredibly never issued on cd.
• The US promo edit of Someone Somewhere (In Sunmertime)

I'm sure there's plenty more enigmas, where is Homosapien, why's Biko on it (don't say its because The Ballad Of The Streets only works as a "unity"of tracks, if so then where's the 7" edit of Sign O The Times from The Amsterdam EP since Let It All Come Down is represented), where's Different World yaddayaddayadda...

 

A few things on that. I did let myself get a little too involved in the U2 stuff but my alerts aren't working as they should even though everything's configured properly. Also I was trying to gauge when the conversation dried up and didn't have very good instincts...............also, I blame the Dutch.........so there.

 

You actually expect us to believe some dog would whisper this to you? Nope, I'm sticking with the watch theory or maybe you sold your soul to the lesser Star Hitz demons........led coincidentally by the very Neil Tennant that lives in your watch. The power of Hunter Thompson compels you!!!!!!!!!

BTW, where do you go for the specific edit info? Is there a good central source.............I mean....other than Neil?

 

I can't remember if it was this thread that was continuing or the A-ha thread? Should we bring up the tour CD companion to this? I wasn't sure many had heard it.

 

Gonzo the Dog is my white light of inspiration.
Source of course: Cornwell's Dream Giver site, the cornucopia of SM trivia.

 

Be gentle on the Dutch - they are still smarting from yet another World Cup close call!

 

Can't wait for this - and new SM album, and new Church album. Good times!

 

It really seems as if he's still trying to sell the catalogue and almost turning these into one of those flashback festivals I'll see on BBC America where they get people like The Blow Monkeys or Cutting Crew out of retirement who seem a little like they're trying to get people to have "fun" rather than bowl them over and make them wonder what just happened?

 

How many Celebrate Live albums does he think people need though?

 

I just want to say THANKS to everyone who has contributed to this great thread. I really wish I'd had more time over the summer to add my thoughts to this...[work...spouse...kids...the usual excuses]...but I have largely kept up with reading it and it's been a great ride.

Like most Americans, the band came to my attention with "Don't You." I do rate that as a bit odd, because by the time Sparkle In The Rain was out, I had been paying attention to "college" and "alternative" radio here in the US of A, but don't recall hearing any of their tunes on the radio at the time (or "Summertime," etc., beforehand). Nevertheless, I am a big fan of most of their early work now, with NGD being one of my top 10 albums of that entire decade - and I even like OUAT, LITCOL, and SFY a lot. I also rounded up many of the 12" & CD singles during that time.

Real Life is where it begins to slip for me, but that was the first time I had a chance to see the band live, which was enormously enjoyable. (Only time I've ever scored front row tickets to a reserved-seat show, at the Paramount in Denver.) I did see them once more on the GNFTNW tour.

Although I haven't cared for much of their work since Real Life, it sounds like I need that 5x5 Live box.

 

You definitely need "5x5 Live" if you like their early work. It's excellent.

 

Have ordered the Celebrate comp. Own most of their compilations, but this one is the best one really and it's nice to have the 7' mixes in one compilation.
Love "Blood Diamonds" and "Broken Glass Park" and the single mixes of the Our Secrets... tracks.. "Stagefright" is just a sketch, as mentioned above.

 

Another new song from Big Music--"Honest Town"! I like it even better than "Blindfolded." They're calling this one "the new single." It's very synthy as well.
https://soundcloud.com/simple-minds-official/honest-town

Also, there's an epic 2CD+DVD edition. Also note that the main album includes both "Broken Glass Park" and "Blood Diamonds":
http://simpleminds.tmstor.es/cart/product.php?id=18960


2 X CDs, 1 x DVD, Poster and booklet in foil blocked box

CD1:
Blindfolded
Midnight Walking
Honest Town
Big Music
Human
Blood Diamonds
Let The Day Begin
Concrete And Cherry Blossom
Imagination
Kill Or Cure
Broken Glass Park
Spirited Away

CD2 - BONUS TRACKS:
Swimming Towards The Sun
Bittersweet
Liaison
Riders On The Storm
Dancing Barefoot
Blindfolded (Original)

DVD:
Featuring:
- Full videos of Honest Town and Blindfolded.
- Short video clips of Human, Let The Day Begin, Midnight Walking
- Behind the scenes film of video and photo shoot
- Interview with band members about the album.

 

Great work going out and getting this! I really like the song but they have great musicians that seem to be a little bit underused on a few of these tracks. This almost sounds like he picked a track from the Tron Legacy soundtrack to sing over...................but it's very good.

 

uh oh, don't look now but I see more cover versions!

 

Argh... looks like it alright.
The Age of Regurgitation
Alleged "band versions" of Blood Diamonds, Kill Or Cure, Broken Glass Park. The retooling of Swimming Towards The Sun, and covers ahoy! (Riders On The Storm, Dancing Barefoot (again?) and Let The Day Begin (again?!)) Why not just re-record Our Secrets Are The Same, they're obviously unsatisfied with the original recording (i.e The Jeweller Part Two > Jeweller To The Stars).
Lemme see, new material: 8 out of 12 on cd 1 / 2.5* on cd 2. *the socalled original version of Blindfolded gets the half.

Honest Town sounds pretty alright at first listen (JK a bit too upfront in the mix perhaps), the single edit fades when it gets interesting. Dunno about choosing it as first single. Not nearly strong or convincing enough. Seems like the band continues their tradition of picking poor lead singles.