81..82..83..84!
When fledgling Punk band Johnny and the Self Abusers played their first gig in Glasgow in April 1977, they could never have imagined they would one day go on to write this amazing piece of music.
September 2022 sees the 40th Anniversary of New Gold Dream by Simple Minds (thank God they changed their name back in late 1977). At the time of its release it was critically acclaimed and earned the band two top 20 singles in Promised You a Miracle and Glittering Prize.
The album highlighted the creative journey the band had been on since their first album Life in a Day (released 1979), through subsequent albums Reel to Reel Cacophony (1979), Empires and Dance (1980), and Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings Call (1981). The band were and still are influenced by artists like Roxy Music, Lou Reed and David Bowie (so much so they chose the name Simple Minds from a Bowie lyric (Jean Genie)). Later contemporary influences included Magazine and Joy Division.
The main constants in the band's line up through the years have been Singer Jim Kerr and guitarist Charlie Burchill. The band have had many line up's over the years but many consider the line up that made this album the best. The line up for this album was:
Jim Kerr - Vocals.
Charlie Burchill - Guitar.
Derek Forbes - Bass Guitar.
Mick McNeil - Keyboards.
Mel Gaynor - Drums.
Track Listing
Someone Somewhere in Summertime.
Colours Fly and Catherine Wheel.
Promised You A Miracle.
Big Sleep.
Somebody Up There Likes You.
New Gold Dream.
Glittering Prize.
Hunter And The Hunted.
King Is White And In The Crowd.
Many critics deemed the album the pinnacle of pop at that time. The album itself contained glossy and at times sulky and ambient pieces of Europop/rock. There is a beauty contained within the mix between heavenly synths and icy guitar lines. Breath taking isn't a sharp enough description to describe the sounds. Just listen to tracks such as Someone, Somewhere in Summertime, Big Sleep and King is White and in the Crowd. Simply wonderous.
New Gold Dream was the band's5th album release and the one that ensured the doors to commercial and critical success were well and truly kicked down. Produced and engineered by Peter Walsh (Peter Gabriel, Scott Walker), it made number 3 in the UK Album chart. The albums that followed (such as Sparkle in the Rain and Once Upon a Time) saw the band achieve worldwide success both on and off stage. Jim Kerr has conceded that New Gold Dream may well be the band's Holy Grail. Many will agree!
Happy Birthday to you New Gold Dream!