14 Nov, 2015 Simple Minds Live – Big Music Tour – 2015
[DOUBLE CD]
Recorded during the highly acclaimed ‘Big Music’ Live Tour, the 29 track double CD not only showcases blistering versions of the Simple Minds classics but it also includes live versions of many of the tracks from the hit album ‘Big Music’ along with some incredible new arrangements of songs such as ‘The American’, ‘Home’ and ‘Rivers Of Ice’.
“The set list of the Big Music Tour was gloriously ambitious. Almost theatrical in the way that it was put together. So many varying styles of music and atmospheres feature, and yet it is always inherently Simple Minds live. Simply put, it was a real pleasure to be involved.” JK
[Read more from Jim below.]
BROWSE & LISTEN TO A TASTER OF EACH TRACK
Double CD & digital download released: November 14th 2015.
*DOUBLE CD LIMITED EDITION CURRENTLY SOLD OUT*
SIMPLE MINDS RED VINYL – RECORD STORE DAY 2016
A very special Record Store Day exclusive double LP version is also available. It’s pressed on red vinyl and is released from 16th APRIL 2016.
The live recording features the same blistering versions of many of the Simple Minds classics hits from across the decades ‘Don’t You Forget About Me’, ‘Alive And Kicking’ , ‘New Gold Dream (81, 82, 83, 84)’ ‘Waterfront’ – Click here for more info
Also included are live versions of some the tracks from the hit album ‘Big Music’
RECORD STORE DAY 2016
CATALOGUE NO: DEMREC159
RELEASE DATE: 16th APRIL 2016
FORMAT: 2LP – GATEFOLD SLEEVE, RED VINYL
CATEGORY: ROCK
BARCODE:5 014797 894730
Side A
1. Let The Day Begin
2. Blindfolded
3. New Gold Dream (81, 82, 83, 84)
Side B
1. Honest Town
2.Waterfront
3. Don’t You (Forget About Me)
Side C
1. All The Things She Said
2. Let There Be Love
3. Someone Somewhere In Summertime
4. Midnight Walking
Side D
1. Big Music
2. Sanctify Yourself
3. Alive And Kicking
WATCH SIMPLE MINDS LIVE IN EDINBURGH 2015 RIGHT NOW
To whet your appetite, watch the ‘Big Music Live’ playlist on Youtube below, to expand a track list click the icon on the top left of the player:
In 2015 we released a brand new live Simple Minds video performance every Monday on our Youtube Channel from the show filmed in Edinburgh earlier that year.
An index of all of those videos can be found here.
INTERVIEW WITH JIM
Why is it important for Simple Minds to release live albums?
Simple Minds are primarily a live band and most of our career has been spent criss – crossing the globe playing literally thousands of shows. It is therefore in concert where somehow the essence and spirit of Simple Minds is at its strongest. We grew up on stage, it is our natural habitat, we feel better there than anywhere else. But it is also in the live situation where the real connection is made with our audiences – who themselves play a big part of any Simple Minds show as we feed off their energy and enthusiasm.
To document that, especially as the band still continues to evolve is indeed important to our story. But it is also interesting in that just as each Simple Minds album is different from the previous, likewise no two Simple Minds tours are the same. The best way to document all of that is to record the shows. This we do as we go along from gig to gig, in doing so we also start to create a distilled souvenir that we hope many who come to our shows value.That is what lies beyond the urge to release live material, that is why it is important.
These days many fans who go to shows make their own souvenirs and we see that all over Youtube etc as their clips and photos are posted.
Yes they do. And that is both understandable and fine. But…and there is a but….rarely does that stuff sound any good, and rarely does it capture to any full degree what the evening was really about from an overall audience point of view. The production and mixing on this release is all under the control of our live sound engineer GG, and what you hear – is what he hears, as he works with our sound in concert halls the world over. He does an amazing job of capturing what we put out, this has to be said.
How do the songs differ live from the studio recordings?
Much as we like our recorded work in general, the fact is that it is not until you take songs out and play them night after night in front of a live audience that you really find out what truly lies at the heart of a song – or indeed how good it is? Songs are honed live,they grow live also as arrangements can be more expansive, or shorter even, as they morph into some other tune altogether. Certain songs were seemingly written to be played live especially, while others might be too fragile to cope with the live bombast. Like wild horses – live is in the end where the songs are finally set free of the studio constraints. Played live is where they become powerful shots from heart, aimed directly to the front row and reaching all the way to the back of each and every venue.
How “live” is this recording – is there any additional post production work involved. Things that are added to make a more polished product?
This is 100% live without any additional recording whatsoever. This is warts and all! Nothing is diluted – this is the true sound of Simple Minds live recorded as it was on the night.
What gives you most pleasure when you listen through to these songs?
The set list of the Big Music Tour was gloriously ambitious. Almost theatrical in the way that it was put together. So many varying styles of music and atmospheres feature, and yet it is always inherently Simple Minds live. Simply put, it was a real pleasure to be involved.
Jim Kerr