SWEET WORDS in response to the recent post re "Live In The City Of Light". Thanks to all who shared their positive reactions and good hearted memories.
For example. Jason Franz posted on Simple Minds Official.
"For me, the great band from my youth to young adulthood was Simple Minds. They were able to create immense sounds while writing songs about love, faith, oppression, hope, strength and freedom - all concepts people at that age wrestle with and aspire to. They were the perfect musical antidote to the age of Reagan. They also released what is to this day my favorite live album ever in the midst of their height of popularity. It kicks ass!"
Deb Hoban wrote "The start of my Simple Minds life. I remember an older kid a few doors up blasting it out of his bedroom windows. I was hooked..never looked back so many special memories for me this album, so much joy! I too, must of listened to it thousands of times."
Robert Gray " This album was the start of my simple minds life. Brilliant album by a brilliant band. Still there is no better live album around. And for that I thank you 👍 onwards and upwards."
Nick Marmalejo "Hands-down, the greatest live album ever recorded. It is iconic and captures that "something greater" I think every live album aspires to."
Thanks to Ruth Rae for pics.
BOOK OF BRILLIANT THINGS - LIVE IN THE CITY OF LIGHT
“La Ville-Lumière” as it was then called, Paris was the birthplace of the Age of Enlightenment. Famous as a centre of education, philosophy and learning in the 18th century, no doubt its reknown tag - the "City of Light" was also
because it was one of the first cities to start using street lights during the Great Exhibition of 1889. Having street lights meant of course that people could now do activities after dark that they could not do before, night time theatres and concert halls followed on from that.
When Simple Minds turned up at "Le Zenith" in Paris, bang in the middle of August 1986, naturally we brought plenty of our own powerful lighting with us. In keeping with the times, it was two centuries later after all, truck loads of stageing and sound equipment also accompanied. Additionally we had also brought a mobile recording studio. As was necessary. Having decided only some weeks earlier that Le Zenith, the multi-purpose, 6,500 capacity indoor arena was where we wanted to record our first ever live album.
But why Paris? After all our popularity at that time meant that we were touring non stop and in almost very corner of the world? Even more pleasing, the audiences we played to each and every night had created a constantly overwhelmingly energetic atmosphere. Which was precisely the vibe we wanted to set the tone for our live recording.
That said, somehow no two concerts were ever the same, and each show felt like its own unique event and with no exception.
Nevertheless, I seem to recall that the SM audiences in certain cities seemed to go above and beyond within their reaction. Creating an "overload noise" that I am sure I will remember for my entire life. Glasgow, Dublin, Brussels, Rotterdam, Dortmund Toronto, Lyon, Rome, Sydney, certainly did. As did so many others. All mentioned would easily have fitted the bill in guaranteeing to bring out the the best in Simple Minds live.
But Paris, well somehow it was different?
Only a year or so earlier we had played in Le Zenith during our Sparkle In The Rain Tour. And for various reasons had been convinced that we had given our best ever performance, both band and audience contributing to create - no other word for it - some kind of live "zenith".
It was truly a night where live magic hung heavy in the air, and no doubt that memory had lived on inside us. Being so it was probably understandable that we might want to try and recreate that same kind of show once more. In doing so giving ourselves the almost impossible task of capturing that very same magic on our live album.
And so it was we returned to "The City of Light" more than 12 months later. Fully charged up with the task of trying to capture the energy and fire that was always part of Simple Minds live.
And perhaps even more ambitiously, trying to recreate some rock n roll history of our own.
Because that after all is what a live recording should surely be all about?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=opmJRITykY4
Best live album ever, by any band! Still gets the hairs on the back of the neck. Also, listening to this under headphones when it first came out, was the moment The Minds took the title of my favourite band. You still hold that lofty perch all these years on!
My first Simple Minds album. I felt in love with it since the very first minute with the first chords of Ghostdancing, the beautiful version of Big Sleep, such an anthem like Waterfront, incredible Promised You A Miracle and so on. Then gems like Book Of Brilliant Things, East At Easter and New Gold Dream do complete the masterpiece. One of the things I love from you guys is that you will always surprise us with songs that evolve and change along the years.
I remember listening to Live in the City of Light when it first came out. I loved it and it made me want to see you live myself all the more. I had another couple of years to wait before seeing you for the first time at Wembley Stadium during the Street Fighting Years tour. That was my first SM gig; and in the nearly 30 years since, I've seen you play another 20 times. And you've been fantastic every time!
Thanks to these beautiful last posts of yours where you talk about emotions and situations that no biographer journalist could ever bring on about my favorite band. It's really exciting to read and trying to understand your mood while searching for the right words to make it all clear to us. Where possible, obvious. Because only who is the creator of these "situations" knows what he has experienced inside. But you know that we are sick of news and curiosity and therefore I thank you. I will save these beautiful posts where the "life" of SM music is so well explained. Maybe one day will they be collected in a beautiful book? Who knows it. The important thing is that thanks to FB my beloved rockstar is here with his brilliant presence, with us with me. I keep these two vinyls inside their sleeves still with that cellophane. As everything about you. I recall a review where an Italian journalist wrote that America blushed you and you went out of your head "ruining" (?) The beauty of Book of brilliant things. Who knows why fans have always thought that it is one of the most loved version instead? M...M...MISTERO. Adri
What I liked about this live phase of Simple Minds was the way New Gold Dream, East at Easter and Book of Brilliant things became effectively, brand new songs. I like this album but was disappointed when I first heard it because STV had shown Alive in Rotterdam a few months earlier and was expecting those versions...I was 14 at the time so didn't know any better!! Was good but Street Fighting Years live was so much better sounding...
Such a wonderful album. If captures the essence of what makes SM such a great live band. Interestingly, one track on that album was recorded live in Sydney in October 1986 ( Someone Somewhere in Summertime) at the Entertainment Centre. There may have been two concerts in Sydney. I'm sure I was at that one, though. My voice is in there somewhere, probably singing !
Stuart Fulton you have missed the point it's all about personal choice and for me it's the best at no point in my post do I compare it to other people's choices(Just my own)
Was lucky to be there at the Le Zenith club as a fresh faced 19 year old. A long bus and ferry journey to Paris from Glasgow. Such a memorable experience in my life.
This was the album that really switched me onto Simple Minds. A lad at middle school was prepared to lend me his precious vinyl to take home and listen to. An arrangement was suitably made and when I got a listen, time stood still. Never looked back after that. 💜 Thanks to Kristan Knowles (as he was then) I was hooked. It was also his enthusiasm about the album and the band that pulled me in. Damn good choice he showed me. 😜
I remember buying this album when it was released. This was my first album I bought, My introduction to Simple Minds. Unreal!
This album landed at the height of anticipation - we were desperate for something, anything new following Once Upon a Time was needed and LITCOL didn't disappoint. I remember wearing the LP's out, driving Mum and Dad mad (simple eds again? - they're fans now, wore them down!) and somehow the shiny Cladagh on the cover felt magical. The Live version of BOBT was instantly one of my favourites and whilst it's been bettered since it still reminds me of being 14 and obsessed! Genuinely the album I prefer most on Vinyl (a shiny new reissue would force me back) it's an album worth celebrating and it'll be on tomorrow for the 5 hour journey home. Dance to the music everyone!
I don't think I've ever been as excited about the release of a new album as I was about this. Still have the ltd edition box set stored safely away somewhere under the bed.
5x5 Live is miles better; Captures the atmosphere of a great Live band. LITCOL was overproduced and lost all its life. Still a great album, but never up there as 'one of the best ever'.
My first SM vinyl ever and also my favorite live album 💖, I love all but that's special, remember when I bought it, so happy and proud to found the picture of my city inside 😉 xx
Talking of live recordings.... Does anyone recall Jim saying something like "When we arrived, we saw a queue around the building. But bands should be queuing to play for audiences like you" (or words to that affect)? I think it was at Barrowlands. Anyone know the set/year please?
I remember that I've been to Paris and Arno made the opening gig. He was great but the audience didn't really appreciate... Have you still got news from him ?
This is my favourite live album of all time it captures SM at the height of their power and that is some compliment when you think of all the great live albums out there if there was only one album I could take with me on a Desert Island it would be this belter..and again I cannot pay SM any higher compliment ❤️
Possibly one of the most listened to albums ever in my teens and early twenties. Even today when Jim says " good night" at the end of New Gold Dream, it always makes me feel a little sad...
Got to be the greatest live album ever recorded.in 1986 I was 12 years old and I drove my mum mad with this playing constantly.fast forward 31 years and I'm now driving my own children mad playing this still
This was the album that got me into music as a ten year old in 1988. After hearing the versions of "Book..." and "New Gold Dream" here first I was slightly puzzled when I heard their original recordings and they were so different.
Le Zenith...A very special venue indeed. Never forget your concert there after the tragedy of The bataclan less than a week earlier.....The atmosphere was incredible ...We were all united in our love of music and the show certainly did go on, as it rightly should. The way you payed tribrute to the city of lights by lining up on stage, heads bowed, with Banging on the Door playing was incredibly moving and powerful. You always give 100% but this was most definately one of your best concerts ever....Was so proud of you all and honoured to be a part of it ❤
Live In The City Of Light was my first Simple Minds album, it served as an alternative 'greatest hits' for me as I couldn't afford to buy all the back catalogue at that time.
Missed the boat on these gigs, been to many great gigs in Paris, 1st was the SFY tour. City of Light is in my top 3 albums, purely a reminder of a great time of my life. I remember all the records shops going black and yellow for a week with the Claddagh and shots of Locarno everywhere. Nice shot of Charlie from Le Zenith.
This is the most incredible, amazing, hysterical happy dancing, joy, just joy, album I have ever ever heard. There is nothing like it. I must have listened to it thousands of times and every time I hear something new. East at Easter just tears my heart out and I still don't understand why. It makes me feel like nothing else.... and then .... you hear.... "she's my friend" ...... This is an absolute treasure, thankyou thankyou for it ❤
With Zenith, Lights will be always bright lights. At Zenith, Lights will be always bright lights. Let me try to capture the energy and fire that was always part of Simple Minds live. Pics © Duron - Paris Zenith / 2003, 2015
Video
Promised You A Miracle Acoustic
Featuring KT Tunstall.
Taken from the new album SIMPLE MINDS ACOUSTIC.
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I still have my copy I bought the day it was released..after seeing Simple Minds at Milton Keynes Bowl I just couldn't wait for a live album of the tour..the lavishly packaged double album still holds a special place in my life to this day and always👍
Together with Dire Straits' Alchemy and Pink Floyd's Delicate Sound of Thunder, SM's live album is one of the most outstanding live albums from the 80s, in my opinion. Epic.
One of my most favourite albums ever!!! Still have it on vinyl but only played it a dozen times or so... Why?... I made a copy on cassette tape and played it wherever I went. And when the sound of the tape became terrible I made a new copy. And again... And again... I think I made a copy of 5 or 6 before I got the album on CD. So the album on vinyl I still have, only played a dozen times or so... 😊
This was the first tour I ever saw SM on at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, I remember Jim bringing out one of the tour staff who was from Brisbane, and Jim carrying on with a sore throat. The magnificent version of Promised You A Miracle, I think Mick had an Emulator and it had a chorus of angels that was chilling. The only thing I was disappointed about was on Live In The City Of Light at the time Speed Your Love To Me and All The Things She Said were cut, but we have so many live versions on YouTube anyway. What a magnificent live album. Also, Someone was recorded in Sydney not Paris.
Why not to organize for the 40yearslive tour a special tour like U2 with this big claddagh opening by each concert this will be great for all the fans of simple minds since the beginning like me
What can i say Jim? SM for me is a religion. More than music. More than a soundtrack of my life. SM is my life. Always supporting you. Always collecting. Always in mind. PD: The pic is from Gateshead 91. Other amazing tour. And the first time i saw the band with 16 years old in Marbella. Never forget.
As a 17-year-old I played the double cassette almost to death, often on my friend's ghetto blaster wherever we happened to be. From the opening jangling guitar of Ghostdancing to the ethereal fading sound of New Gold Dream it is a superb live album, making me feel like I was there in Paris. I finally got to see the Minds live in 1989 at Roundhay Park and loved every minute.
An incredible album, also still have my original vinyl copy. I remember staring endlessly at the picture of the bridge over the Firth of Forth in the booklet inside. So many moments musically that send a shiver down the spine... The off-beat flourish that explodes after ".. talk about the Lebanon, tell me about the dawn in Eden..", Robin Clark's soaring vocals during "Alive and kicking", Charlie's guitar pyrotechnics in "Once Upon A Time"... But the standout moment on the standout track is Mel Gaynor's drumming in "Book of Brilliant Things", especially toward the end when he starts with the double-kick that sounds like thundering hoofbeats of some wild horse. It all came full circle for me when I was able to see Simple Minds play "Book of Brilliant Things" at Le Zenith in Paris in November 2003. Brilliant things indeed
New Gold Dream best song on that live album ..charlies guitar work at the end is musical excellence.
True to form - it was my introduction to everything prior to "Don't You" - and what an introduction it was. Let's also give credit to the amazing visuals on the cover, and in the booklet - at the time my only idea of what an epic event an SM show was (it wouldn't be until 2002 till I actually saw the band live!) Maybe we can return to such ideas in the next year? We all hope for that. See you soon Simple MInds - acoustic/electric somewhere sometime soon.
What about a remake of that concert, maybe a whole tour playing that versions of your songs... East at Easter, Book of brilliant things, not to mention New gold dream! It would be amazing.
It has to be the best live album I have ever heard. When I first heard 'Promised You A Miracle' live on that album, it just blew me away. I still have the CD copy I first bought back in 1995 around the same time I was listening to 'Good News From The Next World' over and over, practically on a daily basis.
Live in the City of Lights - One of the first SM albums on vinyl I purchased on my trawl through record shops when in my mid to late teens & am very fortunate to possess the gold embossed version. Listening on my iPod in the car of downloaded albums results in hearing the same SM song several times over (which doesn't always go down well with my kids). I really enjoy hearing the different versions of songs both live & pre-recorded & picking up on the changes in JK's vocals over the years (if I can be so bold to say this). Certain tracks on Live in the City of Lights feel like a pre cursor to the recent Acoustic Tour (amazing!) & hearing very diverse but brilliant versions of Book of Brilliant Things, East at Easter & my favourite New Gold Dream. To me this just shows how JK & the band are so versatile in their musical ability & why they are still playing strong after 40 years. My hat goes off to you & hope you will provide us (your fans) many more years of fabulous music whether it be from a studio album to a live performance on stage. You are truly amazing & although I am no musician you truly inspire me & allow me to immerse myself in such fabulous music. As Shakespeare once said "If music be the food of love, play on". Please do as the world would be at a loss without you. Xx
Was the last vinyl album I ever bought, also bought it on double cassette and CD a few years later. The reason for the vinyl was the awesome booklet depicting many photos from the tour. Question Jim - Where is the venue with all the cafes and bars and houses with the stage at the end. Was it in Main square in France, it looks awesome
As I said this album was the start of my simple minds life and it will always remain my favourite live album of all time. Thanks to Chris Taylor for introducing me to this amazing band x
OMG I can't remember when exactly but I believe it was 1984? Radio City Music Hall - with my sister, 15th row center. That was it for me. Not only did I have to have this but of course Once Upon A Time and EVERYTHING before it. I was hooked. Vinyl, cassette, CD, had to have them all. And I remain faithfully so to this day. The one thing on my bucket list - to see you all live again!
Just one of the best live albums ever. Not just for the classic tracks, but stunning renditions of East at Easter, Book of brilliant things and New Gold Dream.
It's fantastic to read these great stories. How heart-warming to know that your music means so much to so many people, me included. 💕
You're welcome 🙂 Photos are from the Real Life Tour concert in Gateshead in 1991 (courtesy of the local paper).
Never travel without a copy, love it ever since my mates older brother shoved a copy into my jacket & said here listen to this, damn am I glad I did 😊
Love the version of Promised you a Miracle
Gary Cooper said "come and play Gartly Tin Hut, to save me traveling again" 😂
Hi guys - was the concert recorded on video at the time?...So would love to see it in video and audio!!!
One of best live gigs ever. I've always wanted it to be put on DVD
mon live favori.une force incroyable ce dégage de cet album.il me donne une energie une sereniter qui me transporte depuis tant d'annees passer avec les simple minds💯👏👏👏💯🙇🙇🙇 !!!
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