11 Oct, 2024 Sparkle In The Rain – 40th Anniversary Edition
On the 22nd of November 2024, Simple Minds will release the 40th anniversary edition of their classic hit album ‘Sparkle In The Rain‘.
In addition to a four CD box set, a transparent blue vinyl will also be offered. New Dolby Atmos mixes by Bob Clearmountain will be made available digitally.
The new CD box set consists of four discs. Disc one is a re-master of the original album (re-mastered at Abbey Road Studios by Andrew Walters and overseen by Charlie Burchill).
Disc two features b-sides and rarities, including a live version of New Gold Dream’s ‘Hunter And The Hunted’, which shows the band’s evolving sound; acclaimed 12” remixes of ‘Waterfront’ (Steve Lillywhite looped the drums to create an extended intro, as well as stripped instrumentation to create a huge, expansive track), ‘Speed Your Love To Me’, ‘Up On The Catwalk’ and ‘A Brass Band In Africa’, and ‘Bass Line’ – the original instrumental that became ‘White Hot Day’. Disc three features a concert recorded at Barrowland in the band’s hometown of Glasgow, on 28th February 1984. Disc four features the remainder of the Barrowland concert and a BBC Radio 1 session from September 1983.
The box set also includes a 36-page booklet with extensive sleeve notes by Simon Cornwell (SimpleMinds.org), interviews with Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill, as well as numerous rare photos of the band and memorabilia from the period.
Two new ‘Sparkle In The Rain’ T-Shirts are also available. Click the images below for more information.
TRACK LISTING (CD ONE & Vinyl)
- Up On The Catwalk
- Book Of Brillant Things
- Speed Your Love To Me
- Waterfront
- East At Easter
- Street Hassle
- White Hot Day
- “C” Moon Cry Like A Baby
- The Kick Inside Of Me
- Shake Off The Ghosts
CD TWO:
- Waterfront – Remastered 2013
- Hunter And The Hunted Live (recorded at Newcastle City Hall, 20th November 1982)
- Waterfront – Extended Version
- Speed Your Love To Me – 2002 Digital Remaster
- Bass Line
- Speed Your Love To Me – Extended Mix
- Up On The Catwalk – 2002 Digital Remaster
- A Brass Band In African Chimes
- Up On The Catwalk – Extended Version
- A Brass Band In African Chimes – Extended Version
- Waterfront – Single Edit
CD THREE:
- Shake Off The Ghosts – Live At Barrowlands, Glasgow 1984
- Waterfront – Live At Barrowlands, Glasgow 1984
- Up On The Catwalk – Live At Barrowlands, Glasgow 1984
- Book Of Brilliant Things – Live At Barrowlands, Glasgow 1984
- Glittering Prize – Live At Barrowlands, Glasgow 1984
- The American – Live At Barrowlands, Glasgow 1984
- King Is White And In The Crowd – Barrowlands, Glasgow 1984
- Speed Your Love To Me – Live At Barrowlands, Glasgow 1984
- Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) – Live At Barrowlands, Glasgow 1984
CD FOUR:
- Promised You A Miracle – Live At Barrowlands, Glasgow 1984
- Big Sleep – Live At Barrowlands, Glasgow 1984
- Medley: New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) / Take Me To The River / Light My Fire – Live At Barrowlands, Glasgow 1984
- Medley: Love Song / Glory – Live At Barrowlands, Glasgow 1984
- Waterfront – Radio One Session, London 1983
- The Kick Inside Of Me – Radio One Session, London 1983
- New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) – Radio One Session, London 1983
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Credits: Produced By Steve Lillywhite.
Engineered By Howard Grey.
Assistant Engineers : Paul Cook & Gavin McKillop.
Studio Equipment : Paul Kerr & Matt Dunn.
Co-Ordination : Gemma Corfield.
Schoolhouse Management : Bruce Findlay & Robert White.
Sleeve Produced By Assorted iMaGes.
Made In the United Kingdom, Autumn 1983.
Charles Burchill : acoustic & electric guitars.
Derek Forbes : bass guitar & vocals.
Mel Gaynor : drums & vocals.
Jim Kerr : voice.
Michael MacNeil : keyboards.
Girl’s voice on Speed Your Love To Me & Street Hassle : Kirsty MacColl
All Titles By Simple Minds.
Street Hassle Written By Lou Reed.
Label: Virgin Records.
Originally released on the 6th of February 1984, Sparkle In The Rain was Simple Minds’ sixth studio album and, following 1982’s crossover album New Gold Dream, the one to cement their commercial success, giving them their first UK number 1 (as well as a Top 20 album in Australia, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland). The album went on to be certified double platinum in the UK.
Sparkle In The Rain was initially started on the run with stays in residential recording studios booked during gaps in the New Gold Dream tour. A wintery sojourn at the Old Chapel Studios in Lincolnshire during January 1983 resulted in a number of interesting ideas, but it wasn’t until the summer when the majority of touring had finished, that Simple Minds’ new direction would solidify. ‘Waterfront’ began as a Derek Forbes’ single note bass line which, inspired by nocturnal walks Jim Kerr took along the disappearing River Clyde shipyards in the band’s native Glasgow, became a tribute to the city’s industrial past, and an expression of hope and optimism for the future. The era-defining song became perhaps the band’s most enduring, still in their set till this day.
Steve Lillywhite became the obvious choice of producer for the album, a man who knew how to handle the band’s dynamic new sound. Sparkle In The Rain gradually took shape that September with initial preparatory work at Rockfield Studios in Wales and final recording at the legendary Townhouse, London. Kerr was adamant the resulting album should not be New Gold Dream part 2, but that the band should continue to expand and enhance their sound.
The illustrious lyrics and the political and personal love songs were matched by throbbing synth-beats, piano flourishes, new wave guitar chimes and swooning bass lines. Kerr’s songwriting thrived on the band’s striving amidst a new emerging sound and direction. The album cemented Simple Minds’ reputation as one of the major bands of the 1980s and prepared the groundwork for the worldwide hit album Once Upon A Time.