COLLECTION CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF ONE OF THE MOST REVERED AND SUCCESSFUL UK BANDS EVER FORMATS: 3CD DELUXE EDITION, STANDARD CD AND DOUBLE VINYL, INCLUDING A LIMITED–EDITION COLOR VERSION INCLUDES THE NEW TRACK, A COVER OF KING CREOSOTE’S “FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY”

 

On November 1st, UMe will release 40: THE BEST OF – 1979-2019, a new compilation album that covers all 40 years of legendary band Simple Minds recording career. It captures their early experimentation, cross over chart successes, right up to their new imperial phase represented by songs from 2015’s Big Music and last year’s Walk Between Worlds, which was their highest chart success in over 20 years, charting at number 4 in the UK.

Formed in the seventies, and named after a lyric – “so simple minded” – from David Bowie’s seminal 1975 single “The Jean Genie,” Simple Minds have become one of the most successful bands ever to come from the UK, selling over 60 million records worldwide, having number one singles on both sides of the Atlantic, and number one albums the world over, including five UK number one albums: Sparkle In The Rain (1984), Once Upon A Time (1985) and Street Fighting Years as well as the concert recording Live In The City Of Light (1987), and the compilation Glittering Prize 81/92.

Compiled in conjunction with the band, 40: THE BEST OF presents the very best of Simple Minds extensive catalog It is a comprehensive overview of 40 years of one of Britain’s most successful bands, taking in the innovative sheen of “Promised You A Miracle” and “Glittering Prize,” the anthemic sweep of “Waterfront” and “Sanctify Yourself,” the firebrand strand of “Belfast Child” and “Mandela Day”, the colossus that is “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” and “Alive & Kicking,” and bringing things right up to date with the inclusion of a new track: a cover of King Creosote’s 2014 Song, “For One Night Only.”

“For One Night Only” captures Simple Minds unique talent of taking an already fantastic song – as they did with their cover of The Call’s “Let The Day Begin” on 2015’s Big Music album – and injecting its sentiment with added urgency. The result is a clarion call to their fans the world over, which is sure to become a momentous live moment on their 2020 world tour.

The collection is a reminder of one of the most musically diverse and adventurous careers ever in British music, which saw Simple Minds record some of the most beguiling and inventive music of the post-punk period. On songs such as 1979’s “Chelsea Girls” (from the band’s debut album, Life In A Day), and “I travel, Celebrate” (1980’s Empires and Dance), “Love Song, The American” (Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings Call), Simple Minds set the standard for the British alternative scene.

From 1982 onwards the band produced some of their most inspiring and wide appealing work. Beginning with their 1982 classic album New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84), with several songs from the album included here, follow up album Sparkle In The Rain (“Up On The Catwalk” and “Speed Your Love to Me”), and culminating in two UK number one albums and a number one single: 1985’s “Once Upon a Time” (represented here by the aforementioned “Don’t You Forget About Me,” “Alive and Kicking” and “Sanctify Yourself”) and 1989’s “Street Fighting Years,” and the single “Belfast Child.”

Into the nineties Simple Minds continued to release albums and create gems, many of which have grown in stature amongst fans and become staples of their live set. Included here from the period are “Let There Be Love,” “See The Lights,” “She’s a River” and “War Babies.”

Over the past 10 years Simple Minds has rekindled the magic that made them a vital artistic force in their early days, found themselves referenced by younger artists and playing to tens of thousands of people every year, all over the world. They have been the recipient of the Q Awards Lifetime Achievement and received universal critical acclaim for their recent albums. 2015’s Big Music was described by MOJO magazine as “their best album in 30 years”, and last year’s Walk Between Worlds was acclaimed across the board and became their most successful album in over two decades, culminating in their largest US tour to date. Two songs are included from each of those albums: “Honest Town” and “Blindfolded (Big Music),” and “Sense of Discovery” and “Magic (Walk Between Worlds).”

40: THE BEST OF will be available on a 3CD deluxe edition, single CD, 2LP coloured vinyl and a 40-track digital format. It was remastered at the world-famous Abbey Road studios and has spectacular new art designed by long-time collaborator Stuart Crouch, featuring iconic symbols by Malcolm Garrett which represent the 40 years.

3-CD DELUXE EDITION

DISC ONE

Waterfront

Love Song

I Travel

Glittering Prize

Sense of Discovery

The American

Up on The Catwalk

She’s A River

Someone Somewhere in Summertime

See the Lights

Jeweller to the Stars

War Babies

Belfast Child

DISC TWO

Home

Magic

Promised You A Miracle

This Is Your Land

Honest Town

Glittering Prize (Acoustic)

Waterfront (Acoustic)

See the Lights (Acoustic)

Let There Be Love

New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84)

All the Things She Said

Once Upon A Time

Don’t You (Forget About Me)

DISC THREE

Chelsea Girl

Cry

Hypnotised

Stars Will Lead the Way

For One Night Only – New Track

Theme for Great Cities

Life in A Day

Changeling

Celebrate

Blindfolded

Sanctify Yourself

Mandela Day

Speed Your Love to Me

Alive and Kicking

1-CD

Waterfront

Love Song

I Travel

Glittering Prize

Sense of Discovery

Someone Somewhere in Summertime

See the Lights

Belfast Child

Promised You A Miracle

Honest Town

Don’t You (Forget About Me)

Chelsea Girl

Hypnotised

Stars Will Lead the Way

For One Night Only – New Track

Sanctify Yourself

Mandela Day

Alive and Kicking

2-LP / 2-LP COLOR VINYL EDITION

SIDE ONE

Chelsea Girl

I Travel

Love Song

Promised You A Miracle

Glittering Prize

SIDE TWO

Someone Somewhere in Summertime

Waterfront

Don’t You (Forget About Me)

Alive and Kicking

Sanctify Yourself

SIDE THREE

Belfast Child

Mandela Day

See the Lights

Hypnotised

SIDE FOUR

Stars Will Lead the Way

Honest Town

Sense of Discovery

For One Night Only – New track

To celebrate their 40th anniversary, Simple Minds embark on an 11–month world tour in early 2020. Beginning in Europe in February, they tour the UK in April.

As they turn 40, Simple Minds legacy is something to be proud of as their story continues to evolve.

Kike Posada
The love for music, and the desire to be an informer brought us to the world of entertainment. We have gradually built on a mission that has been goal in life: bringing Latin music to US masses. In 1999 our editor, Kike Posada, was selected “an influential personality in the realm of music for the 21st century” by The Miami Herald. He also received the ASCAP Ampt award for his support to Latin music and the prestigious Orquidea Award as a Colombian talent. He has an extensive professional experience as a journalist, radio programmer, music critic, member of NARAS and LARAS (Grammy). BOOM created the first radio program specialized in Latin alternative music in the United States, (see Billboard magazine 11/14/93.) Posada beginnings as a journalist took place in Bogota, at the Xavier University. There, he became the official voice of the station. Then became a record label executive. Managed the international market for Universal Music (formerly Polygram) Moving to the US in 1992, joined EMI-Capitol Records as South East Coast Promoter. But his dream of publishing a magazine, came true in 1996 (BOOM), and hasn’t stopped publishing ever since.