When "New Gold Dream" was released in 1982 the LP was housed in a gold coloured inner, but later pressings were issued in a purple bag. I acquired the newer pressing from eBay a few months ago but, when I stumbled upon an original in a shop last week, I couldn't resist buying it too.
In truth both records have picked up some scars during their forty three years of existence and they don't sound quite as exciting as they could. Not only is the music reproduction a bit flat, but there is background noise throughout; a situation almost analogous to a modern GZ Media pressing - but for a quarter of the price.
I'm no expert on the history of Simple Minds, but from what I
understand, it was the commercial success of this album that propelled
the band into superstardom. Listening to the music on this record it is easy to see why it was so successful. There are more hooks than you can shake a stick at and the genius of Charlie Burchill is tangible.
The catchy single "Someone, Somewhere in Summertime" (or "Someone Somewhere (In Summertime)" if you prefer) finds the band in perfect harmony both figuratively and literally. I was expecting the quality to drop of markedly at this point, but the second track "Colours Fly and Catherine Wheel" doesn't sound out of place nested between the impressive intro and another single "Promised you a miracle".
Until I listened to this record I didn't realise that the phrase, "incorporates elements from New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)" is of the biggest understatements I have ever read on a record sleeve. As a fan of dance music back in the early nineties I enjoyed a tune called "Open Your Mind" by U.S.U.R.A. - what I didn't realise at the time was that the track was a wholesale lift of a Simple Minds song. I don't mean, "they used a couple of samples from the song", I mean they stole the whole thing and simply stuck a kick drum under it. At least when Utah Saints had the same idea a little later they were respectful enough to retain the song title (along with some of Jim Kerr's vocals). I can only hope Simple Minds took all of the publishing for the U.S.U.R.A. record.
There's another good single on the flip side called "Glittering Prize" which shows an increasing reliance on synth sounds to drive the music rather than just augment it. Unfortunately the last couple of songs seem to fizzle out a bit - but there's no doubt this is a good album with plenty to recommend it. 4/5
