Simple Minds

Grupa szkocka. Powstała w 1978 w Glasgow z inicjatywy muzyków rozwiązanego wcześniej zespołu punkrockowego Johnny And The Self Abusers. Z początku oprócz wokalisty Jima Kerra (9.07.1959, Edynburg) tworzyli ją: Michael McNeil - k, Charles Burchill - g, voc, Derek Forbes - b, voc i Brian McGee - dr. Latem 1981 odszedł McGee. Zastępowali go kolejno perkusiści Kenny Hyslop, Mike Ogletree i w końcu, od 1982, Mel Gaynor. W 1985 miejsce Forbesa zajął John Giblin - b. W 1989 z Simple Minds rozstał się Giblin, a w 1990 McNeil (w nagraniach z tego okresu gościnnie uczestniczyli m.in. Paul Vitesse - k i Malcolm Foster - b).

W grupie znaleźli się bardzo zdolni muzycy, umiejętnie wykorzystujący w swoich kompozycjach osiągnięcia innych twórców (z tego względu krytycy zarzucali im wtórność). Bardzo długo nie mogli zdecydować się na wybór kierunku poszukiwań artystycznych. Piosenki z albumu A life in the day ujawniały wiele wpływów, przede wszystkim ROXY MUSIC (Someone, Life In A Day, Cure). Na płycie Empires and dance grupa data wyraz fascynacji elektronicznym brzmieniem i mechanicznym rytmem przebojów KRAFTWERK, DEVO i ULTRAVOX (Real To Real, Changeling). Opierając się na tych i innych wzorach stworzyła w pierwszej połowie lat osiemdziesiątych bogatą melodycznie, efektowną rytmicznie, gustownie aranżowaną muzykę taneczną (The American, 20th Century Promised Land, Love Song, Promised You A Miracle). Później wypracowała własną wersję stylu U2 (np. Speed Your Love To Me, The Kick Inside Of Me, I Wish You Were Here oraz utwór Belfast Child oparty na motywach irlandzkiej ballady ludowej She Moved Through The Fair).
Oprócz piosenek przedstawiła wiele nastrojowych miniatur dźwiękowych (m.in. Film Theme, Theme For Great Cities, Shake Off The Ghosts). Zaproponowała pomysłowe adaptacje takich przebojów, jak Dance To The Music zespołu SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE, Street Hassle Lou REEDA (którego pozyskała do nagrania This Is Your Land) czy Biko Petera GABRIELA.

Z początku skłaniała się ku tematyce filozoficznej, później opowiedziała się za piosenką miłosną (Speed Your Love To Me, Alive And Kicking), a w końcu zainteresowała się problematyką polityczną (Mandela Day, Belfast Child, This Is Your Land). Największe przeboje: Promised You A Miracle, Glittering Prize, Waterfront, Speed Your Love To Me, Don't You Forget About Me (kompozycja Keitha Forseya do filmu The Breakfast Club, 1985, reż. John Hughes), Alive And Kicking, Sanctify Yourself, All The Things She Said, Through The Barricades, Ghost dancing, Promised You A Miracle (wersja koncertowa), Belfast Child, This Is Your Land, Kick It In, Let There Be Love, See The Lights.

Single
Tytuł	Wykonawca	Data wydania	UK	US	Wytwórnia [UK]	Komentarz
Life in a day/Special view	Simple Minds	03.1979	62[2]	-	Zoom ZUM 10	[written by Charlie Burchill/Jim Kerr][produced by John Leckie]
The American/League of nations	Simple Minds	05.1981	59[3]	-	Virgin VS 410	[written by Jim Kerr/Simple Minds][produced by Steve Hillage][66[6].Hot Disco/Dance;Arista [import] 12"]
Love song/This earth that you walk upon	Simple Minds	08.1981	47[4]	-	Virgin VS 434	[written by Jim Kerr/Simple Minds][produced by Steve Hillage]
Sweat in bullet/20th century promised land	Simple Minds	11.1981	52[3]	-	Virgin VS 451	[written by Jim Kerr/Simple Minds][produced by Steve Hillage]
I travel/Thirty frames a second	Simple Minds	01.1982	-	-	Arista ARIST 448	[written by Jim Kerr][produced by John Leckie][55[8].Hot Disco/Dance;Arista [import] 12"]
Promised you a miracle/Theme for great cities	Simple Minds	04.1982	13[11]	-	Virgin VS 488	[written by Jim Kerr/Simple Minds][produced by Steve Hillage][65[5].Hot Disco/Dance;Arista [import] 12"]
Glittering prize	Simple Minds	08.1982	16[11]	-	Virgin VS 511	[written by Simple Minds][produced by Peter Walsh]
Someone somewhere [In summertime]/King is white and in the crowd	Simple Minds	11.1982	36[5]	-	Virgin VS 538	[written by Simple Minds][produced by Peter Walsh]
Waterfront /Hunter and the hunted	Simple Minds	11.1983	13[10]	-	Virgin VS 636	[written by Jim Kerr/Charlie Burchill/Derek Forbes/Mike MacNeil/Mel Gaynor][produced by Steve Lillywhite]
Speed your love to me/Bass line	Simple Minds	01.1984	20[4]	-	Virgin VS 649	[written by Simple Minds (Jim Kerr/Charlie Burchill/Derek Forbes/Mike MacNeil/Mel Gaynor)][produced by Steve Lillywhite]
Up on the catwalk/Brass band in Africa	Simple Minds	03.1984	27[5]	-	Virgin VS 661	[written by Simple Minds (Jim Kerr/Charlie Burchill/Derek Forbes/Mike MacNeil/Mel Gaynor)][produced by Steve Lillywhite]
Don' t you [Forget about me]/Brass band in Africa	Simple Minds	04.1985	7[67]	1[1][22]	Virgin VS 749	[silver-UK][written by Keith Forsey/Steve Schiff][produced by Keith Forsey][9[11].Hot Disco/Dance;A&M 12 125 12"][piosenka z filmu "The Breakfast Club"]
Alive and kicking	Simple Minds	09.1985	7[16]	3[20]	Virgin VS 817	[written by Charlie Burchill/Mel Gaynor/John Gibbin/Jim Kerr/Mike MacNeil][produced by Bob Clearmountain/Jimmy Iovine][25[7].Hot Disco/Dance;A&M 12 15512"]
Sanctify yourself	Simple Minds	01.1986	10[8]	14[14]	Virgin SM 1	[written by Simple Minds][produced by Bob Clearmountain/Jimmy Iovine][24[7].Hot Disco/Dance;A&M 12 172 12"]
All the things she said/Don' t you [Forget about me]	Simple Minds	03.1986	9[12]	28[13]	Virgin VS 860	[written by Simple Minds][produced by Bob Clearmountain/Jimmy Iovine]
Ghostdancing /Oh jungleland	Simple Minds	11.1986	13[10]	-	Virgin VS 907	[written by Simple Minds][produced by Bob Clearmountain/Jimmy Iovine]
Promised you a miracle/Book of brilliant things	Simple Minds	06.1987	19[10]	-	Virgin SM 2	[written by Simple Minds][produced by Bruce Lampcov]
Belfast child/Mandela day	Simple Minds	02.1989	1[2][12]	-	Virgin SMX 3	[silver -UK][written by Simple Minds][produced by Trevor Horn/Stephen Lipson]
This is your land/Saturday girl	Simple Minds	04.1989	13[5]	-	Virgin SMX 4	[written by Simple Minds (Jim Kerr/Charlie Burchill/Mike Macneil/Mel Gaynor)][produced by Trevor Horn/Stephen Lipson]
Kick it in/Waterfront	Simple Minds	07.1989	15[5]	-	Virgin SMX 5	[written by Simple Minds (Jim Kerr/Charlie Burchill/Mike Macneil/Mel Gaynor)][produced by Trevor Horn/Stephen Lipson]
The Amsterdam EP.	Simple Minds	11.1989	18[6]	-	Virgin SMX 6	[written by Prince/Simple Minds/John Giblin/HubertParry)][produced by Trevor Horn/Stephen Lipson]
Let there be love/Goodnight	Simple Minds	03.1991	6[7]	-	Virgin VS 1332	[written by Charlie Burchill/Jim Kerr][produced by Stephen Lipson]
See the lights/Theme for great cities ' 91	Simple Minds	04.1991	20[4]	40[10]	Virgin VS 1343	[written by Charlie Burchill/Jim Kerr][produced by Stephen Lipson]
Stand by love/King is white and in the crowd	Simple Minds	08.1991	13[4]	-	Virgin VS 1358	[written by Charlie Burchill/Jim Kerr][produced by Stephen Lipson]
Real life/See the lights	Simple Minds	10.1991	34[3]	-	Virgin VS 1382	[written by Charlie Burchill/Jim Kerr][produced by Stephen Lipson]
She' s a river/E55	Simple Minds	01.1995	9[14]	52[9]	Virgin VS 1509	[written by Simple Minds][produced by Keith Forsey/Simple Minds]
Hypnotized /#4	Simple Minds	03.1995	18[11]	-	Virgin VS 1534	[written by Jim Kerr/Charlie Burchill][produced by Keith Forsey/Simple Minds]
Glitterball /Waterfront/Love song EP.	Simple Minds	03.1998	18[2]	-	Chrysalis CDCHSS 5078	[written by Jim Kerr/Charlie Burchill][produced by Charlie Burchill/Pete Walsh]
War babies/I travel	Simple Minds	05.1998	43[3]	-	Chrysalis CDCHSS 5088	[written by Jim Kerr/Charlie Burchill][produced by Charlie Burchill/Pete Walsh]
Homo sapien	Simple Minds	12.2001	134[1]	-	-
Belfast trance	John '00' Fleming vs. Simple Minds	02.2002	74[4]	-	Nebula BELF 001	[written by Trad./Charlie Burchill/JIm Kerr/Mike MacNeil][produced by John Fleming]
Cry	Simple Minds	03.2002	47[2]	-	Eagle 218	[written by Jim Kerr/Maggiorana/Nicita/Tignino/Lego][produced by Jim Kerr]
Monster	Liquid People vs. Simple Minds	07.2002	67[2]	-	Defected DFECT 49	[written by Charlie Burchill/Jim Kerr/Derek Forbes/Brian McGee/Mike MacNeil][produced by Dan Smith/Conan Manchester]
Home	Simple Minds	09.2005	41[4]	-	Sanctuary SANXD 388	[written by Jim Berr/Charlie Burchill/Goudie][produced by Jez Coad/Simple Minds]
Rockets	Simple Minds	05.2009	146[1]	-	Sanctuary	-

Albumy
Tytuł	Wykonawca	Data wydania	UK	US	Wytwórnia [UK]	Komentarz
A life in the day	Simple Minds	05.1979	30[6]	-	Zoom ZULP 1	[produced by John Leckie]
Empires and dance	Simple Minds	09.1980	41[3]	-	Arista SPART 1140	[produced by John Leckie]
Sons and fascinations/Sister feelings call	Simple Minds	09.1981	11[7]	-	Virgin V 2207	[gold-UK][produced by Steve Hillage]
Celebration	Simple Minds	02.1982	45[7]	-	Arista SPART 1183	[produced by John Leckie]
New gold dream [81,82,83,84]	Simple Minds	09.1982	3[54]	69[19]	Virgin V 2230	[platinum-UK][produced by Peter Walsh]
Sparkle in the rain	Simple Minds	02.1984	1[1][57]	64[24]	Virgin V 2300	[platinum-UK][produced by Steve Lillywhite]
Once upon a time	Simple Minds	11.1985	1[1][83]	10[42]	VirginV 2364	[gold-US][3x-platinum-UK][produced by Bob Clearmountain/Jimmy Iovine]
Live in the city of light	Simple Minds	06.1987	1[1][26]	96[10]	Virgin V SMDL 1	[2x-platinum-UK][produced by Bruce Lampcov]
Street fighting years	Simple Minds	05.1989	1[1][28]	70[12]	Virgin MINDS 1	[2x-platinum-UK][produced by Stephen Lipson/Trevor Horn]
Real Life	Simple Minds	04.1991	2[25]	74[11]	Virgin V 2660	[platinum-UK][produced by Stephen Lipson]
Guttering prize-Simple Minds 81-92	Simple Minds	10.1992	1[3][67]	-	Virgin SMTV 1	[3x-platinum-UK][produced by Bob Clearmountain/Bruce Lampcov/Jimmy Iovine/Peter Walsh/Steve Lillywhite/Stephen Lipson/Trevor Horn]
Good news from the next world	Simple Minds	01.1995	2[18]	87[7]	Virgin V 2760	[gold-UK][produced by Keith Forsey/Simple Minds]
Neapolis	Simple Minds	03.1998	19[4]	-	Chrysalis 4937122	[produced by Charlie Burchill/Pete Walsh]
Neon Lights	Simple Minds	10.2001	141[1]	-	Eagle EAGCD 194	[produced by Simple Minds, Gordy Goudie]
The best of Simple Minds	Simple Minds	11.2001	34[16]	-	Virgin CDVD 2953	[gold-UK][produced by Stephen Lipson/Trevor Horn/Peter Walsh/Jimmy Iovine/Steve Hillage/Bob Clearmountain/Various]
Neon Lights	Simple Minds	10.2001	141[1]	-	Eagle EAGCD 194	[produced by Simple Minds, Gordy Goudie]
Cry	Simple Minds	04.2002	80[2]	-	Eagle EAGCD 196	[produced by Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Planet Funk, Gordy Goudie]
Black & White 050505	Simple Minds	09.2005	37[3]	-	Sanctuary SANCD 390	[produced by Jez Coad/Simple Minds]
Graffiti Soul	Simple Minds	06.2009	10[4]	-	Sanctuary/UMRL 2703208	[produced by Jez Coad/Simple Minds]
X5	Simple Minds	03.2012	28[3]	-	Virgin SMBOX 2	[produced by John Leckie/Steve Hillage/Peter Walsh]
5X5 Live	Simple Minds	12.2012	129[1]	-	Virgin	-
Celebrate - The Greatest Hits	Simple Minds	04.2013	19[5]	-	Virgin CDVD 3120	-
Big Music	Simple Minds	11.2014	12[4]	-	Simple Minds SMBM 3	[produced by Gavin Goldberg, Steve Osborne, Owen Parker, Simple Minds, Andy Wright]
Acoustic	Simple Minds	11.2016	16[6]	-	Caroline SMAC 1	[produced by Gavin Goldberg, Simple Minds, Andy Wright]
Walk Between Worlds	Simple Minds	02.2018	4[3]	-	BMG 538349672	[produced by Simple Minds, Andy Wright, Gavin Goldberg]