New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84)

New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84)
Studio album by Simple Minds
Released 13 September 1982
Recorded 1982
Genre
Length 44:59
Label Virgin
Producer Peter Walsh
Simple Minds chronology
Celebration
(1982)		 New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84)
(1982)		 Sparkle in the Rain
(1984)
Simple Minds studio albums chronology
Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings Call
(1981)		 New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84)
(1982)		 Sparkle in the Rain
(1984)

New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84) is the fifth studio album by Scottish rock band Simple Minds. The album was released in September 1982 by record label Virgin, and was a turning point for the band as they gained critical and commercial success in the UK and Europe.

Origin

New Gold Dream originated in Simple Minds' unexpected popular and commercial success during an Australian tour with Icehouse, following the release of Sons and Fascination. The band was prompted by this experience to write Promised You a Miracle upon their return to Europe.[2]

In a 2012 interview, singer Jim Kerr recalled the production of the album as a wonderful time during the late spring and early summer of 1982 in which "everything we tried worked", adding: "There were no arguments. We were in love with what we were doing, playing it, listening to it. You don't get many periods in your life when it all goes your way."[2]

The album was recorded over a five-month period at Rockfield Studio, The Townhouse and Oxford Manor, with pre-production at The Old Mill in Fife. During a short tour rehearsal in January 1982, the band wrote what would become the songs "King Is White and In the Crowd", "Hunter and the Hunted" and "Promised You a Miracle". The latter song proved pivotal to the musical direction of the album. "Promised You a Miracle" was unveiled in a Kid Jensen session for Radio 1 and released as a single in April 1982.[3]

For the recording of the album producer Peter Walsh was recruited on the recommendation of guitarist Charlie Burchill, who had been impressed by Walsh's work on the remix of the band's previous single "Sweat in Bullet". During the recording sessions it became evident that the bands drummer Mike Ogletree didn't hit the mark. Walsh decided to recruit session drummer Mel Gaynor to play on the album and, following Ogletrees departure, Gaynor later became a full-time member of the band.[3]

Jazz keyboardist Herbie Hancock guested on the album and plays a synthesizer solo on the song "Hunter and the Hunted".[3]

Release

Released in September 1982, the album made number 3 in the UK Albums Chart.[4] In the US, A&M issued some limited-edition translucent gold with maroon-colored marble vinyl pressings of the album.[5]

The record generated a handful of singles: "Promised You a Miracle" (released in April 1982), "Glittering Prize" (August 1982) and "Someone Somewhere in Summertime" (November 1982). The title track saw a limited release in Italy, when the band visited the country during their tour in March 1983.

Virgin Records reissued the album as a remastered edition in 2002 (cardboard vinyl replica edition) and early 2003 (jewel-case). On the 2002/2003 edition, the gaps between the tracks on the album are slightly shorter. Virgin also reissued the album on SACD in 2003.

2005 DVD-Audio version

In 2005, Virgin released a DVD-Audio version, which is completely remixed by Roland Prent. All the tracks except "Colours Fly and Catherine Wheel" and "Promised You a Miracle" (whose multitrack tapes had apparently been lost) were remixed in 5.1 surround sound, and additionally, a downmixed 2.0 stereo version was created for compatibility with non-surround DVD-Audio set-ups.

There is also a bonus track, "In Every Heaven". The song had previously been lost, as it was not labelled on the master tape properly. An instrumental of it called "Soundtrack for Every Heaven", had been the B-side of the "Someone, Somewhere (In Summertime)" 12-inch single and was also on the popular Methods Of Dance compilation on Virgin. An alternate version of "In Every Heaven" from the same sessions appeared on the version of New Gold Dream included in the X5 box set.

2016 box set

In 2016, Virgin Records issued a six-disc deluxe box set including the original album, single versions, alternative takes and demos, b-sides, 1982 radio sessions and a DVD with the 2005 5.1 mix of the album and performances on Top of the Pops. Virgin also reissued the album as a digital download, a two-CD set, a single CD and a vinyl LP.[3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[6]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[7]
The Great Rock Discography8/10[8]
Mojo[9]
Q[10]
Record Collector[11]
Rolling Stone[12]
Smash Hits8/10[13]
Uncut[14]
The Village VoiceC+[15]

The album received several positive reviews. In NME, Paul Morley wrote: "My loyalty towards Simple Minds is known to be considerable, yet even I am jarred by the constant beauty of this music. New Gold Dream robs me of my breath."[3]

Journalist David Stubbs has placed New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84) alongside ABC's The Lexicon of Love and The Associates' Sulk, a group of albums he has described as the "zenith" of pop music.[2] In a 2016 review in Record Collector, journalist Tom Byford wrote: "New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) stands shining and singular in the Simple Minds canon... Now it not only takes its place among the greatest future-pop albums of the 80s (Dare, The Lexicon Of Love), it sits comfortably among the greatest pop albums of all time."[11]

The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[16]

When creating their 1984 album The Unforgettable Fire, the Irish rock band U2 saw New Gold Dream as an influence.[17]

"Every band or artist with a history has an album that's their holy grail", said Jim Kerr. "I suppose New Gold Dream was ours. It was a special time because we were really beginning to break through with that record, both commercially and critically. The people that liked that record connected with it in a special way. There was a depth to it: it created its own mythology. It stood out. It was our most successful record to date and, critically, the Paul Morleys of this world were writing very nice things about it."[18]

"New Gold Dream" opens the film The Informers.

Track listing

All tracks written by Simple Minds (Charlie Burchill, Derek Forbes, Jim Kerr, Michael MacNeil); except where noted.

Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Someone Somewhere in Summertime"4:36
2."Colours Fly and Catherine Wheel"3:49
3."Promised You a Miracle"4:28
4."Big Sleep"5:00
5."Somebody Up There Likes You"5:02
Side B
No.TitleLength
6."New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84)"5:39
7."Glittering Prize"4:33
8."Hunter and the Hunted"5:55
9."King is White and in the Crowd"7:00
Note
  • The 'deluxe edition' of New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84) comprises disc 1 (The Original Album) and disc 2 (Extended Versions).
  • The 'super deluxe edition' of New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84) comprises all 6 discs.

Personnel

Simple Minds

Additional musicians

Charts

Chart (1982) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[19] 8
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[20] 31
New Zealand (RIANZ)[21] 2
UK (OCC)[22] 3
Chart (2016) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[23] 40
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[24] 21
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[25] 65
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[26] 47
New Zealand Heatseekers Albums (RMNZ)[27] 10
Scottish Albums (OCC)[28] 10
UK Albums (OCC)[29] 47

References

  1. ↑ Kellman, Andy. "Real to Real Cacophony – Simple Minds". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 Stubbs, David (21 February 2012). "A Glittering Prize – Jim Kerr Of Simple Minds Interviewed". The Quietus. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 New Gold Dream Box Set Simple Minds.com
  4. ↑ "Simple Minds". Biography. Music Scotland. Retrieved 19 August 2007.
  5. ↑ "Simple Minds – New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)".
  6. ↑ Wilson, MacKenzie. "New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84) – Simple Minds". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  7. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-85712-595-8.
  8. ↑ Strong, Martin C. (2006). The Essential Rock Discography (1st ed.). Edinburgh: Canongate Books. p. 970. ISBN 1-84195-985-5.
  9. ↑ Eccleston, Danny (September 2016). "Precious mettle". Mojo (274): 105.
  10. ↑ "Simple Minds: New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84)". Q (211): 117. February 2004.
  11. 1 2 Byford, Tom (September 2016). "Simple Minds – New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84)". Record Collector (457). Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  12. ↑ Fricke, David (14 April 1983). "Simple Minds: New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)". Rolling Stone (393). ISSN 0035-791X. Archived from the original on 17 November 2007.
  13. ↑ Hepworth, David (30 September – 13 October 1982). "Albums". Smash Hits: 25.
  14. ↑ "Simple Minds: New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84)". Uncut (66): 139. November 2002.
  15. ↑ Christgau, Robert (26 July 1983). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  16. ↑ Dimery, Robert (2006). 1001 Albums You Must Hear before You Die. New York: Universe. ISBN 978-0-7893-1371-3.
  17. ↑ "Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois Remember the Making of U2's Unforgettable Fire – Pitchfork".
  18. ↑ Q March 1998
  19. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book Ltd. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. Note: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1974 until Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) created their own charts in mid-1988. In 1992, Kent back calculated chart positions for 1970–1974.
  20. ↑ "Simple Minds - New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)". Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  21. ↑ "SIMPLE MINDS - NEW GOLD DREAM (81/82/83/84) (ALBUM)". Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  22. ↑ "Official Charts > Simple Minds". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  23. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Simple Minds – New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84) – Remastered 2016" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  24. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Simple Minds – New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84) – Remastered 2016" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  25. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Simple Minds – New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84) – Remastered 2016" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  26. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Simple Minds – New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  27. ↑ "NZ Heatseekers Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 15 August 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  28. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  29. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 August 2016.

Further reading

  • Sweeting, Adam (1999). Simple Minds (first ed.). Sidgwick & Jackson. ISBN 0-283-99581-5.
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