Friday I'm In Love: Simple Minds (79-85)

I fell in love with Simple Minds in the early 80's (I know, I'm old) while a young teenager, still finding my footing in the world. While I still haven't found my footing, I still love Simple Minds, especially those heady, experimental, willing-to-go-big years of the late 70's and early 80's. They went from working with producer John Leckie (seriously, look him up) to Steve Hillage to Peter Walsh to Steve Lillywhite to Jimmy Iovine and Bob Clearmountain, all while expanding their sound and eventually hitting big with the Keith Forsey penned (Don't You) Forget About Me, as featured on The Breakfast Club, forever tying that song to our teenage memories.

I chose plenty of live recordings of songs and a set of Extended Mixes. While their studio recordings are incredible, they have always had a great band behind them and the early band, especially bassist Derek Forbes and drummer Brian McGee played lockstep rhythms that became a favorite as part of Simple Minds' sound for several albums. *I also included songs from their performance in 2024 at the Cruel World Festival where they had (likely) the largest crowd of the day.* I got to experience most of it and it was a highlight of my year.

 

When trying to compile a solid three hour show proved difficult due to the almost seven hours of music gathered, I asked listeners and fans what they'd like to hear.

 

Iain Stenhouse, former Glasgow resident suggested: Chelsea Girl, Life in a Day , I Travel, Changeling, Celebrate, Premonition, Love Song and Them For Great Cities, most of which I was going to play anyway and a few I had to cut from the setlist for time. Iain said he used to see Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill waling around in Glasgow before they got huge.

 

Damian Frood suggested: This Fear of Gods, Factory (from which he named his youthful band), Blood Type O, Someone Somewhere in Summertime -12” and Thirty Frames A Second. During the show he graced us with pictures of his vinyl singles, some of them signed by the band members.

 

Marcus Mayes requested Hunter and the Hunted. He said Simple Minds were why he became a drummer.

 

Meagan Masingill suggested: Someone Somewhere (In Summertime), Promised You a Miracle, Sanctify Yourself (original and/or dub version), Book of Brilliant Things and She’s a River

 

SETLIST

Don't You Forget About Me (Simple Minds Cover) Spotlight Kid Covers & Compilations

Don't You (Forget About Me) [Simple Minds Cover] Glass Apple Bonzai "Don't You (Forget About Me)" (Simple Minds Cover)

Friday I'm In Love Promo (Short) The Cure

Naked Eye Simple Minds Real To Real Cacophony 2

Calling Your Name (2002 - Remaster) Simple Minds Real To Real Cacophony

No Cure Simple Minds Life In A Day

Chelsea Girl (2002 - Remaster) Simple Minds Life In A Day 2

Puncture Kit eardrumbuzz Puncture Kit

Life In A Day (2002 - Remaster) Simple Minds Life In A Day 2

Changeling Simple Minds 1982-02-19 Karen Theatre, Gothenburg

Wonderful In Young Life Simple Minds Sister Feelings Call

I Travel Simple Minds Empires And Dance

Souvlaki Bass Station - first Sundays 1p and 9p Souvlaki Bass Station

Love Song Simple Minds 1982-02-19 Karen Theatre, Gothenburg

In Trance As Mission (Live At Hammersmith Odeon London 25/9/81) Simple Minds Sons And Fascination

70 Cities As Love Brings The Fall Simple Minds Sons And Fascination

Sweat In Bullet Simple Minds 1982-02-19 Karen Theatre, Gothenburg

Eardrumbuzz radio promo with backing music.mp3 The Bawl Slant

Letting Up Station ID.mp3 Mike Lee

The American (Extended Mix) Simple Minds Sister Feelings Call

Up On The Catwalk (Extended) Simple Minds Remastered Maxi-Singles, Vol.1

Waterfront (Extended Version) Simple Minds Sparkle In the Rain (Deluxe Version)

Speed Your Love To Me (Extended Mix) Simple Minds Sparkle In the Rain (Super Deluxe)

Ghost Dancing (Live at Live Aid, John F. Kennedy Stadium, 13th July 1985) Simple Minds Live Aid (Live, 13th July 1985)

Eardrum Buzz Radio ID Sun Shines Cold

Once Upon a Time Simple Minds Once Upon a Time (Super Deluxe)

All the Things She Said Simple Minds Once Upon a Time (Super Deluxe)

Don't You (Forget About Me) Simple Minds Once Upon a Time (Super Deluxe)

Alive and Kicking Simple MInds 2024-05-11 Cruel World, Pasadena CA

Gretchen Devault of the Blue Herons Station ID Gretchen Devault

Hunter and the Hunted Simple Minds New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84)

This Fear Of Gods Simple Minds Empires And Dance

Factory Simple Minds 1982-02-19 Karen Theatre, Gothenburg

Thirty Frames A Second Simple Minds 1982-02-19 Karen Theatre, Gothenburg

Golden Fang Station ID Carl Redfern

EDB Promo Mumrunner

Someone Somewhere in Summertime (extended) Simple Minds New Gold Dream (81,82,