Simple Minds - New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84): Deluxe Box Set

Note: this release was originally purchased as a LP, later replaced by a CD, later replaced by this 6 disc 2016 Deluxe Box Set (because I obviously needed 12 different versions of Promised You A Miracle).

Two booklets are included: one deals more with the band themselves (bios, discography, etc.) while the second is about the album itself is by far the better or the two. The photos are large and brilliant but the font is so small I had to read both with a magnifying glass. There's nothing new in the books (old info in new interviews is as close as we get to new info) and the editing is poor - we can't be bothered with things like spaces or capitalization rules. And there's an inexplicable homophobic insult and record label putdowns. But, like I said, the pics and graphics are nice.

And, yes, I listened to and/or watched all six discs today in order because I'm dedicated.

Press of the time:

• Billboard: "at its most inspired, the music lives up to its contents' lofty spiritual themes"
• Rolling Stone (★★★): "has charms to suck you into deep, private reveries"
• Smash Hits (8 out of 10): "A very musical record, if we're allowed to say that."
• Robert Christgau (C+): "Auteur Jim Kerr is Bowie sans stance, Ferry sans pop, Morrison sans rock and roll. He says simple, I say empty and we both go home."
• Trouser Press: "nine leisurely cuts swathed in a hyper-romantic approach."
• Record Mirror: "an aural feast"

For other reviews, click here.

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard Top 200: #69
• CashBox: #86
• Rolling Stone: #32

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ORIGINAL RELEASE (REMASTERED)
9 tracks, 46 minutes

My thoughts on this album from 2011 are available here. I can't believe I didn't write more about track 5, Somebody Up There Likes You.  You know how you'll sometimes buy an album for one song and it turns out that's the only good song on the whole album? I've had the opposite experience with this album: I bought it for Promised You A Miracle and found several songs better than that one.

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EXTENDED VERSIONS
12 tracks, 72 minutes

Because if a little bit is good, more must be better.

1. Promised You A Miracle [Extended] (from Promised You A Miracle 12″ single) 4:50
2. Seeing Out The Angel [Instrumental Remix] (from Promised You A Miracle 12″ single) 6:36
3. Promised You A Miracle [US Remix] (from Promised You A Miracle American 12″ single) 6:05 ✔
4. Promised You A Miracle [US Dub] (from Promised You A Miracle American 12″ single)* 5:26
5. Promised You A Miracle [US Special Extended Remix] (from Promised You A Miracle American Promo 12″ single)* 6:20
6. Glittering Prize [Club Mix] (from Glittering Prize 12″ single) 4:58
7. Glittering Prize [Extended Theme] (from Glittering Prize 12″ single) 4:58
8. Someone Somewhere In Summertime [Extended] (from Someone Somewhere In Summertime 12″ single) 6:06 ✔
9. New Gold Dream [German 12″ Remix] (from German CD issue of album. Later released on 12″ singles and X5.) 6:53 ✔
10. King Is White And In The Crowd [Instrumental] (unedited and restored mix originally released with a Touch Tape magazine)* 8:46
11. New Gold Dream [German 12″ Remix With Drums] (from X5 compilation) 6:56 ✔
12. In Every Heaven (from X5 compilation) 4:25

*First time on CD.
✔ my preferred tracks

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EDITS and B-SIDES
7 tracks, 32 minutes

Yeah, there were b-sides on the previous disc, but let's not nitpick.

1. Promised You A Miracle [Edit] (from Promised You A Miracle 7″ single) 4:03
2. Theme For Great Cities (from Promised You A Miracle 7″ single) 5:51 ✔
3. Glittering Prize [Edit] (from Glittering Prize 7″ single) 4:02
4. Glittering Prize [Theme] (from Glittering Prize 7″ single)* 4:06
5. Someone Somewhere In Summertime [Edit] (from Someone Somewhere In Summertime Promo 7″ single)* 4:00 ✔
6. Soundtrack For Every Heaven (from Someone Somewhere In Summertime 12″ single) 4:56
7. New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) [7″ Mix] (from New Gold Dream Italian 7″ single) 4:46 ✔

*First time on CD.
✔ my preferred tracks

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RADIO SESSIONS
10 tracks, 53 minutes

Some of these tracks were from previous albums, but were recorded for British radio shows in 1982 so here ya go.

1. Promised You A Miracle [David Jensen Session] 4:24
2. In Trance As Mission [David Jensen Session] 4:34
3. King Is White and In The Crowd [David Jensen Session] (from Someone Somewhere In Summertime 12″ single) 5:20
4. Promised You A Miracle [John Peel Session]* 4:41
5. Love Song [John Peel Session]* 5:49
6. Sons And Fascination [John Peel Session]* 6:43
7. King Is White And In The Crowd [John Peel Session]* 6:05 
8. Someone Somewhere In Summertime [David Jensen Session] 5:09 
9. Glittering Prize [David Jensen Session] 4:21
10. Hunter And The Hunted [David Jensen Session] 5:49

*First time on CD.

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ALTERNATIVE MIXES, ROUGHS AND DEMOS
10 tracks, 56 minutes

Given my dislike for demo tracks you'd think I'd want to skip this disc, but (except for the final track) it turns out to be one my favorite discs of the set. Go figure.

1. Someone Somewhere In Summertime [Full Duration] 5:47 ✔
2. Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel [Full Duration Instrumental] 4:42 ✔
3. Promised You A Miracle [Remix For Album: Long] 4:55 ✔
4. Big Sleep [Instrumental] 5:15
5. In Every Heaven [Full Duration] 5:40
6. Somebody Up There Likes You [Full Duration Instrumental] 5:18 ✔✔
7. New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) [Full Duration] 7:03 ✔
8. Hunter And The Hunted [Alternative Take] 5:17
9. King Is White And In The Crowd [Monitor Mix]  7:16
10. In Every Heaven [Early Version] 4:37

All tracks previously unreleased.
✔ my preferred tracks

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5.1 MIX AND VIDEOS (DVD)

I don't have a 5.1 sound system (I'm currently using this), but let's give this DVD the requisite spin anyway.

1. Someone Somewhere In Summertime
2. Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel
3. Promised You A Miracle
4. Big Sleep
5. Somebody Up There Likes You
6. New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)
7. Glittering Prize 
8. Hunter And The Hunted
9. King Is White And In The Crowd
10. In Every Heaven
    (above tracks are 5.1 Mixes)


11. Promised You A Miracle [Promo Video]
12. Glittering Prize [Promo Video]
13. Promised You A Miracle [Top Of The Pops] First time commercially released.
14. Glittering Prize [Top Of The Pops] First time commercially released.

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Classic Rock, July 2016, p. 97

Q: Is the box set worth the bother?
A: Yes, but just so.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: see previous post

Previously revisited for the blog:
Acoustic (2016)
Glittering Prize (1992)
Real Life (1991)
Once Upon a Time (1985)
New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) (1982)
Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings Call (1981)