Acoustic (Simple Minds album)
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Acoustic | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 11 November 2016 | |||
Recorded | June 2016 | |||
Studio | ||||
Genre | Acoustic | |||
Label | Caroline International | |||
Producer |
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Simple Minds chronology | ||||
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Simple Minds studio albums chronology | ||||
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Singles from Acoustic | ||||
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Acoustic is the seventeenth studio album by Scottish rock band Simple Minds, released in November 2016 by Caroline International.[1] The album features acoustic studio recordings of previously released songs. It received mixed reviews.[2]
Background
[edit]The genesis of Acoustic can be traced back to a rare live session the band recorded for the BBC Radio Two's Chris Evans Breakfast Show on 26 September 2014,[nb 1] then promoting their 16th studio album, Big Music. To the band's surprise, the reaction was overwhelmingly favourable.[3]
The band performed acoustic sets during some other one-off live appearances (radio sessions or showcase events) including one held on 22 November 2014 in Paris by French radio station RTL notable for a rare outing of "Mandela Day".[nb 2][3][4]
Besides Kerr and Burchill the band consists of Ged Grimes (bass), Sarah Brown (backing vocals), Gordy Goudie (guitars) and Cherisse Osei (drums).[1]
Singles
[edit]The acoustic version of "Promised You a Miracle", featuring Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall, was released on 28 September 2016.[5]
Commercial performance
[edit]The album debuted at number 16 on the UK Albums Chart, selling 10,427 units, and becoming Simple Minds' 14th top 20 album.[6]
Critical reception
[edit]The album received mixed reviews, with Timothy Monger from AllMusic noting that the band "missed out on an opportunity to dramatically shake up their repertoire".[7] Andy Gill in The Independent found it "a welcome spring clean" and noted the folk influences.[8] David Quantick, writing for Classic Rock, described it as "a strange album, seeking as it does to homogenise the Minds’ ever-changing sound" but concluded that it was "a consistent collection", highlighting the Richard Hawley cover "Long Black Train" as "movingly effective".[9]
Track listing
[edit]Standard edition
[edit]No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "The American" | Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Mick MacNeil, Derek Forbes, Brian McGee | 4:30 |
2. | "Promised You a Miracle" (featuring KT Tunstall) | Kerr, Burchill, MacNeil, Forbes | 4:35 |
3. | "Glittering Prize" | Kerr, Burchill, MacNeil, Forbes | 4:07 |
4. | "See the Lights" | Kerr, Burchill | 4:58 |
5. | "New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)" | Kerr, Burchill, MacNeil, Forbes | 4:58 |
6. | "Someone Somewhere in Summertime" | Kerr, Burchill, MacNeil, Forbes | 4:40 |
7. | "Waterfront" | Kerr, Burchill, MacNeil, Forbes | 5:16 |
8. | "Sanctify Yourself" | Kerr, Burchill, MacNeil | 4:59 |
9. | "Chelsea Girl" | Kerr, Burchill | 4:28 |
10. | "Alive and Kicking" | Kerr, Burchill, MacNeil | 5:53 |
11. | "Don't You (Forget About Me)" | Keith Forsey, Steve Schiff | 5:16 |
12. | "Long Black Train" | Richard Hawley | 4:34 |
Double LP bonus tracks
[edit]No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
13. | "Stand by Love" | Kerr, Burchill | 4:11 |
14. | "Speed Your Love to Me" | Kerr, Burchill, MacNeil, Forbes | 4:03 |
15. | "Light Travels" | Kerr, Burchill, Jez Coad, Sean Kelly | 4:40 |
Notes
- Two different formats are released: a single compact-disc version and a double LP version including 3 exclusive extra tracks, the latter released only on 25 November 2016.[1]
Personnel
[edit]- Simple Minds
- Jim Kerr – vocals
- Charlie Burchill – guitar, accordion, programming, arrangements
- Ged Grimes – bass, backing vocals
- Gordy Goudie – guitar, harmonica, additional arrangements
- Sarah Brown – backing vocals
- Cherisse Osei – percussion
- Additional personnel
- KT Tunstall – vocals, guitar, bass, backing vocal arrangement on "Promised You a Miracle"
- Lewis Chapman – additional percussion, programming
- Andy Wright – producer, programming
- Gavin Goldberg – producer, engineer, mixing, programming
- Simple Minds – producer
- Jean-Pierre Chalbos – mastering
- Stuart Crouch Creative – art direction, design
- Ruth Rowland – handlettering
- Alan Wild – photography
- Eric Misko – photography
- Paul Cox – photography
- Paul Khera – photography
Charts
[edit] Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
|
Certifications
[edit]Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[24] | Silver | 60,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Notes
[edit]- ^ During the Chris Evans Breakfast Show on 26 September 2014, a minimalist (new) line-up of Simple Minds (reduced to Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill and Mark Kerr) performed acoustically four songs: "Don't You (Forget About Me)", "Alive and Kicking", "Honest Town" and "Riders on the Storm".
- ^ During the RTL Show on 22 November 2014, Simple Minds (reduced to Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill and Mark Kerr) performed acoustically five songs: "Honest Town" (3:50), "Let the Day Begin" (video not available), "Mandela Day" (4:01), "Don't You (Forget About Me)" (4:03) and "Alive and Kicking" (5:33), four of which made available on RTL's website.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Acoustic – 2016". simpleminds.com. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ Simple Minds Acoustic by Simple Minds, retrieved 27 November 2016
- ^ a b "Dream Giver Redux – news 2014". Dream Giver Redux (www.simpleminds.org). 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- ^ "VIDÉOS - Simple Minds : découvrez 4 titres en live acoustique au Grand Studio RTL" (in French). RTL. 21 November 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- ^ "Simple Minds Acoustic Released 11th Nov". Simple Minds Ltd. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- ^ Jones, Alan. "Official Charts Analysis: Olly Murs fifth album debuts at No.1". Music Week. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- ^ Monger, Timothy. "Acoustic - Simple Minds | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
- ^ Gill, Andy (9 November 2016). "Album reviews: Emeli Sandé, Sting, Alicia Keys, Simple Minds". The Independent. Archived from the original on 9 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
- ^ Quantick, David (24 October 2016). "Simple Minds - Acoustic album review". Classic Rock. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Simple Minds – Acoustic" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Simple Minds – Acoustic" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Simple Minds – Acoustic" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – Simple Minds – Acoustic". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Simple Minds – Acoustic" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- ^ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 46, 2016". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- ^ "Album – Classifica settimanale WK 46 (dal 2016-11-11 al 2016-11-17)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Simple Minds – Acoustic". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- ^ "TOP 100 ALBUMES — SEMANA 46: del 11.11.2016 al 17.11.2016" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Simple Minds – Acoustic". Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2016". Ultratop. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ "Rapports Annuels 2016". Ultratop. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ "British album certifications – Simple Minds – Acoustic". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 28 March 2020.