Customer Reviews

Glittering Prize 81/92

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A reviewer here has mentioned that this collection misses Simple Minds' first seven albums, but in fact it misses the first five: Album #6 which is called "Celebration" is a compilation of the songs from their first five releases. Glittering Prize picks up tracks starting with the "New Gold Dream (81 82 83 84)" (album #7), which coincidentally was their debut in the U.S., and ends with "Real Life" (1991), including only one song (Belfast Child) from the highly politically themed "The Street Fighting Years" (1989). The retrospective was issued in Europe with 16 tracks, but the US version was somehow stripped down to 12 cuts only. In any case if you think about it, Celebration put together with Glittering Prize is a more definitive greatest hits package. However in contrast to some of their 80's era contemporaries (Ultravox, Talk Talk, The Human League, Thompson Twins, OMD, Tears for Fears, Howard Jones, etc.) the Scottish Simple Minds or Australian Icehouse have hardly had any career-spanning hit compilations which are easily available stateside. To do justice is to issue a decent and comprehensive two-disc anthology for S.M. so that the younger generation who cannot or don't want to purchase all of their previous releases could have a quick overview of what Simple Minds has to offer. Below I am including the main album discography for the band to date.

[Update in 2009] Interestingly enough, just a few months after my review was first published in July of 2001, S.M. issued a record of cover songs, followed by a two-disc comprehensive anthology much like the one I had requested. There has also been a series of digital remasters of all of their albums up to 1998's Neapolis. What we now need is an affordable 2xCD set of some selected 12-inch remixes, B-sides, and rarities!

1. Life In A Day (1979) 2. Real To Real Cacophony (1979) 3. Empires And Dance (1980) 4. Sons And Fascination (1981) 5. Sister Feelings Call (1981) 6. Celebration (1982) 7. New Gold Dream (81 82 83 84) (1982) 8. Sparkle In The Rain (1984) 9. Once Upon A Time (1985) 10. Live - In The City Of Light (1987) 11. Street Fighting Years (1989) 12. Real Life (1991) 13. Glittering Prize (1992) 14. Good News From The Next World (1995) 15. Neapolis (1998) 16. Neon Lights (collection of cover songs) (2001) 18. The Best Of (2xCD) (2001) 19. Cry (2002) 20. Our Secrets Are The Same (2003 - recorded in the late 1990's) 21. Black & White 050505 (2005) 22. Graffiti Soul (2009 - the deluxe edition contains a bonus disc of cover songs)

Like many 80's songs, you find that song you were looking for forever, you buy the actual album with that song by the artist(s), and you get that "one hit wonder" while the other music just all sounds the same and makes you wish you could have found it on an 80's compilation CD instead. Well, I was more than stunned to find this album's complete list of tracks more than outstanding and all sounding different! I would describe the CD as Alive and Kicking, just as the CD first kicks off with the song "Alive and Kicking" and leads into the ever popular "Don't You (Forget About Me)" track. I had assumed at first when I popped the CD in for the first time that since the two famous hits started it out that the rest would be all plain and monotone slow. However, every song has it's own sparkle and twist in it from different melodies and amazing lyrics. What makes the lyrics so amazing is the fact this band knows a lot about love that many can take lessons from just by listening to the words. Simple Minds music is anything but "Simple", it's very deep worded lyrics prove that along with the combination of many instruments and sounds used to produce it, even if most was a keyboard. I can only compare it to one band, "Mister Mister", and only for the fact that their music cds are more than one hit wonders. Unlike Mister Mister, Simple minds has more upbeat tunes and puts you in the mood to dance or relax. I took it with me camping on several occasions and dubbed it for my car. Never gets boring. So give a little "simple" money to Amazon.com to get a More than Simple Minds CD!

This US compilation is somehow a grave disappointment because a lot of songs of the European edition were omitted. It's a nice overview for people who are keen on the Simple Minds' radio-friendly era with songs like "See the lights". As a complete chronicle, this album fails. There's not a single song from SM's first seven(!) albums like "Life in a day", "Sons & fascination", or "Sister feelings call", all released between 1979 and 1982. I really recommend you to check out some of these albums because they offer sharp-edged, experimental synth-rock and sound more interesting than the SM's later work. However, "Don't you.." (a song originally appearing on the soundtrack of 1985's "The Breakfast Club") makes its first appearance on a SM album. This will be enough cause for many people to buy this compilation. Despite some shortcomings, "Glittering prize" offers evidence that Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill were good songwriters with a perfectly developed sense of the dramatic, and the band's success in the '80s was well-deserved.

They did it again! The american version of this great album has fewer tracks (like the Eurythmics Greatest Hits CD). Why this is common practice is unclear, but unless you live in Europe or want to pay import prizes, don't look for the title (!) track "Glittering Prize", "American", "Speed Your Love to Me", Mandela Day" or the quintessential classics "Lovesong" and "Ghostdancing". Too bad we live in the States, I guess

There are a few bands that provide a good representation of the generation that I grew up in. Simple Minds is one of those bands. Anyone who was around in the `80s has heard this band at one time or another whether they know it or not, probably from the "Breakfast Club" theme.

"Glittering Prize" is a compilation of twelve of their hits from 1981 to 1992. The heart of the band stayed the same for this time as several bassists and drummers came and went. Jim Kerr fronts the band with a smooth, hypnotic voice that helps give Simple Minds its unique sound. Charlie Burchill on guitars and Michael McNeil on the keys round out the band.

Simple Minds composed all of the songs that appears on this album, except for "Don't You (Forget About Me)", which was actually written by Keith Forsey with a few changes by the Minds. After listening to this album (or just knowing the Minds) you can tell that it wasn't written by the band.

This is a definitely hit filled album. With great songs like "Someone, Somewhere In Summertime" "Promised You a Miracle" and "All the Things She Said". "Waterfront" is the classic Minds sound with Kerr's powerful voice, and the band's much bigger sound than its size that would dominate their sound into the next millennium. The album opens with "Alive and Kicking" setting the tone for the album of just plain good song-writing and musicianship. "Sanctify Yourself" shows that the Minds can turn up the heat and sound a little more raw when they want to. My favorite track is the hypnotic "See the Lights".

Since the Minds have been around for so long, starting with "Glittering Prize" is not a bad idea. It is a well assembled album and flows well. If you prefer live albums, definitely start with the excellent "Live In the City of Light".

Well, yes... for the price. I give Simple Minds 5++ stars, I gave this CD 4 stars; but compared to the "The Best Of Simple Minds" imported collection CD I would give it less than 3. Why? Because all of these songs ARE included in the "The Best Of Simple Minds" collection, not only that; they are complete not like this one in which some songs are shorter, the ones I can remember from the top of my head are "Alive and Kicking" and "Sanctify Yourself". Besides, the CD is named "Glittering Prize" but, for crying out loud "Glittering Prize" is NOT included! (in the imported [remastered] version "Glittering Prize" IS included but costs more).

I owned this CD for 10 years, and the songs never got old to me, I was always wondering how to get my hands on more Simple Minds music which used to be so hard to get (all I could find was Glittering Price wherever I'd go), when the "Best Of" came along I grabbed it as quick as I could. My suggestion: Buy the "The Best Of Simple Minds" (32 songs collection) you really do get more for the money, the imported version is the best. It has all of these songs in full, plus "Glittering Prize", "Ghostdancing" and "Life In A Day" which are definitely worth the cost. The only flaw is that "New Gold Dream 81 82 83 84" is not there which is to me, the best song from Simple Minds. But no matter! Find that song in the album with the same name and enjoy!

Far from comprehensive, this collection is ok for the casual listener, but lacks the strength to pull off showcasing the band.

Offhand, the edited versions of "Alive and Kicking" and "Sanctify Yourself" really are somewhat disappointing; they just do not compare to the album versions.

There are some catchy tunes here that aren't widely known, "See the Lights" just is impossible not to like, as is "Belfast Child". Everbody knows "Don't You (Forget about Me)".

Crucial omissions from "Sparkle in the Rain" and "New Gold Dream" pretty much relegate this album to simply ok.

Even the newer greatest hits collection falls short; Simple Minds can't be summed up in 1 or 2 CDs.

Like the previous reviewer stated, the American version is indeed a ripoff. If you're a first-time listener to Simple Minds (and don't mind 4 songs missing from the European version), then get it. Otherwise, do get the European version (if you live in Canada or close to Canada, you'll get that version). That's the reason why the American version gets only 3 stars from me! The music in general is really great although I wish they didn't edit some of the tracks. If you're willing to move beyond "Glittering Prize", check out "Sparkle In The Rain", their best one EVER! Or if you want to experience them live, check out "Live In The City Of Light". Now, THAT is a classic in itself!

Two of my favorites, though not the biggest hits, are missing: "Oh Jungleland" and "New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)". Still a good overview of the band's work and it's nice to have "Don't You Forget About Me".

This compilation is so good from the first track to the last one, if you listened to KROQ during the 80's,then this is a must in your collection