Real Life [Original recording]

Simple Minds | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording
• Label: A&M / Virgin
• ASIN: B0017RFTGA
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #771,439 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Simple Minds: Real Life! Original 1991 A&M / Virgin Issue! TRACKS: 1. Real Life; 2. See the Lights; 3. Let There Be Love; 4. Woman; 5. Stand By Love; 6. African Skies; 7. Let the Children Speak; 8. Ghostrider; 9. Banging on the Door; 10. Travelling Man; 11. Rivers of Ice; & 12. When Two Worlds Collide.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, August 5, 2005

By 

DMG (NJ / NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Real Life (Audio CD)

This is a truly great album. May I stress the word album? Yes, I think I will. What has unfortunately been lost in today's world of digital downloading is the TRUE ALBUM EXPERIENCE. An album experience where every song has its place and fits a certain flow. This is one of those albums. Track one feels like a track one. Track two feels like a track two. The last track feels like a great closer, etc. You get my drift. The album can be listend to straight through, taking the listener on a beautiful ride through all different themes, moods, and paces. I had already heard "See The Lights," "Let There Be Love," and "Stand By Love" on their 82>92 best of compilation. Those three tracks are all stellar, but I'd have to say my favorite tracks are the title track "Real Life," "African Skies," "Let The Children Speak," and "Banging On The Door." "Real Life" takes the title. The song is amazing. I seriously got my $$$'s worth with this track alone. I must have had it on repeat in my car for 3 straight days. Simply amazing. The video is great too, which you can see on their Visual History DVD. The emotion displayed in the singing of "African Skies" is unparalleled by most artists. I can continue but I think my point has been made. Buy this album for a truly rewarding listening experience. Anyone who writes this album off as over-produced or a sellout or adult contemporary needs to have their head examined. Not the case at all. Just true art with a fantastic effect.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple Minds' best, May 8, 2007

By 

Oscar Becerra - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Real Life (Audio CD)

Real Life could be easily cataloged as one of the best albums of the Scottish band and one of the best albums of the 1990s. After Street Fighting Years, Real Life is one of the most mature creations of this emblematic rock band. The album has an impressive and refined sound and with the re mastered edition it highlights its quality. Many of the songs not included in other compilation albums, really worth this album.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A somewhat different direction for Simple Minds, September 20, 2002

By 

"richlatta" ("The War Zone" ABQ, NM) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Real Life (Audio CD)

Jim Kerr has a positively enthralling voice. He shows it off on this album more than perhaps any other by Simple Minds. There should be more voices in rock that can actually sing as good as he can. True, rock n'roll isn't always about being pretty, but it's nice when a real talent like Kerr comes along.

When this album first came out, I almost rejected it off hand. I couldn't understand why they were playing these particular kinds of dance beats, why it was so light and polished and (gulp) borderline adult-contemporary in places. Soon, however, the excellent songs and craftmanship shone through for me, I adjusted to their new sound and - whaaaa . . . - reveled in the musical bliss.

Although a few tracks fall short of being excellent songs, most are truly great and enough to merit the 5 star rating. However, I still prefer older Simple Minds, like SPARKLE IN THE RAIN. If there was justice in this world, or at least on the airwaves, over half the songs on this album would be Top 10 international hits. Despite the great songs here which are upbeat and display a positive vibe, my favorite track is "Rivers of Ice" (which also took some getting used to). There's something so poignant about it to me. Anyway, thumbs up for this one.