Sparkle in the Rain [Limited Edition, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

Simple Minds | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 7, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 1984
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Limited Edition, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Virgin Records Us
• ASIN: B00006IUPX
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #354,342 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Up On The Catwalk

2. Book Of Brilliant Things

3. Speed Your Love To Me

4. Waterfront

5. East At Easter

6. Street Hassle

7. White Hot Day

8. 'G' Moon Cry Like A Baby

9. The Kick Inside Of Me

10. Shake Off The Ghosts

Editorial Reviews

2002 digitally remastered reissue of the new wave icon's 1984 album (o.o.p. domestically), packaged in a limited edition miniature LP sleeve with original outer & inner bag artwork. EMI.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best Albums of the 80s, December 31, 2004

By 

Kirk Lott "a strange and unusual person" (adrift on the seas of life) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sparkle in the Rain (Audio CD)

This album is fantastic from beginning to end, and it's astonishing that anyone could give it less than 5 stars.

The first half, in particular, is so good it's almost like a "Best of" album from a band like U2 from an alternate but superior universe. "Up on the Catwalk," "Book of Brilliant Things," "Speed Your Love to Me," "Waterfront," and "East and Easter" - each song is a masterpiece.

The line up on this album is the definitive Simple Minds line up, with its musicians being some of the best in their field. The production is also awesome, courtesy of Steve Lillywhite (U2, Big Country). The soundscape he forges is a vast, uplifting sound full of youth and optimism. The only downside is that the bass playing by the incredible Derek Forbes is somewhat lost in the mix.

For the unininitated, this period of Simple Minds is similar to U2, equally passionate but more arty with more keyboards and interesting arrangements. And "Sparkle in the Rain" is a masterpice, right up there with U2's "The Joshua Tree." Seriously.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The definitive audio-version of Simple Minds 2nd best album, January 30, 2003

By 

Paul Allaer (Cincinnati) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sparkle in the Rain (Audio CD)

If you have, like me, the vinyl album and the CD, the only question is: is it worth shelling out $.. for this remastered version? The answer is: go take your old CD to the used-CD store and sell/trade it in, and order this remastered version immediately! The sound quality is amazing, to hear gems like "White Hot Day", "C Moon Cry Like a Baby" and "The Kick Inside" is amazing, it's like rediscovering a long lost treasure.

Warning: this is a Limited Edition, which is not a jewel-case CD but a replica of the old vinyl with the inner-sleeve jacket (no lyrics), which I don't find particularly handy, but no matter.

For those casually perusing Simple Minds: "Sparkle in the Rain" is the follow-up to Simple Minds' best album ("New Gold Dream"--see my review there), and just before they hit it big in the US with "Dont You Forget About Me". But Simple Minds is so much more than that "one-hit wonder" (in the US anyway). It rocks harder than "New Gold Dream", and contains the European hits "Up On the Catwalk", "Speed Your Love to Me" and "Waterfront". You cannot go wrong with this one.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Band About to Break Through and Did They Ever, October 19, 2005

By 

Immaculate Friend "Maisie's Dad" (N. California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sparkle in the Rain (Audio CD)

Never being one's to sit still and go with what worked for them so well(New Gold Dream), Simple Minds literally crashed into the US alternative scene with one of the most unique sounding records I've ever heard. Honestly, is there a single record that anything like this one? I know they've been compared to U2 on more than one occasion but noone had a bass player quite like Derek Forbes, a guitar player quite like Charlie Burchill, a keyboard player quite like Michael McNeil, a drummer quite like Mel Gaynor or a singer/songwriter with the majesty of vocals and lyrics of Jim Kerr.

I remember the end of a Rolling Stone review saying that "Sunday school never sounded quite like this." What a good description. The first thing I thought of when hearing "Up on the Catwalk" was organs in a large cathedral high in the Scottish countryside. Steve Lillywhite brings every sound out front and helps make these powerful songs so much more.
This album is solid from start to finish. Each one memorable in its own way and each one adds to the overall impact of teh album. My favorite tracks here are "Speed Your Love to Me", "Up on the Catwalk", "East at Easter", "C Moon Cry Like a Baby" and "Shake Off the Ghosts". When I saw the band on this tour this incredible instrumental would fade in over the pa while the shadows of the band members appeared behind some light drapings. What an incredible entrance.

Any fan of alternative music should make it a point to add this one to their heavy rotation stack. Awe inspiring from start to finish and an unforgettable listening experience.