Once Upon a Time (Simple Minds album)

Background

The album paired the group with producer Jimmy Iovine, who had worked with artists featuring an aggressive guitar-based sound, including singer-songwriters Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Nicks, and he brought that approach to the band. Iovine pushed frontman Jim Kerr to deliver more energetic vocals.

Although already successful in their native UK and abroad, Simple Minds had also recently become popular in the US on the strength of the number one single "Don't You (Forget About Me)", written by Keith Forsey and Steve Schiff and featured on the soundtrack for The Breakfast Club. Kerr and the band had recorded the song reluctantly and did not feel that it was worthy of inclusion on the album.

Once Upon a Time shares many influences with Simple Minds' previous studio album Sparkle in the Rain, which explored a similar songwriting style. It was the first album without original bassist Derek Forbes, who left the band after recording "Don't You (Forget About Me)", and was replaced by former Brand X bassist John Giblin. Forbes would later rejoin the band in 1998 for the album Neapolis.

Singles

Four singles from the album were released. "Alive and Kicking" was released in advance of the album's release in September 1985, reaching number seven in the UK and number three in the US. "Sanctify Yourself" was released in January 1986, reaching number 10 in the UK and number 14 in the US. "All the Things She Said" was released in March 1986, (UK number nine, US number 28), and "Ghost Dancing" was released in November 1986 (UK number 13). All of the proceeds from "All the Things She Said" and "Ghost Dancing" were donated to Amnesty International.

"Oh Jungleland" had been planned to be released as the second single, but Virgin instead selected "Sanctify Yourself". A 7" edit, an instrumental version and an extended 12" remix of "Oh Jungleland" were prepared and the latter two tracks subsequently appeared on the "Ghost Dancing" single releases.

Release

Once Upon a Time was available with two covers upon its original LP release. The alternate cover uses the back image for the front and vice versa, and also moves the Simple Minds logo to the right of the cover. The two cover images fit together when placed side by side or above each other, and the album was displayed in British record shops with the two alternating covers placed in a grid. The album cover was standardised for the original CD release and this version has since been used for the various reissues of the album. A collectable picture-disc LP was also produced. Housed in a luxury gatefold die-cut sleeve, the record featured the mottled gold effect of the sleeve. A unique lyrics sheet was also packaged in the gatefold. A magnetic jigsaw puzzle was also produced by Virgin Records to promote the album.

The album has been rereleased in remastered form several times, most recently in 2015. Virgin Records reissued the album as a remastered edition in 2002 (cardboard vinyl replica edition) and early 2003 (jewel case). It was released on SACD in 2003. In 2005, Virgin released the completely remixed album in DVD-Audio format. All of the tracks were remixed in 5.1 surround sound, and a downmixed 2.0 stereo version was created for compatibility with DVD-Audio setups without surround sound. The tracks on the remixed album differ in length in comparison to those on the original version, with most longer than in the original mix. In 2012, the original eight-track album was included in the box set 5 Album Set, which also included four other Simple Minds albums: Sons and Fascination, New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84), Sparkle in the Rain and Street Fighting Years. On 4 December 2015, multiple formats of the album were reissued as Deluxe and Super Deluxe editions, including a double CD digipack and a five-5 CD/one-DVD boxset.

Reception

AllMusic critic MacKenzie Wilson wrote that the album provided a "raw energy and solid composition not entirely captured on previous albums."

Armond White of Spin wrote: "Every cut is neat and punchy pomp in the name of Bono. Kerr works up a cheerleader rock star's mechanical pep, displaying good-time intentions in the same dumb, obvious way. The album sucks up love, politics, and religion into a swirling vacuum of show-off musicianship."

Track listing

All tracks are credited to Simple Minds as a band on the album, although Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill and Mick MacNeil are listed in the ASCAP database as the writers.

;Note

• The Deluxe edition of Once Upon a Time consists of Disc 1 (The Original Album) and Disc 2 (B-Sides and Rarities).
• The Super Deluxe edition consists of all six discs.

Personnel

Adapted from the album's liner notes:

; Simple Minds

• Jim Kerr – lead vocals and backing vocals
• Charlie Burchill – electric guitars
• Michael MacNeil – synthesizers, sampler and electric piano
• John Giblin – bass
• Mel Gaynor – drums and backing vocals

;Additional personnel

• Robin Clark – additional lead vocals and backing vocals
• Michael Been – backing vocals
• The Simms Brothers – backing vocals
• Carlos Alomar – backing vocals
• Sue Hadjopoulos – timbals on "All the Things She Said"

;Technical

• Jimmy Iovine – producer
• Bob Clearmountain – producer
• Moira Marquis – engineer
• Mark McKenna – engineer
• Martin White – assistant engineer
• Bob Ludwig – mastering
• Mick Haggerty – artwork
• Anton Corbijn – photography

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Singles

Certifications

References

References

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2. [http://www.simpleminds.org/sm/timeline/index.htm Timeline] Dream Giver Redux
3. [http://www.simpleminds.org/sm/discog/ouat/sy1.htm Sanctify Yourself] Dream Giver Redux
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5. Lester, Paul. (27 November 2015). "Simple Minds: ''Once Upon A Time''".
6. Male, Andrew. (January 2016). "Simple Minds: ''Once Upon a Time''".
7. Price, Simon. (December 2015). "Simple Minds: ''The Vinyl Collection 79–84'' / ''Once Upon a Time''".
8. Elliott, Mark. (January 2016). "''Once Upon A Time'' {{!}} Simple Minds".
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12. Thomson, Graeme. (January 2016). "Simple Minds: ''Once Upon a Time'' – Deluxe".
13. Christgau, Robert. (1 April 1986). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". [[The Village Voice]].
14. [[Armond White]]. (January 1986). "Spins".
15. [https://www.ascap.com/ace-title-search/index.aspx ASCAP database] search.
16. (21 October 1985). "Studio Albums: Once Upon a Time".
17. Kent, David. (1993). "[[Kent Music Report". Australian Chart Book.
18. (16 December 1985). "European Top 100 Albums".
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25. "Top US Billboard 200 Albums - Year-end 1986".
26. (27 December 1986). "European Gold & Platinum Awards 1986". Music & Media.
27. "Les Certifications depuis 1973: Albums". Infodisc.fr.
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29. (26 December 1987). "Gold & Platinum Awards 1987". Music & Media.
30. (July 30, 2023). "Norwegian Once Upon A time platinum disc, presented to Schoolhouse Management".
31. (2005). "Sólo Éxitos 1959–2002 Año A Año: Certificados 1979–1990". Iberautor Promociones Culturales.
32. (July 31, 2023). "Swedish Once Upon A Time Gold disc presented to Schoolhouse Management".