The Not-So-Simple Sound Of SIMPLE MINDS

The Not-So-Simple Sound Of SIMPLE MINDS

They’ve been around for years now, but it really wasn’t until the release of Once Upon A Time that Simple Minds were accorded the mass critical (and commercial) respect they deserve. Released late in 1985, Once Upon A Time has enjoyed a long stay in the American Top 10—and, nowadays, Jim Kerr is known more for his music than for being “Mr. Chrissie Hynde." Which is, of course, the way it should be.

Kerr agrees that Once Upon A Time is the greatest Simple Minds’ album ever: “I think the music in this one is really, really confident,’’ he told Tim deLisle recently. “I think we’ve dropped the kind of preciousness that we once had. I think—even more basic—we’ve better melodies now, we’re arranging the songs better. I think every song’s more focused and tangible.”

Strange words from a songwriter whose work—not so long ago— was regarded as out of the mainstream? Perhaps, but like other bands who were similarly typecast—U2 comes to mind (and, in fact, the bands are good friends)—Simple Minds’ time seems to have come. “I think we’ve definitely come out of the underground,” Kerr said in that same interview. “And I think it’s time. Five, six or seven years ago—no, 10 years ago, there were bands doing a lot of talking, and all they did was talk, make a few records and die.”

Strangely, perhaps, Kerr doesn’t have an overly-high opinion of the one song that did the most to bring Simple Minds into the public spotlight: “Don’t You (Forget About Me).” (Of course, the hit wasn’t written by Simple Minds, which might tend to prejudice the talented singer.) Of the song, Kerr said: “I think it’s a good, stylish pop song, but I think there’s a bigger heartbeat to the songs—our own songs—than we had in that one. I think it was quite a nice light moment, but I don’t think there was much soul being bared in that song. When they asked us to do it, they found us at a moment when we were probably feeling the least precious in our careers. And their (the producers of The Breakfast Club) sheer enthusiasm for the band was very flattering. Y’know, the fact that they wanted us to be involved in this movie...since then, a lot of people want us to do songs for films—and we’ve always wanted to do that, but before we didn’t exactly have a foot in Hollywood. And I think Simple Minds’ music could be great soundtrack music.”

Obviously. The fact that the band could crossover with a song for a great film soundtrack, in fact, shows just how diverse their talents are. Nor does it end with Once Upon A Time—they’ve just released a stunning live version of ‘‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)” as the flip side of ‘‘All The Things She Said” and an extended 12”, which also contains a remix of another hit,' ‘‘Promised You A Miracle.” The records should find a cherished place on the shelves of Simple Minds fans everywhere.

For they know that sometimes a name can be misleading.