Acoustic (Simple Minds album)
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| Acoustic | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 11 November 2016 | |||
| Recorded | June 2016 | |||
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| Genre | Acoustic | |||
| Label | Caroline International | |||
| Producer |
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| Simple Minds chronology | ||||
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| Simple Minds studio albums chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Acoustic | ||||
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Acoustic is the seventeenth studio album by Scottish rock band Simple Minds, released in November 2016 by Caroline International.[1] The album features acoustic studio recordings of previously released songs. It received mixed reviews.[2]
The genesis of Acoustic can be traced back to a rare live session the band recorded for the BBC Radio Two's Chris Evans Breakfast Show on 26 September 2014,[nb 1] then promoting their 16th studio album, Big Music. To the band's surprise, the reaction was overwhelmingly favourable.[3]
The band performed acoustic sets during some other one-off live appearances (radio sessions or showcase events) including one held on 22 November 2014 in Paris by French radio station RTL notable for a rare outing of "Mandela Day".[nb 2][3][4]
Besides Kerr and Burchill the band consists of Ged Grimes (bass), Sarah Brown (backing vocals), Gordy Goudie (guitars) and Cherisse Osei (drums).[1]
Singles
The acoustic version of "Promised You a Miracle", featuring Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall, was released on 28 September 2016.[5]
Commercial performance
The album debuted at number 16 on the UK Albums Chart, selling 10,427 units, and becoming Simple Minds' 14th top 20 album.[6]
Critical reception
The album received mixed reviews, with Timothy Monger from AllMusic noting that the band "missed out on an opportunity to dramatically shake up their repertoire".[7] Andy Gill in The Independent found it "a welcome spring clean" and noted the folk influences.[8] David Quantick, writing for Classic Rock, described it as "a strange album, seeking as it does to homogenise the Minds’ ever-changing sound" but concluded that it was "a consistent collection", highlighting the Richard Hawley cover "Long Black Train" as "movingly effective".[9]
Track listing
Standard edition
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The American" | Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Mick MacNeil, Derek Forbes, Brian McGee | 4:30 |
| 2. | "Promised You a Miracle" (featuring KT Tunstall) | Kerr, Burchill, MacNeil, Forbes | 4:35 |
| 3. | "Glittering Prize" | Kerr, Burchill, MacNeil, Forbes | 4:07 |
| 4. | "See the Lights" | Kerr, Burchill | 4:58 |
| 5. | "New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)" | Kerr, Burchill, MacNeil, Forbes | 4:58 |
| 6. | "Someone Somewhere in Summertime" | Kerr, Burchill, MacNeil, Forbes | 4:40 |
| 7. | "Waterfront" | Kerr, Burchill, MacNeil, Forbes | 5:16 |
| 8. | "Sanctify Yourself" | Kerr, Burchill, MacNeil | 4:59 |
| 9. | "Chelsea Girl" | Kerr, Burchill | 4:28 |
| 10. | "Alive and Kicking" | Kerr, Burchill, MacNeil | 5:53 |
| 11. | "Don't You (Forget About Me)" | Keith Forsey, Steve Schiff | 5:16 |
| 12. | "Long Black Train" | Richard Hawley | 4:34 |
Double LP bonus tracks
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13. | "Stand by Love" | Kerr, Burchill | 4:11 |
| 14. | "Speed Your Love to Me" | Kerr, Burchill, MacNeil, Forbes | 4:03 |
| 15. | "Light Travels" | Kerr, Burchill, Jez Coad, Sean Kelly | 4:40 |
Notes
- Two different formats are released: a single compact-disc version and a double LP version including 3 exclusive extra tracks, the latter released only on 25 November 2016.[1]
Personnel
- Simple Minds
- Jim Kerr – vocals
- Charlie Burchill – guitar, accordion, programming, arrangements
- Additional personnel
- Ged Grimes – bass, backing vocals
- Gordy Goudie – guitar, harmonica, additional arrangements
- Sarah Brown – backing vocals
- Cherisse Osei – percussion
- KT Tunstall – vocals, guitar, bass, backing vocal arrangement on "Promised You a Miracle"
- Lewis Chapman – additional percussion, programming
- Andy Wright – producer, programming
- Gavin Goldberg – producer, engineer, mixing, programming
- Simple Minds – producer
- Jean-Pierre Chalbos – mastering
- Stuart Crouch Creative – art direction, design
- Ruth Rowland – handlettering
- Alan Wild – photography
- Eric Misko – photography
- Paul Cox – photography
- Paul Khera – photography
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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