One Upon A Time- Simple Minds (1985)
Once Upon a Time is the seventh studio album by Scottish pop rock band Simple Minds, released in October 1985 by record label Virgin (A&M in the US).
The record paired the group with music producer Jimmy Iovine. He 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 particularly pushed frontman Jim Kerr, aiming for more energetic sounding vocals.
Although already successful in their native U.K. and various countries in Europe and Oceania, Simple Minds had also recently become popular in the U.S., mainly due to the Keith Forsey and Steve Schiff-penned "Don't You (Forget About Me)". That track appeared on The Breakfast Clubsoundtrack and had become a #1 hit there. However, the band deliberately left the track off the album due to their reluctance to record it. Still, the bombastic pop rock sound proved influential in the construction of much of Once Upon a Time, particularly the arena-friendly single "Alive and Kicking". Once Upon a Timealso shared many influences with their previous studio album, Sparkle in the Rain, which explored a similar songwriting style.
Tracks-
Side A
- 1. "Once Upon a Time" 5:45
- 2. "All the Things She Said" 4:15
- 3. "Ghost Dancing" 4:45
- 4. "Alive and Kicking" 5:26
Side B
- 5. "Oh Jungleland" 5:14
- 6. "I Wish You Were Here" 4:42
- 7. "Sanctify Yourself" 4:57
- 8. "Come a Long Way" 5:07
An excellent album from an excellent group, one of the biggest bands of the decade, Simple Minds. 8.5/10