Simple Minds celebrate 40th anniversary of Sparkle In The Rain

Simple Minds celebrate 40th anniversary of Sparkle In The Rain with special edition.

Originally released in February 1984, Sparkle In The Rain was Simple Minds’ sixth studio album and, following 1982’s crossover album New Gold Dream, the one to cement their commercial success, giving them their first UK No.1 (as well as a Top 20 album in Australia, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland). The album went on to be certified double platinum in the UK.

The illustrious lyrics and the political and personal love songs were matched by throbbing synth-beats, piano flourishes, new wave guitar chimes and swooning bass lines. Jim Kerr’s songwriting thrived on the band’s striving amidst a new emerging sound and direction. The album cemented Simple Minds’ reputation as one of the major bands of the 1980s and prepared the groundwork for the worldwide hit album Once Upon A Time.

Anniversary Edition

The 40^th anniversary release of the Sparkle In The Rain boxset consists of four discs.

Disc one is a re-master of the original album (re-mastered at Abbey Road Studios by Andrew Walters and overseen by Charlie Burchill) and disc two features B-sides and rarities. Disc three features a concert recorded at Barrowland in the band’s hometown of Glasgow, on 28 February 1984. While disc four features the remainder of the Barrowland concert and a BBC Radio 1 session from September 1983.

The boxset also includes a 36-page booklet with extensive sleeve notes by Simon Cornwell (SimpleMinds.org), interviews with Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill, as well as numerous rare photos of the band and memorabilia from the period.

Dolby Atmos mixes, mixed by Bob Clearmountain, will also be available digitally.

Transparent Blue Vinyl Tracklist

SIDE A
Up On The Catwalk
Book Of Brilliant Things
Speed Your Love To Me
Waterfront
East at Easter
SIDE B
Street Hassle
White Hot Day
“C” Moon Cry Like A Baby
The Kick Inside Of Me
Shake Off The Ghosts

4CD BOXSET TRACKLIST

DISC ONE
Original album tracklist

DISC TWO
Waterfront – Remastered 2013
Hunter And The Hunted Live (recorded at Newcastle City Hall, 20th November 1982)
Waterfront – Extended Version
Speed Your Love To Me – 2002 Digital Remaster
Bass Line
Speed Your Love To Me – Extended Mix
Up On The Catwalk – 2002 Digital Remaster
A Brass Band In African Chimes
Up On The Catwalk – Extended Version
A Brass Band In African Chimes – Extended Version
Waterfront – Single Edit

DISC THREE
Shake Off The Ghosts – Live At Barrowlands, Glasgow 1984
Waterfront – Live At Barrowlands, Glasgow 1984
Up On The Catwalk – Live At Barrowlands, Glasgow 1984
Book Of Brilliant Things – Live At Barrowlands, Glasgow 1984
Glittering Prize – Live At Barrowlands, Glasgow 1984
The American – Live At Barrowlands, Glasgow 1984
King Is White And In The Crowd – Live At Barrowlands, Glasgow 1984
Speed Your Love To Me – Live At Barrowlands, Glasgow 1984
Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) – Live At Barrowlands, Glasgow 1984

DISC FOUR
Promised You A Miracle – Live At Barrowlands, Glasgow 1984
Big Sleep – Live At Barrowlands, Glasgow 1984
Medley: New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) / Take Me To The River / Light My Fire – Live At Barrowlands, Glasgow 1984
Medley: Love Song / Glory – Live At Barrowlands, Glasgow 1984
Waterfront – Radio One Session, London 1983
The Kick Inside Of Me – Radio One Session, London 1983
New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) – Radio One Session, London 1983

Live Dates 2025

Last week Simple Minds announced a run of UK and Ireland shows for Summer 2025:

June
Saturday 28th: Lincoln, Lincoln Castle
Sunday 29th: Southampton, Southampton Summer Sessions
July
Tuesday 1st: Dublin, Trinity Summer Series
Thursday 3rd: Bedford, Bedford Summer Sessions
Sunday 6th: Lytham St Annes, Lytham Festival
Monday 7th: Halifax, Live At The Piece Hall
Tuesday 8th: Derby, Derby Summer Sessions

To pre-order the 40th anniversary of Sparkle In The Rain click here

Read our Jim Kerr 40 years of Simple Minds’ Sparkle In The Rain interview here