Acoustic (Simple Minds album)

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]

Acoustic
Studio album by
Simple Minds
Released11 November 2016
RecordedJune 2016
Studio
GenreAcoustic
LabelCaroline International
Producer
Simple Minds chronology
Live – Big Music Tour 2015
(2015)		 Acoustic
(2016)		 Acoustic In Concert
(2017)
Simple Minds studio albums chronology
Big Music
(2014)		 Acoustic
(2016)		 Walk Between Worlds
(2018)
Singles from Acoustic
  1. "Promised You a Miracle"
    Released: 28 September 2016

Background

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.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The American"Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Mick MacNeil, Derek Forbes, Brian McGee4:30
2."Promised You a Miracle" (featuring KT Tunstall)Kerr, Burchill, MacNeil, Forbes4:35
3."Glittering Prize"Kerr, Burchill, MacNeil, Forbes4:07
4."See the Lights"Kerr, Burchill4:58
5."New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)"Kerr, Burchill, MacNeil, Forbes4:58
6."Someone Somewhere in Summertime"Kerr, Burchill, MacNeil, Forbes4:40
7."Waterfront"Kerr, Burchill, MacNeil, Forbes5:16
8."Sanctify Yourself"Kerr, Burchill, MacNeil4:59
9."Chelsea Girl"Kerr, Burchill4:28
10."Alive and Kicking"Kerr, Burchill, MacNeil5:53
11."Don't You (Forget About Me)"Keith Forsey, Steve Schiff5:16
12."Long Black Train"Richard Hawley4:34

Double LP bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
13."Stand by Love"Kerr, Burchill4:11
14."Speed Your Love to Me"Kerr, Burchill, MacNeil, Forbes4:03
15."Light Travels"Kerr, Burchill, Jez Coad, Sean Kelly4:40

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
  • Ged Grimes – bass, backing vocals
  • Gordy Goudie – guitar, harmonica, additional arrangements
  • Sarah Brown – backing vocals
  • Cherisse Osei – percussion
Additional personnel
  • 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

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[24] Silver 60,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Notes
  1. During the Chris Evans Breakfast Show on 26 September 2014, a minimalist (new) line-up of Simple Minds (reduced to Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill and Mark Kerr) performed acoustically four songs: "Don't You (Forget About Me)", "Alive and Kicking", "Honest Town" and "Riders on the Storm".
  2. During the RTL Show on 22 November 2014, Simple Minds (reduced to Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill and Mark Kerr) performed acoustically five songs: "Honest Town" (3:50), "Let the Day Begin" (video not available), "Mandela Day" (4:01), "Don't You (Forget About Me)" (4:03) and "Alive and Kicking" (5:33), four of which made available on RTL's website.

References
  1. "Acoustic – 2016". simpleminds.com. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  2. Simple Minds Acoustic by Simple Minds, retrieved 27 November 2016
  3. "Dream Giver Redux – news 2014". Dream Giver Redux (www.simpleminds.org). 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  4. "VIDÉOS - Simple Minds : découvrez 4 titres en live acoustique au Grand Studio RTL" (in French). RTL. 21 November 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  5. "Simple Minds Acoustic Released 11th Nov". Simple Minds Ltd. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  6. Jones, Alan. "Official Charts Analysis: Olly Murs fifth album debuts at No.1". Music Week. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  7. Monger, Timothy. "Acoustic - Simple Minds | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  8. Gill, Andy (9 November 2016). "Album reviews: Emeli Sandé, Sting, Alicia Keys, Simple Minds". The Independent. Archived from the original on 9 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  9. Quantick, David (24 October 2016). "Simple Minds - Acoustic album review". Classic Rock. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  10. "Ultratop.be – Simple Minds – Acoustic" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  11. "Ultratop.be – Simple Minds – Acoustic" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  12. "Dutchcharts.nl – Simple Minds – Acoustic" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  13. "Lescharts.com – Simple Minds – Acoustic". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  14. "Offiziellecharts.de – Simple Minds – Acoustic" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  15. "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 46, 2016". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  16. "Album – Classifica settimanale WK 46 (dal 2016-11-11 al 2016-11-17)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  17. "Portuguesecharts.com – Simple Minds – Acoustic". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  18. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  19. "TOP 100 ALBUMES — SEMANA 46: del 11.11.2016 al 17.11.2016" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  20. "Swisscharts.com – Simple Minds – Acoustic". Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  21. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  22. "Jaaroverzichten 2016". Ultratop. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  23. "Rapports Annuels 2016". Ultratop. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  24. "British album certifications – Simple Minds – Acoustic". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
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