It’s been a while since I did a post for MMM and I’m thinking about the anniversary of Real To Real Cacophony this week. It’s the 44th anniversary is this incredibly uniquely original gem of an album from Simple Minds. The only regret I have now when it comes to getting my SM tattoos is the fact that the one I have on my left wrist of the catalogue numbers of my favourite albums actually didn’t start with R2RC as it SHOULD have done. Instead it starts with Empires and Dance. R2RC was more of a slow burn because, initially, it was EAD that truly grabbed me. But my love for Real To Real grew much stronger over the years. I almost immediately regretted not having it tattooed on my wrist back in 2017. It would have made a nice partner to the Arista ‘SPART’ catalogued EAD. The list really should have started at SPART 1109, instead of SPART 1140.
Alas, it doesn’t. Should I add it?
We’re also only a few days away from Derek’s autobiography coming out and I’d like to share a tiny wee taster. He confirms my long held love for Veldt. For a loooong time I have been ‘Team Veldt’ as I think it encapsulates all that this album represents. A group of young men trying to hone their craft and find their musical voice, but having a heck of a lot of fun doing it!
‘Simple Minds were having a great time musically at this time and we felt that we were a crack unit of friends. Jim and I put what you might mildly call whacky vocals on the track “Veldt”! I recorded the bass and the piano part as well. Imagine the faces of the oligarchs at Arista when they heard this fantastic toe tapper! I thought that the track “Factory” was a standout on the album and “Changeling”, “Scar”, and “Film Theme” were genius. “Premonition” became a truly loved live performance track.’
Well, of course Derek would be ‘Team Veldt!’ Why wouldn’t he be? I wonder if that is why he called one of his chihuahuas Monkey? Lol
Anyway…I wanted to highlight some stuff in celebration for the anniversary of Real To Real Cacophony so here is Veldt (Go Team Veldt!) and their performance on Folllies with fantastic versions of Calling Your Name and Factory – Jim aff his wee titties…let alone the rest of them.
Happy Anniversary Real To Real Cacophony.
Team Veldt, team Veldt, team Veldt!!
P.S. A Very Simple Mind: On Tour by Derek Forbes hits the shops on Thursday. If you haven’t pre-ordered then get your butt to the nearest book store on Thursday!
You can watch the Folllies clip by clicking HERE (the person who uploaded the clip to YouTube prevented playback on other sites so it requires you going directly to YT for playback, so I decided to add the link this way).
Growing up I thought Veldt was as a real weirdo track which sounded like some of the shit Pink Floyd would call music.
I quite like it now 😂
Your artwork is tremendous here btw. Would make a great single sleeve cover. Love the inclusion of the saxophone.
Thanks, Scobes. That’s a real old one, that one. Early days. Bricking myself at the thought of meeting Derek next week. I might wear a mask. 🤣🤣🤣
Haha 😂 I might make the Saturday signing but looking unlikely just now.
I’ll be at the Waterstones one next Thursday. Feel like I need to take a human shield with me. 😬😜👍🏻