On the 40th anniversary of Simple Minds’ first UK Number 1 charting album, Sparkle In The Rain, being released. I felt it was probably time I should reveal some details on ‘The Project’ I have been alluding to over recent weeks.
I have been quiet about it until now for fear I would put the mockers on it happening. It also came along during a very awkward period. One could argue that I am still going through this period and, if I am honest, this has probably come along at a time that will make doing this a bit challenging … but I keep thinking about what the truly wonderfully creative juggernaut that is David Bowie had said: that ‘if you feel safe in the area that you’re working in, you’re not working in the right area. Always go a little further into the water than you feel you’re capable of being in. Go a little bit out of your depth, and when you don’t feel that your feet are quite touching the bottom, you’re just about in the right place to do something exciting.’
So, here I am – plunging myself into the deep end. My feet aren’t touching the bottom.
I am writing a book about the songs of Simple Minds. In fact, the book is going to be titled ‘Simple Minds: Song by Song.’
It is very early days in the writing and I have A LOT of work ahead of me. And I will still be studying at the same time. So if I go quiet for long periods, I will just be deep in study and writing – for uni and for the book.
I hope I can still keep the blog going with fresh content in the interim but…it may suffer too. We shall see where this latest venture takes us! Hopefully to wonderful places!
Wish me a whole heap of luck.
Hi Larelle. This is fantastic news! You’ve done such a huge research about SM music. I’m finding a lot of interesting information, such as a post about the early years 1977-1978. I could only find two songs on youtube, one of them Cocteau twins (I liked it, actually, maybe more than No cure). But what I wanted to say about your project is that appart from information, you have the chance to share what these songs mean to you. You’ve been doing that on this blog, and I’m already looking forward to reading your book. I wonder if you’ll add designs to the songs.
I’ve read the interview you did to Bruce Findlay. And to Graeme Thompson. Since the music I still love from SM is the music until New Glod Dream (I like many songs until Street fighting years, but they don’t mean as much as the first albums to me, nowadays), it was very interesting to read those conversations. I also wacthed that video by Mick McNeil that you posted, where he talked about the time he saw Johnny and the self abusers (amazing that Pleasantly disturbed is from that period, they were so young!). Definitively they’re losing a lot by not including these memories in the documentary they did, particularly if the documentary was meant to tell the story of SM from their beginning.
I was planning to comment a bit on other albums, appart from Life in a day (I’ve already commented), but maybe I should be brief and tell that my favorite from each of them is: Scar (Real to real cacophony), Room (Empires and dance), Seeing out the angel (although in the past it might have been In trance as mission or Sweat in bullet), and Hunter and the hunted (it’s hard to decide between that one and New gold dream, which each time I listen to it, I need to dance). But I love most of the songs of each of these albums. And the album I like from start to finish is Real to real cacophony. Maybe I’m repeating myself from another comment, my apologies if that’s the case.
Best regards!
Hi Ximena,
Thank you. I really hope that I can do a good job with the book. I’m not sure how much I can really put my own stamp on it as such, as I feel it is more of an encyclopedic piece and it needs to have solid factual information as its base. But perhaps there will be some of me and my own fandom that will naturally filter through it. Only time will tell. I’ve never written a book before. It feels quite a monumental task!
I’m really glad you enjoyed my interviews with Bruce and Graeme. Amazingly, just two days ago (Feb 5th) it was Bruce’s 80th birthday! How wonderful is that?
I don’t think you have repeated yourself. The more I think about the tattoo I have on my wrist, the more I wish I had the catalogue number for Real To Real Cacophony there as well. I only have the catalogue numbers for Empires and Dance – Sons and Fascination – Sister Feelings Call – New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) tattooed on there.
Please, comment on the album posts. I really like hearing your thoughts and reading your comments.
I shall of course be expecting a personalised,signed copy.😜
Seriously, well bloody done and good luck with it.
( you won’t need luck though because it will be fucking great!😎)
As usual, you have much more faith in me than I do myself, Scobes. You will DEF. get a signed copy as this blog’s number one supporter over the years. Honestly, Scott – sometimes I don’t know where I’d have been without you – ya fanny!
Wow Larelle! Good for you! Wishing you every luck and I hope to read it soon!! X
Thanks so much, Jennifer. It won’t be published until next year, so I hope you can be a bit patient. Lol.
Good luck with the book .I’m very much looking forward to it . Keep your head up and don’t get too disparaged about how much you feel your slipping away from the band . You are very relevant as a fan and it doesn’t mean you have to go to every gig or be recognised by Jim to be that . Its the passion your holding for the music and the band that counts . I don’t read all your blogs and vlog, but when I do I find them very interesting. Love your art aswell, and thank you for the badges you sent me ,quite a while ago now !
Hi Duncan,
Thank you so much for your kind words. I really hope I can do a good job with the book and knock it out of the park. I might slip a bit of the art in there, maybe. I’ll have to be careful, making sure there are no copyright infringements and whatnot. I’m glad you love the badges. I love them too. It was really lovely of Samantha to make them for me and send them over from Canada. I felt obliged to share some of them with other fans and what better way than to have a giveaway of some of them. Spread the love.
Xx