NEW LP
New sealed copy. 2025 reissue on ruby red coloured vinyl.
Once Upon a Time found Simple Minds at the height of their 1980s momentum. Released in October 1985, the album built on the widescreen sound of Sparkle in the Rain while aiming squarely for the arenas the band now filled with ease. Producer Jimmy Iovine, fresh from work with Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Nicks, sharpened their sound into something harder and more immediate, pushing Jim Kerr toward a bolder vocal delivery.
Anchored by singles like “Alive and Kicking,” “Sanctify Yourself,” and “All the Things She Said,” the record fused spiritual and political imagery with the band’s signature mix of guitars and synthesizers. It was also their first without bassist Derek Forbes, whose departure subtly shifted their rhythmic foundation.
The album topped the UK chart and cracked the US Top 10, confirming Simple Minds’ arrival as global rock heavyweights. Critics were split — some praised its ambition, others heard excess — but Once Upon a Time remains a vivid snapshot of mid-80s optimism and the sound of a band fully commanding the world stage.
TRACKLIST:
A1 Once Upon A Time
A2 All The Things She Said
A3 Ghost Dancing
A4 Alive And Kicking
A5 Don't You (Forget About Me)
B1 Oh Jungleland
B2 I Wish You Were Here
B3 Sanctify Yourself
B4 Come A Long Way
