Once Upon a Time (Simple Minds album)
Encyclopedia
Once Upon a Time is the seventh studio album
by Simple Minds
, released in 1985.
Although already successful in their native UK and Europe, the band had also now become popular in the US, mainly due to the Keith Forsey
-penned "Don't You (Forget About Me)
" which appeared on The Breakfast Club
soundtrack and had become a no.1 hit there. However, the band deliberately left the track off the album due to their reluctance to record it. Four singles were taken from the album; "Alive and Kicking" (UK #7, US #3), "All the Things She Said" (UK #9, US #28), "Sanctify Yourself" (UK #10, US #14), and "Ghost Dancing" (UK #13). The album topped the UK charts, and peaked at no.10 on the US charts.
The album was available with two covers upon its original LP release. The alternate cover uses the back image for the front and vice versa. It also moves the Simple Minds logo to the right of the cover. The album cover was standardised for the original CD release and this version has since been used for the various reissues of the album. There was also a limited pic disc LP.
Virgin reissued the album as a remastered edition in 2002 (cardboard vinyl replica edition) and early 2003 (jewel-case).
Virgin reissued the album on SACD
in 2003.
The listener has a choice of playing the album from the following audio streams:
Although the sleeve describes the 2.0 stereo stream as being a 48 kHz 16-bit PCM (which would make the disc compatible with mandatory audio requirements for DVD-Video discs), the stream itself turns out to be a 96 kHz 24-bit PCM, thus making the disc unplayable on all the DVD-Video equipment that cannot play 96 kHz 24-bit DTS (some older players would only accept a 48 kHz format) or is not DVD-Audio compliant (for the 96 kHz 24-bit PCM streams). Some DVD-Video players will only play the 2.0 stereo stream, but with distorted sound, and at wrong speed (if taking the 96/24 stream to be 48/16).
The remixed version of the album was mixed and produced by Roland Prent in 96/24 PCM.
The tracks on the remixed album differ in length in comparison to the original version. In most cases they are longer than in the original mix.
The stereo mix on the new version is noticeably different from the original one, not just in terms of length. Different takes of particular tracks may have been used for their new mixes. The bass seems slightly more prominent, while the drums seem just the opposite. Regrettably, the new stereo mix, despite being presented in a 24-bit format, which technically gives greater dynamic range than the CD-Audio, appears less dynamic than the old mix issued on the 2002/2003 remastered CD. Aggressive level compression seems to have been applied
(especially to the drum tracks), greatly diminishing the pleasure of listening to the new mix. The above criticism is less apparent in the surround mix, where the overall loudness is distributed over more channels.
All the tracks on the remixed album contain material that has frequencies above the CD-Audio cut-off frequency, reaching beyond 30 kHz (a tribute to the original analogue multitrack tapes, and to the producers).
LP
DVD-Audio
Singles
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by Simple Minds
Simple Minds
Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band who achieved worldwide popularity from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The band produced a handful of critically acclaimed albums in the early 1980s and best known for their #1 US, Canada and Netherlands hit single "Don't You ", from the soundtrack of the...
, released in 1985.
Although already successful in their native UK and Europe, the band had also now become popular in the US, mainly due to the Keith Forsey
Keith Forsey
Keith Forsey is an English soundtrack composer, drummer, songwriter and record producer.-Biography:Forsey's first recordings were as the younger member of the group The Spectrum, better known for the end title theme for Gerry Anderson's Captain Scarlet, but hit makers across Europe in their own...
-penned "Don't You (Forget About Me)
Don't You (Forget About Me)
"Don't You " is a song known for its being in the soundtrack to the film The Breakfast Club and performed by the band Simple Minds in 1985. The songwriters were producer Keith Forsey "Don't You (Forget About Me)" is a song known for its being in the soundtrack to the film The Breakfast Club and...
" which appeared on The Breakfast Club
The Breakfast Club
The Breakfast Club is a 1985 American teen drama film written and directed by John Hughes. The storyline follows five teenagers as they spend a Saturday in detention together and come to realize that they are all deeper than their respective stereotypes.-Plot:The plot follows five students at...
soundtrack and had become a no.1 hit there. However, the band deliberately left the track off the album due to their reluctance to record it. Four singles were taken from the album; "Alive and Kicking" (UK #7, US #3), "All the Things She Said" (UK #9, US #28), "Sanctify Yourself" (UK #10, US #14), and "Ghost Dancing" (UK #13). The album topped the UK charts, and peaked at no.10 on the US charts.
The album was available with two covers upon its original LP release. The alternate cover uses the back image for the front and vice versa. It also moves the Simple Minds logo to the right of the cover. The album cover was standardised for the original CD release and this version has since been used for the various reissues of the album. There was also a limited pic disc LP.
Virgin reissued the album as a remastered edition in 2002 (cardboard vinyl replica edition) and early 2003 (jewel-case).
Virgin reissued the album on SACD
Super Audio CD
Super Audio CD is a high-resolution, read-only optical disc for audio storage. Sony and Philips Electronics jointly developed the technology, and publicized it in 1999. It is designated as the Scarlet Book standard. Sony and Philips previously collaborated to define the Compact Disc standard...
in 2003.
2005 DVD-Audio version
2005 saw yet another reissue of the album. This time Virgin released a DVD-Audio version (actually, the disc bears a DVD-Audio/Video logo), which is notable for being a completely remixed album. All the tracks were remixed in 5.1 surround sound, and additionally, a downmixed 2.0 stereo version was created for compatibility with non-surround DVD-Audio set-ups.The listener has a choice of playing the album from the following audio streams:
- DVD-A 5.1 surround - essentially, a discrete six-channel 24-bit linear PCM stream sampled at 96 kHz (this stream may not be compatible with DVD-Video equipment),
- DTS 5.1 surround - a 24-bit DTS stream sampled at 96 kHz (this stream may not be compatible with some DVD-Video equipment),
- PCM 2.0 stereo - a linear PCM stereo stream (presumably included for compliance with the DVD-Video format).
Although the sleeve describes the 2.0 stereo stream as being a 48 kHz 16-bit PCM (which would make the disc compatible with mandatory audio requirements for DVD-Video discs), the stream itself turns out to be a 96 kHz 24-bit PCM, thus making the disc unplayable on all the DVD-Video equipment that cannot play 96 kHz 24-bit DTS (some older players would only accept a 48 kHz format) or is not DVD-Audio compliant (for the 96 kHz 24-bit PCM streams). Some DVD-Video players will only play the 2.0 stereo stream, but with distorted sound, and at wrong speed (if taking the 96/24 stream to be 48/16).
The remixed version of the album was mixed and produced by Roland Prent in 96/24 PCM.
The tracks on the remixed album differ in length in comparison to the original version. In most cases they are longer than in the original mix.
The stereo mix on the new version is noticeably different from the original one, not just in terms of length. Different takes of particular tracks may have been used for their new mixes. The bass seems slightly more prominent, while the drums seem just the opposite. Regrettably, the new stereo mix, despite being presented in a 24-bit format, which technically gives greater dynamic range than the CD-Audio, appears less dynamic than the old mix issued on the 2002/2003 remastered CD. Aggressive level compression seems to have been applied
Loudness war
The loudness war or loudness race is a pejorative term for the apparent competition to digitally master and release recordings with increasing loudness.The phenomenon was first reported with respect to mastering practices for 7" singles...
(especially to the drum tracks), greatly diminishing the pleasure of listening to the new mix. The above criticism is less apparent in the surround mix, where the overall loudness is distributed over more channels.
All the tracks on the remixed album contain material that has frequencies above the CD-Audio cut-off frequency, reaching beyond 30 kHz (a tribute to the original analogue multitrack tapes, and to the producers).
Track listing
All tracks written by Simple Minds.LP
- "Once Upon a Time" – 5:44
- "All the Things She Said" – 4:16
- "Ghost Dancing" – 4:46
- "Alive and Kicking"Alive and Kicking (song)"Alive and Kicking" is a song by the rock band Simple Minds, released as first single from the band's 1985 album, Once Upon a Time.Following on from the success of previous non-album single, "Don't You ", "Alive and Kicking" was released as a single, reaching #3 on the U.S...
– 5:25 - "Oh Jungleland" – 5:12
- "I Wish You Were Here" – 4:42
- "Sanctify Yourself" – 4:57
- "Come a Long Way" – 5:09
DVD-Audio
- "Once Upon a Time" – 6:19
- "All the Things She Said" – 4:22
- "Ghost Dancing" – 4:45
- "Alive and Kicking" – 5:14
- "Oh Jungleland" – 5:24
- "I Wish You Were Here" – 4:45
- "Sanctify Yourself" – 5:00
- "Come a Long Way" – 5:23
Personnel
- Jim KerrJim KerrJames "Jim" Kerr is a Scottish musician and singer-songwriter, best known for his work with the band Simple Minds who achieved five UK #1 albums and a #1 single "Ballad of the Streets EP". He released his first solo album, Lostboy! AKA Jim Kerr, on the 27 May 2010.- Simple Minds :Kerr attended...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Charlie BurchillCharlie BurchillCharles "Charlie" Burchill is a Scottish musician and composer. He was one of the founders of Scottish rock group Simple Minds. He plays guitar, keyboard, saxophone, drums and violin.-Style:...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Michael MacNeil – pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones... - Mel GaynorMel GaynorMel George Gaynor is a British musician. He is best known as the long time drummer for the rock band, Simple Minds...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, vocals - John GiblinJohn GiblinJohn Giblin is an internationally renowned session bassist who has worked with the following artists:*Eric Clapton, Sting, Mark Knopfler, Phil Collins * Peter Gabriel...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
Additional personnel
- Carlos AlomarCarlos AlomarCarlos Alomar is an American guitarist, composer and arranger best known for his work with David Bowie, having played on more Bowie albums than any other musician...
– backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... - Michael Been of The CallThe Call (band)The Call was an American rock band from Santa Cruz, California active from 1980 to 2000.-Biography:The Call formed in Santa Cruz in 1980 by vocalist/guitarist Michael Been, Scott Musick, and Tom Ferrier. Been and Musick were originally from Oklahoma...
– backing vocals - Robin ClarkRobin ClarkRobin Clark is an American vocalist best known for her 1985 work with UK band Simple Minds in Once Upon A Time album and tour. She has also performed vocals on numerous other tours and albums, including work with David Bowie and Luther Vandross amongst others...
– vocals - Sue Hadjopoulos – percussion
- Frank SimmsFrank SimmsFrank Simms is an American singer and voice-over artist known for providing the voices behind such iconic characters as the Kool-Aid Man, the Honeycomb Craver, the bug-eyed, fuzzy mascot of Honeycomb cereal, and the Geico ringtone. He is one of the founding members and songwriters of The Simms...
and George Simms of The Simms Brothers BandThe Simms Brothers Band-Early years:The Simms Brothers Band is a rock/jazz/R&B group formed in early 1974 in southwestern Connecticut. The group began as a trio; Frank and George Simms, and Dave Spinner, composed their harmonies set to an acoustic guitar and played local coffee houses...
– backing vocals
Singles
- "Alive and KickingAlive and Kicking (song)"Alive and Kicking" is a song by the rock band Simple Minds, released as first single from the band's 1985 album, Once Upon a Time.Following on from the success of previous non-album single, "Don't You ", "Alive and Kicking" was released as a single, reaching #3 on the U.S...
" (20 September 1985 / VS817) - #7 in the UK / #3 in the USA - "Sanctify Yourself" (27 January 1986 / VS830) - #10 in the UK / #14 in the USA
- "All the Things She Said" (19 May 1986 / VS860) - #9 in the UK / #28 in the USA
- "Ghost Dancing" (10 November 1986 / VS907) - #13 in the UK
Charts
Album| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | The Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... 200 |
10 |
| UK Charts | 1 |
Singles
| Year | Song | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | "Alive and Kicking" | Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 2 |
| 1986 | "All the Things She Said" | Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 9 |
| "Sanctify Yourself" | Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 3 |
Certifications
| Organization | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| RIAA – USA | Gold | January 31, 1986 |
| BPI – United Kingdom | 4 x Platinum | 1986 |
Art and promotions
- The alternative cover art for the UK LP was created by simply swapping the artwork on the front and back of the album.
- A collectable picture disc LP was also produced. Housed in a luxury gatefold die-cut sleeve, the record featured the mottled gold effect of the sleeve. A unique lyrics sheet was also packaged in the gatefold.
- A magnetic jigsaw puzzleJigsaw puzzleA jigsaw puzzle is a tiling puzzle that requires the assembly of numerous small, often oddly shaped, interlocking and tessellating pieces.Each piece usually has a small part of a picture on it; when complete, a jigsaw puzzle produces a complete picture...
was produced by Virgin RecordsVirgin RecordsVirgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
to promote the album. This is one of the most sought after Simple Minds collectables.