Promised You A Miracle
Encyclopedia
"Promised You A Miracle" is a 1982 song by Simple Minds
and was released as the first single
from their fifth studio album
New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84). It is most notable for being the band's first successful chart hit in the UK, reaching #13 in the UK Singles Chart
and charting for 11 weeks. Their previous 9 UK singles yielded no Top 40 hits in that country.
It was the only song on the album that included Kenny Hyslop
as the studio session drummer. Mike Ogletree
and Mel Gaynor
contributed for the other eight tracks.
The song triggered a prolonged period of commercial success for the band, during which they yielded 21 original UK hit singles in a row, up to and including 1998's "Glitterball" from the album Neapolis
. It also enabled them to make their debut on the British music television show Top of the Pops
.
and a "deft hook line and riff" courtesy of Charlie Burchill
's guitar play. It was considered by Jim Kerr
to be the first "pure pop" song written by the band, as their first attempt to craft a song specifically for radio listeners. The song is considered to be a bridging point between the atmospheric and "echo-laden" New Wave
sound of Sons and Fascination and the stadium pop-rock of the band's later years, due to the clean, crisp production of the band's new producer Peter Walsh, which Allmusic notes gives it a "brash pop edge".
' strongest songs. Dave Thompson of Allmusic noted its "funky bass line", "bright melody", and "splashy keyboard hook". Dave Simpson in The Guardian
referred to the song as a "showcase of early-80s optimism" with a "wistful edge". A feature in a 2002 edition of Uncut
by David Stubbs said: "What's so great about this track, and indeed 'Big Sleep', isn't just it's combination of stinging riff with delicate mosaic musical colouring, but it's subtle rhythmical patterns, which are a feature of the whole album". A later Uncut review described the song as a "teetering moment of pop promise they could never surpass".
1. "Promised You A Miracle" - 3:59
2. "Theme For Great Cities" - 5:50
1. "Promised You A Miracle" (Extended) - 4:49
2. "Themes For Great Cities" - 5:50
3. "Seeing Out The Angel" (Instrumental) - 6:32
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...
and was released as the first single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from their fifth studio album
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...
New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84). It is most notable for being the band's first successful chart hit in the UK, reaching #13 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and charting for 11 weeks. Their previous 9 UK singles yielded no Top 40 hits in that country.
It was the only song on the album that included Kenny Hyslop
Kenny hyslop
Kenny Hyslop is a Scottish drummer who played with different projects and bands who were varied in different styles, such as glam rock, 1970s teenybop, soft rock, punk, new wave, new romantic, blues and modern electronica.-Biography:Hyslop attended Hermitage School.He joined the band Salvation...
as the studio session drummer. Mike Ogletree
Mike Ogletree
Mike Ogletree is a Scottish drummer. A founding member of the late-seventies Scottish progressive rock band Café Jacques, he is best known for his work in Fiction Factory and Simple Minds, a New Wave band with heavy synth influences active during the 1980s....
and Mel Gaynor
Mel Gaynor
Mel George Gaynor is a British musician. He is best known as the long time drummer for the rock band, Simple Minds...
contributed for the other eight tracks.
The song triggered a prolonged period of commercial success for the band, during which they yielded 21 original UK hit singles in a row, up to and including 1998's "Glitterball" from the album Neapolis
Neapolis (Album)
Neapolis is Scottish rock band Simple Minds's eleventh studio album, released in 1998.Simple Minds decided to musically reinvent themselves yet again, this time reaching back to their Kraftwerk-inspired, early electronic pop days...
. It also enabled them to make their debut on the British music television show Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
.
Style
"Promised You A Miracle" is a dance track which is driven by a combination of "deep electronic beats" from the keyboards of Mick MacNeilMick MacNeil
Michael "Mick" MacNeil was the Scottish composer and keyboardist for the band Simple Minds, best remembered for their UK #7/US #1 hit single "Don't You ". Having joined in 1978 Johnny & The Self-Abusers to create Simple Minds, MacNeil left the band in 1990...
and a "deft hook line and riff" courtesy of Charlie Burchill
Charlie Burchill
Charles "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:...
's guitar play. It was considered by Jim Kerr
Jim Kerr
James "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...
to be the first "pure pop" song written by the band, as their first attempt to craft a song specifically for radio listeners. The song is considered to be a bridging point between the atmospheric and "echo-laden" New Wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
sound of Sons and Fascination and the stadium pop-rock of the band's later years, due to the clean, crisp production of the band's new producer Peter Walsh, which Allmusic notes gives it a "brash pop edge".
Critical reception
"Promised You A Miracle" has been praised by many critics as one of Simple MindsSimple 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...
' strongest songs. Dave Thompson of Allmusic noted its "funky bass line", "bright melody", and "splashy keyboard hook". Dave Simpson in The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
referred to the song as a "showcase of early-80s optimism" with a "wistful edge". A feature in a 2002 edition of Uncut
UNCUT (magazine)
Uncut magazine, trademarked as UNCUT, is a monthly publication based in London. It is available across the English-speaking world, and focuses on music, but also includes film and books sections...
by David Stubbs said: "What's so great about this track, and indeed 'Big Sleep', isn't just it's combination of stinging riff with delicate mosaic musical colouring, but it's subtle rhythmical patterns, which are a feature of the whole album". A later Uncut review described the song as a "teetering moment of pop promise they could never surpass".
7" single
- Virgin VS 448
1. "Promised You A Miracle" - 3:59
2. "Theme For Great Cities" - 5:50
12" single
- Virgin VS 488-12
1. "Promised You A Miracle" (Extended) - 4:49
2. "Themes For Great Cities" - 5:50
3. "Seeing Out The Angel" (Instrumental) - 6:32