Street Fighting Years
Encyclopedia
Street Fighting Years is the eighth studio album
by Simple Minds
, released in 1989
.
Produced by Trevor Horn
and Stephen Lipson
, the album was a major stylistic departure from the previous album, 1985's Once Upon A Time
, While still maintaining the epic arena-rock sense of scale and drama which the band had developed since the mid-1980s, Street Fighting Years also moved away from the American soul and gospel influences of its predecessor in favour of soundtrack atmospherics and a new incorporation of acoustic and Celtic/folk music-related ingredients including double bass, slide guitar and accordion. The lyrics built on the more political themes which the band had introduced with 'Ghostdancing', moving away from the impressionistic or spiritual concerns of earlier 1980s Simple Minds songs and covering topics including the Poll Tax, the Soweto
townships, the Berlin Wall
and the stationing of nuclear submarines on the Scottish coast.
The lack of equality and unity within the band's ranks soon became evident. Drummer Mel Gaynor was sidelined during the album sessions (apparently after disagreements with Trevor Horn) and was eventually demoted to session player status, with much of the drumming in the studio being performed by Manu Katché
(from Peter Gabriel
's band) and Stewart Copeland
(ex-Police). Bass player John Giblin - who'd joined the band in 1985 for Once Upon A Time and played on the subsequent tours and the Live in the City of Light album - left the band during or immediately after the sessions, despite having made significant contributions to the album (including writing the ballad "Let It All Come Down"). The circumstances surrounding Giblin’s departure are undisclosed (although the band's previous bass player Derek Forbes has hinted that ultimately Giblin simply “didn’t fit in” with the band). Some of the bass guitar parts on the album were played by producer Stephen Lipson
.
Released in 1989, the album rose to #1 in the UK charts on the back of the success of the chart-topping single "Belfast Child
", which had been released earlier in the year, and it was also a big international success. It received sharply divided reviews (glowing praise in some quarters, including a rare five-star review from Q
magazine, but less positive reviews in publications including Rolling Stone which criticised the band for what the reviewer considered to be political vacuity). "This Is Your Land" was chosen as the lead single for the U.S., but even with guest vocals from the band's idol Lou Reed
, the single failed to make a mark on the pop charts. The album performed relatively poorly in the United States and produced no hit singles, possibly due to its shift in musical inspirations and lyrical content.
For the supporting tour, the band would re-hire Mel Gaynor as drummer and recruit Malcolm Foster (Pretenders) as the new bass guitarist. MacNeil remained with the band during the tour, but quit abruptly at the end of it. His departure from the band was initially intended simply as a much-needed break, but his departure was taken badly by Kerr and Burchill and became a full formal departure.
Singles - Billboard (North America)
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 1989
1989 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1989.-Events:*January 14 – Paul McCartney releases Снова в СССР exclusively in the USSR...
.
Produced by Trevor Horn
Trevor Horn
Trevor Charles Horn CBE is an English pop music record producer, songwriter, musician and singer. He was born in Houghton-le-Spring in north-east England....
and Stephen Lipson
Stephen Lipson
Stephen J. Lipson is a musician and producer who has worked with numerous artists, including Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Cher, Grace Jones, Paul McCartney, Pet Shop Boys, Take That, Simple Minds, Lindisfarne, and Annie Lennox....
, the album was a major stylistic departure from the previous album, 1985's Once Upon A Time
Once Upon a Time (Simple Minds album)
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 " which appeared on The Breakfast Club soundtrack and had become...
, While still maintaining the epic arena-rock sense of scale and drama which the band had developed since the mid-1980s, Street Fighting Years also moved away from the American soul and gospel influences of its predecessor in favour of soundtrack atmospherics and a new incorporation of acoustic and Celtic/folk music-related ingredients including double bass, slide guitar and accordion. The lyrics built on the more political themes which the band had introduced with 'Ghostdancing', moving away from the impressionistic or spiritual concerns of earlier 1980s Simple Minds songs and covering topics including the Poll Tax, the Soweto
Soweto
Soweto is a lower-class-populated urban area of the city of Johannesburg in Gauteng, South Africa, bordering the city's mining belt in the south. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for South Western Townships...
townships, the Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin...
and the stationing of nuclear submarines on the Scottish coast.
History
Street Fighting Years was recorded during yet another period of personnel change for Simple Minds, and was notably the last of the band's albums to feature keyboard player/composer/founder member Mick MacNeil. MacNeil has subsequently mentioned that “Jim (Kerr) had already started talking about making changes” and the credits for the album suggested that Simple Minds had officially become a trio of the only three remaining founder members - Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill and Mick MacNeil. (All previous albums had credited the band as a full quintet.)The lack of equality and unity within the band's ranks soon became evident. Drummer Mel Gaynor was sidelined during the album sessions (apparently after disagreements with Trevor Horn) and was eventually demoted to session player status, with much of the drumming in the studio being performed by Manu Katché
Manu Katché
Manu Katché is a French musician of Ivorian origin, born in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés on 27 October 1958. He is a drummer and songwriter.-Career:Session musician...
(from Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
's band) and Stewart Copeland
Stewart Copeland
Stewart Armstrong Copeland is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the band The Police. During the group's extended hiatus from the mid-1980s to 2007, he played in other bands and composed soundtracks...
(ex-Police). Bass player John Giblin - who'd joined the band in 1985 for Once Upon A Time and played on the subsequent tours and the Live in the City of Light album - left the band during or immediately after the sessions, despite having made significant contributions to the album (including writing the ballad "Let It All Come Down"). The circumstances surrounding Giblin’s departure are undisclosed (although the band's previous bass player Derek Forbes has hinted that ultimately Giblin simply “didn’t fit in” with the band). Some of the bass guitar parts on the album were played by producer Stephen Lipson
Stephen Lipson
Stephen J. Lipson is a musician and producer who has worked with numerous artists, including Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Cher, Grace Jones, Paul McCartney, Pet Shop Boys, Take That, Simple Minds, Lindisfarne, and Annie Lennox....
.
Released in 1989, the album rose to #1 in the UK charts on the back of the success of the chart-topping single "Belfast Child
Belfast Child
"Belfast Child" is a 1989 Number 1 UK Charts hit single by Simple Minds from their album Street Fighting Years. The single is also known as the "Ballad of the Streets" EP, highlighting both "Belfast Child" and "Mandela Day" ....
", which had been released earlier in the year, and it was also a big international success. It received sharply divided reviews (glowing praise in some quarters, including a rare five-star review from Q
Q (magazine)
Q is a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom.Founders Mark Ellen and David Hepworth were dismayed by the music press of the time, which they felt was ignoring a generation of older music buyers who were buying CDs — then still a new technology...
magazine, but less positive reviews in publications including Rolling Stone which criticised the band for what the reviewer considered to be political vacuity). "This Is Your Land" was chosen as the lead single for the U.S., but even with guest vocals from the band's idol Lou Reed
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
, the single failed to make a mark on the pop charts. The album performed relatively poorly in the United States and produced no hit singles, possibly due to its shift in musical inspirations and lyrical content.
For the supporting tour, the band would re-hire Mel Gaynor as drummer and recruit Malcolm Foster (Pretenders) as the new bass guitarist. MacNeil remained with the band during the tour, but quit abruptly at the end of it. His departure from the band was initially intended simply as a much-needed break, but his departure was taken badly by Kerr and Burchill and became a full formal departure.
Track listing
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...
– vocals - 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:...
– acoustic & electric guitars - Michael MacNeil – piano, accordion, keyboards
Additional musicians
- 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...
– bass guitars, double bass - Steve Lipson – bass guitar, producer
- Mel GaynorMel GaynorMel George Gaynor is a British musician. He is best known as the long time drummer for the rock band, Simple Minds...
– drums - Manu KatchéManu KatchéManu Katché is a French musician of Ivorian origin, born in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés on 27 October 1958. He is a drummer and songwriter.-Career:Session musician...
– drums - Stewart CopelandStewart CopelandStewart Armstrong Copeland is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the band The Police. During the group's extended hiatus from the mid-1980s to 2007, he played in other bands and composed soundtracks...
- drums (uncredited) - Lou ReedLou ReedLewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
– vocals on "This Is Your Land" - Lisa GermanoLisa GermanoLisa Germano is an American singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has released seven albums featuring her often-hushed vocal style, confessional lyrics, and distinctive violin. Her 1994 album Geek the Girl received widespread critical acclaim, including being featured as a top album of...
– violin - Lorna Bannon – backing vocals
- Maureen Kerr – penny whistle, bodhran
- Sidney Thiam, Abdul M'boup, Leroy Williams – percussion
- William Lithgow, Sheena McKenzie – cellos
- Roger Sharp – bagpipes
- John Altman – orchestral arrangements
Studio personnel
- Dougie Cowan – technical master
- Robin Hancock – engineer
- Guido Harari – photography
- Simon Heyworth – mastering
- Trevor Horn – producer
- Paul Kerr – logistics
- Stephen Lewis – talking
- Bob LudwigBob LudwigBob Ludwig is an American mastering engineer.He is a well known and respected figure within the music industry. His name is credited on the covers of albums released across the world, and he has won numerous awards....
– mastering - Heff Moraes – engineer
- Martin Plant – assistant engineer
- Steve Ralbovsky – talking
- Willie P. Richardson – talking
- Danton Supple – assistant engineer
- Jane Ventom – coordination
- Gary Wathen – talking
- Ying Ho Au Yeung - catering
Charts
Album| Chart (1989) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Albums Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
11 |
| Austrian Albums Chart | 3 |
| Canadian RPM RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... 100 Albums |
24 |
| Dutch Album Charts | 1 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Albums Chart | 4 |
| Norwegian VG Albums Chart VG-lista VG-listen is a Norwegian record chart. It is weekly presented in the newspaper VG and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation program Topp 20. It is considered the primary Norwegian record chart, charting albums and singles from countries and continent around the world. The data is collected by... |
4 |
| Swedish Albums Chart Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association .... |
4 |
| Swiss Albums Chart Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75... |
1 |
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
1 |
| US Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
70 |
Singles - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | "Mandela Day" | Modern Rock Tracks | 17 |
| "Take a Step Back" | Modern Rock Tracks | 14 | |
| "This Is Your Land" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 37 | |
| Modern Rock Tracks | 12 |