Once Upon a Time

by Simple Minds

Once Upon a Time cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: 21 October 1985
  • Label: Virgin
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Length: 4:31:40
  • Community rating: 3.93/5 from 6 ratings

Artists on this release: Michael Been, Carlos Alomar, The Simms Brothers

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Capitalizing on the massive crossover success of 'Don't You (Forget About Me)', Simple Minds leaned entirely into heavily produced, stadium-ready big music and pop-rock. The album features incredibly dense layers of synthesizers, driving drum machines, and Jim Kerr's remarkably passionate, uplifting vocal performances. 'Once Upon a Time' is a soaring, deeply romantic, and definitively anthemic 80s blockbuster.

Genres

Descriptors: melodic, atmospheric, synth, arena rock, glossy

Tracklist

  1. Once Upon A Time (5:45)
  2. All The Things She Said (4:15)
  3. Ghost Dancing (4:45)
  4. Alive And Kicking (5:26)
  5. Oh Jungleland (5:13)
  6. I Wish You Were Here (4:42)
  7. Sanctify Yourself (4:57)
  8. Come A Long Way (5:08)
  9. Don't You (Forget About Me) (4:23)
  10. A Brass Band In African Chimes (5:11)
  11. Don't You (Forget About Me) - 12" Version (6:36)
  12. A Brass Band In African Chimes - Extended Version (9:23)
  13. Alive And Kicking (4:49)
  14. Alive And Kicking - Instrumental (6:11)
  15. Up On The Catwalk - Live From Barrowlands Ballroom, Glasgow / 1985 (5:54)
  16. Alive And Kicking - 7" Remix / Edit (4:48)
  17. Alive And Kicking - 12" Remix (6:22)
  18. Alive And Kicking - Kevorkian 12" Remix (6:38)
  19. Sanctify Yourself - Edit (3:54)
  20. Sanctify Yourself - Instrumental (3:59)
  21. Sanctify Yourself - Alternative Edit (4:00)
  22. Street Hassle - Live From The Ahoy, Rotterdam / 1985 (7:29)
  23. Love Song - Live From The Ahoy, Rotterdam / 1985 (5:43)
  24. Sanctify Yourself - Extended Mix (7:13)
  25. Sanctify Yourself - Dub Version (6:14)
  26. All The Things She Said (4:00)
  27. Promised You A Miracle - US Remix (6:04)
  28. All The Things She Said - Extended Version (5:12)
  29. Don't You (Forget About Me) - Live From The Ahoy, Rotterdam / 1985 (9:05)
  30. Ghost Dancing - 12'' Mix (7:20)
  31. Ghost Dancing - Instrumental (4:52)
  32. Oh Jungleland - 12'' Version (7:23)
  33. Oh Jungleland - Instrumental (6:05)
  34. Ghost Dancing - Live (7:22)
  35. Big Sleep - Live (4:27)
  36. Waterfront - Live (5:21)
  37. Promised You A Miracle - Live (4:38)
  38. Someone Somewhere (In Summertime) - Live (5:59)
  39. Oh Jungleland - Live (6:35)
  40. Alive And Kicking - Live (6:25)
  41. Don't You (Forget About Me) - Live (6:37)
  42. Once Upon A Time - Live (6:06)
  43. Book Of Brilliant Things - Live (4:53)
  44. East At Easter - Live (4:20)
  45. Sanctify Yourself - Live (7:06)
  46. Love Song / Sun City / Dance To The Music - Live (7:02)
  47. New Gold Dream - Live (5:29)

Credits

  • Simple Minds - primary artist, written-by
  • Mick Haggerty - artwork [art]
  • Carlos Alomar - backing vocals
  • Michael Been - backing vocals
  • The Simms Brothers - backing vocals
  • Mark McKenna - engineer
  • Moira Marquis - engineer
  • Martin White - engineer [assisted by]
  • Bob Ludwig - lacquer cut by, mastered by
  • Robin Clark - lead vocals [additional]
  • Anton Corbijn - photography by
  • Bob Clearmountain - producer
  • Jimmy Iovine - producer

More from Simple Minds: full discography