Neon Lights (album)

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Neon Lights
Neonlightssimpleminds.jpg
Studio album by
Simple Minds
Released8 October 2001
Recorded
GenrePop rock
Length41:35
LabelEagle - EAGCD 194
Producer
  • Simple Minds
  • Gordy Goudie
  • Phunk Investigation with D. Tignino and E. Pat Legato
Simple Minds chronology
Our Secrets Are the Same
(1999/2004) 		Neon Lights
(2001) 		The Best of Simple Minds
(2001)
Simple Minds studio albums chronology
Our Secrets Are the Same
(1999/2004) 		Neon Lights
(2001) 		Cry
(2002)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic1.5/5 stars[1]
Q(unfavourable)[2]
Toronto Sun(favourable)[3]

Neon Lights is a covers studio album and twelfth studio album by Scottish rock band Simple Minds, released in October 2001.

Overview[]

Neon Lights is a collection of cover versions put together as a warm up for what would be the next album Cry (2002). As Jim Kerr stated at the time of the album release: «"Neon Lights is the first time Simple Minds have put together a collection of non-original material. We thought it was appropriate at a period of looking back that we go to the very foundations of Simple Minds, which of course is the music and the bands who influenced us."»[4]

Background[]

After the band's previous album, Our Secrets Are the Same, was leaked by a DJ in Spain, and Simple Minds were fired from EMI, they went into partial retirement. Frontman Jim Kerr moved to Italy to start a hotel. There a number of young Italian artists came to him for advice or input in recording. This finally coaxed the band out of retirement.[5]

They signed a limited contract with Eagle Records. To help the band gain momentum, it was decided that they should record an album of covers to boost awareness of Simple Minds again. Thus Neon Lights was conceived.[5]

Track listing[]

No.TitleWriter(s)Original artistLength
1."Gloria"Van MorrisonThem3:45
2."The Man Who Sold the World"David BowieDavid Bowie4:07
3."Homosapien"Pete ShelleyPete Shelley4:20
4."Dancing Barefoot"Patti Smith, Ivan KralPatti Smith Group3:48
5."Neon Lights"Ralf Hütter, Florian Schneider, Karl BartosKraftwerk4:16
6."Hello, I Love You"Jim Morrison, Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek, John DensmoreThe Doors3:32
7."Bring on the Dancing Horses"Will Sergeant, Ian McCulloch, Les Pattinson, Pete de FreitasEcho & the Bunnymen5:15
8."The Needle and the Damage Done"Neil YoungNeil Young4:15
9."For Your Pleasure"Bryan FerryRoxy Music4:08
10."All Tomorrow's Parties"Lou ReedThe Velvet Underground3:35
US release bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Original artistLength
11."Being Boiled"Philip Oakey, Martyn Ware, Ian Craig MarshThe Human League3:51
12."Love Will Tear Us Apart"Ian Curtis, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris, Bernard SumnerJoy Division4:48

Other releases[]

A promo version was also pressed which was titled Original Versions of Songs Covered on "Neon Lights", which comprised all the original versions of the songs covered, making this the only Simple Minds release to be devoid of Simple Minds music. However, Eagle Records encountered some problems with copyrights for a couple of songs, so fewer than 25 of these promos were pressed, making this extremely hard to find.[6]

Two singles were released from the album: the Dancing Barefoot EP,[7] and a number of remixes of "Homosapien".[8]

Personnel[]

  • Jim Kerr – vocals, producer (except "Gloria")
  • Charlie Burchill – guitar, keyboards, bass, programmed rhythms, arrangements, producer (except "Gloria")
  • Gordy Goudie – guitar, keyboards, bass, drums, vocals, programmed rhythms, arrangements, producer (except "Gloria")
  • Dee Miller – additional vocals
  • Kevin Burleigh – additional vocals, engineer, mixing
  • Phunk Investigation – producer on "Gloria"
  • Daniele Tignino – producer on "Gloria"
  • Emiliano Patrik Legato – producer on "Gloria"
  • Simon Heyworth – mastering
  • Fabrique – design
  • Martin Hunter – photography

References[]

  1. ^ Wilson, MacKenzie. "Simple Minds: Neon Lights > Review" at AllMusic. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  2. ^ Harris, John. "Neon Lights - Articles & Reviews". Q. Bauer Media Group. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  3. ^ Stevenson, Jane. "Neon Lights - Articles & Reviews". Toronto Sun. Sun Media. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  4. ^ "Rejuvenation 2001-2014 Five Album Vinyl Box Set (released 7/12/18) – Album 1 'Neon Lights'". Facebook. 16 November 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Cornwell, Simon. "Neon Lights: Information". Dream Giver Redux. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  6. ^ Cornwell, Simon. "Neon Lights: Overseas Promotional Issues". Dream Giver Redux. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  7. ^ Cornwell, Simon. "Dancing Barefoot EP: Information". Dream Giver Redux. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  8. ^ Cornwell, Simon. "Homosapien: Information". Dream Giver Redux. Retrieved 22 September 2013.

External links[]

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