Waterfront (song)

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For other uses, see Waterfront (disambiguation).

"Waterfront"
Waterfront sm.jpeg
Single by Simple Minds
from the album Sparkle in the Rain
Released
  • 1983 (1983) (US)
  • 14 November 1983 (UK)
RecordedSeptember 1983[1]
Genre
Length4:40
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Steve Lillywhite
Simple Minds singles chronology
"I Travel (2nd reissue)"
(1983) 		"Waterfront"
(1983) 		"Speed Your Love to Me"
(1984)

"Waterfront" is a 1983 single from Simple Minds, the first release from the album Sparkle in the Rain. It features a bass line consisting of a single note (D) throughout. The version as released on 7" vinyl single differs from versions available on CD. The original single did not feature the repetitive bass-line that leads into the main body of the song, but had a "one, two....one, two, three, four.." drumstick count-in by drummer Mel Gaynor.

Featuring a new, rockier sound, "Waterfront" scaled the charts in various countries around the world, including topping the New Zealand Singles Chart for two weeks during February 1984. It also reached number 13 on the UK Singles Charts, number 16 in Sweden, number 19 in Australia, and number five in Ireland. Today, it is a live favorite and is regarded as one of the band's signature songs.[citation needed]

Track listing[]

7" single

  1. "Waterfront" (Single Version) – 4:40
  2. "Hunter & The Hunted" (Recorded Live at the City Hall, Newcastle, 20.11.82.) – 6:00

12" single

  • VS636 (12)
  1. "Waterfront" (Extended Version) – 5:50
  2. "Hunter & The Hunted" (Recorded Live at the City Hall, Newcastle, 20.11.82.) – 6:00

Personnel[]

  • Produced By Steve Lillywhite
  • Engineered By Howard Gray
  • Words & Music By Simple Minds
  • Additional Production & Remix on "Waterfront" (Extended Version) by Steve Lillywhite

Charts[]

Chart (1983–1984) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[2] 19
Ireland (IRMA)[3] 5
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[4] 1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[5] 16
UK Singles (OCC)[6] 13

In popular culture[]

An instrumental version of the track was used as the theme music for the 1989 Glasgow-set BBC One drama serial The Justice Game. It has been used for many years as the song Sheffield Wednesday football club come out to before home matches. The version originally played was a live version, but has since been changed to the studio recording.

The track was used by BBC Sport as the theme tune for their coverage of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

References[]

  1. ^ http://www.simpleminds.org/sm/songs/sessions.htm . Recorded just before the session on 11 September 1983.
  2. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  3. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Waterfront". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  4. ^ "Charts.nz – Simple Minds – Waterfront". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  5. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Simple Minds – Waterfront". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  6. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
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