New Gold Dream (1982)

New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84) is the fifth studio album by the Scottish band Simple Minds. The album was released in September 1982 by record label Virgin. It is considered one of the defining albums of the new pop movement of the early 1980s. It spawned the commercially successful singles "Promised You a Miracle" released in April 1982, "Glittering Prize" released in August 1982, and “Someone Somewhere in Summertime" released in November 1982. The album's title track, "New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)", saw a limited release in Italy in March 1983 following the band's Italian leg of their supporting tour.

The release of New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84) was considered a turning point for the band, whose previous studio albums did not gain significant commercial success. Lead singer Jim Kerr said that "every band or artist with a history has an album that's their Holy Grail, I suppose New Gold Dream was ours", and that the recording of the album was "a special time because we were really beginning to break through with that record, both commercially and critically. The people that liked that record connected with it in a special way".

The album has been praised as some of the band's finest work, and was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Background and recording

New Gold Dream originated in Simple Minds' unexpected popular and commercial success during an Australian tour with Icehouse following the release of Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings Call. The band was prompted by this experience to write "Promised You a Miracle" upon their return to Europe. In a 2012 interview, singer Jim Kerr recalled the production of the album as a wonderful time during the late spring and early summer of 1982 in which "everything we tried worked", adding: "There were no arguments. We were in love with what we were doing, playing it, listening to it. You don't get many periods in your life when it all goes your way."

The album was recorded over a five-month period at Rockfield Studios, The Townhouse and Oxford Manor, with preproduction at The Old Mill in Fife. During a short tour rehearsal in January 1982, the band wrote what would become the songs "King Is White and in the Crowd", "Hunter and the Hunted" and "Promised You a Miracle", a song that proved pivotal to the musical direction of the album. It was unveiled in a Kid Jensen session for Radio 1 and released as a single in April 1982. Producer Peter Walsh was hired on the recommendation of guitarist Charlie Burchill, who had been impressed by Walsh's work on the remix of the band's previous single "Sweat in Bullet".

This was the band's first album without their original line-up, following the departure of drummer Brian McGee. New drummer Kenny Hyslop was with the band for the initial sessions, when "Promised You a Miracle" was recorded, but was replaced by Mike Ogletree. However, partway through the sessions, Walsh became dissatisfied with Ogletree's drumming, so he recruited session drummer Mel Gaynor to complete the album. Ogletree returned for the subsequent tour, during which he was fired and Gaynor joined as the band's official drummer.

Jazz keyboardist Herbie Hancock guested on the album and plays a synthesizer solo on the song "Hunter and the Hunted".

Release and performance

Released in September 1982, the album entered the UK Albums Chart at number six and reached its peak position of number three the following week. It would spend a total of 53 weeks on the UK charts. In the United States, A&M issued some limited-edition translucent gold with maroon-coloured marble vinyl pressings of the album.

The album spawned a total of three singles which all reached the top forty of the UK Singles Charts – "Promised You a Miracle" (released in April 1982) became the band's first top 20 hit, reaching no.13 on the UK Singles Chart during an 11 week chart run. "Glittering Prize" (August 1982) was almost equally successful, peaking at no.16 and "Someone Somewhere in Summertime" (November 1982) reached no.36. The title track saw a limited release in Italy when the band visited in March 1983. Virgin Records reissued the album as a remastered edition in 2002 (cardboard vinyl replica edition) and early 2003 (jewel case). On the 2002/2003 edition, the gaps between the tracks on the album are slightly shorter. Virgin also reissued the album on SACD in 2003.