[UPDATE] The upcoming Simple Minds classic, Sparkle In the Rain, is being remastered, and will be reissued as a 2CD Deluxe Edition, DD, 180g vinyl LP, BD-Audio, and a fan-pleasing 4CD/1DVD Super Deluxe Edition all planned for March 31. If you pre-order the 4-disc DD set, you will be rewarded with an instant download of “Waterfront”. The Blu-ray Pure Audio set will contain 5.1 Surround, hi-res Stereo, and Dolby-Digital 5.1 Surround. Track-listings are below the original article.
The SPARKLE IN THE RAIN digital box set consists of four discs. Disc one is a re-master of the original album – re-mastered at Abbey Road Studios by Andrew Walters and overseen by Charlie Burchill. Disc two features rare B-sides, some making their CD debut for the first time. These include: a live version of NGD’s ‘Hunter And The Hunted’, which shows the band’s evolving sound; acclaimed 12” remixes of ‘Waterfront’ (Steve Lillywhite looped the drums to create an extended intro, as well as stripped instrumentation to create a huge, expansive track), ‘Speed Your Love To Me’, ‘Up On The Catwalk’ and ‘A Brass Band In Africa’, and ‘Bass Line’ – the original instrumental that became ‘White Hot Day’. Disc three features a previously unreleased concert recorded at Barrowland in the band’s hometown of Glasgow, on 28th February 1984. The concert continues on disc four, with the rest of the disc completed by a three-track BBC Radio 1 session from September 1983.
Well, there CAN be great news on a somber (and for here, a cold and wet) December. With a tip-off, I have just learned that Simple Minds will reissue one of their greatest efforts in a king-sized Deluxe Edition that will make the fan quite pleased, if not extremely anxious for March, 2015.
On March 16, Virgin Records will release Sparkle In the Rain in a Box that will include a wealthy sort of bonus tracks including B-sides, extended mixes, BBC sessions, promo videos of tracks from the album, Tops Of The Pops appearances, and a previously unreleased concert show from the period. In addition to this dang great idea will be a booklet that includes new notes, a track-by-track annotation, and a bonus replica concert program.
The music from this superb album was remastered at Abbey Studios in 2014, so the songs will be as fresh and vibrant as they can be for the time being (until better tech comes along, of course).
For release purposes, there will be the 2CD Deluxe Edition, a 180g vinyl LP issue, and, for the super fan, a massive 4CD/1DVD Super Deluxe Edition Box. The DVD will be the carrier for the album’s DTS 5.1 Surround Sound tracks, Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound tracks, and hi-quality Stereo mixes by Steven Wilson, as well as the delivery engine for the promo videos, etc.
Below are your track-listings for the Super Deluxe Edition: You can subtract the 3rd and 4th CD for the 2CD Deluxe Edition.
C’mon, March!
CD1:
SPARKLE IN THE RAIN REMASTER
Up On The Catwalk
Book Of Brilliant Things
Speed Your Love To Me
Waterfront
East At Easter
Street Hassle
White Hot Day
“C” Moon Cry Like A Baby
The Kick Inside Of Me
Shake Off The Ghosts
CD2:
Waterfront – edit
Hunter And The Hunted Live (recorded at Newcastle City Hall, 20th November 1982)
Waterfront- Extended mix
Speed Your Love To Me – edit
Bass Line
Speed Your Love To Me – extended mix
Up On The Catwalk – edit
A Brass Band in Africa
Up On The Catwalk – extended mix
A Brass Band in Africa Chimes
Waterfront – single version
CD3:
Live at Glasgow Barrowland, 28th February 1984
Shake Off The Ghosts [Intro]
Waterfront
Up On The Catwalk
The Book Of Brilliant Things
Glittering Prize
The American
King Is White And In The Crowd
Speed Your Love To Me
Someone Somewhere In Summertime
CD4:
Live at Glasgow Barrowland, 28th February 1984 continued…
Promised You A Miracle
Big Sleep
New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) – Take Me To The River [Live] – Light My Fire [Live]
Love Song – Glory [Live]
BBC Radio 1 session – 11th September 1983
Waterfront
Kick Inside
New Gold Dream__________
SPARKLE IN THE RAIN – 2CD DELUXE
CD1: SPARKLE IN THE RAIN REMASTER
Up On The Catwalk
Book Of Brilliant Things
Speed Your Love To Me
Waterfront
East At Easter
Street Hassle
White Hot Day
“C” Moon Cry Like A Baby
The Kick Inside Of Me
Shake Off The Ghosts
CD2:
Waterfront – edit
Hunter And The Hunted Live (recorded at Newcastle City Hall, 20th November 1982)
Waterfront- Extended mix
Speed Your Love To Me – edit
Bass Line
Speed Your Love To Me – extended mix
Up On The Catwalk – edit
A Brass Band in Africa
Up On The Catwalk – extended mix
A Brass Band in Africa Chimes
Waterfront – single version
__________
SPARKLE IN THE RAIN – LP:
SIDE ONE:
Up On The Catwalk
Book Of Brilliant Things
Speed Your Love To Me
Waterfront
East At Easter
SIDE TWO:
Street Hassle
White Hot Day
“C” Moon Cry Like A Baby
The Kick Inside Of Me
Shake Off The Ghosts
