Saturday 25 November 2017

Classic Albums Reviewed And Rated - Day 25

Throughout this month we are going to take a look at albums regarded as classics from the 80s and one or two from the late 70s and give you our comments, and our rating of each album.

Each day, during November, we will focus on one album.

To rate the albums we rate each track on the album as either 3 (Outstanding), 2 (Good), 1 (ok) and 0 (Hate it). Those points are totalled up and then divided by the maximum points the album could get (EG 10 tracks would equal 30 points, 10 x 3). Then times the figure by 100 and that gives you your percentage rating. This is a very good indicator of how you rate an album.


Today's album under the microscope, is "New Gold Dream 81,82,83,84)" by Simple Minds. I had already been a big fan of Simple Minds from when they released the twin albums "Sons And Fascinations" and "Sister Feelings Call" both of which I bought when they came out in September 1981. Two really impressive albums but they were eclipsed by the brilliant "New Gold Dream" album that was released a year later in 1982. I played this vinyl album to death, surprisingly though, I never really took to the first single released from the album "Promised You A Miracle", which was released in April 1982, however the second single was a perfect choice, "Glittering Prize" was released a month before the album and blew me away when I first heard it. "Promised You A miracle" reached number 13 in the UK Singles Chart, whilst "Glittering Prize" surprisingly only reached number 16.
The final single released off the album was "Someone, Somewhere In Summertime", which came out in November 1982, for me one of Simple Minds best tracks alongside "Glittering Prize", disappointingly it only reached number 36 in the UK Singles chart.

Our track recommendations for this album, are, "Someone Somewhere In Summertime", "Glittering Prize" and "New Gold Dream". No major dislikes on this album for me, however, "Promised You A Miracle" and "Hunter And The Hunted" scored 1 point each.

This is THE Simple Minds album to have in your collection, I listen to it quite a lot and consider it an essential 80s classic album.

Our overall rating for this album is 67/100

The album is available from Amazon here

No comments:

Post a Comment