One prize Simple Minds will never win is for being the most consistent band in the world. Some of their albums have been strong (New Gold Dream, Sparkle in the Rain, and Once Upon a Time, to name a few), while others have been weak and disappointing. Real Life sort of falls in between; some of the songs are decent (including the catchy "Stand By Love" and the haunting "Woman"), but the majority of them aren't very memorable. Devoted Simple Minds fans will want this; more casual listeners would be better off sticking to the band's mid-'80s work. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
Alfred Bos (Guitar), Simon Fowler (Design), Steve Lipson (Producer), Ted Jensen (Mastering), Heff Moraes (Engineer), Simon Fowler (Photography), Jim Kerr (Vocals), Will Malone (Orchestral Arrangements), Sonia Morgan-Jones (Vocals (Background)), Andy Duncan (Percussion), Gary Thomas (Engineer), Gavyn Wright (String Conductor), Peter-John Vettese (Keyboards), Simon Fowler (Art Direction), Lisa Germano (Violin), Tony Donald (Equipment Technician), Mel Gaynor (Drums), Will Malone (Orchestration), Au Yeung, Ying Ho (?), Tony Donald (Equipment Coordinator), Giles Cowley (Mixing), Simple Minds (Arranger), Steve Lipson (Keyboards), Steve Lipson (Bass), Jane Ventom (A&R), Sonia Jones Morgan (Vocals (Background)), Heff Moraes (MIDI Manager), Stylorouge (Design), Charlie Burchill (Guitar), Malcolm Foster (Bass), Carol Kenyon (Vocals (Background)), Paul Kerr (Logistics), Steve Lipson (Odaiko), Stylorouge (Art Direction), Simon Fowler (Stylist), Heff Moraes (MIDI Engineer), Charlie Burchill (Keyboards), Dougie Cowan (Technical Master), Efren Herrera (Engineer), Gavyn Wright (String Section Leader), Giles Cowley (Mixing Assistant), Simon Heyworth (Mastering)
Real Life is the ninth studio album by Simple Minds, released in April 1991 (see 1991 in music) [1]. The album reached #2 in the UK, but failed to chart in the USA, despite hitting the Top 40 with "See the Lights," which was also their only #1 single on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart.
"Let There Be Love" (Burchill/Kerr) – 4:57 (1991 edition), 5:09 (2002/2003 reissue)
"Woman" (Burchill/Kerr/Lipson) – 4:40
"Stand By Love" (Burchill/Kerr) – 4:04
"Let the Children Speak" (Burchill/Kerr) – 4:16
"African Skies" (Burchill/Kerr) – 4:52
"Ghostrider" (Burchill/Kerr) – 3:22
"Banging on the Door" (Burchill/Kerr) – 5:39
"Travelling Man" (Burchill/Kerr/Lipson) – 3:34
"Rivers of Ice" (MacLachlan/Simple Minds) – 3:30
"When Two Worlds Collide" (Burchill/Kerr) – 4:01
Singles
The following tracks from the album were released in the UK as singles:
"Let There Be Love"
"See the Lights"
"Stand by Love"
"Real Life"
2002/2003 remastered edition
Virgin Records reissued the CD as part of the Simple Minds remasters in late 2002 (mini-LP replica; Virgin SIMCDX10) and early 2003 (standard jewel-case; SIMCD10). On the remastered version, a couple of differences are apparent when compared to the first edition (Virgin CDV 2660). The 2002/2003 remaster features an extended mix of "Let There Be Love", not the one used on the first edition of the album, although it is not mentioned on the cover or in the booklet. The segues between tracks have also been re-edited, so that the running time of individual tracks may differ slightly between the editions. Also, the CD version of the first edition had "Banging on the Door" split into two track in the disc's table of contents (running time was 1:16 + 4:22), but the music as such did not indicate any break between the parts. On the 2002/2003 reissue, the track is indexed as one.
This was the first album recorded without Mick MacNeil, founder member of the band, who left after the previous tour.
The core band on this album might be considered to comprise only Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, and Mel Gaynor, as only the three appear on the cover. The remaining personnel are hired-hands.
"Let The Children Speak" is based on the 1981 Simple Minds instrumental "Theme for Great Cities" from Sister Feelings Call. Interestingly, a re-recorded version of that piece, called "Theme for Great Cities '91" appeared as a B-side of the "See The Lights" single.
"Travelling Man" bears some resemblance to the 1983 song "Waterfront" from Sparkle in The Rain
"When Two Worlds Collide" is based on the title track as is the 1995 song "And The Band Played On" which appeared on the following album Good News from the Next World.
"Women And Ghosts" [included on the US edition of 1995 single "Hypnotised"] is an reworked instrumental version of the title track.
