Street Fighting Years

Street Fighting Years
Studio album by Simple Minds
Released	May 8, 1989
Recorded	March, 1988–March, 1989
Genre	Alternative, Progressive rock
Length	61:13
Label	A&M Records
Producer	Trevor Horn, Steve Lipson
Professional reviews
Allmusic link Rolling Stone link Q NME
Simple Minds chronology
Live in the City of Light (1987) Street Fighting Years (1989) Themes - Volume 1: March 79 - April 82 (1990)

Street Fighting Years is the eighth studio album by Simple Minds, released in 1989. It was a major stylistic departure from the previous album, 1985's Once Upon A Time, and contained the band's most overtly political lyrics. The album contained contributions from Lou Reed, former Police drummer Stewart Copeland and Trevor Horn of Yes and formerly The Buggles. It reached Number 1 in the UK album chart on the success of the chart-topping single "Belfast Child", which had been released in January 1989, but received sharply divided reviews and quickly left the higher reaches of the charts, again due to demanding political content and what was perceived by many younger critics and listeners as 'pomp production'. It received a rare five-star review in Q Magazine. In the United States, the album performed poorly and produced no hit singles.

Track listing

1. "Street Fighting Years" (Simple Minds) – 6:26
2. "Soul Crying Out" (Simple Minds) – 6:07
3. "Wall of Love" (Simple Minds) – 5:20
4. "This Is Your Land" (Simple Minds) – 6:22
5. "Take a Step Back" (Simple Minds) – 4:22
6. "Kick It In" (Simple Minds) – 6:11
7. "Let It All Come Down" (John Giblin/Simple Minds) – 4:56
8. "Mandela Day" (Simple Minds) – 5:45
9. "Belfast Child" (Simple Minds/Traditional) – 6:42
10. "Biko" (Peter Gabriel) – 7:34
11. "When Spirits Rise" (Simple Minds) – 2:03

Personnel

• Jim Kerr – Vocals
• Charlie Burchill – Acoustic & Electric Guitar
• Michael MacNeil – Piano, Accordion, Keyboards
• John Giblin – Bass
• Mel Gaynor – Drums

Additional Musicians

• Lou Reed – Vocals on "This Is Your Land"
• Lisa Germano – Violin
• Lorna Bannon – Backing Vocals
• Manu Katché – Drums
• Maureen Kerr – Penny Whistle, Bodhran
• Steve Lipson – Bass, Producer
• Abdou Mboup – Percussion
• Sheena McKenzie – Cello
• Stewart Copeland - drums
• Roger Sharp – Bagpipes

Studio Personnel

• John Altman – Orchestral Arrangements
• Dougie Cowan – Technical Master
• Robin Hancock – Engineer
• Guido Harari – Photography
• Simon Heyworth – Mastering
• Trevor Horn – Producer
• Paul Kerr – Logistics
• Stephen Lewis – Talking
• William Lithgow – Cello
• Bob Ludwig – Mastering
• Heff Moraes – Engineer
• Martin Plant – Assistant Engineer
• Steve Ralbovsky – Talking
• Willie P. Richardson – Talking
• Danton Supple – Assistant Engineer
• Sydney Thiam – Percussion
• Jane Ventom – Coordination
• Gary Wathen – Talking
• Leroy Williams – Percussion
• Ying Ho Au Yeung - Catering

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Singles - Billboard (North America)