Sparkle in the Rain is the sixth studio album by Simple Minds, released on 6 February 1984. A breakthrough commercial success for the band, the record peaked at number one in the UK Albums Chart on 18 February 1984, and reached the top 20 in numerous other countries around the world, including. First, New Gold Dream, then Sparkle In the Rain, and last we have Once Upon A Time. These three albums are SM at their prime. I've already posted Once Upon A Time, and now you have New Gold Dream. All that's left is Sparkle in the Rain. But, we'll save that one for later. Simple Minds - New Gold.

Arturia Analog Lab Serial. In less than four years, produced and progressed like few other bands. They released six albums, including a pair of nervy post-punk classics in and, as well as the lavish 'new pop' triumph. Their audience expanded, and dates opening for the likes of and placed them in stadiums. The band's sound naturally became less subtle. For, they sought producer, whose approach helped shape their performances into a forceful, direct set of commercial rock designed to shake nosebleed seats. Despite frontman 's vaguest gesturing and most voluble bellowing to that point, the move worked. The pounding 'Waterfront,' hurtling 'Speed Your Love to Me,' and gleaming 'Up on the Catwalk,' the album's singles, all reached the Top 30 in the U.K., and by the end of the year, the band was headlining North American hockey arenas and amphitheaters.

Apart from the brawling 'The Kick Inside of Me,' which contains one of 's least tethered turns, none of the album cuts matches the urgency heard in the singles. Relatively restrained moments, such as the absurdly titled 'C' Moon Cry Like a Baby' ('Could this be something we don't understand,' indeed), resemble stiff stabs at re-creating tense drama akin to the tail end of. As successful as it was, merely poised for their biggest year, 1985, when they followed up with '(Don't You) Forget About Me' and 'Alive and Kicking,' singles that hit the Top Ten in the U.K.