Once Upon a Time (Simple Minds album)

Once Upon a Time
Studio album by Simple Minds
Released	21 October 1985
Recorded	May–September 1985
Studio	The Town House, London
Genre	Arena rock [1]
Length	40:12
Label	Virgin A&M (US)
Producer	Jimmy Iovine Bob Clearmountain
Simple Minds chronology
Sparkle in the Rain (1984) Once Upon a Time (1985) Live in the City of Light (1987)
Simple Minds studio albums chronology
Sparkle in the Rain (1984) Once Upon a Time (1985) Street Fighting Years (1989)

Side A

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Once Upon a Time"	5:45
2.	"All the Things She Said"	4:15
3.	"Ghost Dancing"	4:45
4.	"Alive and Kicking"	5:26

Side B

No.	Title	Length
5.	"Oh Jungleland"	5:14
6.	"I Wish You Were Here"	4:42
7.	"Sanctify Yourself"	4:57
8.	"Come a Long Way"	5:07

Deluxe Edition Disc 1: The Original Album

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Once Upon a Time"	5:45
2.	"All the Things She Said"	4:15
3.	"Ghost Dancing"	4:45
4.	"Alive and Kicking"	5:26
5.	"Oh Jungleland"	5:14
6.	"I Wish You Were Here"	4:42
7.	"Sanctify Yourself"	4:57
8.	"Come a Long Way"	5:07

Deluxe Edition Disc 2: B-Sides and Rarities

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Don't You (Forget About Me)"	Keith Forsey, Steve Schiff	4:23
2.	"A Brass Band in Africa"	Charlie Burchill, Derek Forbes, Jim Kerr, Mel Gaynor, Michael MacNeil	5:11
3.	"Don't You (Forget About Me)" (Extended)	Keith Forsey, Steve Schiff	6:36
4.	"A Brass Band in African Chimes"	Charlie Burchill, Derek Forbes, Jim Kerr, Mel Gaynor, Michael MacNeil	9:23
5.	"Alive and Kicking" (Edit)		4:49
6.	"Alive and Kicking" (Instrumental)		6:11
7.	"Up on the Catwalk" (Live)	Charlie Burchill, Derek Forbes, Jim Kerr, Mel Gaynor, Michael MacNeil	5:54
8.	"Alive and Kicking" (7" Remix, previously unreleased)		4:48
9.	"Alive and Kicking" (12" Remix, previously unreleased)		6:22
10.	"Alive and Kicking" (Kevorkian 12" Remix, previously unreleased)		6:38
11.	"Sanctify Yourself" (Edit)		3:54
12.	"Sanctify Yourself" (Instrumental)		3:59
13.	"Sanctify Yourself" (Alternative Edit, previously unreleased)		4:00

Deluxe Edition Disc 3: B-Sides and Rarities

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Street Hassle" (Live)	Lou Reed	7:29
2.	"Love Song" (Live)	Brian McGee, Charlie Burchill, Derek Forbes, Jim Kerr, Michael MacNeil	5:43
3.	"Sanctify Yourself" (Extended)		7:13
4.	"Sanctify Yourself" (Dub)		6:14
5.	"All the Things She Said" (Edit)		4:00
6.	"Promised You a Miracle" (US Remix)	Charlie Burchill, Derek Forbes, Jim Kerr, Michael MacNeil	6:04
7.	"All the Things She Said" (Extended)		5:12
8.	"Don't You (Forget About Me)" (Live)	Keith Forsey, Steve Schiff	9:05
9.	"Ghost Dancing" (Special Extended 12" Remix)		7:20
10.	"Ghost Dancing" (Instrumental)		4:52
11.	"Oh Jungleland" (Special Extended 12" Remix)		7:23
12.	"Oh Jungleland" (Instrumental)		6:05

Deluxe Edition Disc 4: Live in the City of Light (Live from Le Zenith, Paris ‘86)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Ghost Dancing"		7:22
2.	"Big Sleep"	Charlie Burchill, Derek Forbes, Jim Kerr, Michael MacNeil	4:27
3.	"Waterfront"	Charlie Burchill, Derek Forbes, Jim Kerr, Mel Gaynor, Michael MacNeil	5:21
4.	"Promised You a Miracle"	Charlie Burchill, Derek Forbes, Jim Kerr, Michael MacNeil	4:38
5.	"Someone Somewhere in Summertime"	Charlie Burchill, Derek Forbes, Jim Kerr, Michael MacNeil	5:59
6.	"Oh Jungleland"		6:35
7.	"Alive and Kicking"		6:25

Deluxe Edition Disc 5: Live in the City of Light (Live from Le Zenith, Paris ‘86)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Don't You (Forget About Me)"	Keith Forsey, Steve Schiff	6:37
2.	"Once Upon a Time"		6:06
3.	"Book of Brilliant Things"	Charlie Burchill, Derek Forbes, Jim Kerr, Mel Gaynor, Michael MacNeil	4:53
4.	"East at Easter"	Charlie Burchill, Derek Forbes, Jim Kerr, Mel Gaynor, Michael MacNeil	4:20
5.	"Sanctify Yourself"		7:06
6.	"Love Song / Sun City / Dance to the Music"	Brian McGee, Charlie Burchill, Derek Forbes, Jim Kerr, Michael MacNeil, Steve Van Zandt, Sylvester Stewart	7:02
7.	"New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84)"	Charlie Burchill, Derek Forbes, Jim Kerr, Michael MacNeil	5:29

Deluxe Edition Disc 6 (DVD): 5.1 Mix and Promo Videos

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Once Upon a Time" (5.1 Mix)		6:20
2.	"All the Things She Said" (5.1 Mix)		4:23
3.	"Ghost Dancing" (5.1 Mix)		4:47
4.	"Alive and Kicking" (5.1 Mix)		5:14
5.	"Oh Jungleland" (5.1 Mix)		5:26
6.	"I Wish You Were Here" (5.1 Mix)		4:48
7.	"Sanctify Yourself" (5.1 Mix)		5:01
8.	"Come a Long Away" (5.1 Mix)		5:24
9.	"Don't You (Forget About Me)" (Promo Video)	Keith Forsey, Steve Schiff	4:20
10.	"Alive and Kicking" (Promo Video)		5:26
11.	"Sanctify Yourself" (Promo Video)		4:00
12.	"All the Things She Said" (Promo Video)		4:16
13.	"Ghost Dancing" (Promo Video)		4:50

Note

• The Deluxe edition of Once Upon a Time consists of Disc 1 (The Original Album) and Disc 2 (B-Sides and Rarities).
• The Super Deluxe edition consists of all six discs.

Personnel

Adapted from the album's liner notes: ^[16]

Simple Minds

• Jim Kerr – lead vocals and backing vocals
• Charlie Burchill – electric guitars
• Michael MacNeil – synthesizers, sampler and electric piano
• John Giblin – bass
• Mel Gaynor – drums and backing vocals

Additional personnel

• Robin Clark – additional lead vocals and backing vocals
• Michael Been – backing vocals
• The Simms Brothers – backing vocals
• Carlos Alomar – backing vocals
• Sue Hadjopoulos – timbals on "All the Things She Said"

Technical

• Jimmy Iovine – producer
• Bob Clearmountain – producer
• Moira Marquis – engineer
• Mark McKenna – engineer
• Martin White – assistant engineer
• Bob Ludwig – mastering
• Mick Haggerty – artwork
• Anton Corbijn – photography

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1985–2015) Peak position Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) [17] 7 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [18] 199 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [19] 113 Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [20] 3 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [21] 1 European Albums ( Eurotipsheet ) [22] 4 Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts) [23] 22 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [24] 5 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [25] 3 Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [26] 6 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [27] 4 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [28] 7 UK Albums (OCC) [29] 1 US Billboard 200 [30] 10

Year-end charts Chart (1985) Position Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [31] 26 UK Albums (OCC) 36 Chart (1986) Position Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [32] 31 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [33] 17 European Albums (Music & Media) [34] 8 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [35] 54 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [36] 33 UK Albums (OCC) 21 US Billboard 200 [37] 24

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1985	"Alive and Kicking"	UK Singles Chart	7
		US Billboard Hot 100	3
		US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks	2
1986	"Sanctify Yourself"	UK Singles Chart	10
		US Billboard Hot 100	14
		US Mainstream Rock Tracks	3
	"All the Things She Said"	UK Singles Chart	9
		US Billboard Hot 100	28
		US Mainstream Rock Tracks	9
	"Ghost Dancing"	UK Singles Chart	13

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Belgium (BRMA) [38]	Platinum	75,000 [38]
Canada (Music Canada) [39]	2× Platinum	200,000^
France (SNEP) [40]	Gold	100,000*
Germany (BVMI) [41]	2× Gold	500,000
Greece (IFPI Greece) [42]	Gold	50,000^
Netherlands (NVPI) [43]	Platinum	100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) [44]	Platinum	15,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway) [45]	Platinum	50,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [46]	Gold	50,000^
Sweden (GLF) [47]	Gold	50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [48]	3× Platinum	900,000^
United States (RIAA) [49]	Gold	500,000^
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Breihan, Tom (2 October 2020). "The Number Ones: Simple Minds' "Don't You (Forget About Me)". Stereogum . Retrieved 31 July 2023. ...Simple Minds recorded the 1985 album Once Upon A Time and went for grand, expansive arena-rock.
2. Wilson, MacKenzie. "Once Upon a Time – Simple Minds". AllMusic . Retrieved 22 November 2016.
3. Timeline Dream Giver Redux
4. Sanctify Yourself Dream Giver Redux
5. Lester, Paul (27 November 2015). "Simple Minds: Once Upon A Time". Classic Rock . Retrieved 27 March 2022.
6. Male, Andrew (January 2016). "Simple Minds: Once Upon a Time". Mojo . No. 266. p. 104.
7. Price, Simon (December 2015). "Simple Minds: The Vinyl Collection 79–84 / Once Upon a Time". Q . No. 353. p. 118.
8. Elliott, Mark (January 2016). "Once Upon A Time | Simple Minds". Record Collector . No. 449. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
9. O'Toole, Lesley (26 October 1985). "Simple Minds: Once Upon a Time". Record Mirror . p. 14.
10. Coleman, Mark (1992). "Simple Minds". In DeCurtis, Anthony; Henke, James; George-Warren, Holly (eds.). The Rolling Stone Album Guide (3rd ed.). Random House. pp. 638–639. ISBN   0-679-73729-4.
11. Cranna, Ian (23 October – 5 November 1985). "Simple Minds: Once Upon a Time". Smash Hits . Vol. 7, no. 21. p. 31B.
12. Thomson, Graeme (January 2016). "Simple Minds: Once Upon a Time – Deluxe". Uncut . No. 224. p. 92.
13. Christgau, Robert (1 April 1986). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice . Retrieved 11 February 2018.
14. Armond White (January 1986). "Spins". Spin . No. 9. p. 28.
15. ASCAP database search.
16. "Studio Albums: Once Upon a Time". Simple Minds official website. 21 October 1985. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
17. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 . St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
18. "Ultratop.be – Simple Minds – Once Upon a Time" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
19. "Ultratop.be – Simple Minds – Once Upon a Time" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
20. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0610". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
21. "Dutchcharts.nl – Simple Minds – Once Upon a Time" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
22. "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Eurotipsheet . Vol. 2, no. 50. 16 December 1985. p. 15. OCLC   29800226. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2022– via World Radio History.
23. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN   978-951-1-21053-5.
24. "Offiziellecharts.de – Simple Minds – Once Upon a Time" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
25. "Charts.nz – Simple Minds – Once Upon a Time". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
26. "Norwegiancharts.com – Simple Minds – Once Upon a Time". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
27. "Swedishcharts.com – Simple Minds – Once Upon a Time". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
28. "Swisscharts.com – Simple Minds – Once Upon a Time". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
29. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
30. "Simple Minds Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
31. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0618". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
32. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 8824". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
33. "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts . Retrieved 5 February 2022.
34. "European Hot 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 3, no. 51/52. 27 December 1986. p. 35. OCLC   29800226. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2022– via World Radio History.
35. "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts . Retrieved 5 February 2022.
36. "Top Selling Albums of 1986 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand . Retrieved 5 February 2022.
37. "Top US Billboard 200 Albums - Year-end 1986". BestSellingAlbums.org. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
38. "European Gold & Platinum Awards 1986" (PDF). Music & Media. 27 December 1986. p. 33. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
39. "Canadian album certifications – Simple Minds – Once Upon a Time". Music Canada . Retrieved 26 May 2019.
40. "Les Certifications depuis 1973: Albums". Infodisc.fr. Retrieved 26 May 2019. (select "Simple Minds" from drop-down list)
41. "Gold-/Platin-Datebank (Simple Minds; 'Once Upon A Time')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
42. "Gold & Platinum Awards 1987" (PDF). Music & Media. 26 December 1987. p. 44. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
43. "Dutch album certifications – Simple Minds – Once Upon a Time" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers . Retrieved 26 May 2019.Enter Once Upon a Time in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1986 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
44. "New Zealand album certifications – Simple Minds – Once Upon a Time". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved 20 November 2024.
45. "Norwegian Once Upon A time platinum disc, presented to Schoolhouse Management". 30 July 2023.
46. Sólo Éxitos 1959–2002 Año A Año: Certificados 1979–1990 (in Spanish). Iberautor Promociones Culturales. 2005. ISBN   8480486392.
47. "Swedish Once Upon A Time Gold disc presented to Schoolhouse Management". 31 July 2023.
48. "British album certifications – Simple Minds – Once Upon a Time". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 26 May 2019.
49. "American album certifications – Simple Minds – Once Upon a Time". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved 26 May 2019.

External links

• Once Upon a Time at Discogs (list of releases)