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"Waterfront" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Simple Minds | ||||
from the album Sparkle in the Rain | ||||
B-side | "Hunter and the Hunted" (live) | |||
Released | 14 November 1983 [1] | |||
Recorded | September 1983 [2] | |||
Genre | Rock [3] | |||
Length | 4:43 | |||
Label | Virgin | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Steve Lillywhite | |||
Simple Minds singles chronology | ||||
|
"Waterfront" is a song by Scottish rock band Simple Minds, the first single–released in November 1983–taken from their (then-to-come) sixth studio album, Sparkle in the Rain (released in February 1984).
Prior to the release of "Waterfront" as the first single from Simple Minds' forthcoming album Sparkle in the Rain in November 1983, the song had been premiered at a live gig a few months earlier and in a radio session for Kid Jensen. [4]
"Waterfront" became a chart hit around the world, topping the New Zealand Singles Chart for two weeks during February 1984. It also reached number 13 on the UK Singles Charts, number 16 in Sweden, number 19 in Australia and number five in Ireland. Today, it is a live favourite.
It features a bass line consisting of a single note (D) throughout. The version as released on 7-inch vinyl single differs from versions available on CD. The original single did not feature the repetitive bass-line that leads into the main body of the song but had a "one, two....one, two, three, four.." drumstick count-in by drummer Mel Gaynor.
The song originated from the one-note bassline Derek Forbes came up with. The lyrics were written by Jim Kerr. Inspired by him walking along River Clyde in summer 1983 watching the decline of the shipyard industry in his native Glasgow, the lyrics express a feeling of hope and rebirth. [5]
The music video features a shot of a live performance of the song to an invited audience at Barrowland's Ballroom in Glasgow on 20 November 1983, with additional black and white footage of the band on Renfrew Ferry and aerial shots of River Clyde. [6]
An instrumental version of the track was used as the theme music for the 1989 Glasgow-set BBC One drama serial The Justice Game. It has been used for many years as the song Sheffield Wednesday football club come out to before home matches. The version originally played was a live version, but has since been changed to the studio recording.
The track was used by BBC Sport as the theme tune for their coverage of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The track is featured in the 2021 documentary Clerk , which is about Kevin Smith.
7-inch single [7]
12-inch single [8]
Chart (1983–1984) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report) [9] | 19 |
Ireland (IRMA) [10] | 5 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [1] | 1 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [11] | 16 |
UK Singles (OCC) [12] | 13 |
Sales (1983) | Units/sales |
---|---|
UK [13] | 100,436 |
Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band formed in Glasgow in 1977, becoming best known internationally for their song "Don't You " (1985), which topped the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. Other commercially successful singles include "Promised You a Miracle" (1982), "Glittering Prize" (1982), "Someone Somewhere in Summertime" (1982), "Waterfront" (1983), "Alive and Kicking" (1985), "Sanctify Yourself" (1986), "Let There Be Love" (1991), "She's a River" (1995), and the UK number one single "Belfast Child" (1989).
"Cigarettes & Alcohol" is a song by the English rock band Oasis, written by Noel Gallagher. It was released on 10 October 1994 by Creation Records as the fourth and final single from their debut album, Definitely Maybe (1994), and their second to enter the UK top ten in the United Kingdom, peaking at number seven, eventually spending 79 weeks on the charts. On 13 March 2020, nearly 26 years after its release, the song was certified Platinum, indicating 600,000 sales.
"From a Distance" is a song by American singer-songwriter Julie Gold, initially penned in 1985. Gold's friend Christine Lavin introduced the song to Nanci Griffith, who first recorded it for her 1987 album Lone Star State of Mind. A successful cover version by Bette Midler was released in 1990.
James Kerr is a Scottish musician and lead singer of the rock band Simple Minds. Commercially successful singles released by Simple Minds include "Don't You ", "Glittering Prize" (1982), "Someone Somewhere in Summertime" (1982), "Waterfront" (1983) and "Alive and Kicking" (1985), as well as the UK number one single "Belfast Child" (1989).
Live in the City of Light is the first live album by Scottish rock band Simple Minds. It was released in May 1987 to document their successful worldwide Once Upon a Time tour, and charted at No. 1 in the UK. The album spawned one chart single release, a live version of "Promised You a Miracle".
"A Million Love Songs" is a song by English boy band Take That that appeared on their debut studio album, Take That & Party (1992). The song was written by lead vocalist Gary Barlow. It was released in the United Kingdom on 28 September 1992 by Sony Music and peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart that October. It also reached number 50 in the Netherlands.
"The Flame" is a power ballad released in 1988 by the American rock band Cheap Trick as the first single from their tenth album, Lap of Luxury. It was written by songwriters Bob Mitchell and Nick Graham, and was produced by Richie Zito. "The Flame" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in July 1988; it also reached number one in Australia and Canada.
"Wishing I Was Lucky" is the debut single of Scottish band Wet Wet Wet, released as the lead single from their first album, Popped in Souled Out (1987). Recorded for £600 in Edinburgh, it was released in March 1987 and was their first hit, peaking at No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 10 in Ireland. The following year, the song reached the top 20 in Belgium and the Netherlands, while in the United States, "Wishing I Was Lucky" became the group's first of two songs to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 58.
"Sweet Surrender" is the first single from British band Wet Wet Wet's third studio album, Holding Back the River (1989). It was released on 18 September 1989 and reached number six on the UK Singles Chart. In Ireland, "Sweet Surrender" peaked at number one, becoming the group's second of three number-one singles there. In Australia, "Sweet Surrender" reached number seven on the ARIA Singles Chart in May 1990 and was certified gold.
"Dreams" is the debut single of Irish rock band the Cranberries. It was originally released in September 1992 by Island Records and later appeared on the band's debut album, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? (1993). The song reached the top 50 of the US Hot 100 and the top 30 of the UK Singles Chart in early 1994. A 1990 demo version was released in Ireland only in the summer of that year under their initial band name, the Cranberry Saw Us. At the end of the song, the backing vocals are sung by Mike Mahoney, ex-boyfriend of Cranberries lead singer Dolores O'Riordan.
"Dream of Me (Based on Love's Theme)" is a song by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released in July 1993 by Virgin Records as the second single from their ninth studio album, Liberator (1993). The song uses a sample from "Love's Theme", a 1973 instrumental piece recorded by Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra. It was remixed by Gregg Jackman for release as a single and reached the top 30 in Belgium, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
Sparkle in the Rain is the sixth studio album by Scottish rock band Simple Minds, released on 6 February 1984 by record label Virgin in the UK and A&M in the US.
"Everyday Now" is a song by Scottish band Texas. It was first recorded for the band's 1989 extended play (EP) of the same name and was released as a single on 24 July 1989 from their debut album, Southside (1989). The song debuted at number 58 on the UK Singles Charts and later peaked at number 44. The song has been described as "a bluesy ballad which drips with soul".
"Speed Your Love to Me" is a song by Simple Minds, which was released as the second single from the album Sparkle in the Rain on 9 January 1984. It quickly reached number 20 in the UK Singles Chart, and remained in the charts for 4 weeks.
"Up on the Catwalk" was the third single to be released from Sparkle in the Rain, the sixth studio album by Simple Minds. It was released in March 1984 and climbed to number 27 in the UK Singles Chart. It stayed in the charts for five weeks, which was longer than the band's previous single, "Speed Your Love to Me".
"Promised You a Miracle" is a 1982 song by Scottish band Simple Minds and was released as the first single from their fifth studio album New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84). It was the band's first chart hit in the UK, reaching #13 in the UK singles chart and charting for 11 weeks. Their previous nine UK singles yielded no Top 40 hits in that country although some had sold well in Scotland.
"Someone Somewhere In Summertime" is a song by Scottish rock band Simple Minds which was released as the third single from their fifth studio album New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84) (1982). Written by the members of Simple Minds, it was released on 5 November 1982 by Virgin Records.
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"25 Years" is a song by Scottish pop band The Big Dish, released on 20 May 1991 as the third and final single from their third and final studio album, Satellites. The song was written by Steven Lindsay and was produced by the Big Dish. It reached number 87 in the UK Singles Chart.
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