Sparkle In The Rain (LP)

Originally released in February 1984, Sparkle in the Rain (title taken from a line in 'Book Of Brilliant Things') was Simple Minds' sixth studio album and cemented their commercial success. This album gave them their first UK number 1 as well as a Top 20 album in Australia, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. The album went on to be certified double platinum in the UK.

Sparkle in the Rain sees the line up of Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Derek Forbes, Mick MacNeil and Mel Gaynor (now a permanent fixture - playing on his first full Simple Minds album) move in a more cohesive, rock-oriented direction.This was in part propelled by Gaynor's powerhouse drumming, though the album still retained traces of their new wave past. The album featured religious references and symbolism in 'Book Of Brilliant Things' and 'East At Easter', a critique on celebrity in 'Up On The Catwalk' as well as a cover of 'Street Hassle', a homage to one of their biggest influences, the now sadly deceased Lou Reed whom later guested on the band's Street Fighting Years album.