Simple Minds “New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)” 1982. Original US-release on translucent gold with maroon colored vinyl. Their fifth studio album, New Gold Dream went to #3 in the UK and to #69 in the US. It got positively gushing and glowing reviews: “New Gold Dream robs me of my breath;” the album “stands shining and singular in the Simple Minds canon…it sits comfortably among the greatest pop albums of all time.” Jim Kerr calls it the band’s “holy grail” and it was their most successful record to that point. Overall, New Gold Dream is shimmering new wave synthpop, light and dreamy with synth sounds placed artistically just-so.

Simple Minds released three singles from New Gold Dream: “Promised You a Miracle” (#13 UK, their first single to chart, it went to #65 on the US dance chart), “Glittering Prize” (#16 UK), and the album opener “Someone Somewhere in Summertime” (#36 UK). I also really like the glistening, danceable title track “New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)” the dreamy pop of “Big Sleep,” and “Hunter and the Hunted” which is notable for having Herbie Hancock on synths.