Rocktrospectiva: The Underrated And Hidden Classic "Real Life" Turns 35

Released on 8 April 1991 "Real Life" was the 9th., studio album by Scottish rock band Simple Minds, by record label Virgin Records worldwide apart from the US, where it was released by A&M. The lead single from the album, "Let There Be Love", was released in March 1991 and achieved commercial success, reaching the top ten in territories including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark and Sweden. A further three singles – "See the Lights", "Stand by Love" and "Real Life" continued this commercial success.

Commercially, the album continued a period of popularity for the band, reaching the top ten in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden and Norway. It was certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in the United Kingdom for sales in excess of 300,000 copies, whilst it was certified Gold in other territories including the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden, on the other hand, the reviews critics were mainly negative.

It was the first album without founding member keyboardist Mick MacNeil as he left the band to spend time with his family. Peter-John Vettese played keyboards on the album. The rest of the band included lead singer Jim Kerr, guitarist Charlie Burchill who also took up keyboards, and drummer Mel Gaynor. Bass was played by Malcolm Foster. Stephen Lipson, who had co-produced Street Fighting Years produced the album and also played some bass parts. The track "Let the Children Speak" was based on the 1981 Simple Minds instrumental "Theme for Great Cities" from Sister Feelings Call. A re-recorded version of that piece, called "Theme for Great Cities '91", appeared as a B-side of the "See the Lights" single. "Travelling Man" bears some resemblance to the 1983 song "Waterfront" from Sparkle in the Rain.

"Rivers of Ice" was based on "Dr. Mackay's Farewell to Creagorry", an instrumental written by accordionist Iain MacLachlan in 1958. It became famous after being adapted for the 1962 BBC thriller The Dark Island. "When Two Worlds Collide" is based on the title track "Real Life", as is the 1995 song "And the Band Played On", which subsequently appeared on the following album, Good News from the Next World. "Women and Ghosts" (included on the US edition of the 1995 single "Hypnotised") is a reworked instrumental version of the title track.

The band gradually transitioned into the '90s with this record and believe it or not, they once again retained their status of being a band focused on huge arenas and  hit making musical factory, the band modernized their sound by incorporating some newer sonic effects and dance elements typical of the  days, perhaps their lyrics were in certain ways weak, but the sound and modern pop sensibilites wer a different thing, "Let There Be Love" was the band's last major European hit, "See The Lights" are fantastic masterpiece was the only single to hit the Billboard top 40 besides their classic "Don't You Forget (About Me" also hit the No. 1 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart too as well. 

The album reached no. 2 in the UK, and no. 74 in the United States. All four singles from the album were Top 40 hits in the UK, including the Top 10 hit "Let There Be Love". In the US, "See the Lights" reached the Top 40. 

Ironically and despite its huge commercial success, the album received mostly negative reviews from critics. In Rolling Stone, Paul Evans said: "What might have been the band's most cohesive record misses, if only by frustrating inches. Perhaps the comparison with band's previous three albums played against it, something I firmly believe it was unfair.  

 

Real Life Track List:

 

1. Real Life

2. See The Lights

3. Let There Be Love

4. Woman

5. Stand By Love

6. Let The Children Speak

7. African Skies

8. Ghostrider

9. Banging On The Door (Intro)

10. Banging On The Door

11. Travelling Man

12. Rivers Of Ice

13. When Two Worlds Collide