

For their sixth album (released in 1982), Simple Minds brought in producer Steve Lillywhite (U2, Psychedelic Furs) to help contain their high-drama sound. Lillywhite also helped singer Jim Kerr with his breathy croon and big-lunged howls. The efforts paid off, as this is the band's signature release. It heaves with stadium-sized anthems (“Waterfront,” “Up on the Catwalk”) and unwinds on slightly hushed, ambient passages (“Book of Brilliant Things,” “East at Easter”). This expanded deluxe version adds single edits, great B-sides, and extended mixes, as well as 13 songs performed live in Glasgow in 1984 and three BBC Radio One sessions from 1983.