Editing Simple Minds (section)

===Commercial breakthrough (1981–1983)===
[[File:Simple Minds, New Gold Dream era.jpeg|thumb|right|Simple Minds during the ''New Gold Dream'' era, c. 1983]] 

In early 1981, Simple Minds frustration with poor support and marketing by Arista made them threaten to split up rather than continue working with them. They were released from Arista and instead signed to [[Virgin Records]].<ref name="Larkin"/><ref name="sm" /> After the band had left the label, Arista decided to release "Celebrate" as the second single from ''Empires and Dance'' in February 1981 to promote the album, with the earlier single "Changeling" on the b-side to promote ''Real to Real Cacophony'', but this single too sold poorly and failed to chart.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.simpleminds.org/sm/discog/ead/c1.htm |title=Celebrate |publisher=Dream Giver Redux }}</ref> The following year, Arista put out a compilation album, ''[[Celebration (Simple Minds album)|Celebration]]'', featuring tracks from the three previous albums which reached No. 45 on the UK albums chart.<ref name="oc" /> Following their change of record company, the band demoed new songs and embarked on a club tour in the US and Canada.<ref name="sm" /> 

In May 1981, Simple Minds' first release on Virgin, the single "The American" reached No. 59 on the UK singles chart.<ref name="sm" /> The band recorded their next album with producer [[Steve Hillage]] and an abundance of new material under much time pressure.<ref name="sm" /> At the end of the recording sessions drummer Brian McGee decided to leave the band, citing exhaustion at Simple Minds' constant touring schedule,<ref name="Larkin"/> and a desire for more time at home with family.<ref name="sm" /> In an interview shortly after, he also cited disappointment that he was not getting enough credit in the band. McGee joined Glasgow band [[Endgames (band)|Endgames]],<ref>{{cite web | title=''The Beginning of the End (Betty Page makes the first move against Glasgow's Endgames)'', Record Mirror, 5 June 1982 | url =http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/g8gAAOSwMmBVwIuH/s-l1600.jpg}}</ref> and later [[Propaganda (band)|Propaganda]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.spirit-of-rock.com/en/band/Propaganda |title=Propaganda |publisher=Spirit of Rock }}</ref> In August, "[[Love Song (Simple Minds song)|Love Song]]" was released and became their highest charting single to date, peaking at No. 47 on the UK singles chart<ref name="oc" /> and an international hit, reaching the top 20 in Australia and Sweden, and no.38 in Canada.<ref>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=Illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|page=275|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Simple+Minds&titel=Love+Song&cat=s|title=Swedishcharts.com }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.0444.pdf| title=RPM Top 50 Singles - January 16, 1982}}</ref> In September 1981, Virgin released the entirety of Simple Minds recent studio sessions on two albums: ''[[Sons and Fascination]]'' and ''[[Sister Feelings Call]]''.<ref name="Larkin"/><ref name="sm" /> The latter album was initially included as a bonus disc with the first 10,000 vinyl copies of ''Sons and Fascination'', but it was later re-issued as an album in its own right.<ref name="Larkin"/> (For the CD release, it was paired on a single disc with ''Sons and Fascination''{{spnd}}at first with two tracks deleted, but in full on later issues). The album reached No. 11 on the UK albums chart,<ref name="oc" /> and was subsequently placed as No. 18 on [[Sounds (magazine)|Sounds]] "Album of the Year"-chart.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/sounds.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910230125/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/sounds.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=10 September 2012 |title=''Sounds'' End of Year Lists |publisher=Rocklist.net }}</ref> The next single "Sweat in Bullet" was a remixed version by [[Peter Walsh (producer)|Peter Walsh]] and included two songs recorded live at [[Hammersmith Odeon]] in September.<ref name="sm" /> During this period, the band's visual aesthetic was established, masterminded by [[Malcolm Garrett]]'s graphic design company Assorted iMaGes. Characterised at first by hard, bold typography and photo-collage, Garrett's designs for the band later incorporated pop-religious iconography in clean, integrated package designs that befitted the band's idealised image as neo-romantic purveyors of European anthemic pop.

To replace McGee as drummer (although not as full band member), Simple Minds hired Kenny Hyslop (ex-[[Skids (band)|Skids]], [[Slik]], Zones) to play on the first leg of the Sons and Fascination tour, which included Simple Minds first visit to Australia, touring with [[Icehouse (band)|Icehouse]].<ref name="Larkin"/><ref name="sm" /> Hyslop also played on the studio recording of "[[Promised You a Miracle]]", a song originating in a riff from a tape of funk music Hyslop played on the tour bus, that would become the band's next single.<ref name="pyam">{{cite web|url=http://www.simpleminds.org/sm/discog/ngd/pyam1.htm |title=Promised You a Miracle |publisher=Dream Giver Redux }}</ref> Despite this contribution, Hyslop ultimately "didn't fit in" with the band or their management and was replaced for the second leg of the Sons and Fascination tour<ref>[http://www.simpleminds.org/sm/tours/t1981-2/index.htm Sons and Fascination tour] Dream Giver Redux</ref> by the [[Kilmarnock]]-born percussionist [[Mike Ogletree]] (the former drummer for [[Café Jacques (band)|Café Jacques]]) in early 1982.<ref name="Larkin"/> 

Simple Minds started working on their next album in an old farmhouse in [[Fife]]. In February 1982 the songs "Promised You a Miracle" and "King is White and in the Crowd" were premiered on a BBC session for [[Kid Jensen]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.simpleminds.org/sm/songs/sessions.htm |title=Simple Minds sessions |publisher=Dream Giver Redux }}</ref> The band then moved to [[Townhouse Studios]] for recording sessions with producer [[Peter Walsh (producer)|Peter Walsh]]. The band told Walsh they wanted the album to represent their live sound, so Walsh decided to record it as a live studio album.<ref name="ngd">{{cite web|url=http://www.simpleminds.org/sm/discog/ngd/ngdlp1.htm |title=New Gold Dream |publisher=Dream Giver Redux }}</ref> Unsatisfied with Ogletree's drumming style, Walsh introduced them to a [[London]]-born drummer called [[Mel Gaynor]],<ref name="Larkin"/> a 22-year-old session musician with plenty of experience from playing with funk-bands such as [[Beggar and Co]] and [[Light of the World (band)|Light of the World]],<ref>[https://www.simpleminds.com/2016/05/19/new-gold-dream-box-set/ New Gold Dream Box Set] simpleminds.com</ref> who then played drums on the majority of the record, while Ogletree played drums on three tracks.<ref>Dave Thomas ''Simple Minds Glittering Prize'' Omnibus Press 1985, p.71</ref> "[[Promised You a Miracle]]" was released in April 1982 and became Simple Minds first Top 20 single in the UK, peaking at No. 13 and also reaching the Australian Top 10.<ref name="Larkin"/> The song earned the band performances on [[Top of the Pops]] and interviews in teen-orientated pop magazines.<ref name="pyam" /> ''[[New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84)]]'' was released in September 1982. The album was a commercial breakthrough, spending 53 weeks on the [[UK Albums Chart]], peaking at No. 3 in October 1982.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/simple-minds-new-gold-dream-81828384/ |title=New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84) |publisher=Official charts }}</ref> It generated charting singles including "[[Glittering Prize]]", which also reached the UK Top 20 and Australian Top 10.<ref name="Larkin"/> While some tracks ("[[Promised You a Miracle]]", "Colours Fly and Catherine Wheel") continued the formula perfected on ''Sons and Fascination'', other tracks ("[[Someone Somewhere in Summertime]]", "[[Glittering Prize]]") were pure pop.<ref name="Larkin"/> Jazz keyboardist [[Herbie Hancock]], who recorded in the studio next door, performed a synth solo on the track "Hunter and the Hunted".<ref name="ngd" />

[[File:Simple Minds ticket - Tiffany's Glasgow - 1982-12-20.jpg|thumb|left|Ticket for the band's concert at Tiffany's, Glasgow on 20 December 1982]]

The band embarked on their extensive New Gold tour in September 1982, which included dates in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.<ref name="NGT">{{cite web|url=http://www.simpleminds.org/sm/tours/t1982-2/index.htm |title=New Gold Tour |publisher=Dream Giver Redux}}</ref> Mike Ogletree played on the first leg of the tour, but was asked to leave the band in November 1982, later joining [[Fiction Factory]].<ref name="NGT" /> Mel Gaynor was recruited for the remaining dates<ref name="NGT" /> and retained afterwards, eventually becoming the band's longest-standing drummer (and longest-standing member other than mainstays Burchill and Kerr) despite thrice leaving and returning in the following decades. The band's late 1982 UK dates included a show at City Hall in Newcastle that was recorded by Virgin and later included on the 2003 ''Seen the Lights'' DVD.<ref name="NGT" /> On these dates the band was supported by [[China Crisis]].<ref name="NGT" />

The second leg of the New Gold Dream tour started in March 1983 and included dates in Europe, USA and Canada. In July they performed at festivals such as [[Roskilde Festival]] in Denmark and [[Rock Werchter]] in Belgium.<ref name="NGT" /> Prior to the tour the band had started working on their next album. In August the new song "[[Waterfront (song)|Waterfront]]" was premiered in a live concert. In September the band recorded a BBC session for David Jensen, including "Waterfront" and the newly written "The Kick Inside of Me". In October their next album was recorded with producer [[Steve Lillywhite]] at [[Townhouse Studios]] in London. In November "Waterfront" was released as a single and the band embarked on their Sparkle in the Rain Tour. The opening show at Barrowlands Ballroom in Glasgow was filmed for the "Waterfront" video.<ref name="sm" /> "Waterfront" became their most successful single to date; hitting No.&nbsp;1 in New Zealand, No. 5 in Ireland, the Top 20 in Australia and Sweden, and No. 13 on the UK chart.<ref name="oc" />