"Love Song" is the seventh single released by Scottish band Simple Minds. It was issued by Virgin Records in August 1981, one month before the release of its parent album Sons and Fascination. The B-side is an instrumental version of "This Earth That You Walk Upon", which later appeared on the album with newly recorded vocals. Despite a sticker appearing on the 12" single promising an 'extended version', all 12" releases around the world featured the 5:04 album version.
| "Love Song" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Simple Minds | ||||
| from the album Sons and Fascination | ||||
| B-side | "This Earth That You Walk Upon (instrumental version)" | |||
| Released | 7 August 1981[1] | |||
| Recorded | July 1981 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length |
| |||
| Label | Virgin | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Derek Forbes, Brian McGee and Mick MacNeil | |||
| Simple Minds singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
The song is reportedly an ode to the close bond between Europe and America: "a relationship that's lasted across the centuries, through good and bad times, a "Love Song" between two continents."[4] Its sound marked the beginning of a shift away from the band's early experimental phase towards a more accessible and commercial "pulsating electronic rock".[5]
The song was written and demoed in early 1981 and was tried out live on their Canada/US Tour in March 1981 before the recording sessions for the album had begun. It has since been performed on most of the band's subsequent tours.[6]
"Love Song" became Simple Minds' first single to enter the UK Top 50 - peaking at #47 in August 1981. It was more successful in Sweden and Australia, where it climbed into the Top 20.
A music video for the song was shot. It is set in a nightclub and features a storyline of Jim Kerr as a DJ and the band members annoying other guests and getting into fights. At the end other guests are unable to leave the club until Kerr has finished the track and he then leads the band out of the club.[7]
In 1992, a slightly remixed version of the song was released to promote the band's Glittering Prize 81/92 compilation, backed with "Alive and Kicking". This re-release finally sent "Love Song" into the UK Top 10, where it reached #6.[8]
Chart positions
edit| Chart (1981/1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[9] | 17 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[10] | 16 |
| Canada RPM[11] | 38 |
| United Kingdom (CIN)[12] | 47 |
| Chart (1992) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC)[13] | 6 |
References
edit- ^ "dream giver redux | press releases | sons and fascination | schoolhouse management letter". www.simpleminds.org. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- ^ "Simple Minds: 10 of the best". the Guardian. 18 March 2015.
- ^ Evans, Richard (6 August 2024). "1981.4". Listening to the Music the Machines Make: Inventing Electronic Pop 1978-1983. Omnibus Press. p. 305. ISBN 978-1-915841-45-2.
- ^ "Love Song - Simple Minds | Song Info | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ "Simple Minds: 10 of the best". the Guardian. 18 March 2015.
- ^ "Love Song". Dream Giver Redux.
- ^ "Videos: Love Song". Dream Giver Redux.
- ^ "SIMPLE MINDS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 275. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com > Simple Minds > Love Song". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
- ^ "RPM Top 50 Singles - January 16, 1982" (PDF).
- ^ "Official Charts > Simple Minds". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
- ^ "Simple Minds: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
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