Sunday 10/23/22 2pm ET: Feature LP: Simple Minds – Direction of The Heart (2022)

Direction of the Heart (stylized as “DIRECTION > of > the > HEART”) is the nineteenth studio album by Scottish rock band Simple Minds, released on October 21, 2022 by BMG.

The album takes its name not from a track from its standard edition (as it is often the case) but from “Direction of the Heart (Taormina 2022)”, the first bonus track from its digital and deluxe editions, which is the new re-recorded 2022 version of the original track which had already been released on January 2018 (and physically on 2 February 2018) as the B-side of the “Magic” 7″ vinyl single, the lead single from Walk Between Worlds, the band’s previous s4, studio album.

“Vision Thing” 4:39
“First You Jump” 4:23
“Human Traffic” 4:17
“Who Killed Truth?” 3:58
“Solstice Kiss” 5:23
“Act of Love” 4:00
“Natural” 3:26
“Planet Zero” 4:10
“The Walls Came Down” 3:54
“Direction of the Heart (Taormina 2022)” 4:55
“Wondertimes” 4:54

Jim Kerr – lead vocals
Charlie Burchill – guitars, keyboards, bass guitars, programming
Ged Grimes – bass guitar, keyboards, programming (2, 5, 11)
Cherisse Osei – drums (parts recorded separately in London) (1, 7, 9)
Sarah Brown – backing vocals (parts recorded separately in London)

Thursday 9/22/22 8pm ET: Feature LP: Simple Minds – Street Fighting Years (1989)

Street Fighting Years is the eighth studio album by Scottish rock band Simple Minds, released May 2, 1989 by record label Virgin Records worldwide apart from the US, where it was released by A&M. Produced by Trevor Horn and Stephen Lipson, the album reached the top of the UK Albums Chart.

1. “Street Fighting Years” 6:26
2. “Soul Crying Out” 6:07
3. “Wall of Love” 5:20
4. “This Is Your Land” 6:22
5. “Take a Step Back” 4:22
6. “Kick It In” 6:11
7. “Let It All Come Down” 4:56
8. “Mandela Day” 5:45
9. “Belfast Child” 6:42
10. “Biko” 7:34
11. “When Spirits Rise” 2:03

Jim Kerr – lead vocals
Charlie Burchill – acoustic and electric guitars
Mick MacNeil – piano, accordion, keyboards
John Giblin – fretted and fretless bass guitar, double bass (1)
Stephen Lipson – additional bass guitar, producer
Manu Katché – drums (1, 2, 9)
Mel Gaynor – drums (3, 8, 10)
Stewart Copeland – LinnDrum programming (uncredited) (4, 6)
Leroy Williams – percussion (1, 2, 8, 9, 10)
Sidney Thiam – additional percussion
Abdul M’boup – additional percussion
Maureen Kerr – penny whistle, bodhran
Roger Sharp – bagpipes
Lisa Germano – violin (1, 4, 9)
William Lithgow – cello
Sheena McKenzie – cello
John Altman – orchestral arrangements
Lou Reed – additional lead vocals on “This Is Your Land”
Lorna Bannon – backing vocals

Wednesday 1/26/22 10pm ET: Feature LP: Simple Minds – One Upon A Time (1985)

Once Upon a Time is the seventh studio album by Scottish pop rock band Simple Minds, released October 21, 1985 by record label Virgin (A&M in the US).

The album paired the group with music producer Jimmy Iovine. He had worked with artists featuring an aggressive guitar-based sound, including singer-songwriters Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Nicks, and he brought that approach to the band. Iovine particularly pushed frontman Jim Kerr, aiming for more energetic vocals.

Although already successful in their native U.K. and various countries in Europe and Oceania, Simple Minds had also recently become popular in the U.S., mainly due to the Keith Forsey and Steve Schiff-penned “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”. That track appeared on The Breakfast Club soundtrack and had become a #1 hit there. However, the band deliberately left the track off the album due to their reluctance to record it. Still, the bombastic pop rock sound proved influential in the construction of much of Once Upon a Time, particularly the arena-friendly single “Alive and Kicking”. Once Upon a Time also shared many influences with their previous studio album, Sparkle in the Rain, which explored a similar songwriting style.

1. “Once Upon a Time” 5:45
2. “All the Things She Said” 4:15
3. “Ghost Dancing” 4:45
4. “Alive and Kicking” 5:26
5. “Oh Jungleland” 5:14
6. “I Wish You Were Here” 4:42
7. “Sanctify Yourself” 4:57
8. “Come a Long Way” 5:07
9. “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” 4:23
10. “A Brass Band in Africa” 5:11

Jim Kerr – vocals
Charlie Burchill – guitars
Michael MacNeil – synthesizers and piano
Mel Gaynor – drums and backing vocals
John Giblin – bass
Robin Clark – background voices

Thursday 7/8/21 12pm ET: Artist Countdown: Simple Minds Top 30 Hits Twitter: @simplemindscom

Scottish art rock/new wave band Simple Minds have released 18 studio albums (either original or covers and counting 1981’s Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings Call as a double album release), eight live albums, 12 compilation albums, nine box sets, 52 singles, and five video albums. We countdown and feature the Top 30 Hits.

1	Don’t You (Forget About Me)	1985
2	Alive and Kicking	1985
3	Sanctify Yourself	1986
4	She’s a River	1995
5	This Is Your Land	1989
6	Belfast Child	1989
7	See the Lights	1991
8	All the Things She Said	1986
9	Let It All Come Down	1989
10	Glittering Prize	1982
11	Waterfront	1983
12	Kick It In	1989
13	Hypnotized	1995
14	Ghost Dancing	1986
15	Stand By Love	1991
16	Speed Your Love to Me	1984
17	Home	2005
18	Love Song	1992
19	Promised You a Miracle	1982
20	Up on the Catwalk	1984
21	Cry	2002
22	Glitterball	1998
23	Someone, Somewhere in Summertime	1982
24	Sweat in Bullet	1981
25	Don’t You (Forget About Me) (Remix)	2003
26	Real Life	1991
27	War Babies	1998
28	The American	1981
29	Life in a Day	1979
30	Stars Will Lead the Way	2009

Tuesday 6pm ET: The Chain with Ron Kovacs

A new edition of The Chain with Ron Kovacs – Featuring music from, Chainsmokers, Elton John, Simple Minds, Better Than Ezra, Bee Gees, Meredith Brooks, Patsy Cline, Lady Gaga and more . . . 

Tuesday 3pm ET: Feature Artist – Simple Minds

Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band formed in Glasgow in 1977. The most commercially successful Scottish band of the 1980s, they achieved five UK Albums chart number one albums and have sold more than 60 million albums. Despite various personnel changes, they continue to record and tour.

The band have released a string of hit singles, becoming best known internationally for their 1985 hit “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”, from the soundtrack of the film The Breakfast Club. Their other prominent hit singles include “Alive and Kicking” and “Belfast Child” (UK #1). In 2016, they received the Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors.

The nucleus of the band consists of the two remaining original members, Jim Kerr (vocals) and Charlie Burchill (electric & acoustic guitars, occasional keyboards after 1990, saxophone and violin). The other current band members are Ged Grimes (bass guitar), Cherisse Osei (drums), Sarah Brown (backing vocals), Gordy Goudie (additional guitar & keyboards). Notable former members include Mick MacNeil (keyboards), Derek Forbes (bass), and, Brian McGee & Mel Gaynor (drums).

Artist Countdown: Simple Minds Top 35 Hits 6pm ET @simplemindscom

Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band formed in 1977. They achieved commercial success in the early 1980s and, despite various personnel changes, continue to record and tour.

The band scored a string of hit singles, and are best known for their 1985 hit “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” (UK #7, US #1), from the soundtrack of the John Hughes film The Breakfast Club. Their other more prominent hits include “Alive and Kicking” (UK #7, US #3) and “Belfast Child” (UK #1). In 1986, the band was nominated for the Brit Award for Best British Group.

The core of the band is the two remaining founder members – Jim Kerr (vocals, songwriting) and Charlie Burchill (guitars, keyboards after 1990, other instruments, songwriting) – and drummer Mel Gaynor (who first joined the band in 1982). The other current band members are Andy Gillespie (keyboards) and Ged Grimes (bass guitar). Former members include bass guitarist Derek Forbes and keyboard player Michael MacNeil. (Source: Wikipedia)

1	Don’t You (Forget About Me)
2	Alive and Kicking
3	Sanctify Yourself
4	She’s a River
5	This Is Your Land
6	Belfast Child
7	Let There Be Love
8	See the Lights
9	All the Things She Said
10	Promised You a Miracle
11	Let It All Come Down
12	Glittering Prize
13	Waterfront
14	Hypnotised
15	Kick It In
16	Ghostdancing
17	Stand By Love
18	Speed Your Love to Me
19	Love Song
20	Home
21	Up on the Catwalk
22	Cry
23	Glitterball
24	Someone, Somewhere in Summertime
25	Sweat in Bullet
26	One Step Closer
27	Real Life
28	War Babies
29	The American
30	Life in a Day
31	Stars Will Lead the Way
32	Stranger
33	Rockets
34	Chelsea Girl
35	Broken Glass Park